05/13/2026
A few things I wish someone had told me about underwater photography when I started.
The single biggest mistake in underwater photography is shooting from too far away.
Water kills contrast, color, and detail with every meter between you and your subject. A shark photographed from 5 meters away looks soft and washed out. The same shark from 1.5 meters away pops.
Get closer than feels comfortable. Then get closer again.
That is one of dozens of things I cover in the full field guide I just published. I discuss gear at every budget, the five settings that matter most, how to deal with light at depth, backscatter, subject behavior, editing, and the ten mistakes I see constantly.
If you are starting out or intermediate, it is the post I wish someone had handed me at dive twenty.
Free, on my site. Link in bio.