Archaeology Underwater: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice

PHOTOGRAPHY 75

in publications. A selection of chosen artefacts can also
be photographed at a higher image size and quality/
resolution and even photographed using a traditional
SLR film camera with a macro lens.
It should be noted that there are conventions for pho-
tographing certain types of objects (e.g. pottery sherds).
For further details on site and finds photography refer to
Dorell’s book Photography in Archaeology and Conserva-
tion (figures 10.3 and 10.4).

Underwater Photography

This section will give a brief overview of the various
underwater camera systems – the Nikonos system,
housed SLR cameras and digital cameras. It will also
summarize some of the problems facing photographers
under water and how to overcome them with the use of
wide-angle lenses, flash equipment and some underwa-
ter techniques. Traditionally, underwater photography
has been very expensive, but with the advent of mass-
produced digital cameras in underwater housings, prices
are dropping as the market expands.
Originally, dedicated underwater amphibious cameras,
like the Nikonos system produced by Nikon, were the

most popular camera for underwater photography. This

changed as underwater housings were developed for

conventional cameras, but both systems have remained

expensive. A number of underwater compact cameras

have been produced which are cheaper but the results are

generally not good. This is because of the difficult con-

ditions typically found on underwater archaeological sites,

such as poor visibility (caused by particles suspended

in the water), low light levels, loss of contrast and loss

of colour with depth.

To overcome these problems, underwater camera sys-

tems have to include:

• a wide-angle lens enabling the photographer to get
  close to the subject; and


• an underwater flashgun or strobe to overcome the
  loss of light and colour with depth and to improve
  contrast and resolution.

The best set-up for use in archaeology is a Nikonos V

with a 15 mm lens, although there are cheaper wide-angle

lenses and adaptors which attach to the standard lens. The

15 mm lens gives little distortion for such a wide-angled

lens, but it is expensive. In clearer waters, however, the

Nikonos 20 mm lens would suffice. A housed SLR offers

more flexibility, but to photograph a wide-angle shot, not

only a wide-angle lens but also a dome port for that lens

is required. Housed SLRs require a different lens and

port combination for each type of shot, including wide-

angle, standard and macro. Both systems can use the

range of flashguns available, but the flashgun must have

at least the same angle of coverage as the lens used. For

this reason, and to avoid shadows, some photographers

use two flashguns.

If underwater housings are used it is worth noting that

there are usually two types of port available – the dome

Figure 10.3 A vertically photographed find. This wooden
weaving heddle from the Armada wreck La Trinidad
Valencera(1558) has been photographed on a translucent
sheet, lit from beneath, to create a neutral white background
without shadows. Careful lighting of the object has been
used to bring out tool marks on the wood. Scale in cen-
timetres. (Photo: Colin Martin)

Figure 10.4 An obliquely photographed find. These wooden

bellows from the Armada wreck La Trinidad Valencera(1558)

have been placed on a light-neutral background – not

white, which is too reflective. (Photo: Colin Martin)