n this multipart series we are taking a fresh look at
aquarium photography and offering practical tips for
using modern gear that has spawned an amazing new
age of amateur photography. Because video recordings
are being used extensively on social media sites like
Facebook and YouTube, they are covered in several parts
of this series.
Long gone are the times when the term “photogra-
phy” was mainly associated with elaborate single lens
reflex (SLR) cameras. Until quite recently, underwa-
ter photography required, in addition to a camera and
a bulky housing, one or two external underwater flash
units. It was impossible to submerge a contraption like
this in an aquarium, unless it was a really large one.
Within the past 10 years, we have seen rapid de-
velopment and miniaturization of camera equipment.
Smartphone and miniature cameras seem to be able to
do everything we can imagine, including making sharp
videos and much more. You don’t need separate flash
units or video lights, because modern mini cameras are
so light-sensitive that you can easily make good record-
ings in a coral reef aquarium using the ambient light.UNDERWATER VIDEO
Many retailers also offer very inexpensive underwater
housings for smartphones, so the temptation is greatto plunge your phone into the aquarium. But do not
blindly trust every housing to protect your valuable
phone. It is true that “made in China” does not always
mean that the product is inferior; many high-quality
items are now coming from China. But you should
check out other consumers’ reviews of a given product
before buying. Also, when cleaning and greasing O-
rings and closing the case, take all necessary steps to
keep your smartphone dry. If you do everything right
and choose the appropriate model for your phone,
there is no reason not to view your reef aquarium
from the inside now and then. The colors of the tank
inhabitants look much different when seen without
aquarium glass, and you will experience your corals
in a completely different way. When looking from the
outside into the aquarium, you have limited viewing
options. The smartphone or action camera, on the
other hand, can be moved around in the tank, provid-
ing new and unique perspectives. Especially in video
mode, it is really exciting to experience your coral reef
in an “overflight.”
It is a good idea to practice keeping the camera still
in the water before shooting videos, because it is more
difficult than you think. I often rotate the housing 180
degrees (the smartphone compensates for this rotation)
and screw two anodized aluminum rods into the tripodAquarium Photography: Part VI
A camera dive onto your own reef:
new frontiers for aquarium shooters with the right equipmentD. KNOP
Underwater photos in the aquarium—
no problem today.I
Part 6 • text & images by DANIEL KNOP