TOP: D. KNOP; BOTTOM: SUB ZEROoblique camera position, slightly tilted upward. Such a
shot through the front was possible, but the prettiest side
of the coral was clearly in the back. The image I wanted
could only be achieved with the underwater housing.
To set up the image, I taped black fabric to the two
aquarium panes forming the background so that noth-
ing could be reflected on them. This makes the coral
in the image appear solitary, which improves the visual
effect significantly. The rest was easy: I turned off the
pumps, moved the camera into the appropriate po-
sition, and pressed the shutter. If you cannot see the
display during recording—which was true in this case—I
recommend that you take a larger number of pictures to
make sure you get a good shot.
USING A WIDE-ANGLE LENS
I strongly recommend using a housing, which allows
you to screw a specialty lens in front of the main lens.
In addition to macro lenses, wide-angle lenses are often
used because space in the aquarium is limited. It can be
a waste of time to take macro recordings with an under-
water housing, because it is so difficult to focus that it
can hardly be done manually. A wide-angle lens, on the
other hand, is very useful for such recordings.
When you buy your accessories, make sure they fit
your camera. If your underwater housing is to be part
of a system with high-quality lenses, the housing itself
should measure up. It is best to choose one that is de-
signed for diving at depth. The one shown in the pic-
tures, for example, can be used at depths down to 130
feet (40 m). You can purchase diving housings for many
action cameras. Some GoPro models come with a hous-
ing included in the basic package. Make sure that the
one you buy is actually an underwater housing and
not just a splashguard or the like. A recommended div-
ing depth of one or only a few meters should make you
concerned—it might work, but it might not. True diving
housings are now very inexpensive and well worth the
money. At least one of those available comes with built-
in LED lighting for GoPro cameras, so you can turn your
action camera into a compact photo/video system with
its own lighting.With the front pane darkened the coral
is photographed from behind, using an
underwater housing, to make the more
attractive back side visible and capture
its reflection on the water’s surface.Left and right: A complete modern underwater photography
system: a GoPro action camera with Sub Zero underwater
housing and camera holder with LED light.The result: the coral
shows its “sweet spot.”