How to Shoot Photo and Video in Water

Water is an infinitely changing composition. Every wave, ripple, or drop is new. Only lasting for a split second in time, these motions can make for some striking imagery. Water also poses a number of challenges, making it important to consider the many nuances within this medium and how to approach shooting it.

The first step to this equation is identifying what form of water related photography or videography you are planning on engaging with. For some, using your phone in a simple waterproof case can be a great starting point and requires little to no additional equipment. Just make sure you have a strap that you can tether to your phone!

If you’re looking to step up your captures and get creative with different frame rates, there are a wide array of action cameras available on the market today. Most options are quite intuitive to use and only require a micro sd card for image capture. Let’s be honest though, you probably want the best image quality possible. For this, you will need to invest in an underwater housing. These can range greatly in price and quality, so we recommend doing ample research before making a purchase.

You’ll notice that different underwater housings offer different levels of control. Certain housings will allow you to control more of your camera’s settings while others may offer only a handful of adjustments. Find what best suits your current needs and price range.

Camera Setup for Photo and Video

Oftentimes, you will find housings have relatively limited control. When this is the case, point your camera at the horizon to help expose for your highlights before stepping in the water. Although this isn’t a perfect science, it can help preserve information in the brighter portions of your images.

Certain housings may offer aperture, shutter speed, and ISO control. Whenever one or all of these is present, you will find that exposing images while you are in the water will become easier. Do not be dismayed by a lack of control though. Pre-setting exposure, when necessary, can still yield excellent results.

When shooting photos, you will likely want the waves and water droplets to appear rather sharp. To accomplish this, set a high shutter speed. This will reduce the amount of motion blur, thus yielding sharper images. You can compensate for this with aperture and ISO. You also have the option of shooting at a relatively high f-stop for greater depth of field, guaranteeing that more of your image will be in focus.

While shooting video, you will experience more limitations if you want to maintain the most desirable settings. The golden rule of video is the “180° degree rule”, meaning that you will set your shutter speed to double that of your frame rate. Most video formats offer a base ISO, which is the ISO at which your camera is capable of capturing the highest dynamic range. It is best practice to stick to this ISO when possible and use your aperture to help adjust your exposure as needed. Ideally, we recommend shooting in 60 fps or higher, as this will give you the option to slow down your footage in post production. This will also allow you to get silky smooth shots of the water or a slo mo shot of a surfer.

File type can also come into play. When shooting photos we recommend shooting in both jpeg and raw and for video work we recommend shooting in LOG if your camera is capable of doing so. These formats will give you the most flexibility in post production. Setting your camera to shoot in burst mode will also be crucial as you will be able to capture many images in a short span, perfect for a crashing wave. A fair warning though, you will likely end up with a tremendous amount of files to cull through. Within this wall of images, however, you are bound to find a few amazing frames.

Having a fast SD card in this situation is paramount. Shooting burst or high frame rate footage will require fast read and write speeds. For individuals with cameras offering only SD compatibility, we recommend the Rugged Cine line of cards. They are both fast and waterproof in the case of a housing failure. They are also heat resistant, making them perfect for use in a housing. I have personally used them in an A7SIII shooting at 4k 120fps. The camera was cooking when it came out of the housing as all of the heat got trapped inside. The cards themselves, however, we’re totally fine! If you need more speed and your camera accepts CFexpress type B cards, then we’d recommend taking a look at our Velocity line. Offering up to 1700mb/s sequential write speeds, you will find it very difficult to outshoot these cards. Buffer time becomes a thing of the past and you can shoot as aggressively as you’d like.

You will also likely need to set your focal length before heading out. This will be determined mostly by what you are looking to capture and the style and size of your housing port. Somewhere in the range of 35mm to 85mm should be suitable for a number of applications. Depending on what your subject is and your goals will be the main deciding factor in this part of the equation.

Time to Shoot

Now that you have practiced setting up your camera and you’ve tested your housing, it is time to start shooting. Assuming you already have a location in mind we recommend planning your shoot around sunrise or sunset. An even glow to the water will provide you with a more flattering image. The morning or afternoon light dances across the water and waves, creating a level of intrigue and a visually appealing aesthetic.

If you are planning on shooting the water itself, without any surfers or additional subjects you can really experiment with your compositions. When you get to your location take a minute to observe how the waves are breaking and where potential compositions may be. Depending on the tide and layout of the beach you will notice that certain stretches produce more consistent waves. Don’t be afraid to shoot a crashing swell off center to provide a feeling of direction or grab a shot of water pulling back out to sea after a swell has made fall. There are lots of details that exist within this uniform body. Keep the horizon as level as possible. This isn’t always the easiest thing to pull off when you are bobbing around but an uneven horizon line will be quite noticeable and unnatural looking.

If you are shooting a moving subject such as a surfer, capturing them in the midst of their action will be a major focus of your time in the water. Once again, shooting off center, keeping your subject on one of the outer thirds of your composition can create interest and demonstrate motion. Not everything that happens in the water involves action. Some of the moments in between waves can make for beautiful photos. A rider sitting on their board between sets, surfers waiting on the beach, or even a rider's expression as they wait in anticipation of waves. Capturing an array of images will help tell a story and can make for a compelling set of photos. Look around for elements that may exist in or around the water that can elevate your shot. For example, there may be a pier that you can use to help frame a subject on a wave or a large bluff that you can compress into the background. It's important to note that these do not apply to surf photography alone. Many of the same principles can be applied to other water sports and water related subjects.

Bear in mind these are only recommendations and experimenting with your position in relation to the subject and the waves will give you better variety when reviewing your images after the session. This will take lots of practice, but the key is to get out and practice.

Concluding Thoughts

Shooting in water can yield some incredible photos and some even better experiences. You really get the best of both worlds. On one hand you are engaging with your passion for photography or videography and on the other you get the opportunity to immerse yourself in your surroundings. It sounds cheesy, I know, but coming out of the water after shooting makes you feel like you did “something” or that you are part of something.

Working with a constantly moving subject forces you to adapt and adjust on the fly, making the reward of a good photo even more meaningful. If you need more inspiration, check out our Creative Spotlight on Cate Brown, surf photographer. Approach the water with an open mind and practice with your exposure and compositions. Make sure you properly clean your tripod, if you take it out in the water with you. As always, check weather and surf conditions before heading out if possible and be safe!