Underwater photography: tricks and rules for championships

The scuba divingleaves us truly impressive images. Entering a world to which we are not usually accustomed is what it has and underwater photography would be one of the specialties of diving courses.

Each championship or contest will have specific rules as well as evaluation criteria. However, organizations such as CMAS, PADI, FEDAS, as well as other federations, clubs and photography committees, hold seminars and Thursday courses to try to specify and establish common assessment criteria.

The categories in which you compete in underwater photography

Wide angle: These are images of the underwater ecosystem, in which the human figure is included in harmony with the underwater environment. Normally obtained with wide angle lenses that have a larger coverage area to capture caves, wrecks, reefs, schools of fish, corals, etc. in all their splendor. In most championships two slides of this category are required.

Fauna: Includes images obtained of any animal that makes up the endless list of underwater species. Photos of fish or other non-swimming animal species such as corals or worms can be submitted... whether in groups, individually, whole, or details of them. Usually the front third (head and pectoral fins in fish), but it is not binding. Normally two images of this category are requested.

50 mm, 60 mm, 90 mm and 105 mm lenses are usually used in waterproof box reflex cameras, depending on the size of the animals to be photographed. In amphibious cameras the usual thing is to use the 35 mm amphibious which is equivalent to a 50 mm on land.

Macrophotography: It is any photograph that has a relationship between 1:1 and 1:5 with respect to reality. Two slides are usually required in contests. Versatile lenses such as 50mm, 55mm, 60mm macro are normally used.

If our motifs are small in size, not too mobile and are in clear water without particles, the best choice is a 90mm or a 105mm macro.

Creative photography: These are all images in which the photographer uses, in addition to his imagination and creativity, advanced photography and lighting techniques. The use of artificial elements to create these images is permitted, as long as they do not endanger or damage the marine ecosystem. The most used techniques are multiexposures, sweeps and lighting techniques. An image of this category is usually competed in championships.

In recent years, the category of creative photography has been suppressed as it had led to the introduction of the craziest elements to the seabed. This regulation was endorsed in the Spanish Championship: Nafosub 2000, held in Medas.

Of the two photographs in the environment category, one will have to be taken including the human figure, while the other will not.
The fish category is created, so only fish should appear in the image and not the rest of the fauna. One of them will be the whole fish or fish and the other a part of the species.
In the macro category, one image will be free choice, but for the other, what is called "photo hunting" is introduced. A species existing in the area will be determined in advance, and all photographers must submit an image of it.
The inclusion of the figure of the assistant or team captain will be authorized. Person in charge of collaborating from the boat in support tasks, such as changing objectives, delivering and collecting photographic equipment, etc.