The Complete Underwater Photographer Award

The Frogfish Photography course syllabus has been designed to cover all aspects of underwater photography and to improve your skills no matter what level you are now and whether you use a compact or DSLR camera setup. There will be both theory and practical sessions so that you can put your skills to the test. We will include lots of photographs to demonstrate ideas and techniques discussed in the course. The course has been designed so that you can sign up to individual units that interest you or you can sign up for the whole course.

Costs

If you would like to sign up for the entire course and the cost will be just £350 and this will include your course materials, pool and open water training dives, INON Level 1 certificate included with the course, certificate and your best photos will be put up on the Frogfish Website. *Units and pool sessions can be bought individually* – please call us for details.

Schedule

“Don’t know your aperture from your elbow?” - A basic insight into the terminology of photography, what it all means and how it works with your camera. It includes a short workshop where you can see how all the variables interact with each other.

"Getting Started - Effects of the Underwater Environment on Photography and How to Combat These Issues” -preparation, ideas on what to photograph, diving familiar sites, approaching your subject ,loss of light, loss of colour, visibility, particulates, depth, time, breathing, flash/strobes; filters, white balance, get close, safety first.

“Buoyancy & Basic Techniques – the key to great underwater photography” – pool session with your camera on our artificial reef.

“Composition”: What makes a great underwater photo? Things to consider before pressing your shutter: Rule of thirds, bokeh, Snell’s window, macro, wide angle, lenses, animal interaction, divers as models, abstracts, curves and diagonals, negative Space, Background, Peak Action, Eye Contact - including practical session in the classroom to try out the new ideas.

“Lighting: Natural Light” – Snell’s window; half + half shots; cathedral light, rays – time of day, white balance, stay shallow, shoot up, silhouettes.

“Lighting: Strobes and other artificial lights” – positioning of strobes, diffusers, home made solutions, divers holding lights (backlighting, wrecks, poor vis), backscatter, fill in flash.

“Confined Water session – lighting” Try out natural lighting and artificial lighting techniques. You can practice in both wide-angle and macro settings.

“Other useful tips” - Camera Care, packing, etiquette, entering competitions and protecting the environment

“Photoshop Editing” – how to improve your shots once you are on dry land.

“The complete Underwater Photographer Course Project” – open water dives and tuition at Capernwray or the coast (weather permitting) Post dive editing and workshop included.