CHAPTER *| 



MAN AND THE SEA, I— Photography and Equipment 



UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY 



This section has been written to help the underwater swimmer to explore, 

 document, and enjoy underwater life. With photography as a tool, the swimmer 

 can better identify the different species that swim about him as well as make 

 possible contributions to science. 



The aesthetic aspect of the underwater world has been one of its greatest 

 attractions, an attraction that is hard to describe. Only through photography 

 can it be brought to the surface. One has only to see coral, which takes endlessly 

 exciting formations, and the angelfishes, which are the colorful ballerinas of 

 the underwater world, to realize the possibilities for taking artistic photographs. 

 The graceful movements of schools of fishes as they swim about the reefs, the 

 birdlike flying of the rays, and the sleek beauty of sharks as they move through 

 the water— all make fascinating pictures. 



There are startling nature photographs to be taken: the gigantic whale shark 

 standing on its tail feeding on plankton, the manta ray leaping out of the water 

 as it drops a newborn in midair and heralds the birth with a thundering slap 

 as it hits the water, the parrot fish standing on its tail with its mouth open 

 while little wrasse clean its teeth and face by eating the food particles left 

 there. There are hundreds of similarly interesting instances in the lives of sea 

 animals yet to be recorded on film. 



Effects of Sea Water on Light 



Underwater photography is mainly for clear waters. Ideal locations are 

 tropical waters such as those surrounding the Bahamas, where visibility is 

 sometimes better than 100 feet. Excellent photographs can be taken, however, 

 in waters with visibility of 15 feet or better. Water conditions which allow 

 visibility less than 15 feet limit picture taking to close-ups. 



Penetration of sunlight into the sea is limited by the roughness of the 

 surface, the density of water, and the turbidity caused by the presence of 

 organic (planktonic) and inorganic (silt) particles. These particles cause an 

 effect called "scattering," which tends to make pictures taken under water at 



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