Houston's Premier Scuba and Dive Shop Oceanic Ventures Inc.

(713) 523-3483 (dive)
5808 Newcastle Drive
Houston, TX 77401

underwater photography

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Photo Tip – Using Your Smartphone’s Camera Abilities

By Tobias Friedrich

Using all of the available features of your camera or phone will result in better images of your dive as well. For instance, it’s always a good idea to use the different lenses of your phone correctly for the particular subject. For large animals it’s of course better to use the wide-angle lens, for medium subjects and best quality of the image, use the standard lens. And for smaller subjects, like this Lionfish, it’s ideal to use the tele lens.

Equipment: SportDiver housing with iPhone 12 Pro Max using iPhone Tele Lens

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

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Photo Hints – White Balance for Shallow Encounters

By Tobias Friedrich

For shallow encounters with marine animals like this Sperm Whale, you can easily setup your SeaLife Micro 3.0 to shallow white balance or even surface white balance. Setting it to “Underwater Deep” would show too much red color in the image because the white balance for deeper depth is compensates for the loss of red colors much more. So be sure to properly set your camera before a dramatic encounter like this one.

Equipment: SeaLife Micro 3.0 with Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens Settings: Shallow White Balance

Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens

SL052 The SeaLife Micro Wide Angle Dome Lensincreases the camera’s field of view by 43% and allows for 3x closer shooting distance. For the SeaLife Micro 3.0, the lens angle is increased from 100° to 143°and shooting distance is reduced from 15”/38cm to 5”/13cm. The 0.7x dome lens high-grade optical design improves overall image quality and edge sharpness. Fits all SeaLife Micro-series and ReefMaster RM-4K camera models.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679 See the NEW SL554 Micro 3.0 Pro Dual Beam Set! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Photo Hint – Capturing Amazing Whale Photos

By Tobias Friedrich

Encounters with Sperm Whales are awesome and rare. That’s why we want to capture the moment as best as possible with our cameras. Even though cameras are very fast nowadays and can capture many images one after another, it’s always good to stay calm in this situation and wait for the right moment. In this case, when the Whales open their mouth, it’s the perfect moment to take the image.

Equipment: SeaLife Micro 3.0 with Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens Settings: Shallow White Balance

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

Micro Wide Angle Dome Lens

SL052 The SeaLife Micro Wide Angle Dome Lensincreases the camera’s field of view by 43% and allows for 3x closer shooting distance. For the SeaLife Micro 3.0, the lens angle is increased from 100° to 143°and shooting distance is reduced from 15”/38cm to 5”/13cm. The 0.7x dome lens high-grade optical design improves overall image quality and edge sharpness. Fits all SeaLife Micro-series and ReefMaster RM-4K camera models.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679

Try the NEW SL554 Micro 3.0 Pro Dual Beam Set! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Photo Hint – Keep Alert, Position Yourself for the Best Shot

By Tobias Friedrich

Being alert and focused underwater not only adds safety and wellbeing to your dive, but also gives you the best results with your underwater camera. When you can see an animal or a school of fish early or in the distance, you can position yourself as best as possible to get a better shot of the subject.

Equipment: SportDiver housing with iPhone 12 Pro Max using 0.5x iPhone Lens

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

SportDiver Underwater Smartphone Housing

The SportDiver underwater housing works with iPhone® 7 through the latest 13 Pro Max and most Android phones.

Check if a phone fits and is compatible here. The SportDiver includes a color correcting red filter that brings back lost underwater colors. The best way to get breathtaking images and brilliant video underwater with your phone is with Sea Dragon Photo/Video Lights or the complete SportDiver Pro 2500 smartphone housing & photo-video light set.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679

Try the NEW SL554 Micro 3.0 Pro Dual Beam Set! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Photo Hint – Composition for Oceanic Mantas

By Tobias Friedrich

Capturing Oceanic Mantas with a camera is something really special. Sometimes the Mantas swim in a very nice formation together, and you’ll want to be ready and press the shutter at the right moment, especially when the formation is separated and the rays are not overlapping each other.

Equipment: SeaLife SportDiver Housing with iPhone 12 Pro Max using 0.5x iPhone Lens

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

SportDiver Underwater Smartphone Housing

SL400-U  Available now!

The SportDiver underwater housing works with iPhone® 7 through the latest 13 Pro Max and most Android phones. Check if a phone fits and is compatible here. The SportDiver includes a color correcting red filter that brings back lost underwater colors. The best way to get breathtaking images and brilliant video underwater with your phone is with the Sea Dragon 3000F or the complete SportDiver Pro 2500 smartphone housing & photo-video light set.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679 Available Now! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Photo Hint – Using Lights to Capture the Best Color

By Tobias Friedrich

It’s very important when underwater to compensate for the missing illumination from the sun. Using high-performance underwater lighting like the Sea Dragon lights, the powerful and color-friendly lights will illuminate the missing red and orange colors from the beautiful reefs for your eyes and your camera. The closer you are to the corals, the better the colors will come out.

Equipment: SeaLife Micro 3.0, Sea Dragon 3000F

Settings: Deep Water White Balance

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

SeaLife Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 Set

SL552 – Available now! Ideal for colorful, sharp stills and videos, the Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 Set includes the Sea Dragon 3000F Photo-Video Light, Micro 3.0 Camera, Flex-Connect Single Tray and Grip for optimal stability and handling. The SeaLife Micro 3.0 camera offers easy set-up with automatic and manual image setting options. The Sea Dragon 3000F Light has a Color Rendering Index of 80, with a 5000k color temperature to simulate natural sunlight. Sea Dragon Photo/Video Lightsreveal beautiful colors in underwater photos and videos.