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at times the area seems to become the epicenter of appalling
conditions. Miraculously, we had two successive days of calm
seas and reasonable visibility, so we were able to pull off the
assignment. But if not for the tips, tricks and techniques
that follow (and a healthy dose of luck), photographing the
underwater jungle can be a maddening endeavor.
Know Your Site
Our tale related the challenges of seasonal variations in
conditions, but there are a number of local factors that
are subject to change. Vast differences exist between kelp
forests. In California, the kelp beds of San Diego and
Monterey Bay are bathed with plankton-dense water and
rarely bear much resemblance to the southern Channel
Islands, where clear, blue water is more common. Wide-
angle photography can therefore be difficult in the
more nutrient-rich sites. However, they are a mecca for
photographers seeking amazing macro subjects. The
bottom line is that in the kelp, as with any dive location,
your chances of photographic success increase greatly if
you are familiar with the local weather patterns, seasonal
variations and endemic marine life. There is no substitute
for experience; so if you don’t have it, reach out to
experienced trip leaders or local dive shops to help you get
up to speed. Local knowledge is paramount.
Bring the right toolS for the JoB
Absolutely crucial to the task of shooting in kelp forests
is the right equipment. Primary challenges in such
sites are low visibility and the presence of particulate
matter, which, unless you want your photos to resemble
a snowstorm, make working close to your subject vital.
For wide-angle photography, short-focal-length zoom
lenses are optimal (we often use super-wide fisheye zoom
lenses). Having a lens with zoom capability will give you
flexibility for encounters with subjects of varying sizes
over the course of a dive.
For macro work, again the ability to focus while close
to your subject remains critical. Our primary choices are
60mm macro lenses or, if we’re trying to capture tiny
subjects, 100mm macro lenses with wet or dry diopters
(auxiliary close-up lenses).
Ambient light can be limited in the kelp forest, not only
as a function of depth and water clarity, but also because
the kelp canopy restricts light penetration. We prefer
high-powered strobes with fast recycle times, but strong
video lights will also fit the bill, particularly with newer
cameras that have astonishing high-ISO performance.
Shooting KelpScapeS
Very few underwater scenes can rival the beauty of a
kelp forest — the light passing through the fronds and
the ethereal green-gold glow that results are enough to
humble even the most jaded globetrotting underwater
photographer. However, capturing this splendor is a
careful balancing act.
As sunlight diffuses through the kelp canopy, a slow
shutter speed is often required to gain reasonable clarity
in the background exposure. This is challenging because
temperate-water sites can be particularly affected by
current and strong surge. Slow shutter speeds can prove
to be very frustrating when motion blur inadvertently
becomes a constant feature of an entire day’s worth of
images. Using a higher ISO helps with this, but beware: Go
too high, and your images may become “noisy.” (Noise is
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