Underwater

[elsa hoffmann]

From my days as a scuba diver. sadly I can no longer dive

All nudibranchs - sea snails in the most awesome colours.
last one is a huge crop - hermit crab with some amphipods - they are about 1mm big - or is it small.
Image quality not that brilliant - in the days of a D70 and I didnt have a bloody clue about what I was doing.

[Jakov Minić]

Elsa, wow!

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you sweetie

[Øivind Tøien]

Really nice with the last one, crustacean covered by crustaceans. That and the first one is my favorites. Most those who have not been into it may not realize how challenging underwater photography is.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

And to make everything even worse: people look at, and evaluate such pictures as ordinary photographs ..... (which, of course, is the appropriate approach, but frustrating on a personal level when you  face so much difficulties to make the shot in the first place).

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks guys

Underwater photography is extremely challenging
you move all the time. There is absolutely no way to "stand" still, the surge or current moves you all the time.
there is huge amounts of algae in the water - between the camera and the subject (unless you shoot in the Artic where I believe the visibility is awsome.
Often visibility was only 3 meters. sometimes 5 - 10, so conditions are not that great in Cape Town.
the strobes - which you cant shoot without - lights up every bit of matter in the water - between you and the subject
Placement of strobes is crucial to avoid lighting up the backscatter.

I started out doing underwater photography - before I did on top of water photography. and no one could or would help me.
These days every diver has an amphibious camera. My days the housing, ports and strobes cost as much as the (then) expensive D70 and lenses.

but nothing beats being under water. literally nothing.

[Gary]

Thanks guys

Underwater photography is extremely challenging
you move all the time. There is absolutely no way to "stand" still, the surge or current moves you all the time.
there is huge amounts of algae in the water - between the camera and the subject (unless you shoot in the Artic where I believe the visibility is awsome.
Often visibility was only 3 meters. sometimes 5 - 10, so conditions are not that great in Cape Town.
the strobes - which you cant shoot without - lights up every bit of matter in the water - between you and the subject
Placement of strobes is crucial to avoid lighting up the backscatter.

I started out doing underwater photography - before I did on top of water photography. and no one could or would help me.
These days every diver has an amphibious camera. My days the housing, ports and strobes cost as much as the (then) expensive D70 and lenses.

but nothing beats being under water. literally nothing.

Very nice Elsa. What caused you to stop diving? I prefer a snorkel to scuba ... more of a challenge.

[armando_m]

you had no clue what you were doing ? ... well to me the images say otherwise !

I have taken images with the submersible cameras and so far have zero images I like, and one camera which I borrowed  got flooded , so I bought a new one in order to return it

One thing I got from the frustration trying to shoot cute colorful fishes while snorkeling was some ideas to plan the shooting I did with the pregnant girl

[bendle]

Great photos,lovely colours.
 

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks guys

Armando - you got inspiration at least.
There are only 2 kinds of underwater photographers - those who have flooded their housings - and those who are going to flood their housings.

Gary  -  I am not suited for a snorkel - that thing makes me feel like drowning every 10 seconds.
 I had to stop in 2010 due to a heart attack - and just when i started diving after recovery - I got a frozen shoulder. Still have it 3 years later. It is not safe to dive if I don't have good mobility - not safe for me nor my diving partner. I am  a dive instructor - for me diving was a life style. And photography with it.

Underwater photography is expensive with little return. Or it was basically no return when I dived. There are some excellent U/W togs who do sell well. But mostly it's the same as wildlife - you do it because you love it not because you get commissioned work. Therefor any investment into the set-up is carefully considered.

[Gary]

Sorry for your injuries and life style changes. (I understand the love of diving and of our oceans. I majored in Marine Biology.)

[elsa hoffmann]

oh its no problem Gary - ye if you did that you would really understand.

life happens. either we face it, deal with it, and get on with it - or be miserable the rest of your life.

[bobfriedman]

very nice elsa... i always wondered how to illuminate the subject underwater... very challenging

[Ron Scubadiver]

Porn for divers, great series Elsa.

[John Geerts]

Impressive series.