Getting Began in Underwater Photography with the Canon R10

By Jake Hiatt

For 4 years I’ve been knowledgeable Dive Master on the Dolphin Dream Liveaboard dive boat within the Bahamas, from the legendary Tiger Beach, to Bimini working with nice hammerheads and well-known Atlantic noticed dolphins. Always the one to arrange the shot, by no means the one to take it. 
  

1/250 • f/6.3 • ISO 640 © Jake Hiatt

With the exception of motion movies and an occasional ID picture, I by no means had any actual expertise with underwater images. That needed to change, in simply six months I might be nose to nose with my dream topic whereas on a two week expedition, cage diving with nice white sharks. After two days touring to Neptune Islands off Southern Australia the time had come to {photograph} among the largest sharks on the planet.

Nine days of the expedition could be spent aboard the Rodney Fox liveaboard, exploring these iconic waters. I had two principal shot objectives: one ferocious floor shot and one assembly the good white shark nose to nose.  With the suitable gear and setup I captured them each. 

1/250 • f/7.1 • ISO 800 © Jake Hiatt

Camera & Lens

With numerous hours on SCUBA, I used to be not prepared for the humbling expertise of taking a full underwater digicam setup on a dive.  Shooting handbook provides distractions which examined my buoyancy, expertise, and consciousness as I hung out adjusting ISO, shutter, and aperture.

Thankfully, I wasn’t entering into fully blind, I had an outdated Canon T7i I used on land, which gave me expertise taking pictures wildlife on handbook. But I wasn’t going to spend money on taking that outdated factor underwater. So I went with the mirrorless Canon R10. The button structure and menus of the Canon R10 are similar to the T7i. On high of that, nearly all controls on the Ikelite housing are 1:1 with buttons on the digicam physique itself, which means muscle reminiscence can clean out the educational curve.

For my lens selection I introduced my fisheye with RF to EF adapter, in addition to my Canon RF-S 10-18mm extremely huge lens. I by no means used the fisheye because the 10-18mm proved nice general. The lens was huge sufficient to get the entire shark in motion whereas they caught their nostril within the cage however nonetheless had sufficient zoom to seize them as they circle. That variability is what bought me that gorgeous head-on smile shot featured under.

1/250 • f/7.1 • ISO 1600 © Jake Hiatt

Strobe Lighting

For strobes I’ve a set of RC232 Fiber Optic TTL Underwater Strobe with Video Light. Using the strobes proved the best problem for me. Working in shallow, clear waters off the Bahamas spoiled me with loads of pure mild. But the darker waters off Neptune Islands made it paramount I take advantage of the RC232’s to one of the best of their means. Utilizing TTL meant I might “set and forget” the strobes earlier than I entered the cage and never have to fret about messing with energy settings. This characteristic was nice, on account of lack of area wanted to make changes as soon as we have been down 70-80 toes (21 – 24 meters) on the ocean ground.

Size & Handling

This setup as an entire couldn’t have been a greater match for this location’s necessities. Everything match properly divided between my digicam bag and keep on, with sufficient room to nonetheless pack garments. 

In the cage is the place it actually outshined everybody else’s bigger rigs. Of course, photographers being photographers… my buddies and I had a very good chuckle at dimension distinction amongst our setups. Mine being the smallest full equipment of the lot shortly bought laughs however the jokes all stopped once we realized the Canon R10’s compact DLM Housing was the one one sufficiently small to suit by means of the cages’ slots which made for extra pleasing photos with out the obstruction of the cage. 

Plus, the tough waters of Neptune Island bounced and jerked the cage each dive. Try as I might to carry her regular, the digicam nonetheless took a number of good bounces off the cage bars however the housing held tight.

1/200 • f/7.1 • ISO 400 © Jake Hiatt

The Results

I began this journey not precisely realizing what to anticipate. I had a number of concepts for photographs I hoped for however really not sure what could be attainable. I had objectives of chase photographs of the shark going after bait on the floor and I wished some up shut and private cage motion. But the shot I used to be most hungry for, was a useless on head shot.

1/200 • f/7.1 • ISO 400 © Jake Hiatt

The chase photographs the place by far the toughest. A complete lot of of ready, digicam educated on  bait tied to the road in anticipation. Shooting with a excessive shutter velocity, strobes set to match, simply hoping to freeze the motion. The R10 has a reasonably fast autofocus so my best problem got here right down to response time. After many failed makes an attempt and missed alternatives, I lastly managed to get a number of I really feel pleased with.

Then there’s my favourite shot from the underside cage. My setup was the one one that would match by means of the bars as a way to get that useless on head shot. That smile nearly makes you neglect you’re staring down a twelve foot apex predator. Thankfully, I had simply sufficient zoom with my 10-18mm to catch her in body earlier than she turned.

1/250 • f/6.3 • ISO 1600 © Jake Hiatt

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Canon R10 makes an unbelievable setup for first timers. Not solely for individuals who are new to underwater images, but in addition for these new to touring across the globe with a underwater setup. Most importantly, it’s a system that may develop alongside any new and aspiring underwater photographer’s journey. Australia might have been my first journey but it surely definitely received’t be my final. I have already got a number of extra queued up, with Orcas within the Arctic being the subsequent on deck.

1/200 • f/7.1 • ISO 2500 © Jake Hiatt

Jake’s Gear

Additional Viewing

The BEST Entry-Level Compact Camera Housing Underwater Right NOW! // Canon EOS R10 [VIDEO]

Is It Time to Dump Your DSLR? Going Mirrorless with the Canon R10

Canon R10 with RF-S 18-150mm Lens Underwater at Tiger Beach

Canon RF-S 10-18mm UNDERWATER Review & Results [VIDEO]

Great White Sharks Underwater Camera Settings and Technique

Canon R7 10-18mm Underwater in 4K at Magdalena Bay [VIDEO]

Jake Hiatt is First Mate and Divemaster on The Dolphin Dream liveaboard specializing in shark dives and wild dolphin encounters. Born and raised in Florida he’s at all times had a love for wild locations, each land and sea. When not on the boat he co-hosts wildlife expeditions from Norway to swim with Orcas to Peru and the Amazon together with his girlfriend by means of her enterprise The Wild Linds @thewildlinds. To see extra of Jake’s work and observe alongside together with his adventures observe his insta @Florida_Man_Jake.