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Having been snorkelling in the Caribbean we took numerous films of marine life using those ubiquitous underwater cameras sold in the UK by Kodak Express, Jessops, and Boots.

However having got the films developed and printed (and scanned onto CD) by Jessops UK, all of them have come out blueish-green, with a disinct lack of contrast and detail, and grain the size of golf balls, even though we were only just underwater when we were taking photos.

I do understand that this is normal, but that processing labs can adjust the developing by forcing an extra stop of exposure for red and yellow and losing stop for blues and greens. HOWEVER SERVCE WAS NOT OFFERED TO US BY THE THREE ABOVE MENTIONED COMPANIES - DESPITE REQUESTING SPECIAL PROCESSING.

Also we have heard that we could have used a colour orrecting filter at the time the shots were taken. But no-one advised us of this when we purchased the cameras and films, and indeed no such filters are fitted or available
for the cameras we used.

Also we understand that even though the processing (developing) of the negs. was automated, the printing can also be adjusted again by enhancing reds and yellows and toning down the blues and greens.

However - again this service is NOT available from Jessops (who actually processed the films and therefore effectively ruined them), Boots, nor Kodak Express. Indeed the lab. technicians from the shops of all three companies have categorically stated that they do not offer any such service as colour adjustment for films exposed underwater.

I do find this situation unacceptable especially since all three companies sell so-called underwater cameras. Yet these cameras are not loaded with special colour saturatd film, they do not come with colour filters, and the grain is too course for high resolution printing. In Jessops' case they also sell highly professional (and expensive)
underwater cameras. Yet no-one appears to offer a proper developing and printing service.

We have tried to adjust the images with Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop but the results are still not acceptable.

It must be possible to take good undewater photographs - but the ubiquitous use-one-time 'disposables' are frankly rubbish. Perhaps we should have spent thousands of pounds purchasing really good equipment, but then there is little point if no-one can be bothered to offer a decent developing and printing service.

CJB

Hello, Chris. Kodak actually does offer specialized processing for photos shot underwater. They call it Sea Processing, and you need to send your film directly to Kodak. Many scuba shops in US act as dealers, not sure what the case might be in UK. You may be able to just send the film in yourself. Here's the link:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/consumer/sea/

Also, the disposables that you refer to will very rarely give you a good underwater print. The biggest problem underwater is that red light gets absorbed by water very rapidly. Anything beyond a couple of feet or so, even in clear tropical water, will typically come out blue-ish unless you use a powerful strobe. Hope this helps!

chris,

Sorry you had such a bad time of it. I have seen some really nice shots taken with disposables, but everything has to be just perfect.

I would guess without seeing you shots, that besides using a cheap disposable, your subjects were too far away. Like roman mentioned, light gets absorbed very fast, although underwater less than 10' assuming your were withing 1-3 feet of your subject, you would see very little coor shifting.

There is a golden rule shooting underwater. when you think your close enough, get closer. Water is so dense, that even with a strong strobe, you normally cannot shoot much past 3-5 feet and expect good exposures.

As a suggestion, next time try renting a dedicated underwater system like a nikonos 5 or a digital at the location you are at.

Finally, you can adjust the color balance of your images in photoshop if you have some patience, and assuming there is acatually some color other than blue in the original.

Once again, sorry for your disappointing results!

Chris,

I would have to echo the above comments. Underwater photography can be very tricky even WITH the fancy, thousand plus dollar rigs.

One other factor that you were most likely encountering that has not been addressed is the so called "large grain." Of course, I haven't seen your photos but I would guess you were actually experiencing what is called back-scatter. This comes from the direct, head on lighting from the camera's built in flash. In order to avoid this, you need a separate, off angle strobe. Again, not something you'll find on any disposable unit.

There are some relatively inexpensive set-ups out there, though. Sea & Sea makes several models of "point and shoot" cameras that will accept different lenses and filters as well as strobes. This is what I started with and I've had some pretty decent results. Of course, a housing for your SLR would help you get much, much better results.

Don't give up! Keep diving and go rent some "real" cameras to see the difference!

I quote:

"It must be possible to take good undewater photographs - but the ubiquitous use-one-time 'disposables' are frankly rubbish. Perhaps we should have spent thousands of pounds purchasing really good equipment, but then there is little point if no-one can be bothered to offer a decent developing and printing service."

I think this is being very harsh indeed, The D&P staff can only work with what is there, and even if you starute the red and yellow levels to 100%, no red will appear if there is no red in the photo.

I wouldn't expect the sales assistants at Jessops to know enough about sea photography to recommend colour correction filters - they are often glorified checkout operators, and may well be dreaming of working at Asda, who may well pay better wages.

I am surprised that you did so very little research into the photography needs of such an expensive holiday, actually. Had it been me, part of the fun would have been reading up on the topic. Also, I would have hired or borrowed a decent camera and underwater housing, to record the trip. The negative may then have had enough colour information for subsequent colour manipukation.

You get what you pay for, in terms of both cash and effort.

Tell you what though - you have a damned good excuse for another similar holiday as soon as you can arrange it! Now that IS a bonus!

You can shoot great photos with the least expensive camera.

However; you must get close, and when you are close enough, get closer. You must fill the view finder with your subject. You must only shoot eyes and teeth, no fish butts. You must be able to do this without killing the reef, and stirring up the bottom.

I have seen great photos with cheaper cameras, you just need lots of practice. Start in a pool, then go to open water.

Keep, trying and you will get it. I have shot 1000s of shots underwater, and most go in the trash. Keep trying.

Tim

Saluxi P.	James W.	a. S.	Michael B.	Nigel W.	Michael B.	el k.	ADAM O.

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