When we took our yearly pilgramage to John Pinnekamp State Park in Key Largo a few weeks ago, we took a new toy, a underwater housing for our Nikon Coolpix camera. I've been dabbling with underwater photography for over twenty years, our digital camera performed better and achieved better results than any film camera I've ever used, including the expensive Nikonos.
It's a lot easier to use the big LCD screen than the tiny viewfinder on cameras, or the various oversized framers that never seem to line up right. Being able to use a real optical zoom lens comes in handy too.

In short, if you're going to take pictures underwater, digital is the way to go imnsoho. Here's my latest batch:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=tkiy0i1.55nd8nvh&x=0&y=3yy21s

Of interest to movie modelers, there's some shots of what's left of the camera platform used in the James Bond film Thunderball, it collapsed long ago but the remains are still there in about 20 feet of water!

Just hit "View Slideshow" if you don't have a Kodak account, you don't have to sign in.

Nice pix!
You have a range of blues, are some of them color corrected?
Also, what's the story with the statue?

Jim

John Pennekamp (http://www.pennekamppark.com/) 'Christ of the Abyss'. Nice to see he's still down there with the fish. Last time I visited was in about '76.

I've often wondered about digital cameras and underwater photography. It seems the ideal medium for underwater shots. So many don't turn out, and it was weeks sometimes to get processed when you were off on vacation. Not to mention the cost of film and processing/printing.

The last underwater camera I owned was a Ricoh HiColor 35mm. I lusted for a Nikonos.

As for the color, the biggest difference is depth. Beyond 10 feet or so you need artificial light to see accurate colors.

Nice pics!

I did use color correction on all but the brightest lit pictures, it seems to to re-adjust the lighting correctly imho.

The statue is the 9 foot tall "Christ of the Abyss" bronze statue that sits in about 30 feet of water in the parks protected waters. Because no spear fishing or fishing is allowed in the sanctuary, the sea life is plentiful and totally unafraid of snorkelers.

It's our favorite vacation spot, we go once or twice a year!



I've often wondered about digital cameras and underwater photography. It seems the ideal medium for underwater shots. So many don't turn out, and it was weeks sometimes to get processed when you were off on vacation. Not to mention the cost of film and processing/printing.

The last underwater camera I owned was a Ricoh HiColor 35mm. I lusted for a Nikonos.


Try it Steve, the digital camera works better. Also, the delete feature is wonderful for saving space on your card, with film cameras (even my navy-issue Nikonos) I usually averaged about 3-5 "keeper" shots for every 24 exposure roll I shot.