Doing the Splits

Martin Stevens · Issue 150, May/Jun 2026 · pp. 34–36

Products mentioned: Olympus OM5, Olympus 7-14mm Pro, Olympus 8mm fisheye, Olympus 60mm macro, Olympus EM5 MIII, Isotta housing, Sea and Sea YS-D3 MII strobes, Canon G9X MKII, Fantasea FG9X, Weefine WFL-02 lens, DiveVolk dome port, GoPro dome ports

Some of the most frequently asked questions I receive relate to taking split shots or over-under photos. These are probably my favourite types of image to capture, and when executed well, they can offer a unique perspective. Of the photos I’ve had recognised in competitions, probably half of them have been split shots, so they certainly can have a broad appeal. Here’s a few tips and tricks that I’ve used over the years. The key to a compelling split shot is that it should be visually appealing both above and below the water. If either part of the image is dull, the overall composition will likely fall flat and raises the question of whether a split shot was needed in the first place. Ultimately, a split shot should tell a story that neither part of the image alone could convey. It could be a mysterious jellyfish just beneath the surface with landscape or human life above, a beautiful sun…