Getting the Blues

Alex Mustard · Issue 31, Jul/Aug 2006 · pp. 27–32

Products mentioned: Nikon D2X, Subal Housing, Subtronic strobes, Ikelite strobes, Inon strobes, Fuji S2, Magic Filter

Background blues are a very important component of tropical diving images, yet the techniques for getting the most pleasing blues rarely seem to be discussed in much detail. This article is here to redress the balance. First, conditions are crucial. The richest and most vibrant blues occur when the water is clear and the sun is high and bright. Digital cameras are certainly more forgiving in this respect than film cameras and can produce good background blues in a wider range of conditions, but it remains very important to seek out the best conditions. On any dive and depending on the lens there is usually one or two perfect angles that will produce the most pleasing blues and I spend much of the first few minutes of my dives hunting for them. Only then going on to look for subjects to drop in front. Late in the day or early in the morning the blue of the water lacks its sparkle, althoug…