PHOTO TIPS FOR PALAU DIVING

Text and Photos by Kevin Davidson

We all know that sharks don't just come up to you and hold still. Unless you are at a controlled shark feeding or baiting, the amount of time that sharks get close is not too often. Fortunately here in Palau those close encounters occur just a little more than normal, usually when there is some current present. The reef hook should be used when current is high because it allows divers the use of both hands and keeps reef damage to a minimum. Whether you are using the hook or not, the sharks move around the reef at their own pace. How close they come to you depends on whether you are a gentle presence in the ocean.

Now I haven't even talked about the camera yet because nearly any camera will take a good picture of a shark as long as it doesn't have a wide angle lens. Your movement in the water is most important, since you don't want to scare them away. When the moment happens that they wander in close, you want to be ready for them; camera on, strobe on! If using natural light the camera should be ready with proper f-stop and distance setting. But how do you know this before you get there?

In my experience, I came to realize that the good shark pictures were the ones that were about three to five feet away. You should have a good feel for what your own camera setup will do. That comes from paying attention to the strength of your strobe output and its coverage. I'm not one to start spouting degrees of angle for strobes, because if your serious about photos you will obtain this 'feel' for your own system. There are so many ways to take pictures with different cameras.

Nearly all strobes put out their best light at about three to five feet, depending on the clarity of the water. The less water you shoot through, the better. Get close! Easier said than done, which brings us back to the importance of being a gentle presence on the reef. Avoid sudden movements and keep yourself fairly low to the reef. Good buoyancy is a must. A good and balanced diver will take better pictures.

To sum up:

• work on better than average diving skills
• have good knowledge of your camera system
• have a beginning understanding of how sharks react on the reef

If your going to visit me in Palau I can be of tremendous help in all these subjects and help you streamline yourself for great photos.