Saturation Post-processing may mean increasing colour saturation to better refl ect what you saw in the viewfi nder or to make a subject stand out. Like all modifi cations, it should be done subtly. Overdoing it may kill the natural look of an image.
Cropping Landscape photographers use tripods and slowly work on their composition. Underwater photography is more like sports
photojournalism: fast moving action and no time to play with a tripod. Under such circumstances, optimal composition may be hard to come by. On a computer, cropping an image becomes a piece of cake. Always shoot your pi ctures with the best
composition possible but cropping in post is probably going to be needed, especially if your buddy’s fi n tip or a fi shtail appears at the corner of a picture!
Backscatter The question that bugs every underwater photographer and makes the deliberations of photo juries look like ‘The War of the Worlds’: Can backscatter be removed in post-processing? The answer is yes and no. There are lighting techniques that minimize
backscatter and mastering them comes fi rst. However, even the clearest waters contain all sorts of particles and sediments. Moreover, digital sensors seem to love those tiny white spots. What do you do if an otherwise great image exhibits
some backscatter? Some will say leave it there, it is part of the environment and you should present your subject in the most faithful fashion. Others will argue, you make an image to show your vision of the subject, to convey a message; if this means removing backscatter then so be it! Our answer is: Do what you feel is right. If a
publisher or competition requires that an image should not be altered outside of cropping and minimal tonal changes, then don’t do it. If you are making a fi ne art print and those annoying white spots destroy your vision, remove them. Famous B&W underwater photographer Ernie Brooks
used to spend hours removing some backscatter on prints using tiny brushes and special paints. The computer freed him of this task and he loves it.
Sharpening Sharpening is indispensable and the level of sharpening depends on the intended viewing support. Be careful though, as it’s easy to overdo it. Software like Lightroom and Photoshop use smart
sharpening, which improves sharpness and minimizes the undesirable eff ects it can have on your images. It can also be applied to specifi c areas in an image.
A mandatory step Post-processing is a necessary evil in our underwater photo world. We all want to avoid it – who needs to spend more time at the computer these days – but we cannot. In a past issue we wrote about Vivid-Pix™, a simple
post-processing software. This may be all you need, but don’t hesitate to use other tools. After all, it is your vision of the underwater world and you are the master. Happy Bubbles!
InF cus Photo Gear Snaps hots AQUATICA
AD810 - Nikon D810 housing $3,529
Exquisitely machined aircraft grade aluminum alloy, incredible ergonomics and serious attention to detail make the latest Aquatica housing nothing short of a masterpiece.
www.aquaitca.ca
GoPro The Tool (wrench & bottle opener) $4.99
It’s the little things in life that can make a big diff erence. Tightening, or unscrewing GoPro thumb screws can be tough, especially if salt has had its way. T e Tool makes it easy, and also opens your beer!
www.gopro.com
Canon
EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens $199
A featherweight addition to Canon’s EF range, and at a fantastic price. T e F2.8 - 22, auto focus lens helps reduce ghosting and lens fl are with a special coating. An excellent value for stills or video.
www.canon.com
Apple
27” iMac $2,499
If you’re looking for detail, the new Retina 5K display from Apple is as good as it gets. 14.7 million pixels, and high brightness make this the screen for photo or video editing.
www.apple.com
Ikelite
Dual Arm Tray $100
Sturdy, ergonomically pleasing, and now made to fit non-Ikelite housings too. Great for compacts, GoPro’s, even iPhones. Quick release handles for lighting arms, and rubber grips.
www.ikelite.com
www.divermag.com 51
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