50 Stunning Underwater Photos
Of all the different types of photography showcased on Smashing Magazine, underwater photography is probably one of the most difficult to practice. It requires a very specialized equipment and the knowledge of some advanced techniques to get a perfect picture. You need to get the correct exposure, accurate focus, controlled movement of your subject and a pleasing color balance; you also have to deal with low light. Underwater photos offen suffer from loss of color and contrast when taken at a significant depth. Such photos are always adjusted with color balance to help offset the blueish tint of the water.
Because underwater photography is a specialized art, relatively few photographers attempt it. But it offers many exciting and rare photographic opportunities for fresh and truly different vivid images. Most often, photographers use a traditional film or digital camera covered in a watertight casing. Professionals prefer to use special underwater cameras.
Below, we present over 50 beautiful examples of underwater photos, created by artists and professional photographers. All works featured below have the artists and photographers’ names linked to their portfolios or websites. At the bottom of this post you’ll fine some links to Flickr groups where you can find more similar and exciting photos.
Also consider our previous showcases:
- 35 Beautiful Examples Of Rain Photography
- 45 Beautiful Motion Blur Photos
- Beautiful Black And White Photos
- (Really) Stunning Pictures and Photos
- Celebration Of Smoke Photography and Smoke Art
50 Stunning Underwater Photos
Kenvin Pinardy
Dancing underwater.
Gattaldo
Water just makes every situation more poetic and graceful.
Smodger
Colorful scene captured using macro photography technique.
Tina Owens
Blue crab holding an urchin on its head for protection.
Saul Kondrotas
Jellyfish
Last Click
1938 underwater photography
By Bruce Mozertom.
Further Resources
Links for further photographs and related resources.
- Life Aquatic
The Life Aquatic group welcomes pictures of, but not limited to, amphibians, annelids, abalone, anemones, aquariums, aquatic plants, birds, bryozoans, chambered nautilus, cnidaria, coral reefs, crustaceans, coelenterates, ctenophores, fish, freshwater fish, jellyfish, marine mammals, mollusks, octopi, reptiles, sea snakes, sea squirts, sea turtles, sharks, sponges, squid, starfish, tunicates, etc. - Aquatic Turtles
All species of aquatic turtles - Aquatic insects
Photography of benthic macroinvertebrates, including dragonflies, mosquitoes, mayflies, stoneflies, water striders, beetles, etc. - Digital Underwater Photography
Scuba and other underwater photos. - Underwater Indoneesia
Photos taken underwater in Indonesia, including Bali, Java, Moluccas, Papua (Irian Jaya), Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes), and other dive spots in Indonesia. - Underwater Maldives
Photos taken underwater in the Maldives Islands. - Underwater Videos
Underwater, scuba, diving or snorkeling videos.
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Dzinepress
October 24th, 2011 6:54 amawesome inspiration in these of all photographs even learning from listed ideas. thanks for sharing
me
October 26th, 2011 11:10 amAll was amazing except those with scantily clad people.
Katherine Rickey
January 31st, 2012 3:54 pmABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING
Danielle Susalla
March 29th, 2012 8:34 pmWow, these are fantastic images! Wish that some of them were in the upcoming Liquid Capture: Masters of Underwater Photography exhibition at Oceanside Museum of Art in San Diego, CA opening April 28, 2012. Visit the museum to see about 40 additional image of underwater photography artists from around the world .
barry jackson
May 8th, 2012 8:56 pmjust plain and simple genius, beautiful work I am truly inpressed with the quality and creativity and hope only to come one tenth as close to your work, thank you so much!
zavera
July 19th, 2012 9:22 amReally beautiful!
Shashi
August 9th, 2012 4:14 pmsuperbb, mind blowing!
aamer
September 19th, 2012 5:59 pmvery atteractive pictures
Tom
March 7th, 2013 3:31 amI love it.
Unfortunately I have no hope to come any way near with my humble g12