The best things in life come in the smallest packages. Many photographers certainly agree, because the underwater world becomes even more fascinating when you learn to dive slow, look close and appreciate the little things. Macro images usually start with a great subject, but it is often the background that completes the job, transforming the average into exceptional. Black backgrounds should be your go-to option for graphically powerful pictures.

Background to the Fore

1. Wishes Denied

The oceans are full of wondrous macro subjects, many of which have such gaudy colorations and intricate designs that you’d think they were designed solely to be photographed. Understandably, photographers get obsessed with them, often turning up at dive resorts with wish lists. It is much better to be focused on images, not subjects. A common subject that offers a great background always trumps a rare species with a poor background.

2. Black and Blue

Backgrounds are essential for success, but they must be cast in the role of supporting actor, as opposed to the subject. Framing subjects against open water creates clean, nondistracting backgrounds. Use a closed aperture and fast shutter speed to make this an eye-catching black (strobes will provide ample light for the subject). Alternately slow the shutter speed, bump up the ISO, and open the aperture to turn the background blue (or green) for a more naturalistic feel.

3. Beautiful Bokeh

You can also quell background by opening the aperture to reduce the depth of field and transform distracting details into a smooth blur. In this extreme example from the Philippines (above), I opened my aperture all the way to f/2.8 to defocus much of the complicated detail of this tube anemone. Photographers use the Japanese word bokeh (pronounced to rhyme with OK) to describe the pleasing blurred look of backgrounds.

Macro Lighting

Shooting macro images puts a premium on precisely controlling strobes to show off subjects in their best light and produce creative effects

Beginner Tip

Soft and even lighting makes the color and detail of a macro subject shine. This type of lighting is easily produced: Position your strobe or strobes close to the port and pointing forward. Flat light isn’t boring; it suits almost all macro subjects. Both pictures on the previous pages were lit this way.

Intermediate Tip

Once most photographers have bought their second strobe, they rarely go back to shooting with one. This is a big mistake for macro. One strobe positioned above the port will give pleasing, flat lighting. Moving it around totally changes the quality of the light: The more it’s angled across the subject, the more intense the textures and shadows appear.

Advanced Tip

Moving your strobe around behind the subject produces backlighting. This really suits filamentous and translucent critters, such as those found on muck dives, like hairy frogfish. The strobe should be positioned on a long arm beyond the subject, aimed to light the back of the subject, but most important, the strobe must be out of view of the lens.