Divers love corals. A healthy coral garden, jam-packed with stony corals of different shapes and various spiky textures, is one of the most uplifting sights in the underwater world. Frustratingly, it can be hard to capture this wonder in images. There are more than 1,500 species of reef-building corals in the world — this issue we give you ideas and solutions to capture these subjects in all their glory.

Ultimate Coral Shot

1. Study Session
Corals spend most of the year doing a convincing impression of a piece of rock, but for just a few minutes, usually late at night, they explode into effervescent life. This is truly the epitome of hard-coral images, but they are not easy shots to get, and there are no second chances. National Geographic’s top man, David Doubilet, shares his hard-won knowledge on the subject: “We always try to collaborate closely with the scientist studying that system. For instance, here on the Great Barrier Reef (above), Dr. Peter Harrison educated us on what species would spawn down to the very minute.”

2. Scout Mission
Most corals spawn at night, making photography more of a challenge. “Coral spawning is about time and place,” says Doubilet. Air and no-decompression time last only so long, so planning your dive really pays off. “We scout the reef by day to select our best shooting options based on access. Our setups include a range of lenses — from specialized endoscopes, macro and wide angle — with backlighting, and we are careful setting up so as to not disturb the reef.” It is important not to shine bright lights at the corals; this can disrupt the timing of their spawning.

3. Coral Calling
Wide-angle photos best capture the scale of coral spawning, but they pose a challenge because most photographers never shoot wide-angle at night. Before going on a spawning dive, make a practice run to concentrate on your lighting. It is worth the effort, says Doubilet: “Now more than ever, all of us need to document mature coral communities and reproduction. We are in a changing sea altered by the effects of climate change. As photographers, we are on the front lines to document phenomena that are invisible to most humans. We are the eyes in the sea; we have an obligation to share.”

Motionless Masterpiece

Hard corals are defined more by their shapes and textures than color; this is best revealed with directional lighting

Beginner Tip:
The shape and texture of a subject is revealed by shadows. Use side lighting to capture corals with “feel-it” texture. A single strobe aimed in from the side creates the most shadows, but it also gives uneven lighting. A preferable technique is using two strobes pulled out on long strobe arms and aimed back in at the subject. Such crossed strobes give lots of texture and even illumination.

Intermediate Tip:
Hard-coral tissue contains tiny algae called zoox (rhymes with dukes), which provide food and help the coral grow. As a result, most corals grow into shapes that allow them to capture sunlight. This is a positive for photographers. Table corals look great as silhouettes, but for most species, try shooting down to capture individual colonies or the grand vista of a coral garden.

Advanced Tip:
Combine corals with a secondary element, such as a beautiful sunburst, resident marine critter or your dive buddy. Also try to include in your shot all the small fish, like damsels and anthias, that call the coral home. Often these drift away while you are setting up your shot, so do the “fish loop”: Once all your settings are correct, swim a small circle for a minute to give the fish a chance to reappear, and then shoot again.

Dr. Alex Mustard is a marine biologist who has been a full-time photographer since 2004. His latest book, Underwater Photography Masterclass, is out now. To see more of his work, visit amustard.com.

Want to see more? Check out this photo gallery of beautiful coral reefs.