Mind Your Manners

Underwater Etiquette 101: With so many divers shooting stills and video, be considerate of those waiting to shoot the same creature. Show them exactly where the subject is before swimming away, and try not to kick up silt or sand. If you’re the one waiting, keep your distance to avoid having your bubbles end up in the shot.

Tips for Finding Macro Subjects

1. Get smart. Know what you’re looking for and where that creature likes to live. Many critters stay in the same place, so your guide might find them from experience.

2. Move slowly. Speeding around the reef scares away shy guys like gobies or blennies.

3. Look for eyes. Even when its body blends with the background, a critter’s eyes will oftentimes give it away.

Picture Perfect

1. Close Range Master your buoyancy so you can float just over the reef, peering into tiny holes, nooks and crevices without harming marine life.

2. In Focus Focus on the eyes or other prominent features like a nudibranch’s rhinophores.

3. Background Check Look for critters like pygmy seahorses that are on interesting backgrounds, such as sea fans and coral polyps.

Photographing Fish with Eggs

Among mouthbrooding fish such as yellowhead jawfish and ringtailed cardinalfish, it is usually the male that incubates the eggs. The fish aerates the eggs by partially expelling them from its mouth and rotating them; you have about a second to get the perfect snapshot. Use a longer macro lens, keep your distance, and let the fish do its job. If you miss your chance, wait a couple of minutes for it to repeat the process.

Want to read more about macro marine life? Check out our feature on the 20 coolest macro critters in the ocean.