Underwater Photography

Backup and workflow considerations for professional wildlife photographers.

I’ve written (and routinely update) this article so that (1) it’s easy to refer people with questions about the gear I use, and how I set it up, and (2) I can remember what settings I use, too.

I’ve just been testing and refining my gear configuration for macro, so I thought it’d be useful for Future Simon – and hopefully you too – to write up some notes on underwater macro photography with the Sony A7rIII camera, Sony 90 mm macro lens, and Nauticam NA-A7RIII housing.

I’ve been using the Sony FE 90 mm G OSS macro lens as my go-to underwater macro photography lens since late 2018. I really enjoy using it – with the exception of poor autofocus in low light underwater using the Sony A7rIII, which I rant about in great detail here.

The animals that live here, are fantastically, mind-blowingly diverse. After three solid days of diving, I’m completely hooked. Tulamben, close to the spectacular Mt Agung, is stunning, Scuba Seraya is one of the nicest little dive resorts I’ve stayed at, and the diving… well. Let’s talk about the diving!

Bored of simply trying to take good photos, with complicated equipment, while lying suspended in thick liquid, within an unbreathable, alien environment? Don’t worry, I have a solution. We’ll do all of the above… at night. Also, let’s add a thick mask filter so you can’t see properly.