Underwater Photography Courses on Roatan:
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A common question from new photographers is "Why are all my shots green or blue? What is meant by ISO? An f-stop? Shutter speed? What are all these buttons? I just want to take a good picture!"
You've invested in an underwater camera but can't seem to get the images you want. Get the most out of your camera and your time underwater by taking a photography course tailored to your needs. Whether you have been taking photos underwater for years and want to learn some new techniques, or you have just purchased your first camera, an underwater photography course can help you get you the images you want. Read on to find out more... |
Course Instructors:
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Mickey Charteris
Mickey is the author of Caribbean Reef Life, and has been diving and photographing the reefs of Roatan for over a decade. He specialises in compact cameras, macro photography and capturing fish behavior. See samples of Mickey's work here. |
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Steve Zedekar
Steve's award-winning underwater photos have taken him around the world, and he is based in the Pacific Northwest. He specialises in transferring cold water techniques to Caribbean diving, as well as image post-production. See samples of Steve's work here. |
Course Content:
This is a full week of diving purely dedicated to underwater photography! You will get to know your camera and Caribbean reef diving like no other dive vacation can offer. Five days of diving from your own dedicated dive boat "Delfin", each day dedicated to a different aspect of underwater photography. Topics include:
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Natural Lighting:
One of the trickiest aspects of clear-water diving is what do do with all the ambient light found on a Caribbean reef, especially for divers used to less visibility. You will learn to use this light to your advantage by using the Manual White Balance settings found on your camera. |
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Flash Photography:
Whether you are using external strobes or the built-in flash on your camera, understanding the light you are adding to the reef is essential to getting the vivid colors you want from your photos. Learn to get all these colors while avoiding backscatter and washed-out, overexposed photos. |
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Macro Photography:
Some of the most beautiful and colorful characters on a Caribbean reef are also the smallest. Learn to spot, approach and capture these subjects with as much detail as possible, with or without specialised lenses or lighting. Get closer to the things you love! |
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Special Techniques:
Get creative with your underwater photos! Learn how to take great silhouette shots, shots of other divers or even just interesting abstracts. A large part of the course also involves techniques in post-processing, or editing your photos to get them closer to what you see in your mind's eye! |
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Where to Dive: West End Divers
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West End Divers is a PADI 5 star resort that has been exploring the reefs of Roatan since 1992. With a dedicated dive staff and on-site equipment maintenance station, new compressor and a dedicated camera area for photographers. With a great restaurant upstairs, Cafe Escondido, it's the perfect place to spend a day diving, relaxing and learning more about underwater photography. The 52 foot dive boat, Delfin, is at your disposal to get to dive sites in comfort, with plenty of room for your camera gear and your buddies'. For a closer look at this great shop, visit www.westenddivers.info
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Where to Stay: CocoLobo
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CocoLobo is a small, friendly place with a big heart. Rooms are immaculate and right on the water's edge, with an infinity pool and bar that makes the most of the sunsets right in front of your rooms! Just a few minutes walk from the centre of town, it has a quiet and laid-back atmosphere with all the comforts of home. For more, visit www.cocolobo.com
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Student Reviews:
* " I went into this photo course thinking, "I've got this stuff pretty much mastered, I wonder what I will be able to take from it"...well I sure took A LOT from this course! Mastering blue water and natural light is an artform in itself. Mickey Charteris made it easy to understand these concepts in his course, and help me apply them to my photography. No more blue photos for me! Thanks a bunch Mickey!" : Andrea Peterson
* "Thank you for the excellent photo class! I would like to come back soon and dive some of the more obscure sites that you discussed." Jim Smith
* "Mickey's ability to teach is probably what impressed me the most. I thought that the preparation put into our class was excellent, the media presentations were fantastic and the way he was able to convey the information to us was exceptional. Lots of people who are “experts” can’t teach worth a lick. This course has got the whole package." Rob Wassom
* "Thank you for the excellent photo class! I would like to come back soon and dive some of the more obscure sites that you discussed." Jim Smith
* "Mickey's ability to teach is probably what impressed me the most. I thought that the preparation put into our class was excellent, the media presentations were fantastic and the way he was able to convey the information to us was exceptional. Lots of people who are “experts” can’t teach worth a lick. This course has got the whole package." Rob Wassom
