how to start water photography

If you're passionate about water photography, whether you're into seascapes, water sports, or minimalistic photography, at some point, stepping into the water with your camera will feel like a natural consequence. At least, that’s how it was for me.

how i started water photography

After several months of exploring beaches with a camera in hand, flying a drone over the Dutch coast, and photographing surfers in action, this need for direct contact with the water suddenly kicked in.
Though, to be honest, it wasn’t that sudden, because I’ve had a slight affection for water since I was a kid. In my family, there are anecdotes about how, after spending hours in my grandparents' pond, I supposedly grew webbing between my fingers—you know, like a frog.

So, at some point, it just clicked. I had to get into the water with my camera, period.

It took me a few weeks to do some research about the equipment. The only thing I knew was that I needed a camera and waterproof housing.
The tricky part was finding the right match between the camera and the housing and making sure it wouldn’t sink. That gave me at least a few sleepless nights. I read and watched everything on the internet and listened to advice from both amateurs and pros.

my water photography gear

Eventually, I decided to purchase a spare camera that would be my go-to for water photography. It couldn’t be anything other than Sony (since I was already a very happy owner of the A7III).
However, putting the A7III in the water, in a housing I wasn’t sure I could trust, was not an option.

The choice fell on the Sony A6400 and two prime lenses (Sigma 19mm and Sony 35mm), as I knew it was a reliable camera with a small size and big capabilities. And it matched the Seafrogs housing (there’s a whole line dedicated to Sony, by the way).

Both the A6400 and the housing have met my expectations in terms of quality and price so far. However, water photography equipment is probably a topic for another, more detailed post.

The most important thing was to get everything together, step into the water, and safely get out after the shoot.

first photos made in the water

During my first salty session, the sea was a bit rough, and I wasn’t confident enough to go in deeper than waist level. So, I stayed a few meters from the shoreline, put the camera in the water, and then the magic happened. No, wait, not really.

I set the camera with a very fast shutter speed. Despite having the option to see the live view on the camera display, I was essentially shooting blind. I don’t even remember how many photos I took—and most of them turned out pretty terrible.

Basically, with each water session, I learned how light behaves on the water surface under different weather conditions, so every time I came home with more keepers.

from surf to empty waves photography

From my initial fascination with surf photography, my focus has soon shifted to empty waves, water structures, and its movements. Which matches more with my photography style and personal preferences for working alone.

The fact that I can capture not only what I see in the water but also things that are so difficult for the naked eye to notice—so many fleeting moments in this constantly changing environment, from such a new perspective—is incredibly magical, almost unreal, and makes water photography so special.

I didn’t do many water sessions this year, which is a pity and a bit of a shame, but it also has its reasons. Also, after many travels and photo trips, trying different photography niches and subjects, I eventually realised I missed it so much that soon I went to the water twice within a few days.

I also have some underwater shots planned in near future, but more on that later.

In this post, I’m sharing the results of my last session from the end of August 2024, on the beach in Monster, The Netherlands.

Houdoe folks, take care and see you soon again!