Emmersion Underwater Photography

Do you ever get back from a dive trip and feel so underwhelmed by your images, that you forget about exporting them from Lightroom to share?

I do this alllll the time.

I think it’s because the experience is so fresh in your mind after a trip. No image could ever capture the feelings you had to the same extend as being there in person.

So, here’s a photo from in Papua New Guinea taken in Sep 2023.

I think it might be time to go through the rest of the collection, don’t you?

📸 Sony A7riii in housing with dual strobes.

Have you seen the sculptures under the Busselton Jetty yet? They make for a great dive! These pics were from November 2023, I’ll be diving there again next week and looking forward to seeing any difference in the marine life making home around them 🙌

It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer 💙

Loving how good the vis is getting at the Busselton Jetty!

🛥️
📸 Sony A7riii, dual strobes, housing

🚢 HMAS Swan Wreck 🚢

An iconic shipwreck in Western Australia and only 2.5 hours drive south of Perth.

The HMAS Swan, a decommissioned naval destroyer, now serves as an artificial reef and one of WA’s most popular wreck dives - and you can see why! There is so much to explore when diving this 140m long ship wreck and it’s home to so much life!

With multiple decks to explore, you'll want to do several dives to fully appreciate the wonders of this fascinating wreck.

The beauty is that divers of all experience levels can enjoy this dive - as the crowsnest sits in just 6m of water while the sand reaches a maximum depth of 32m.

The best time of year for water clarity is Oct - May each year and run tours on their lux custom fitted dive boat out of Busselton Marina 🤙

I’ll absolutely be down there a few weekends this summer - anyone keen to join?

🌊📸
Emma

I’ve loved speaking to so many freedivers lately for the Underwater Photography Exposed Podcast! 🎧

All this talk about freediving got me thinking about things I wish I knew earlier when learning to take photos while holding my breath.

Here are a few tips from me:

👌 Learn to freedive properly. Yes sure, you can wing it. But trust me - it’s a whole lot safer and easier when you learn great techniques. You need to feel comfortable and in control when in the water before you can capture great shots.

👌 Position your camera close and streamlined with your body, it’s much easier to swim with.

👌 Before descending, straighten your arm to hold your camera towards the bottom below you. Then when you duck dive to leave the surface, dive over the camera (similar to if it were a line you were going down). This helps keep the camera close and you in an efficient position for descending. If you haven’t done any line diving to depth, do that to practice without a camera first.

👌 I prefer to make my way to the bottom in the best diving position possible (head down, chin tucked and going straight down) then I position myself to shoot. Going down in a weird angle, trying to chase a subject at the same time just wears you out!

👌 If you need lights, try one video light mounted to the top of your camera first, it’s a lot easier to swim with than dual strobe lights.

👌 Change your settings on the surface, plan your shot, and then breathe up before descending.

❌ Never freedive alone. Ever.

❌ Never chase the shot or push your depth and breath-hold limits.

❌ Don’t rush your recovery between dives. Lugging a camera around can make each dive more taxing - take your time to recover and go for quality over quantity dives.

❌ Do not let the camera distract you from equalising or other essential safety aspects.

Have you got anything else to add?

Happy shooting!
📸🧜‍♀️
Em

Photo Credit:

Hey ocean loving friends 👋

Super exciting news! My new podcast - Underwater Photography Exposed IS LIVE!!! 🎉🎉🎉

The podcast is all about getting to know the people, stories and adventures behind the lens as I interview Underwater Photographers and Ocean Adventures all around the world.

There are some cool tips and tricks for Underwater Photography shared in the episodes too!

🎙️ Episodes drop every Sunday and the first few are up now if you want to have a listen. 🎙️

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY -> https://open.spotify.com/show/2rgcLTwiWthYJfnLfwzYdc

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS ->
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/underwater-photography-exposed-with-emma-burdett/id1696436947

PS - If there's a guest you'd like to hear on an episode, let me know!

Happy listening
🎙️📸🧜‍♀️
Emma

Beqa Lagoon, Fiji 🦈🦈🦈

One of my favourite shark dives!! In fact, it’s one of the few dive spots around the world that I’ve been back to multiple times!

It’s really quite incredible sitting at 30m below the surface and watching these little guys as you look up 💙

The stunning soft corals, reef diving and land based adventures are also another massive draw card for Pacific Harbour & Beqa Lagoon. Stay tuned for the next post with these highlights.

Is Fiji on your diving bucket list?

📸 Sony A6500 in Housing with dual strobes.

Q: How do you get so much colour in your underwater photos?

A: Light, light, baby!

Artificial light is the key to capturing colour, especially at depth.

Options could be:
🔦Single strobe light
🔦Dual strobe lights
🔦 Video lights

Top tip 💡The bigger the shot (wide angle) the bigger you lights need to be, and the longer the arms they are on also need to be. Little shots (macro) require little light.

What lighting do you use for your underwater shots?

🌊📸

Hello! I'm Emma 👋

There are a few new faces around here, so I wanted to say hello and re-introduce myself to those I haven't met.

I'm a self-confessed underwater addict 😂 I'm a scuba instructor, certified tech and rebreather diver, underwater photography coach and freedive enthusiast 🧜‍♀️.

Growing up in New Zealand, I spent so much time on the water that my family gave me the nickname Fish very early on.

Perth has been home for the last 12 years, and I've been very fortunate meet so many epic people and also travel to many incredible dive destinations around the world in this time too 🙌.

I've been teaching Underwater Photography since 2015 (wow, how time flies!). I'm super passionate about making it easy for all ocean loving peeps to get started with the awesome hobby.

Reach out and say hi - I'd love to know where you're from!

PS - This photo of me was taken after diving with over 25 Grey Nurse Sharks at South West Rocks in NSW, Australia - hence the big grin! 🦈🦈🦈

Happy shooting!
Em

Guess which camera took these photos 🤔

Spolier alert ‼️

It was the all mighty Olympus TG-6!

If you are looking for an entry level underwater camera that can grow with you as an then I always suggest the TG 👏

Swipe to the end photo to see what a full system could look like over time, including:

👉 Dive Housing
👉 Tray and handles
👉 2 x Strobes Lights
👉 Video / Focus Light
👉 Wide Angle Wet Lens

You don’t have to start with all of these accessories, but sometimes it’s just good to know what’s possible!

Follow me for more underwater photography tips 👌

📸
Happy shooting!

☀️ Natural Light ☀️

Sometimes you just don’t need strobe lights - turn them off and see what you can do with the camera and good ol’ sunshine!

Especially when you’re in stunning waters like this at the Rowley Shoals, Western Australia 💙

Today’s dive was allllll about the fish, nurse shark and bull rays 🐠🐠🐠

How great is Rottnest Island, Western Australia!

Thanks to the crew and everyone on board with Underwater Explorers Club of Western Australia 👏

🧜‍♀️
Emma Burdett

Underwater Photo Tip ‼️ Want stunning colours in photos? Look for yellow fish! The contrast of yellow against the blue water always pops! 🐠🐠🐠

📸 Sony A7iii in housing & 2 strobes.

📍 Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Helloooooo Rotto! It’s been a while, great to see you again 💙

📸 Sony A7riii, Wide Angle Lens & Dual Ikelite Strobes

🛥️ Thanks to all the wonderful Underwater Explorers Club of Western Australia for another great day out!

Ps - I actually forgot how challenging underwater images at Rottnest Island can be. A bit of surge, sand stirred up and fish refusing to cluster together 😂

🧜‍♀️ Emma Burdett

Friday feels - Let's go!!

🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️

📸 Sony A7riii + Wide Angle Lens. Natural light only.

One of my absolute favourite things about diving is the community and the buddies you make along the way!

When starting to curate my collection from our Rowley Shoals trip this year, it’s the people that jump out at me first! Thank you all for joining and making this trip so memorable. There are too many photos of buddies to share, here’s a small snippet of them 💙

More photos from the to come soon!

📸🐠

I first dived at the Rowley Shoals in 2012 and have been very fortunate to return a few more times since. I wasn’t sure what to expect when heading there 2 weeks ago… I had heard there was a lot of pillaging over covid times and we all know temperatures have been rising in recent years.

Im pleased to say from what I say, everything was as remarkable, prestige and healthy as I remember is being in 2012!

It’s a bit of a trek out to this remote gem, but if you ever get the opportunity to go… think twice about saying no.

💙

Today is World Ocean Day and a key reminder of how precious yet volatile our oceans are! 💙

The 2022 Conservation Action Focus: Protect at least 30% of our blue planet by 2030.

You can help by signing the petition to encourage leaders to join the movement and adopt the 30x30 goal as soon as possible. Leaders make big decisions leading up to the United Nations Biodiversity Summit (COP-15) in September, and all encouragement is needed.

Head to 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WOD30x30 to sign the petition.

#30×30

Moment of tranquillity and fish life below of the sea on a single breath 💙

📸 Sony A7riii + Wide Angle Lens. Natural light only.

🧜‍♀️ Trip by Blueback Freediving & Yoga 🛥 on board with Bucket List Diver

Woohooo! What a moment this was at Rottnest Island over the weekend 🦈.

We were freediving on the line in 22m of water when this guy come along to check out what was going on, very curious Bronze Whaler he was.

Thanks for letting me commandeer your camera, Briony!

What a great day out thanks to Tania Douthwaite - Blueback Freediving & Yoga and Bucket List Diver ☀️

📸 Olympus TG6 with wide angle wet lens.



😀
Emma

Summer is here!! 🌞

I had an opportunity to jump in the water for a quick snorkel at Little Salmon Bay, Rottnest Island last weekend. Seriously - how lucky Perthians to have this island just a ferry hop away?!

There’s actually not been a snorkel operator at the island for a very long time (if ever) and now there is Rottnest Snorkel Tours. I’ll be heading out again with them soon! Anyone else keen to join?

Here are a few pics from the day out 💙

Camera: Olympus OMD-EM5 with 9mm wide angle lens
Housing: Ikelite
Lighting: 2 x Ikelite DS161 Strobes

You know I’m passionate when the hands come out 👌😂

If you’re a snorkeler, freediver, or scuba diver and have always been curious about underwater photography, this online mini course is for you!

Learn underwater photography basics, gear recommendation, post-production tips and more for only $59 AUD!

Click here to start today:

https://emmersionunderwater.com.au/online-mini-course-underwater-photography/

Happy to my time at Vanuatu! Can’t wait to visit these clear blue waters again.

I’ve been antsy and ready to travel again, can you tell??

Wednesday already??

This little guy and I would like to wish you a happy rest of your week!

PS - this guys was TINY!! Smaller than your pinky fingernail. There was no way a 60mm lens was going to cut it, but I tried anyway! This is where diopters or macro wet lenses come in handy to pop on… if only I had one with me underwater!

Camera: Canon EOS 7D with 60mm macro lens
Housing: Aquatica
Lighting: 2 x Ikelite DS161 Strobes
Location: Tulamben, Bali

Get in quick! The very last Perth Basics Workshop for the year is coming up!! With only two spots left, you need to hurry and grab those tickets.

During this 4 hour workshop I’ll teach you all about the equipment and techniques needed to take great photos with any type of camera!

What you should expect to learn by the end of the workshop:

Basics of photography composition and exposure.

Choosing the right camera for your needs.

Underwater photography equipment and accessories.

Tips, tricks and settings for taking photos below the surface.

Introduction to Adobe Lightroom & post-production editing techniques.

Caring for your underwater equipment.

Resources and next steps for your photography.

Tickets $169 per person and include tea, coffee and light snacks for lunch.

Click the link below for more:
https://emmersionunderwater.com.au/product/underwater-photography-basics-group-workshop/

Miss this feeling 💙 planning my next diving trip abroad as soon as we get the a-okay from

Caption this!
A picture really does say a thousand words 😂

Camera: Sony A6500 with 10-18mm wide angle lens
Housing: Fantasea
Lighting: Ambient light only
Location: Busselton Jetty, Western Australia

Hello friends!

If you’re new to underwater photography or looking to get started, you’ve probably done some research into potentially buying gear.

I’ll be the first one to admit that this was not an easy task to accomplish as a newbie. There is so much information out there and so many brands that it’s hard to know what’s best for YOU!

As a scuba instructor and underwater photography coach, I can help guide you through any questions whether they’re gear, photography, or diving related.

For tailored one-on-one time with me, go ahead and book a 90-minute session through the link in below:
https://emmersionunderwater.com.au/private-lessons/

Private lessons are available via Zoom or in person if you’re in Perth.

Drop a comment below if you have any questions!

There’s something about the Solomon Islands that makes me want to go back time and time again.

Tell us your favourite diving spots around the globe below!