Reef Photo & Video

On the hunt for a new to you housing? 🤔

Check out our Pre-Owned Gear Section! We’ve recently added several items, including the NA-R6, NA-A7C, and the Cinema System for the Arri Alexa. Your next piece of gear could be waiting for you!

NA-R5II Housing for Canon EOS R5II Camera NA-R5II Housing for Canon EOS R5II Camera

Do you remember your first dive with your underwater camera gear? 🤔

Marcelo was so excited to get his Canon EOS R6 in the water that after a trial run at the Blue Heron Bridge, he headed straight to the reefs of Bonaire!

Thank you, Marcelo, for sharing your images with us.

One of the ways we are dedicated to bringing you lifetime support is by partnering with The Underwater Club. With purchases over USD $2,000, you'll receive a 30-day free trial of their online underwater photography program!

How close is close enough?

Let's take a look at the SMC-1 and SMC-2. Both of these Super Macro Converters require you to get much closer than you might anticipate!

As you learn more about these two wet lenses, you may encounter the term “working distance.” Similar to the lens on your camera, these wet lenses have a minimum and maximum focus distance. Understanding these distances is crucial for getting the most out of these lenses. The better you know your working distances, the more “keeper shots” you’re likely to capture.

Images 2 & 3 = SMC-1 Working Distance - 45-93mm 1.7in - 3.6in- 2.2x
Images 3 & 4 = SMC-2 Working Distance - 22-36mm .8in - 1.4in - 3.4x

The Blenny & Christmas Tree Worm were shot on the SMC-1 by LGWV Photography

You know you've captured great footage when everyone immediately gathers around to review it after the dive.

Is there a better feeling than knowing you nailed the shot?
media .harrington.1z

Ever since full-frame digital cameras started to become popular for underwater, the photographic community has longed for a true full-frame fisheye zoom, but to no avail.

Is Nauticam's FCP-1 the lens we have been waiting for?

The Nauticam FCP-1: The Answer for a Full Frame Fisheye Zoom? Creating an Optical Solution the Camera Manufacturers have Ignored Ever since full frame digital cameras started to become popular for underwater, the photographic community has longed for a true full frame fisheye zoom, but to no avail. Many of us remember the joy of the Tokina 10-17 fisheye zoom h...

Have you tried shooting Super Macro?🤔

The SMC-1 & SMC-2 are favorites among photographers who enjoy shooting super macro and for good reason! The SMC-1 provides 2.3x magnification while the SMC-2 provides a whopping 4x magnification! Now keep in mind this will require a bit more patience to nail the shots as .p.gavilan has done with his SMC-2.

Where do you take your video lights?

📸 .harrington.1z

Do you remember your first dive with your camera rig? Tell us about it!

"Took the new rig out for its first dive and really pleased with it! The colors and clarity are amazing." -Karyn

We are pleased to report that the 2024 Reef Photo Anilao, Philippines Workshop provided some of the best diving and photo/video opportunities ever! It was a pleasure to see that the increase of marine life abundance we first noticed in 2022 after tourism was reopened has continued and fish life and corals are thriving.

With our notepads full, we are doing it again in 2025! Join us in one of the most beautiful and peaceful resorts in Anilao for a week of diving that includes 3 boat dives a day, at least one blackwater, and one night dive during the week. Plus, unlimited shore diving on the house reef that even has a reliable mandarin dive. Of course, the Reef team will bring all the expert assistance you can ask for along with lots of imaging goodies to try out. We are booking add-ons as well for those interested.

Photos By Kevin Palmer.

Who else loves testing out their new equipment?

"Okay - I am officially stoked about this new lens and WACP-1!!"
- Kurt

Do you use a Monitor or a Viewfinder? 🤔

Both of these have. a host of benefits. Firstly, monitors provide a much larger screen for framing your shot and checking focus. Some monitors can even act as an external recorder which on some cameras can solve overheating issues. However, they are very large!

Patience pays off. Waiting for the right moment to hit the shutter is almost always worth it.

Rob, recently shared his image with us that he took using his Nauticam NA-A7IV and new to him Backscatter MF-2 7 Snoot Combo!

We get it—selecting the perfect gear can be tough. That's why we're here to lend a hand.

Free Gear Consultation We get it—selecting the perfect gear can be tough. That's why we're here to lend a hand. Let us assist you in picking out the right equipment so you can dive in and capture breathtaking images underwater.

📸 Macro Tip 🔎
Scrolling social media you've likely seen macro images with black backgrounds and wondered to yourself "How?!".

Below we will break it down for you!

Shoot the fastest shutter sync speed your camera allows. Note that some cameras will exceed the "listed" max shutter sync speed with an LED flash trigger.
Shoot the lowest "native" ISO the camera allows. Usually, ISO 100 or 200, though sometimes as low as ISO 50 or 60.
Since we are shooting macro-oriented images, a fairly small aperture is the norm already. This will vary from perhaps F11 or more on a 1" sensor compact to F18 or F20 on a full-frame camera. Too small an aperture can soften the image through diffraction, so don't overdo it.
Adjust your strobes accordingly for exposure and try not to spill too much light behind the subject.
Lastly, and importantly, compose your image so there is some open space behind it. On low subjects like a nudibranch, that may mean getting low and shooting straight or a little up. With a coral goby on a wire coral, you automatically have an open background. If you have a fan, sponge or muck right behind the subject, it will be hard not to light the background matter without restricting your strobe light further with your hand or a snoot.

📸 Hergen Spalink on the Nikon Z8 with the EMWL 160.

Do you see a housing for your camera here?
Each housing below is currently listed and waiting to get in the water!. We update our Pre-Owned Gear section frequently with used gear. You never know the deal you might find!.

Much like the 8XR the new Keldan Video 8XR Ambient 18000lm has remote capabilities. What's unique about this video light is it does not need an Abient Filter. The LED has a built-in light filter that produces a color temperature equal to ambient light at 6m.

☀ Sunball Tip☀
Not all sun rays are equal. The prettiest light rays can often be found earlier and later in the day. The sun-ball is not as "hot" and the acute angle of the rays stands out. Also, keep in mind weather conditions matter. Obviously, a cloudy day doesn't help, but just as important is not having too rough conditions on the surface. A choppy surface diffuses the light dramatically.

📸 Lawrence Watkins

Remember when snooting, if you want a black background, to use the highest shutter speed possible. This will help darken the area not hit by the light. Don't expect your first shots to come out with your lighting right on target. This is a process of getting familiar with your gear: shoot, adjust, shoot, adjust, and shoot some more. Did I mention this takes some patience and practice? But the results can be rewarding if you keep at it.

Well done Marcio Curvelo. Shot on Nikon Z9.

Tag a friend that looks like this in the water! 🤣

Let's talk Lumens. The most widely promoted rating of a light's power capability is presented as lumens. It is worth noting this is not independently verified. The manufacturer is basically saying "Trust Me" in many cases. The most reliable numbers are going to come from manufacturers who have agreed to the ANSI FL1 standard for compact lighting.

Keldan Lights

If you have never been to Anilao, you don’t know what you are missing. If you have, you know why you have to do it more than once. Join us. Let Reef Photo show you the best of the region and how to get the most out of it. The images will last a lifetime.

The difference between a knock-your-socks-off shot and an "oh that's pleasant" shot is often just a few millimeters of focus variation. Some tools that can help ensure you nail focus are Enhanced Viewfinder or LCD Magnifier, Manual Focus Gear or utilizing back button focus, and lastly a Focus Light!

📸 Macro Tip 🔎
The background can be just as important as the subject. Try shooting towards open water or against a background that will allow for the subject's outline to show clearly rather than blend in.

📸 Marcio Curvelo on the Nikon Z9

🛠 Gear Service 🛠
Sending the Camera is important so the housing can be individually tuned and function tested with that specific body. We do not require lenses or ports only the housing, and camera body with a charged battery.

📸 Have you thought about Joining our Blue Heron Bridge Workshop?🤔

Here are a few reasons we would recommend it!
Our guides work with local dive operators or in the Reef Photo store and are expert Blue Heron Critter Finders. This allows you to focus on taking pictures, and we'll lead you from subject to subject. No stress about dragging around a dive flag, navigation, or boat traffic; just relax and take pictures!

📸 .exposure