Robert Herb Photography Blog

  Introduction For hobbyists and enthusiasts of underwater photography, understanding the technical aspects of their equipment can greatly enhance their ability to capture the perfect shot. One important aspect to consider is the type of camera shutter used in popular cameras today. In this blog post, I will provide a detailed exploration of the various types of camera shutters available, including their mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of how different camera shutters can impact the quality of your underwater photography. 1. Mechanical Shutters What It Is and How It Works: Mechanical shutters are a type of camera shutter that uses physical curtains, either made of metal or cloth, to control the amount of light that enters the camera sensor. These shutters come in two main types: focal-plane shutters, which are located just in front of the image sensor, and leaf shutters, which are located within the lens. Focal-pl

  The picture generated by AI As an underwater photography hobbyist, entering photography contests can be a fantastic way to gain recognition for your skills and passion. Here, I've compiled a list of 15 photography contests that cater to a variety of photographic interests, including several specifically for underwater photographers. Each contest is unique in what it seeks from participants, so find the one that best suits your style and dive in! I have sorted these in relevance to their importance and prestige (my personal sort). I would love to hear about your personal favorites or ones that you feel I should have included. Remember, you lose nothing by submitting photos for review, and stand to gain lots of visibility and prestige by winning any of these. 1. Underwater Photographer of the Year About: This contest celebrates the beauty and intricacy of the underwater world.  Focus: Underwater photography mastery.  How to Submit: High-resolution images, submitted via the conte

Three Basic Color Filters Underwater photography enthusiasts often debate whether filters are necessary or not. While some swear by them, others prefer to rely on their preset white balance settings. However, it is observed that those who use cell phones, GoPro's, Sealife's, or compact cameras without video or strobe lights tend to use filters to enhance their picture quality straight out of the camera. Similarly, people who mostly shoot videos also benefit from the use of filters.  There are many different filters of color, but today, I am going to focus just on the three basic colors; Red, Magenta, and Yellow. For those who prefer to use white balance settings, presetting them based on depth, time of day, visibility, and turbidity is a common practice. However, during night dives, a yellow filter is often used to improve contrast and show off fluorescents.  In contrast, photographers who shoot mostly during the day may choose to experiment with or without filters or white bal