By Matthew Smith

For me one of the most wondrous parts of any dive is the moment that the water engulfs my mask as my head slips below the surface. I think it’s the suspense of the unknown of what lies beneath, the transitional part of moving from one element to the next that feels so magical and the thought of what alien creatures I might encounter. That is what draws me to taking half over half underwater images. I try to convey to the viewer that majestic feeling in a picture format. It’s maybe the best way I can communicate to a non-diver what it’s all about, to marry a wet and unfamiliar world with a dry and more familiar one.

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by Scott Portelli

What Snoot are you?

Snoots are being used more commonly by underwater photographers to isolate a subject, reduce backscatter or give more creative control by using directional light on areas of their subject.

Most underwater photographers use snoots for macro photography but directional fiber optic light can be used for wide angle photography to highlight a subject in a scene as well. With this type of technique you can separate small subjects from their backgrounds and reduce backscatter.

Currently, there are only a few really good fiber optic snoots on the market that are designed for specific strobe configurations. If you are using an Ikelite, Sea & Sea or Inon configuration, then there are several options to choose from.

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