Practical Guidance for Capturing Captivating Underwater Photography
In April 2018, renowned underwater photographer Dr. Taz Tally embarked on a journey to the Cayman Islands, specifically Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Known for their crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and vibrant coral reefs, these islands are a paradise for underwater photographers.
Dr. Tally, an instructor at an esteemed institution and the president of Taz Tally Seminars and Taz Tally Photography, has been capturing underwater landscapes since the 1960s. He started with the first version of the Nikon Nikonos, the first affordable and readily available underwater camera for noncommercial use.
During his week-long diving expedition, Dr. Tally immersed himself in the underwater world, patiently waiting to capture the myriad of lifeforms available to quiet divers. One of his favourite pictures from the trip is a long-distance view of fellow divers along the Little Cayman Great Wall, with the blue Vase sponge in the right foreground.
Underwater photography presents its own set of challenges. These include dealing with different color balance/white balance, focusing at great distances, and movement of the medium. However, Dr. Tally, like many seasoned underwater photographers, uses the one-touch technique, stabilizing with a single finger or a metal probe. Camera housings for underwater photography often have snap-on diffusion filters that allow the use of built-in flashes without creating two-hot spots.
Jacques Cousteau once commented that diving Little Cayman and Cayman Brac offered some of the most beautiful diving on the planet. The islands, which are sediment-free and located near the edge of the Caribbean tectonic plate above the Lesser Antilles subduction zone, are home to a variety of unique marine life and thriving coral ecosystems.
The Cayman Islands are also known for their clear scuba diving waters and great walls that drop off to thousands of feet of deep blue water. These conditions make it a preferred destination for professional and amateur underwater photographers year-round, thanks to the warm water and excellent visibility.
For those interested in learning more about underwater photography, Dr. Taz Tally offers online photography courses and certificate programmes at our institution's website. His latest title, "Backroads & Byways of Alaska", published in April 2018, is a testament to his passion for capturing the beauty of the natural world.
- Dr. Taz Tally's latest work, "Backroads & Byways of Alaska", published in April 2018, showcases his passion for capturing the beauty of the natural world, similar to the vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life found in the fashion-and-beauty realm of the Cayman Islands.
- The Cayman Islands, home to unique marine life and thriving coral ecosystems, also offers clear scuba diving waters and great walls, making it a preferred destination for home-and-garden lovers of underwater photography year-round.
- In addition to his professional underwater photography work, Dr. Taz Tally offers education-and-self-development opportunities through online photography courses and certificate programs, contributing to the tech-savvy world of learning and self-improvement.
- Sports enthusiasts and food-and-drink connoisseurs may not immediately associate the Cayman Islands with their pursuits, but the warm water, excellent visibility, and unique marine life of the islands make it a hidden gem for both activities, much like a hidden treasure beneath the waves.
