Spngr

Heavy water

NIKON D7500

settings

Aperture f/4.5 ISO 100 Shutter 1/2000 Focal Length 8/1

upload_date

Apr, 2018

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Awards

Zenith Award

Community Choice Award

Great Shot

Outstanding Creativity

+10

Absolute Masterpiece

Top Choice

Superb Composition

Peer Award

Magnificent Capture

Top Ranks

Top 30 rank

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 10 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken on a empty secret Hawaiian beach break during a fairly large winter swell. I wish I could share more info but then it wouldn’t be secret or empty anymore.

Time

This was taken mid morning around 9am. The weather was perfect for shooting and enjoying the beach. This wave in particular was one of the biggest sets of the morning. I would estimated this wave to be at least 5-6ft Hawaiian scale or roughly a 10ft face. You could fit a truck in that barrel no problem.

Lighting

There were lots of clouds earlier in the morning but as the day went on, they started to dissipate ending in a relatively cloud free day. Lighting ended up being a bit brighter then expected but luckily I remembered to set my exposure 3/4 of a stop down before jumping in the water. (I can’t adjust exposure compensation with the Waterhousing I use while in the water)

Equipment

This photo was taken using a Nikon D7500 in a Aquatech Compact Elite Waterhousing. Lens used was a Rokinon 8mm Fisheye with a 6 inch dome port. I am a bit limited as to what setting I can adjust while in the water so it’s really important to make sure the setting are just right before going in the water to battle the surf. The entire setup with everything ready to shoot weighs around 9lbs. If I shoot with my Sigma 85mm Art lens, the setup weighs 11lbs. Now imagine holding that up with one hand while the wave tries to rip it from your grasp. You definitely build grip strength!

Inspiration

I’ve been surfing most of my life but only recently within the last 5 or so years got into water/surf photography. I’ve always wish I could have saved some of the amazing moments I have witnessed in the water throughout my life and now I aim to capture as much as I can while I can.

Editing

I try not to do too much post processing with wave photography, but I do try to at least cover the basics with Lightroom. Exposure, contrast, detail and color. Depending on if it’s for social media or a print usually determines how much I’ll put into the post-processing phase.

In my camera bag

I tend to bring every lens I have with me to shoot in the water. Conditions change so fast in Hawaii and in the water, if you aren’t prepare they you may miss what could have been something good. I carry 8mm, 11-16mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm lens to shoot in the water. Primes are generally better for shooting in the water because of the faster speeds and larger apertures. And I also have my tripod and 70-300mm for land action shots.

Feedback

If in doubt, don’t go out! If you aren’t comfortable in the water ducking under waves, dodging surfers/bodyboarders, and in many cases tossed like a rag doll while holding your breath, don’t even bother trying to shoot in the surf. Of course depending on location and conditions anyone that can swim could shoot in the water but surf photography with anything other than a GoPro can be very dangerous. Learning about conditions such as swell direction, wind direction, tides, currents and weather patterns are essential for finding the best places to shoot and for staying safe. Above all, respect the locals don’t get in their way. Common courtesy goes a long way. Mahalo! \m/

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Spngr

Spngr

Heavy water

Behind The Lens

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