Remarkable underwater and marine photographer, Mauricio Handler, is an expert at using lighting, composition, filters, and a variety of other techniques to capture incredible shots. He is one of the most talented underwater photographers in the world and has great insight of the techniques it takes to get a beautiful shot. In the following article, Handler shares his knowledge.
This is a photo Mauricio Handler did of Nat GEO photographer Brian Skerry in Izu Japan. Note the use of multiple lights here: 2 strobes on the camera are illuminating him while his two on camera strobes are turned on to the Modeling light position. In the background, a hand held HMI light separates him from the background. Total of 5 light sources plus the sun.
Before Shooting underwater: Most Important Factors
Before Handler begins shooting, there are a few factors that need to be in order. For one, Mauricio Handler uses many light sources during shooting and it is extremely important for him to be at the site at the right time of day. For Handler, “This continues to be usually in the early morning and late afternoon although, special moments are there throughout the day” as long as it is a low-light setting. “I for one, love cloudy days!”.
Another very important factor is complete manual control of the camera, lenses and lights. “You need to control aperture and speed separately to be able to push your camera’s sensor to its limits,” says Handler.
Lastly, remember to use many lights, including strobes and incandescent lights which are crucial to molding an image.
This photo has many elements and was done during one of my early British Virgin Islands' workshops. Frame within frames allow the viewer to focus on the subject at center. It was shot with a Mamiya RZ 67 film camera and uses again multiple light sources to create mood. Hand light, HMI cinema light in background, Sunlight and two on camera strobes. The composition is traditional yet the subject is ventured.
Through the Lens: Framing and Composing
From many years of trial and error, Handler has developed a casualness in shooting. Spontaneously shooting from the hip, he usually captures an image and leaves the composition the way he has taken the shot, almost never cropping it. He has a few rules of thumb he uses in mastering the art of shooting a perfect composition.
“Basic rules of composition like the rule of thirds, frame within frame, off centering your subject, etc. are all present in my images. If you master these basic rules then in my opinion you earn the right to break them if you wish, but not until you learn them,” says Handler. He strongly advises new photographers to pay close attention to the basics and not to experiment too much prior to mastering these rules of thumb.
Shooting Techniques: Lighting
Quite famous for his unique lighting and perfect use of it, Handler shares his interesting technique. While shooting, he primarily uses two strobes, a few hand lights and on occasion a large HMI cinema light. He also controls the exposure in many ways.
However, with so much lighting used underwater, there can be quite a bit of backscatter. Using strobes usually returns backscatter and the contrast with reflective subjects on a dark background is extremely challenging. Handler overcomes this by simply moving closer to his subject. In his words, “If you think you are close to your subject…then get closer!”. He suggests cutting the distance between you and your subject as one way to diminish backscatter. Another technique he uses is to angle his strobes downwards a bit so as not to create such direct lighting. Handler also solves such issues by pushing his camera and knowledge to the edge.
He suggests,
“Slow shutter, low strobe power and getting very close to your subject usually do the trick. Using a camera with a low light capable sensor helps tremendously these days. All these tools are made for this kind of moment”.
An interesting suggestion he makes, however, is to try to use backscatter to the photographer’s advantage. Especially in journalism type work, he feels it can add a bit of realism to the shot.
“If an animal lives in a silt environment then it must remain that way. We cannot just clean every frame up to make it look like crystal clear water…”.
This is one of my favorite images, shot before sunrise in N'gali pass on the Island of GAU, Fiji. The grey reef shark was hunting in the strong current. I broke all rules here, motion, blur and long exposure make for a dynamic action shot.
Underwater Metering Technique
Underwater, Handler pays initial attention to the histogram and overexposure warning signals to guide him, rather than the actual meter. However, after so many years of experience, Handler now tends to guess a lot while shooting, having his own personal formulas drilled in his head. However, he suggests using matrix metering for wide-angle shots and spot metering for macro lenses.
On land, metering is more forgiving as the complete spectrum of color, depth and tones, unlike underwater, are all present.
Here matrix, centered and spot are used as each scene requires it.
Post Processing Technique: Software, Filters, and Work Flow
Handler uses Photo Mechanic to upload, caption, sequence and to initially screen and catalog his uploads. The images he selects to edit are then converted from RAW format with PhotoShop CS5. He also uses Lightroom, which he highly recommends, though he has not yet put all his library through it. Other programs he uses are NIK Color Efex pro 3.0 and Silver Efex 2.0 for some creative color and B&W file conversion.
However, since the images he produces fall into the natural history and marine documentary/ journalism categories, Handler isn’t a big advocate of altering or manipulating this kind of work other than for the basic file conversion using level (exposure), curves (contrast), some saturation and finally sharpening of the final image. Again, he seldom crops and most definitely never over post process any of his images.
Great White Shark, Guadalupe Island Mexico. Natural Light shot with a Nikon D2x and 17-35 lens in an Aquatica housing with 8" dome port.
Handler still recommends putting images through a filter such as Silver FX to get the most of them in black and white. He also uses PhotoShop to clean backscatter up in post production if the images are going to be used commercially as otherwise they would never sell. He uses the clone tool and stamp tools in CS5 (same as using it in Lightroom or Aperture for that matter) to clean out any backscatter.
According to Handler,
“The image needs to be created in camera and the image must stand alone on its own merits and content without the aid of too much post processing. This is the challenge I place myself in as an underwater wildlife photographer. Being there at the right time and having the right tools and knowledge to successfully capture a fleeting wildlife moment that will never return is for me what it is all about.
Nothing more, nothing less.”
You can read more about Mauricio Handler and view samples of his work at his homepage, www.handlerphoto.com . You can also join his professional Facebook page Mauricio Handler Photography where he posts short essays and photographs from his many adventures.
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Dear Mauricio:Thanks for fighting hard your own battle, to make universally known, something we feel as natural to us: ” Handler excellency everytime and everywhere”. I feel you will literally “die with your boots on”. My very best wishes to you and a here goes my own wish : we will meet as shortly as possible to sharpen memorys dear to us. DAD ( disculpa errores de ortografía y sintaxis pero quise escribir algo en mi pobre ingles, para practicar y asi estar a las alturas de conversación con JULIA a la la que mando cariños especiales muy merecidos por cierto ).
Thank you Mr. Handler (aka dad)- I am who I am because of a great conviction in what I love to do and of course because of great genetics! Love you always. We will see you again soon.