The transition from analog to digital cameras has been a boon for photographers, granting them unlimited shots and freedom of movement. These circumstances lend themselves well to the technique of shooting sequential stills. Underwater photographer Claudio Ziraldo shares his insights and tips on taking sequential shots underwater.
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(Banner photo above by Claudio Ziraldo)
In the first decade of the 20th century, technological advances allowed the printing of photographs in magazines. Fashion photographs appeared for the first time in 1909, in the French magazine La Mode Practique.
Subsequently, attention moved from Europe to the United States, where some renowned photographers provided a further twist in a way of approaching this type of shooting, which involved abandoning rigid schemes and poses, giving greater freedom to the subjects of their works, which were portrayed in more natural positions.
Currently, fashion photographers take hundreds of shots during a photo shoot, in order to capture the moment when the models are in ideal conditions, positions and facial expressions. With the transition from analog to digital, even in underwater photography, it has become possible to have a practically unlimited number of shots available. This leaves us ample and total freedom of action.
With that said, let’s get to the topic of this article.
Why take sequential shots?
There are several reasons for taking sequential shots. The first and most obvious (a bit like in fashion photography) is to have several images of the same subject or situation—perhaps by practising a little “bracketing”—and then choose the best shots.
Secondly, in the case of particularly interesting subjects that are often approached with difficulty, we can take close-up shots as long as the subject allows it. In this case, we may get to do a “photo shoot” with lots of shots, and thus obtain the desired effect. In any event, we will at least capture a few acceptable images, even if they are not at an optimal distance.
There can, of course, be several other reasons. Three are mentioned below.
1. Yawning frogfish
In the past, I have stayed at the Minahasa Lagoon Dive and Tours Club, which is not far from Manado in Indonesia. The Minahasa area is a strategic location in which one can make interesting “muck dives” and take underwater photos of the environment along a splendid wall, which is located just a few minutes by boat from the resort. And, with a 40-minute boat ride, one can also reach Bunaken National Park.
There I was in Minahasa, in the water during a muck dive, when the dive guide drew my attention to a small 6 to 7cm-long frogfish (Antennariidae). It looked like it could be a Antennarius pictus, or painted frogfish. So, I got a little closer since I had left my 60mm lens in my car.
Miracles” do happen when we least expect it, because suddenly, the fish opened its mouth in a very long yawn, which allowed me to take several shots.
In cases like this, it is important to be quick to react, and also to have your strobes’ batteries always charged, so that repeated shots can be taken in a very short time. Among other things, if you photograph at short distances, the condenser will not discharge completely, and this is certainly helpful.
Focus is not a problem, because if you remain still, you are unlikely to lose focus, and the exposure is always the same. Having said that, we can consider this option to be particularly beneficial when taking advantage of situations that are a little out of the box
2. Flamboyant cuttlefish
The flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) is a small animal, seldom exceeding 6cm. Its body is oval in shape, predominantly brown, and its maximum recorded length is 8cm. The body of this cuttlefish has several protuberances, two of which are above the eyes and several are in the ventral area.
If the animal is disturbed, red areas appear on the tentacles, and white or yellow streaks appear on the back, which are rather variable, irregular and “move” as if they are flashing lights, which is very curious and interesting to observe. It is considered a rather rare critter. Nevertheless, it occupies a rather vast range, including the tropical Indo-Pacific region, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and northern Australia.
I have had the opportunity to shoot sequences of this cephalopod on several occasions. I suggest taking a steadily approaching shoot, in which a series of shots, little by little, highlight the chromatic and morphological characteristics of the flamboyant cuttlefish.
3. Moray eel
The white-eyed moray eel (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus) is a fairly common animal and occupies the same territorial range as the flamboyant cuttlefish. This moray eel generally dislikes light and is a nocturnal hunter. Sometimes, it is fearful and shy. If you try to get too close when taking pictures, it will withdraw into the darkness of its burrow.
In other cases, however, white-eyed moray eels will stay on the doorsteps of their dens, like old wives, to observe the passers-by. The posture that most characterises them is how they often keep their jaws wide open, which to most may appear a bit threatening. However, it is done simply for respiratory purposes.
I will not go into the details of this behaviour here but leave it to biology experts to explain. However, it is precisely this particular behaviour that allows us to take suggestive images, which, quite often, impress non-experts.
The moray eel in my photos was very cooperative and never moved from its den’s front door, until I left after taking more than a dozen shots. She probably felt like a star!
