Images captured underwater are both beautiful and fascinating.
A degree in underwater photography can open doors to careers in the arts, education, tourism and crime scene investigation. While there are a few full degree programs offered worldwide, in many cases underwater technical skills can be acquired through independent study and included as a degree specialization within a broader course of study. In all cases, advanced scuba certification is required before photographic training underwater can begin.
Arts Focus
Underwater photography is beautiful, drawing from a fluid canvas of subject and story that provides unique challenges for use of light and perspective. A skilled visual artist beneath the sea must learn capture effective images in a world that is floating, provides no horizon and absorbs rather than reflects light from the surface. An arts-based underwater photography degree will provide technical direction for experimentation with these concepts that lends itself to emotional expression and dramatic content.
Tourism Focus
Scuba adventure is an attractive recreation activity for vacationers who may or may not be adept enough at their skills to include souvenir picture taking as a part of their dive. Including an underwater photographer as part of a scuba tour package can provide a lucrative bonus that customers will share for years following their visit. Degree training for tourism trades should provide technical professional skills that lend themselves to underwater portraits and capturing underwater action.
Crime Investigation Focus
Crime scene investigation is a specialized career field that relies on accurate photography to preserve post-event details. Capturing these elements underwater with clarity and uncompromising focus is a skill of precision that must meet courtroom standards. Degree specializations in this field will include both clinical field requirements and technical skills to maintain evidence integrity in the underwater environment.
Degree Options
Underwater photography is offered as a degree specialization at the Brooks Institute of Professional Photography in Santa Barbara, California, and as an honors specialization at the Plymouth College of Art in Plymouth, England. Either of these programs would well support both arts- and tourist-related career goals. Links to web information about both programs can be found in the References section of this article.
Crime scene investigation is a growing technical field with general courses offered at community college and university levels across the country. A specialized, underwater crime scene technical series offered by Dive Rescue International provides in-depth coursework in underwater photography that includes certification. A link to their course descriptions is provided in References section.
Tags: scene investigation, crime scene, degree specialization, provide technical, References section, technical skills, underwater photography
