FAQ

How do you get your photos to look so vibrant?

I always (always!) shoot in RAW and edit/archive my photos in Adobe Lightroom 2.0. Since RAW, compared to JPEG, just embeds sidecar files of edit information, I am able to manipulate colour, exposure, etc. without damaging or over-doing the clarity/quality of each photograph.

What tools do you use most in Lightroom?

I usually lower the white balance in my photographs, and mess with blacks, fill light, and split tones. Increasing the vibrance (and decreasing saturation) works wonders!

Have you ever taken any photo classes? … What’s the best way to get better at photography?

I consider myself to be self-taught. I spend and have spent hours on my computer and with my camera just experimenting, researching, and developing an aesthetic for editing. In high school, I took graphic design classes and video classes, which helped me to further grasp and apply concepts like “aperture” and “exposure,” but all in all, I’d say I have learned the most through trial and error. If you want to get better at photography, spend time experimenting, and check out http://digital-photography-school.com/

Would you recommend Ewa-Marine waterhousing? What kind of lens do you use in it?

For the price, the Ewa-Marine UAXP is unbeatable! People always ask me when they see the camera getting loaded in: “aren’t you afraid its going to … leak, rip, break!?” Except for manageable moisture buildup, it’s never leaked, and I’ve taken it out in some pretty trying ocean/surf conditions. Typically, I use a Canon 10-22, which fits very snugly in the bag. Coupled with my Canon 40d battery pack, it’s a tight fit. What I appreciate most about this housing is that you can put an external flash in it! The only downside of this housing is at 10-11mm, there is a black ring showing around the image, and that it is a bit cumbersome to use and take pictures with at first.

If you have any questions, just shoot me an email (vivantvie[at]gmail.com), or start a thread my FB Page Discussion board.