David Copperfield said, “The real secret of magic lies in the performance.” It seems like that would be a fitting slogan for Magic Filters; filters created with a specific color formula for underwater digital photography using available light and no strobes. Having been introduced to the filters by their creators, I got to experience their very contagious enthusiasm for the magic the filters create. I have to say it was refreshing and exciting to add this technique to my tool bag and hope the following images will spark your interest too!
Sea Urchin Shells in the Kelp Forest
The first thing you will notice about these images is that the color and light are consistent throughout the image. That is because there is no strobe lighting the foreground. Instead, ambient light is used and the image is evenly lit by the sun. This subject is approximately 35 feet under water, so without a strobe, and without a filter, the image would be very blue. Magic Filters are formulated for blue water or green water and have a specific color formula that adds the appropriate shades of red back into the image. The photographer must take a manual white balance and exposure reading on the subject before shooting, and the filter does the rest.
Garibaldi in the Kelp Forest Nikon D810, ISO 500, f/8, 1/50th
One of the things that I liked about using the filters is that they show the scene underwater the same way my eyes see it. The Garibaldi in the image above is a brightly colored fish and when lit with strobes it sometimes glows so bright it becomes a distraction. It is also very hard to light kelp with a strobe because it absorbs the light and often comes out looking very yellow or very green. This image shows the kelp’s true color.
Selfie taken with a Nikon D810 ISO 250, f/8, 1/50th
The color of my skin in this image is corrected by the filter almost to perfection. The light you see on my face is from the sun and I am in 30 feet of water. Without the filter, this image would be almost completely blue.
I wouldn’t shoot every image with the Magic Filters, but it sure is a great tool to have in some situations and it gives a bit of diversity to an underwater portfolio. For more information on the filters visit http://www.magic-filters.com and enjoy the magic!
As always, if you enjoy my images please visit my website, waterdogphotography.com, or give me a like on facebook at Waterdog Photography Brook Peterson. Don’t forget to follow me here at waterdogphotographyblog and please feel free to share on Facebook or other social media.
