About The Author

Vailancio Rodrigues is a web ninja who bakes semantic muffins. Apart from that he is also interested in Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, Photography and knows … More about Vailancio

50 Stunning Underwater Pictures

Quick Summary

Among all different types of photography showcased on the Smashing Magazine, underwater photography is probably one of the most difficult ones. It requires a very specialized equipment and the knowledge of some advanced techniques to get a perfect picture. Underwater photos offen suffer from loss of color and contrast when taken on some significant depth. These photos are always adjusted with color balance to help offset the blueish tint of the water.

Table of Contents
Membership counter

Members support Smashing

Wonderful, friendly people who keep this lil' site alive — and get smarter every day.

Are you smashing, too? →

Of all the different types of photography showcased on Smashing Magazine, underwater pictures are probably the most difficult to get. They require a very specialized equipment and the knowledge of some advanced techniques to get a perfect picture. You need to get the correct exposure, accurate focus, controlled movement of your subject and a pleasing color balance; you also have to deal with low light.

Underwater photos offen suffer from loss of color and contrast when taken at a significant depth. Such photos are always adjusted with color balance to help offset the blueish tint of the water.

Further Reading on SmashingMag:

Because underwater photography is a specialized art, relatively few photographers attempt it. But it offers many exciting and rare photographic opportunities for fresh and truly different vivid images. Most often, photographers use a traditional film or digital camera covered in a watertight casing. Professionals prefer to use special underwater cameras.

Below, we present over 50 beautiful examples of underwater photos, created by artists and professional photographers. All works featured below have the artists and photographers’ names linked to their portfolios or websites. At the bottom of this post you’ll fine some links to Flickr groups where you can find more similar and exciting photos.

50 Stunning Underwater Pictures

Victor Amor

Underwater Pictures

J.Lambusphoto

Screenshot

Scott (lundysd)

Screenshot

Numera Tokyo

Screenshot
Screenshot

National Geographics

Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

Neverletmego

Screenshot

Kenvin Pinardy Dancing underwater.

Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

Sugarock99

Screenshot

Dustin Humphrey

Screenshot
Screenshot

Gattaldo Water just makes every situation more poetic and graceful.

Screenshot

Anatoly Beloschin

Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

Unknown

Screenshot

Zena Holloway

Camilo Acuña

Screenshot

Eldad Hagar

Screenshot

Oracle

Screenshot

John Carleton

Screenshot

Barbara Cole

Screenshot

Tintinian

Screenshot

Smodger Colorful scene captured using macro photography technique.

Screenshot

Vanveelen

Screenshot

Tina Owens Blue crab holding an urchin on its head for protection.

Screenshot

Saul Kondrotas Jellyfish

Screenshot

Tornicoqui

Screenshot

Maytevidri

Screenshot

Tamergunal

Screenshot

Kawa0310

Screenshot

Paragon

Screenshot

Ian

Screenshot

Nik

Screenshot

Rainan

Screenshot

Fangleman

Screenshot

digivangelist

Screenshot

David Doubilet

Screenshot

Last Click

1938 underwater photography By Bruce Mozertom.

Screenshot

Further Resources

Links for further photographs and related resources.

  • Life Aquatic The Life Aquatic group welcomes pictures of, but not limited to, amphibians, annelids, abalone, anemones, aquariums, aquatic plants, birds, bryozoans, chambered nautilus, cnidaria, coral reefs, crustaceans, coelenterates, ctenophores, fish, freshwater fish, jellyfish, marine mammals, mollusks, octopi, reptiles, sea snakes, sea squirts, sea turtles, sharks, sponges, squid, starfish, tunicates, etc.
  • Aquatic Turtles All species of aquatic turtles
  • Aquatic insects Photography of benthic macroinvertebrates, including dragonflies, mosquitoes, mayflies, stoneflies, water striders, beetles, etc.
  • Digital Underwater Photography Scuba and other underwater photos.
  • Underwater Indoneesia Photos taken underwater in Indonesia, including Bali, Java, Moluccas, Papua (Irian Jaya), Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes), and other dive spots in Indonesia.
  • Underwater Maldives Photos taken underwater in the Maldives Islands.
  • Underwater Videos Underwater, scuba, diving or snorkeling videos.
Smashing Editorial (al)