[Haisha Dive Inn Seminar] How to Shoot Black-Background Macro Shots with the Olympus TG Series

The Editor says: When photographing marine life underwater, we always want to create different moods and atmospheres. The classic black-background shot is a technique perfectly suited for beginners in underwater photography. The approach varies depending on the camera and lighting equipment used, so a big thank you to Nick from Haisha Dive Inn for sharing his black-background shooting tips with the Olympus TG-3 (also applicable to other TG series models)!

Equipment used: Olympus TG-3 waterproof camera + official underwater housing + Inon LF800N video light (spotlight mode).

((The Inon LF800N video light (spotlight mode) can also be substituted with a spotlight-type Flash Light for a similar effect.))

Introduction... You already hold an OW or AOW (or higher) scuba diving certification, have a solid command of neutral buoyancy, and want to start photographing the wonderful creatures of the underwater world — or perhaps you find dedicated underwater cameras too expensive and aren't sure what to buy, worried about getting something that won't work well. A video light paired with a TG camera is currently the most compact and effective setup available. Underwater photography isn't something you master in one or two dives. My goal is to promote underwater photography and help newcomers enjoy the experience smoothly.

There are countless equipment options out there. I've drawn on real-world experience and common problems encountered while diving to identify a combination that's simple to use and delivers great results for most people — and I'll show you actual sample shots. We won't be using a strobe here, as strobes involve a much steeper learning curve. Video lights, on the other hand, are far simpler for most people: a video light provides continuous illumination..... The reason is that you can see the effect on your screen before you even press the shutter. Simply put, what you see on the screen = what you get in the shot.

Olympus TG-3 Tips & Techniques

With no one to turn to for advice, I'd like to share the techniques I've worked out through using the TG-3. Of course, there's no single right way to take photos — this is simply the method I find easiest for most people to understand and apply. The common weakness of consumer-level cameras is their inability to blur and defocus a busy background, making it hard to make the subject stand out. This technique, however, lets you achieve a black background even during daytime dives to make your subject pop. There's no right or wrong approach to photography — the most important thing is: are you having fun?

Let's get started. How do you shoot a black background with the TG-3?

1. First, configure your camera settings. TG-3 settings: Microscope Mode + Exposure Compensation -2EV or -1.3EV.

2. TG-3 camera setting: go into MENU and set the metering mode to Spot Metering.

3. Camera all set — now let's practice on land first!

✽ Handy Reminders ✽

✽ Please practice on land plenty before heading underwater — it's genuinely tricky at first, and you'll have your hands full in the water!! Right hand on the camera, left hand on the video light!! nudibranch have a habit of crawling away too... but with practice and persistence, you'll get the hang of it.

✽ How the camera settings work (feel free to skip this section if you're not interested):

• Microscope Mode → Naturally, this is for shooting small subjects up close.

• Spot Metering → This meters only a very small area of the frame — just 1–5% — typically the centre point. Because the centre of the frame is lit very brightly by our spotlight video light, the camera uses that "very bright point" as its exposure reference, forcing the overall exposure to darken significantly. The background goes dark along with it, creating the black background.

• Exposure Compensation -2EV → To make the background even darker and more dramatic. If the subject becomes too dark to see clearly, dial it back to -1EV and adjust to taste!

✽ Why won't other video lights work? It's not that they won't — they just need to meet certain conditions: 1. The light must be a spotlight type. 2. It must be strong enough. Currently, the minigear ms03 and SUPE spotlight series are both excellent choices that I'd highly recommend.

✽ Any downsides? The spotlight beam is so concentrated that not every creature will sit still and cooperate while you slowly focus the beam on it...... Getting great shots comes down to your patience and dedication.

✽ This technique works best during daytime dives at 8 m or deeper, or during night diving (the darker the environment, the more visible the spotlight beam).

✽ Every spotlight has an optimal focal distance. Move the video light to find the sweet spot — at the optimal distance, the beam is most concentrated, most intense, and sharpest. See the illustration below.

✽ When practicing on land, you'll notice the spotlight aperture looks very small. Once underwater, the aperture will appear larger and the optimal focal distance will increase — this is completely normal, as water refracts and attenuates light.

✽ When shooting macro and lying prone on the seabed, please be mindful of the corals and marine organisms around you — they are very fragile. Watch your fins and take care of marine life.

If you found this useful or enjoyed reading it, please share it! Push that amazing tool in your hands to its limits! — Haisha Dive Inn

Related links:

• Escape the City — Small Joys (Haisha Dive Inn)

• Should You Buy the Olympus TG-6?!