The First Essential Lesson for Underwater Photography – The Journey of Gifted Dive Guide Music Lin

The Editor says: Back when this green-around-the-gills editor first started out, I was always envious of the masters who seemed to produce stunning shots every single day. Beyond complaining about not having enough vacation time or money to travel abroad, I'd grumble that my camera was just too cheap to take good photos. Dive instructor Music Lin — one of the rare few in Taiwan with macro dive-guiding expertise — shares his own personal journey of growth to show everyone that capturing beautiful underwater photography really isn't that hard. The most important thing is having the right mindset from the very beginning! Full text reproduced from the Music Lin 林音樂 我是潛水教練 Facebook page.

【Don't let those excuses snuff out your passion.】Music Lin

[I want to shoot photos as beautiful as those masters too!]
[I want to take a photo that I truly love too!]
[I want to see those special creatures too!]
I want to… I want to… I want to……
Who hasn't been a total beginner? We've all been there~ No one is born talented, and no one is born lucky! Everything comes from hard work.

＂It's only because they have such amazing cameras that they can take shots like that!＂

＂They just got lucky — that's why they can take great photos!＂

＂Besides, I don't have the money to play around like that.＂

＂Besides, no matter how I shoot it always comes out the same.＂ "Ahh, I'm nowhere near that good!"

I'll tell you everything, I'll tell you it all!!!

If you never ask, never practice, and never take a class, what exactly gives you the right to expect great photos?
Maybe you dislike that master or can't stand this one — but please don't overlook their great work, okay?

Looking at other people's photos develops your sense of aesthetics!
Or seek out any learning opportunity you can find!!!

Remember the key words!!!
As long as a 【photographer whose great work you can regularly see】 is leading a dive trip, I will join if I possibly can!

Remember, I only go if a 【photographer whose great work you can regularly see】 organises the group dive!
There have been situations in the past where I showed up only to find the trip was a completely different vibe — recreational dive travel and photography-focused diving are two very different things.
Joining a photography-oriented group is the only way to actually have enough time to shoot properly.
So if I want to seriously practice my photography, I follow the trips led by those master photographers.

The great thing about following the masters is that you can grab them at any moment and fire off a barrage of questions about how they got the shot!!!
And even if you're too shy to ask, someone else always will — and I get to soak up all that experience!!!

My mindset is: as long as I can follow along, I'll always pick something up — so I work hard at putting myself in positions where I can keep learning.

The masters say:
Camera settings ＠＃︿（％＄～
When I don't understand, I just let it wash over me~

How to control the positioning of your torch for lighting, TG camera settings, underwater stability, dive guiding for spotting marine life, observing marine life behaviour — there's a whole web of related knowledge…
(Learning on the spot, asking questions directly — it's the simplest way to actually absorb things, and only by getting in the water and doing it yourself do you discover where your weak points are.)

The photos below were taken by fellow group members 灰灰 and Simon:

灰灰 and Simon are people I think are wonderful — genuinely serious about asking questions~

• Simply wanting to know how a photo was taken?

• The angle of the light? The settings? How do you shoot when there's current?

• Is each light different? The angle of the subject? The creature's behaviour?

Honestly, some of the questions they ask are things I might not even have thought of myself — and there's always someone who remembers to ask them! And then I get to quietly learn something too~

Being part of a group dive like this helps me identify exactly where my own weaknesses are.
Having someone I can ask questions of directly, and then applying it all in the water — it makes everything click so much more.
When everyone's working toward the same goal, the whole dive is not only hugely rewarding for me — it's also an absolute blast!

That moment when you surface and lock eyes with your dive buddy, and the very first words out of your mouth are: OH MY GOD that was SO cute!!! Then you launch into a full-on animated recap of that one perfect shot you got, and all the funny things that happened while shooting! That's always my favourite moment. (Heart hands)

Stop making so many excuses for yourself

Doing so only short-changes the stronger self you long to become, and validates the weak version of yourself you keep talking about.
Deep down, I truly want to take great photos. I want to shoot images as stunning as the masters'. And more than anything, I want to surpass them!!!

So the first step is to take action! Even just a little — schedule a class, carve out time to practice, swallow your pride and ask questions, post your photos for feedback. Any of these will make you a little better than you were yesterday!

Stop saying you don't have the money — I'm broker than you~
Stop saying you don't have the time to practice — if you truly want it, you will always find the time.
Scared to post your photos and ask for feedback because you're embarrassed they'll laugh at how bad they are?

I used to post photos like that and got laughed at for a long, long time~
But I kept checking off my little goals one by one!

Looking more, asking more, sharing more, practicing more — there is absolutely no substitute for these.
Otherwise, you're welcome to keep on saying: "Ahh, I'm nowhere near that good."

If you're shy about practicing, I'll keep you company! If you're shy about asking questions, I'll help you find any opportunity to ask! We can look at photos together too!!!

Related links:

• Music Lin 林音樂 我是潛水教練

• Kenting Must-See Macro Underwater Photography Highlights – Music Lin

• The Millennial Female Instructor Who Embraces Challenges and Dares to Swim Against the Current – Music Lin

• Three Must-See Highlights When Diving in Kenting: Giant Grouper, Flame Scallops, and a Barracuda Tornado to Your Heart's Content