BURST shooting // Using Drive Mode to your advantage underwater [VIDEO]

Setting your drive mode to continuous can be a really big advantage when shooting a moving subject, particularly fast moving subjects like sharks and dolphins. Continuous drive, also known as burst shooting, means that the camera keeps taking photos as long as you hold down the shutter. It increases your odds that you'll capture the perfect moment.

Let's talk through what you need to know to use burst shooting effectively underwater.

Scroll down for the transcript

 

 

 

When I started out shooting underwater, everything was one shot at a time. And in fact, I've been mostly a single shot shooter for most of my underwater photography career. But I was diving recently with Ken Kiefer, and I noticed his strobes like machine gun firing every time he took a picture. And it really made me wonder, was there something I was missing out on?

Continuous Drive Mode

I found out that setting your drive mode to continuous can be a really big advantage when shooting a moving subject, particularly fast moving subjects like sharks and dolphins. Continuous drive, also known as burst shooting, means that the camera keeps taking photos as long as you hold down the shutter. It increases your odds that you'll capture the perfect moment.

Ken Kiefer uses continuous drive mode to capture the perfect moment when shooting sharks, crocodiles, and more. © 2024 Ken Kiefer

The Benefits of Burst Shooting

Burst shooting can give you more shots to choose from. For example, if there are lots of small fish swarming around a larger subject, and if you're going for a certain look or pose like jaws open on a feeding shark, then burst shooting is essential. But there are a few things you need to know if you want to try continuous shooting underwater.

Strobe Limitations

The most important thing is to make sure your strobe can keep up. Most underwater strobes can't keep up with continuous shooting.

Our DS230 and DS160 series strobes are some of the very few on the market that can actually shoot at a rate of 10 frames per second.

Your strobes that run on AA batteries are not fast enough and you're lucky to get more than one frame every 2 to 3 seconds.

Storage Limitations

Second, make sure you have a big card in your camera. You can burn through a memory card really quickly when you're pulling multiple shots at a time.

Autofocus in Burst Shooting

Make sure you're in a continuous focus mode so they are camera can make micro adjustments in between the shots within the burst sequence.

Conclusion

So I don't always shoot continuous now, but it does help my big animal photography and I'm also going to try it next time I go out to shoot split shots where it's really difficult to get the water line just right.

It's not a magic bullet, though. You still have to nail your composition, exposure settings and lighting. So try out burst shooting on your next dive and let us know how it goes.

 

Additional Viewing

Mixing Different Sized Strobes for Underwater Photography [VIDEO]

Manual Camera Exposure VS Manual Strobe Exposure for Underwater Photography [VIDEO]

Unlock Flash Exposure Compensation for Greater Creative Control

Light Painting Underwater Tips and Technique

Custom White Balance for Underwater with Canon Mirrorless Cameras [VIDEO]

 

 

Jean Rydberg, daughter of Ike Brigham, became President & CEO of Ikelite in 2006. Prior to that, she wisely pursued a degree in Astronomy & Astrophysics to prepare herself for the challenges of running a technology-driven manufacturing business with global distribution. Jean fully embraces the need to travel outside of her hometown of Indianapolis to experience good diving. She believes that any camera is capable of amazing results in the right hands, and anyone can become a great photographer given the right advice. When she's not working she's spending time with her husband, cats, and two daughters (though not necessarily in that order).