Last month DWF visited the Crystal Blue Dive resort in Anilao Philippines and what an amazing week it was. They were hosting a week-long photo workshop that really humbled me and helped reinforce just how much I had to learn! “Easy to learn, difficult to master.”…Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so right about stuff. During that week DWF was able to use something called a snoot and after I started getting the hang of it my photos really started to take on a brand new look and feel!
A snoot is a specialized device used in photography…in this case underwater photography that controls the direction and focus of light. In practical terms it creates a spotlight effect that can isolate a subject or create really interesting lighting effects. I found it added an “artsy” look to a lot of my photos; photos I would have been happy with anyway, but the snoot “kicked it up a notch” (as my teppanyaki chef likes to say).
In “regular photography” or photography as the kids say, the snoot is used to narrow a beam of light on a subject which allows them to highlight a subject and de-emphasize other parts of the scene.
In the 1970s and 80s underwater photographers began adapting land based photography techniques for the aquatic environment. Back in the day, snoots were likely DIY devices or homemade by photographers experimenting with different lighting techniques underwater.
In the 1990s as underwater strobes became more advanced, snoots became more advanced and usable as well. Underwater photographers used snoots to literally spotlight features of small marine critters. These tools and techniques paved the way for a specific type of underwater macro photography.
By the early 2000s snoots made specifically for the underwater market began to appear that were compatible with a variety of underwater strobes. By the mid-2000s snoots started having features like fiber optic connections, better beam control, and tools for better controlled beam shapes and sizes.
I was using a snoot for less than 2 days before I decided to buy one. I grabbed a backscatter mini flash 2 & optical snoot combo package. Was it planned for…No. Any regrets?…No! The mini flash 2 isn’t just a snoot, but is a sweet little strobe in its own right. I really got some shots that I was quite proud of during this trip!
Learning to use this latest toy give me a chance for some artistic expression as well as one more technical challenge under the water. I gotta be honest that I’m super glad I got one, but I’m also super happy that the snoot has advanced to where it is today before I grabbed one!
If you happen to be on a dive trip where you can borrow or rent one I recommend you give it a shot and see how you like it. I’m fairly certain that the next DWF photo workshop will provide that opportunity!…stay tuned for details!
Then you can get snooty too!
One comment