FLORIDA SPRINGS


Tuesday December 1, 2020


By Justin Lutsky Natural, freshwater environments provide some of the most uniquely stunning underwater settings to shoot in. The water is usually crystal clear, and the visibility seems to go on for miles in every direction. On top of that, there’s natural beauty, both below and above the water, everywhere you point the camera. It’s almost impossible to find a bad frame. Two of my favorite freshwater photography destinations are the cenotes in Mexico and the springs in Florida. I had been to the cenotes several times before, but this past October was my first time visiting the legendary springs. They did not disappoint. Prepping your gear and planning your wardrobe the night before a shoot is a must if you want to arrive early enough to beat the crowds. Photographers and models should be ready to jump in the water as soon as possible to find magical moments of opportunity. Dogwood spring had a school of fish gathering just below the surface bathed in sunlight. Our intention was to shoot inside the nearby cavern, but once we saw this, we quickly spun around and Abbey slipped effortlessly into the mix. Amazingly, these little guys hung around just long enough for a quick series of photos. Early morning is also when the position of the sun has the most potential for dramatic light rays. My favorite setup was to use the sun as a backlight, still low on the horizon bursting through the trees. Staying low and wide while tilting up also meant capturing two worlds in a single frame. My camera is a Sony A7Riii in a Nauticam housing, with a Sony 12-24mm lens. I usually shoot between ISO 100-400 at 1/200th shutter. In the springs, I also had one Inon strobe attached directly...... Read more on Full Issue!



Don't Miss

Subscribe Now! Click Here « «


Submit