6 Tips for Surf Photography

PANASONIC FEATURE: Panasonic’s Lumix 12 megapixel DMC- FT1 sets a new benchmark in the waterproof/shockproof compact category. Not only is it rugged enough to survive a tumble from your pocket, it will stay watertight at depths to three metres. And, because it’s not much bigger than a pack of playing cards, it stows easily and is light and small enough to take anywhere.

1. Get close
The best watershots are the ones that put the viewer right in the heart of the action. Capturing a surfer in the barrel can mean hitting the shutter button when the gap between you and your subject is only a few metres. But don’t start out by trying to get in close. Work up to it by shooting from a safe distance at first and then as you get a feel for the conditions and the skill of your subjects, gradually work your way toward a smaller gap.

2. Use your zoom
Top water photographers like to be in close with a wide-angle lens but there are times when it’s better not to be right in the impact zone. The LUMIX FT1’s 4.6x optical zoom covers a 35mm equivalent of 28-128mm, so you can shoot wide-angle when the opportunity presents itself, or sit back at a safer distance from the action and use the telephoto.

3. Work on your timing
Thanks to its superb auto exposure and auto focus systems, you won’t need to worry about your exposure or focus settings with the Lumix FT1 and can instead concentrate on refining your anticipation skills. Good surfing pictures are all about capturing the peak moments and the Lumix FT1’s minimal shutter lag ensures you get what you want exactly when you want it.

4. Set for success
The Lumix FT1 offers a wide range of scene modes, including several that can be useful for surfing pictures. We found the Intelligent Auto Mode delivered great results under the widest range of conditions. Sports mode was handy when shooting at maximum zoom and the Beach and Surf option delivered good results both under and above the water. In all cases, always set the camera to deliver the highest resolution and best quality image. The key is to experiment and to learn which mode works for specific conditions so that you can set, forget and start shooting.
5. Work the angles
Because it is so compact and rugged, you can use the Lumix FT1 in ways that would be impossible with a camera in a waterhousing. Take advantage of its small size to play around with shooting angles. Hold it over your head for a top down shot, position it just above the surface of the water to create an interesting foreground effect, shoot from behind the breaking wave or dive under and aim upward to see if you can catch the fins of a surfer going over your head.

6. Don’t forget the High Definition Video
In addition to taking great stills, the Lumix FT1 is also capable of recording High Definition video clips. The video is easily the best we’ve seen from a compact camera – let alone one that can be taken out into the surf. You can record either in Motion JPEG (best for viewing on a computer) or in AVCHD Lite, which allows editing and double the recording time compared to most JPEGS. On a big flat screen HD TV the quality of the latter is better than a standard definition camcorder.
Surf photos by Don Norris with Lumix FT1.

For more information about the Panasonic Lumix FT1, please visit www.lumix.com.au