Over a year previously, in March 2020, I purchased an Aquatech Elite II underwater housing for my Canon EOS 7D Mark II. I had been inspired to try underwater photography by looking at the amazing photos from under the sea and I really wanted to be able to take some shots myself. However, that was when COVID-19 really hit, and just like so many other people, I had to pause my plans. In December 2020, I thought that I would be able to finally use the kit during the Christmas holidays but a new COVID outbreak in Sydney meant we could not go there at that time. So, it was finally at Easter this year that we visited Sydney and while my family slept I headed down to one of my favourite harbour beaches, Parsley Bay, to take an initial foray into underwater photography. I sucked! However, I gained a lot of experience and I knew why people take the effort to shoot photographs underwater, there was so much to photograph. I was hooked and I am looking forward to taking more photographs so that I can hopefully improve. I realise that it will be a while before I am taking decent underwater photographs so to ensure that this post is not too disappointing I have also included below some aerial shots from Nielsen Park and as well as some shots from a garden in Sydney. I hope that you like the photographs below.
Vertical shot of Bottle and Glass Point with Bottle and Glass Rocks to the right
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 200, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/500 SEC]
1870s era harbour defence fortification, looking like a long-necked person waving an arm
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 400, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/400 SEC]
Common Stingaree under a rock ledge at Parsley Bay
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 1600, 35mm, f/5.6 and 1/250 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Getting better but I still need better light, a Common Sitngaree swimming
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 2000, 35mm, f/5.6 and 1/500 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Tuberculate Sea Urchin on a rock
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 2000, 35mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Fan-bellied Leatherjacket swimming along the net
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 2000, 35mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Heavily encrusted Turban Shell
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 2000, 35mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Cherub statue in a birdbath
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/800 SEC]
Cairo Red Hibiscus
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
African Daisy
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Anthurium succulent
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Succulent with spiders web and fallen parts of plants
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Othonna Ruby Necklace
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Spencer’s Skink
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
