In Water Surf Photography - Everything You Need To Get Started! 📷 | Stoked For Travel

Looking at getting into in water surf photography?
Here's a full breakdown of my gear - from cameras and surf housings to fins and helmets!
In water surf photography is an epic way to combine your creative side with a love for the ocean and jumping in amongst the waves with your camera is heaps of fun.
But getting the right gear to help capture the best images, keep you in the right spot and also make sure your safe is vital before your feet even touch the sand!
So here's a full rundown of my full in water surf photography gear - including camera body, my preferred lenses, which housing I use and all the extras that help me make the most of my time in the surf.
✅ Which camera do I use for surf photography?
✅ Lens options
✅ My go to in water surf photography housing
✅ Swim Fins
✅ Head gear and wearing a helmet
✅ Can you also use a GoPro?
⬇️Read the full kit breakdown here (inc some helpful tips and settings!) ⬇️
www.stokedfortravel.com/in-wa...
If you're getting into in water surf photography drop your insta handles in the comments section too so I can check out your work - and if you have any other recommendations for gear, lenses, camera bodies or fins lets share them around!
📷 MY CAMERA GEAR 📷
DJI Osmo Pocket - amzn.to/2F7INjt
DJI Mavic Air 2 - amzn.to/2ZKGBK2
GoPro Hero 9 - amzn.to/3cFhs7K
Rode Wireless Go - amzn.to/2UMnPh1
Rode Lavalier Go - amzn.to/2UraSdD
GoPro MAX - amzn.to/2rI0nqF
Sony A6300 - amzn.to/37WIWmA
Sony 200mm Lens - amzn.to/37Wpqa4
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Editing: Final Cut Pro X
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▬ ABOUT ▬
I’m Chris - award winning travel blogger, surfer, photographer and ocean lover originally from Devon in the UK. Since 2009 I've been bouncing around the world sharing my adventures and providing reviews, advice and tips to help you plan your own adventure!
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[@handkantenronny1716]

great video. exactly what i was looking for!

[@StokedForTravel]

Stoked it helped 🤙

[@GabrielMirandaV0878]

Great Vid mate. Didn’t know those housings are so bloody expensive.

[@StokedForTravel]

Thanks! Yeah they’re not a small investment - but of a niche product though! 🤙

[@tonya1174]

thanx for all the info! would be gret to include the dome port vs standart port explanation)))

[@StokedForTravel]

Glad it helped! With flat v dome ports, domes are the go for underwater and split shots, whereas flat are for more above water shooting. A few other differences too but those are some of the key things your need to keep in mind when buying ports 🤙

[@orpaztron]

great video, thanks. I'm shooting with Sony A7C with 20 mm or 85 prime lens. I also have GoPro8 and although surfing for 40 years I never combined these hobbies because of the housing or how to operate it, does it 100% water sealed , how to handle a strong current with these small fins...etc. so if you can, pls explain a bit on these questions.

[@StokedForTravel]

So with the LiquidEye housing this is fully waterproof (when sealed correctly!) and also has access to all the back controls as well if you need to tweak any settings whilst shooting. I'd definitely add on the pistol grip (makes shooting easier) and also. side handle for swimming. I use DaFin swim fins which provide plenty of power, but a lot of it comes down to the surf conditions as well as your confidence in the lineup you're swimming out at. Certainly a fun challenge though - try swimming out with just the GoPro first to test out how everything feels!

[@orpaztron]

@@StokedForTravel thanks. LiquidEye don't have housing for Sony A7C according to the website. I'll start with the GoPro... can you recombed handle with a wrist /security strap?

[@StokedForTravel]

@@orpaztron ah fair play, Aquatech are another good option to check out. For the GoPro the floaty handle is ideal

[@marcelriedeman9286]

Would you recommend a Buoyancy vest?

[@StokedForTravel]

Personally I’d say no - for me it affects the ability to swim under waves and quickly get out of trouble. However I know some people use impact vest occasionally, especially if shooting big, heavy conditions.

[@MichaelBranch-km4rh]

Does the sony in teh housing float? Is there a leash for it? Also, when I look at gopro footage like on Nathan Florence's vids the GoPro completely destroys the depth and makes even 20 foot waves look small. Was your footage in this video from the gopro? It looks like it has proper depth and size.

[@StokedForTravel]

Hey Michael, indeed the housing with camera does float, but I do also have a leash for it too. Video wise the shots in there are GoPro, but the stills are from the Sony. Also check out my liquid eye housing review for some more sample footage too 🤙

[@MichaelBranch-km4rh]

@@StokedForTravel Cheers mate! Great Channel!

[@danielshaw7397]

Hello Sir! Great video - I am looking to start underwater photography. No idea how cameras work - or how to set up everything. What is the basic needs? Can you upload videos and photos to a MacBook? Your help and input is much appreciated

[@StokedForTravel]

Stoked to hear you're starting your photo journey Daniel! I also have a memory card reader I plug directly into my laptop - the Sony takes an SD card, whilst the GoPro takes a micro SD. Editing eise I'm using Lightroom for photos and Final Cut X for video - although iMovie on Mac or Adobe Premier is also solid. Heaps of KZbin tutorials on both to help you get started though!

[@Uisci81]

Can you cover your basic camera settings you like for in surf photography

[@StokedForTravel]

Indeed that video is in the pipeline. As a quick summary though I usually fix the shutter at 1000, F Stop around 8 (varying depending on the depth of field I want) and then set ISO to auto (but capped at 800) 🤙

[@Uisci81]

@@StokedForTravel thank you! When I used to surf I always thought it was cool watching the photographers in the water. Now that I’m an amateur landscape photographer I realized I want to try this now as well as a way of getting back out there! Would also love a video on techniques (where to best position yourself/things to consider etc) thanks again for the info

[@StokedForTravel]

@@Uisci81 anytime! Let me know how you get on! In terms of being in the water, it really depends on the break and what shots you're after. Personally I love getting in the tick of it, but that's certainly not for everyone and every spot!haha!

[@Uisci81]

@@StokedForTravel before I started longboarding I was into bodyboarding so was always in the big shore break or fun close out sets to pull in and get pitched. Thinking about incorporating my love of photography with my love for being in the surf, the shots I really want are the classic initial bottom turn and first piling into the barrel. For landscape I have the new Nikon z7ii but honestly with it’s lack luster lock on AF I don’t know if it’s the camera that’s right for fast moving surf, I don’t know if I need a dedicated camera for surf or just buy the housing that’s fit for the z7ii and make due. Honestly I want the z7ii to be my high end camera so if you have a camera (Sony/canon) you think is better suited for fast moving AF please let me know as I’m willing to buy a dedicated one if it’s miles ahead of the Nikon z7’s limitations.

[@StokedForTravel]

@@Uisci81 ah fair play - you're used to getting smashed around in the impact zone then - always handy for an in water photographer!haha! I've been stoked on the AF performance of the Sony A6300 and the later A series options are also solid too, but depends on your budget really. I went with the A6300 as it had all the features I needed without breaking the bank, so it sounds like it'll tick the boxes for you too. The flip side is if you have a lot of money invested in Nikon glass you might want to see if anything in the Nikon line is worth investing it

[@gigirizzi9611]

I have a question: is the ax53 good for starting in surf videography?

[@StokedForTravel]

Hmmmm not too sure on the videography side of things - I do all my surf filming with my mirrorless of GoPro 🤙

[@gigirizzi9611]

@@StokedForTravel so I guess that all the videos (like the one at 1:46)in this video went from the gopro, am I wrong?

[@StokedForTravel]

@@gigirizzi9611 it's a mixture of GoPro and the video setting on the A6300 - although a lot of it is the A6300

[@gigirizzi9611]

@@StokedForTravel also are seafrogs housings good? I've noticed that they are the cheapest avaible

[@StokedForTravel]

@@gigirizzi9611 can't say i've tested them out or heard much about them unfortunately. I can definitely recommend the LiquidEye and SPL Housings though

[@quikbrik]

Hey M8 great vid, what focus modes are you using

[@StokedForTravel]

Stoked you like it! Focus mode wise I'm using focus mode AF-A and focus area as large flexible spot. I usually set this to a central point, but in the top third of the image (but I often change this in camera whilst shooting depending on the shot In want)

[@quikbrik]

@@StokedForTravel ok cool I will try them settings. I am running the a6000 with the seafrogs housing, great light weight bit of kit. only half of my images were in focus. I was on AF-C and centre spot, will try these settings this weekend and let you know how I get on. Cheers heaps bro

[@StokedForTravel]

@@quikbrik let me know how you get on, hopefully it helps! Also, what F stop are you using on your settings?

[@ShoutCanard]

If you film you use a ND filter ?

[@StokedForTravel]

Not using an ND filter in water at the moment, but I do tend to shoot with a CPL though 🤙

[@Baking_baked]

Do you use ND filters also?

[@StokedForTravel]

Not on my in water stuff, occasionally a polarising filter if it’s super bright though 🤙

[@CadePriorFilms]

No life jacket?

[@StokedForTravel]

Would be more of a risk than a help I reckon as it would really impair swimming under the waves to get out of trouble! I’ve seen some mini self inflating tube kits that I might grab though

[@CadePriorFilms]

@@StokedForTravel Thank you. is it difficult though, do the fins keep you from getting tired? worried about drowning lol.

[@affifbellakdar4842]

who are you !!!!

[@StokedForTravel]

In Chris, nice to e-meet you 🤙

[@BellHarrington]

Why do you have one housing and port on the thumbnail image and then go on to talk about a completely different one? 🤦🤷‍♂

[@StokedForTravel]

Hahaha yeah I should probably update that! I didn’t have any pics of myself shooting using the liquideye housing so I just used a pic I took of a mate for the thumbnail! Update to this coming soon though as I’m now shooting with the A7IV and a new liquideye setup: www.stokedfortravel.com/liquid-eye-surf-housing-review-waterproof-camera-housing/