One Strobe or Two?

The large majority of underwater photography involves artificial lighting in the form of strobes. They are a necessity. But whether you use a single or multiple strobe configuration is a bit more open to argument, especially in California waters.

TWO STROBES

Having two strobes available is arguably to your advantage for some obvious reasons. One strobe can act as a back up should the other fail. You will have more creative control on the light, especially in macro photography. But there are also disadvantages, especially for California underwater photographers.

California waters are not as clear and have more suspended particulate matter. With two strobes, especially in wide-angle photography, you run twice the risk of exposing these specks creating a snowy photo full of "backscatter." Two-strobe, wide-angle photography in California waters must be done with very careful attention to strobe angle and power. Sometimes, just as desirable, if not better, results can be gained with a single strobe.

Dual strobes can also be a liability in moving around the California Pacific. Beach diving with a dual strobe rig is quite difficult. Kelp can also be a big hindrance, snagging at every turn. Whether you use a single or dual strobes, a quality strobe arm system that can fold the strobes up close to the camera is well worth the investment. It saves any effort trying to maneuver through thick kelp.

SINGLE STROBE

With a single strobe, you have simplicity. Keep your light angle from the front, moderately high and to the side somewhat, kind of like sunlight illuminating from the surface above. In wide-angle photography, set your exposure so the background is illuminated with ambient light.

Choose a strobe that is versatile. It should have a wide-beam angle and several power settings. A fast recycle time is a nice feature. It does not have to be tremendously powerful. A compact strobe with the features listed above is an asset in beach diving and winding through the kelp forest.

RECOMMENDATIONS

For macro photography, two strobes are a must. For even the most basic creative lighting you will need to control light power, either with a smaller less powerful strobe on one side, or, preferably, power controls on each of the two strobes. These strobes need not be large as macro photography is narrow angle.

Unless you really know what you're doing, are willing to take your time controlling your lighting angles, or have something very specific in mind, stick with a single strobe with your wide-angle shots. Sure, you can get some dramatic results with two strobes, but you have to be very attentive.

Those of limited means should invest in two strobes, a medium and a small. The first should be compact, but not necessarily high powered, with a wide-beam angle and a at least four power settings (TTL, Full, 1/2 and 1/4). The second strobe can be small, narrow beamed, and of moderate power. It need not have multiple power settings, although TTL is nice, and a slave mode is helpful. Although not the ideal setup, you can use both strobes together for macro photography with stunning results. Power controls on the more sophisticated strobe will give you at least some degree of creative latitude.

With these two strobes, should the larger strobe fail, you can use the small strobe in a pinch for wide-angle work. And if you want to try your hand at dual strobe wide-angle work, the smaller strobe can fill in nicely.

A THIRD STROBE

Adding another tool to your toolbox will allow you more versatility. Another small strobe will work excellent in a compact dual strobe macro rig. An additional wide-beam strobe can serve as back up or for breaking into more sophisticated dual strobe wide-angle work.

Where I like having a third strobe is in creative lighting. Have a diver model with the third strobe in slave mode to create interesting back lighting. It is also a necessity in illuminating large scenics such as wrecks or the inside of caves or caverns where a modeling diver holds the slave strobe as if it were an underwater light. This kind of lighting, properly applied, can be quite dramatic.

You need more than one strobe with your cache of underwater photography equipment. But you do not necessarily have to have two strobes for the right photo. Often just one will do, and sometimes three are called for.