How To Shoot On An iPhone Underwater

The latest iPhone models have not only advanced cameras but also moisture protection. So you can even take pictures on your phone underwater.

Need an iPhone 7 or newer models

iPhone models starting with seven are considered to be waterproof. This can be understood from the IP67 certification in your phone’s documentation. It indicates the degree of protection of the device according to the International Protection Marking classification. The first number refers to protection against dust and the second number to protect against moisture. The larger the numbers, the less likely it is that water and dust will get into these devices. An IP67 rating doesn’t mean that you can immerse yourself in water as deep as you want with your iPhone for as long as you want – it’s not a specialized action camera, though. iPhone is primarily splash-proof and it is not recommended to keep it in the water for more than 30 minutes and lower it to a depth of less than 1 meter. Its resistance to moisture may decrease over time. And if, after contact with water, your device suddenly fails, it is not covered by the warranty.

The other option is an airtight case

If you are not satisfied with such restrictions or if you have a model older than the iPhone 7, you can buy a special protective case. They are mainly of two kinds: soft, in the form of envelopes, and hard, in the form of sealed boxes of durable plastic. The latter come even with built-in lenses with different functions, such as wide-angle or “fish-eye”. Just make sure the case is compatible with your iPhone before buying. It will also be good if the case has a strap that you can put on your hand and a float that will prevent the phone from drowning. So the chances of losing the gadget in the water are minimized.

Get your phone ready to shoot: check the charge and adjust the buttons

Before climbing into the water, make sure your iPhone is properly set up and your battery is charged. During shooting, the battery sits down faster and it may be dangerous to charge a wet iPhone. It will also be difficult to use the touch screen underwater – you can use the volume control buttons to take pictures in the water. Another important feature is that you should remember to turn off the screen’s auto-lock. That way, your iPhone won’t fall asleep at the most important moment and you’ll always be ready to take your pictures.

Manually adjust the shooting settings

The good thing about the iPhone is that you don’t have to know the settings to get quality photos – you can shoot at the automatic mode. Smart algorithms will do everything themselves and measure the amount of light entering the lens. But for special cases, it is useful to apply exposure compensation (shutter speed and ISO) – just like in a professional camera. For example, if you shoot against the sun during water hiking and dim the picture, you can achieve spectacular silhouettes or catch light rays that breakthrough underwater. To do this, before going underwater, press and hold your finger on any part of the screen. After a couple of seconds, the iPhone will lock the focus point and exposure, and you can then pile it up or down.

Shoot in series

To capture the dynamics of what is happening, take a series of shots each. Underwater conditions are challenging – the more photos you take, the easier it will be to select a successful shot. To shoot a series of shots, simply hold down the shutter button or the volume key. By the way, the latest iPhone models are almost as fast as professional reportage cameras in terms of burst speeds.