The Our World Underwater Dive and Travel Show

A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, Marc Morale is the owner of Hamilton Construction, a civil engineering firm in Frankfort, Illinois. Marc Morale is also an accomplished scuba diver and underwater photographer and videographer. He has presented at a number of scuba-related trade shows, including the Our World Underwater Dive and Travel Show.

A consumer expo that showcases the latest diving equipment, the Our World Underwater Dive and Travel show took place in Chicago on February 16 and 17 at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare. In addition to a large exhibit hall, attendees had the opportunity to attend a film festival and over 100 workshops and seminars.

Seminars at the Our World Underwater event revolved around four themes: Wonders of the Sea, Dive the World, Dive with a Pro, and Shipwreck. Talented experts from each area presented on a wide variety of topics, including underwater photography, insurance, archaeology, and exotic dive sites across the globe.

Diving enthusiasts were also given the opportunity to attend all-day workshops that allowed them to update their training for the certification required to be a visual cylinder inspector.

A highlight of the expo was the film festival, which featured the work of Adam Ravetch, an Emmy award-winning underwater wildlife cinematographer. His film, The Arctic, A Glimpse of our Amazing Frozen World was shown, as well as other works by award-winning filmmakers.

Tips for Shooting Underwater Videos

Marc Morale is the owner of Hamilton Construction, a company he founded in Frankfort, Illinois, in 1996. Outside of work, Marc Morale is an avid scuba diver with experience instructing classes, repairing scuba diving equipment, and giving presentations on underwater videography and photography. 

Many scuba divers record their underwater experiences on video. Here are a few tips for shooting high-quality underwater videos.

1. Buy the correct gear. First, it's important to note there are no true underwater cameras. However, there are waterproof cameras that can be fitted with underwater camera housing. As such, underwater photographers look for a camera capable of shooting in 720p or higher and use an underwater camera housing made by the camera’s manufacturer or a third party. Specifics like features, size and weight, and price are up to the individual. 

2. Make sure the videos aren't shaky. This is easier said than done when strong currents are involved, but steady videos can be taken by focusing on motor control and/or using a tripod. Companies sell tripods for shooting underwater in a variety of prices and styles. Divers can set up the tripod on two legs and hold the third leg for stability or set up the tripod and weigh it down to shoot from a distance.

3. Get buoyancy right. Divers achieve neutral buoyancy by wearing the right amount of weight for the dive and by breathing evenly. Without buoyancy, the diver will not be able to stay balanced, which makes it difficult to take photographs or videos. For instance, an individual seeking to capture up-close video while floating over a coral reef or hovering beside a whale shark will need to stay steady to keep from scaring or bumping into sea life. It takes time to achieve natural buoyancy, so many dives may be necessary before a diver strikes the right balance. However, it will be well worth it to save time editing out shaky or “bobbing” footage later.

Taking Effective Underwater Photographs of Reefs

Marc Morale is a respected presence in the Chicago community who leads Hamilton Construction, Inc., where he focuses on projects involving reclamation, sewer, and watermain issues. An avid scuba diver and certified instructor, Marc Morale has extensive experience taking still and video footage underwater. 

One of the most complex aspects of underwater photography involves capturing reefscapes. With showcasing marine life in the foreground a goal of many, such shots often involve careful planning, with the diver prepared to stay in a single location and capture those animals that swim or drift by during a session.

While wide angle lenses are often used, creating viewer interest may require the use of strobes and other forms of underwater lighting. With soft lighting defining the shape of the foreground object, a sense of immediacy and vividness can be generated through the use of backlighting. 

Another dramatic technique is to create over/under images that reflect both the view from the surface and underwater. This is best accomplished in shallow water situations with hard corals fanning out toward the surface. Taking advantage of sunny conditions, the photographer may leave fins behind, so that sand and other sediment are not stirred up. The surface level of the shot, often accomplished through use of a dome port, can incorporate classic land elements such as sandy beach and coconut trees along with the reef below.

The Professional Association of Dive Instructors

A construction industry professional for more than 20 years, Marc Morale owns Hamilton Construction in Frankfort, Illinois. Outside of work, Marc Morale is a scuba instructor and a member of the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI).

Founded in 1966, the Professional Association of Dive Instructors was created to provide diver education and training to improve their skills and increase safety. PADI certification also includes continuing diver education for those who want to learn more advanced techniques and raise their skill level. All diver training is performance-based, allowing students to progress according to their own pace. They become comfortable with one particular set of skills before moving to the next step.

PADI also provides access to ScubaEarth, an online community that allows users to share diving experiences and activities with fellow divers on an interactive platform. Connecting scuba-diving enthusiasts from around the world, ScubaEarth gives them a place where they can share dive photos, identify various aquatic creatures they’ve seen, and plan dive excursions.

Underwater Photography Tips for Scuba Divers

A resident of Chicago, Marc Morale owns Hamilton Construction in Frankfort, Illinois. Interested in the ocean and scuba diving for years, Marc Morale became a certified scuba diver after college and is certified as a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) open water diver. Since then, he has parlayed his love of being underwater into doing underwater photography and videography.

Underwater photography requires divers to swim well in order to keep up with many of its subjects. When compared to snorkeling photography, scuba photography allows people to spend long periods of time in deeper water, giving them a better chance of being closer to marine life. Divers should keep a few tips in mind when shooting underwater.

* Use the right camera settings. Most underwater cameras have different flash settings, and divers should use the forced flash mode if possible. The camera should also be set to the highest resolution. In addition, divers should use the spot focus mode.

* Get close to the subject. When taking pictures underwater, the light needs to travel from the camera to the object and back to the camera, through water in each direction. By shortening the distance, the photographer will achieve clearer images.

* Shoot photos upward toward the surface. This allows the shot to include more than just the sea bottom, which can make your subject blend into the coral or other background. Upward shots have the sun or sky backlighting the subject.

The Royal Rangers Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship

A longtime resident of the greater Chicago area, Marc Morale has served for more than 20 years as the owner and president of Hamilton Construction in the suburb of Frankfort, Illinois. As a young man, Marc Morale held active membership in the Royal Rangers, and today his children are involved with the program as well. Mr. Morale volunteers with the Royal Rangers as a leader.

A scouting program that embraces traditional Christian values, the Royal Rangers support a number of special programs that allow members to share common interests and engage in specific group activities. One of these programs is the Royal Rangers’ Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship.

The Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship (FCF) offers a wealth of opportunities to develop the unique outdoor abilities of early settlers on the American frontier. The threefold purpose of the FCF is to promote personal development through specialized training, to promote a sense of camaraderie among its members, and to provide a range of valuable services to the Royal Rangers and the public at large. In addition to practicing outdoor skills and attending special events, FCF members participate in various competitions that remain true to the traditions of the American frontiersman.