When photographing a diver alone, what type of shot is typically preferred?

When photographing a diver alone, a vertical shot is typically preferred because it tends to create a more dynamic and engaging composition. Vertical images can effectively highlight the diver in the context of their underwater environment, emphasizing the line of the diver’s body and creating a sense of movement and depth. This orientation is especially useful when aiming to capture the full length of the diver along with their surroundings, offering a more dramatic visual impact and allowing for better interactions with the backdrop, such as coral formations or marine life.

While other types of shots, such as wide-angle or close-up, have their merits, they might not always convey the same sense of scale and context that a vertical shot provides when focusing on a single diver. A horizontal shot can sometimes lack the emphasis on the subject that a vertical perspective delivers. Therefore, the vertical orientation excels in capturing the overall essence of the scene with the diver as the focal point.