The Reboot course is illustrated with relevant images, stills and video of Alex and other photographers in action, and a couple of practical demonstrations with underwater camera gear (on land) to aid the teaching. All the topics are divided into 6 sections, and start with a 10 minute Fundamentals session giving you a swift, pre-dive summary of the most pertinent tips. The course is designed to be re-watched, and with WiFi available now at almost all dive resorts, especially so in the field while shooting.

Subscriptions to the Reboot Course are via Photography Experts.

 

REBOOT COURSE SUMMARY

Presentation 1 – Wide Angle Reset. Part 1

Great wide-angle photographs underwater rarely happen by accident. You don’t take them, you make them. In this first Masterclass session, Alex will deconstruction both the technical and artistic process behind taking stunning wide-angle underwater, allowing you to build up to producing photos direct from the camera that people just can’t keep their eyes off. The session will cover the big issues of shooting stunning wide angle. The presentation also goes into detail on your wide angle equipment choices and configuration, specifically covering lenses, ports, strobes and strobe arms. The message is that all gear has different strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to understand them. The sessions covers both jump settings and the range you will typically use for different shots, and how perfect your camera set up for the shot.

Presentation 2 – Wide Angle Reset. Part 2

Wide angle photography underwater can feel task loaded. This presentation breaks down the key factors to consider underwater, so you can build successful images. This session covers subject selection, balancing lighting, viewpoints, feeding the fisheye and building depth through backgrounds. The aim is to help you appreciate the importance of optimising each to truly master this discipline. The session also discusses the importance of dividing wide angle into Close Focus and Big Scene and what is involved in switching between them. The final section covers a range of popular wide angle subjects, from dolphins to wrecks (and more), with specific shooting advice for each.

Presentation 3 – Macro Reset. Part 1

Macro photography underwater is often regarded as easier than wide-angle, but producing really standout images is just as difficult. The key is usually capturing a visually appealing subject framed against a background that enhances the photo without outcompeting the subject. Alex will decipher the myriad of equipment available for macro and super macro, pointing out strengths of each and the value of owning more than one macro lens. This session also covers the optimal settings for macro shooting, how to use ISO to aid quick changes in depth of field. The final part of this presentation covers Alex’s views and approach to using autofocus on both his SLR and Mirrorless cameras.

Presentation 4 – Macro Reset. Part 2

Macro photography challenges us in many areas. We need excellent diving skills, marine life knowledge, spotting skills, a sensitive approach to wildlife, a mastery of lighting and even good communication skills and etiquette. This presentation covers all this and more. The session also majors on appreciating a great subject as the starting point of a memorable shot, the work is in making the most of the rest of the frame. Alex presents a host of background options for macro shots. The final section covers a range of popular macro subjects, with specific shooting advice for each from abstracts to seahorses. The aim is to put you in complete control of your macro pictures to regularly produce stunning and satisfying work.

Presentation 5 – Secrets Of Composition. Part 1

Art is subjective, but in the photographically challenging underwater world there are ideas that work and shots that don’t. Time is always limited underwater and the advice here is distilled to help you develop the instincts to make the right decisions when the action is unfolding. This session reveals the elements in underwater photos that catch the eye and dominate compositions setting you up to place these properly in the frame. It concludes by running through the major guiding principles of creating stunning looking underwater pictures, with Alex offering a range of compositional options to grab attention.

Presentation 6 – Secrets Of Composition. Part 2

The aim of this talk is to arm you with solutions that work in the real (underwater) world. This talk steers away from principles like the ‘rule of thirds’ and instead focuses on compositions that can be put straight to work underwater. This session goes into detail on how to put together both wide angle and macro pictures underwater. Alex also explains why fisheye and non-fisheye shots should be composed very differently, even of the same subject matter, and why the lenses suit very different subjects. The presentation covers both classic and innovative advice for creating eye catching wide angle and macro pictures. The penultimate section invites you to remember that despite all this advice you should always be looking to break rules and break new ground in photography. The final part of this presentation looks at some classic underwater images (chosen by the original Reboot Group 6), discussing why they are so successful.

Presentation 7 – Light Is Fundamental. Part 1

George Eastman of Kodak famously said “Know light, know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” Learning to master light underwater not only will allow you to work more effectively, but it will put you totally in charge of the look of your images. In this final session, Alex will explain how best to control light underwater with an emphasis on mastering the light on the subject provided by your flashes. This first session concentrates on the fundamentals, focused on creating the best quality of light in both wide angle and macro pictures. Alex stresses that there is no one size that fits all, but that you should select a lighting style that suits the subject and story of that image and then optimise it. The talk is illustrated with both underwater images and multiple shots of camera setups revealing exactly how different lighting is achieved.

Presentation 8 – Light Is Fundamental. Part 2

Light has the power to completely transform any photograph and in this final session Alex teaches arguably the most transformative lighting solutions. His focus is also on practicality because these are also the techniques that he’s found are most easily implemented by photographers on his workshops. This presentation is a mixture of both the illustrated slides as well as a live ‘table top’ demonstration of strobe position, to help you master the details of these techniques. The final section reviews advanced techniques including using off camera lighting effectively and shooting panning shots and double exposures with snooted strobes.

The Reboot course is delivered through the excellent Photography Experts portal and your one-time purchase gives you unlimited online access for 5 years. The videos are not downloadable to protect the content. Alex plans to give a live and interactive presentation in spring 2024 on Photography Experts, free to everyone who is registered. And hopes to give similar bonus Q&A sessions each year that Reboot is active (subscribers will be notified by Photography Experts).

SUBSCRIBE TO REBOOT – PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

  • The full Alex Mustard Underwater Photography Reboot Course costs £95 GBP for 5 years of unlimited access. Buy a subscription on Photography Experts (you need to register first, which must be manually approved).
  • Also available is Alex Mustard On Demand – a separate bundle of recordings of Alex’s Photography Experts content, which includes Reboot On Blur, Reboot On WAM, Reboot: The Photographer’s Mindset, The Big Switch and Selecting For Success for an additional £35 GBP for 5 years of access. Buy a subscription here on Photography Experts.
  • Alumni of the original Reboot Courses from 2021 can buy access to the updated Reboot course for just £35 GBP for 5 years. Rebooters – please contact Photography Experts for this very special offer.

FEEDBACK ON THE 2021 REBOOT COURSE

Note: although based on the same content, these original courses were live and interactive. But also cost £245 GBP, rather than £95 to access the updated, master recordings that now make up the course, with 5 years access. Also as the content has grown, the course is now split into 8 presentations, rather than 4.

The Alex Mustard Masterclass: Underwater Photography Reboot online course was simply AMAZING! Each weekly course was jam-packed with a ton of information during which you could actually ask questions!! Each session was done live but also video-taped for your future reference. I would highly recommend this course to any underwater photographer, from aspiring to professional. I’ve been truly motivated by Alex to produce better images in the camera. And I’ve learned a TON about proper lighting. Thank you, Alex, and your team for this wonderful production!!
Debbie Wallace

Alex’s Photography Reboot online class was as close to being with him in person as you can get. By far the best online class I have ever done. The only thing missing was the water!
I realized after the online sessions that there are teachers and then there are gifted teachers. I don’t have to tell you what category Alex falls under. The difference between night and day!
I was able to practice some of the macro lighting in fairly silty water today and guess what? My photos have little if any backscatter in them!
Lois Hatcher

Many thanks Alex for this really helpful on-line workshop! The small size of the group allows direct and personalized exchanges. The fact that the courses are accessible to all levels is very pleasant. Discussions on the forum and your analysis of our photos are really valuable for progress. Great experience, great group…the 1st for eternity.
Rodolphe Guignard

The underwater photo re-boot online course was enormously helpful and imparted a huge amount of practical knowledge that will help me to “make” better underwater images.
Geoffrey Fallon

I thoroughly enjoyed Alex’s Underwater Photography Reboot Masterclass. The sessions are packed with a lot of helpful information and resources. I would highly recommend this course to any current or aspiring underwater photographer.
Michael Puksa

Reboot of core Underwater techniques has many benefits to all levels. Those beginning gain a vast jump start of knowledge which will help create a definite path to becoming an expert. Those well-established get to reset their fundamental techniques and learn a few new ones that they may have missed out on… or iron out those problems that may have crept in over time.Would greatly recommend this course to anyone starting or already on an UW Photo path.
Derek Bolton