DIY 5-Minute Snoot for Underwater Strobes
I have stumbled upon this question quite a lot lately, so I decided to create a short guide showing how simple it is to create your own snoot for creative underwater photography lighting!
First, why do you even want a snoot?
Because it’s cool, fun and different! You can gain a unique control over your lighting and produce fantastic images straight from the camera, thus lowering your post processing time.
So how do you build a homemade snoot?
All you need are 3 simple items:
- A plastic bottle, hopefully one with a diameter similar to your strobe.
- Masking Tape
- Knife / Scissors
Part I
Make sure the bottle diameter fits your strobe. I was in luck and the first bottle I tried fit my YS-D1 perfectly (I wonder if Sea & Sea thought about that when designing it…)
Part II
Choose the desired length of the snoot and cut the bottle accordingly.
Part III
Cover the half bottle with tape thoroughly to prevent any undesired light except for small opening. Black tape would be better and you might want to cover it inside with aluminum foil if you want to get the most out of your light and save on battery.
Part IV
Attach your new snoot and go diving! Nudibranches love the spot lights 😉
* Note – Make sure you cover the top of the bottle completely, unlike what I did here. This would make your beam more accurate.
Do you have suggestions on how to upgrade this fun project? Let us know in the comments below!
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1 comment
I’m looking to buy a new underwater camera. I’ve been using a canon g12 w a canon housing. I’m a snorkeler and not a diver but that doesn’t mean I want a cheap point and shoot. I’m looking for a that’s fast, can shoot 6-10fpm, do close-ups and has the important buttons accessible.
I see a lot of people using the sealife dragon but I’m concerned that the sensor may be too small for good pictures. I like their piano keys and double lights but tell me your opinion and if not this what else you recommend.
Thanks