English
Marco Heesbeen started diving in 1999. After completing his CMAS 2* certification, he quickly developed a passion for underwater photography. Within a year he purchased his very first digital underwater camera and immediately became fascinated by capturing life below the surface.
Today, Marco rarely dives without a camera. As he often says:
“If I don’t take my camera underwater, I will definitely encounter something special and regret not being able to capture it.”
Over the years Marco has developed his own recognizable style of underwater photography. He is always searching for unique perspectives, powerful compositions and creative lighting techniques. His work often moves beyond traditional underwater photography, featuring abstract details, dramatic close focus wide angle images and artistic underwater scenes that make viewers wonder how the image was created.
Marco enjoys participating in national and international underwater photography competitions, where he exchanges ideas and experiences with fellow photographers from around the world. Throughout his career he has won the Dutch National Championship three times and represented the Netherlands during multiple CMAS World Championships.
Some of his personal highlights include:
His award-winning work and underwater images have been published in magazines, dive media and photography platforms worldwide.
In 2002 Marco founded Onderwaterhuis.NL, which later expanded internationally into UWCameraStore.com. What started as a small underwater camera shop has grown into one of Europe’s leading specialists in underwater photography and underwater video equipment.
Today, nearly 25 years later, a passionate team of divers, underwater photographers and videographers helps customers from all over the world with:
Marco truly turned his hobby into his profession.
Besides photography, Marco frequently tests and reviews the latest underwater photography equipment. He writes in-depth articles, hands-on reviews and setup guides for cameras, underwater housings, strobes, lenses and accessories.
His work has been featured in leading Dutch diving magazines such as:
He also publishes educational content and equipment reviews online for underwater photographers and videographers worldwide.
On this page you can find underwater photography articles, equipment reviews, camera setup guides and underwater imaging tips written by Marco Heesbeen.
Besides his work for UWCameraStore and Onderwaterhuis, Marco also shares his award-winning underwater photography on his personal website. Visit www.marcoheesbeen.com to view his underwater photography portfolio, international awards and published work.
Have you ever looked at your underwater photos after a dive and thought, “Why does everything look so... blue?” or “I swear those corals were way more colorful than this!” Don’t worry, you're not imagining things. When we take photos underwater, especially without flash or artificial lights, the ocean tends to eat up a lot of the colors we see with our own eyes. Reds and oranges disappear first, leaving us with a lot of dull blues and greens. So what’s the fix? Custom White Balance.
As underwater photographers, we ask a lot from our gear. We take it into saltwater, through sand and surf, and expect it to work flawlessly dive after dive. Protecting that gear, especially after it comes out of the water, is just as important as using it underwater. That’s where the Kraken Sports Rinse Bag really stands out.
If you’ve ever tried to photograph a tiny nudibranch doing something adorable (or just existing), you already know: macro photography underwater is a game of patience, precision, and the right gear. And when it comes to gear, Nauticam’s Super Macro Converter 3 (SMC-3) is quickly becoming a favorite tool for underwater shooters who like to get up close and personal with the smallest critters in the sea. The SMC-3 is part of the Nauticam conversion lenses range designed for underwater macro photography.
So, what makes this new version special? Let’s dive in.
Looking for a lighting setup that does it all without filling your dive bag or emptying your wallet? The Weefine WFS07 might be just what you need. It's a hybrid underwater strobe and video light that promises serious performance in a compact body.
At UWCameraStore.com, we focus on the gear that makes a difference underwater and lights like the WFS07 are what get us excited. If you’re shooting macro critters or wide reefscenes, this unit is built to handle both stills and video with ease.
If you use an Olympus Tough camera with the PT-059 housing, the Ring Light 1500 is a great choice for underwater photography. It’s easy to use and provides powerful lighting for your shots. Here’s why it’s ideal for Olympus Tough users:
If you've browsed photography forums or chatted with experienced photographers, you've probably come across the advice: "Consider upgrading from the kit lens." And in most traditional photography, especially topside, that suggestion makes sense. Many kit lenses, like the Sony 16–50mm PZ or Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm EZ, are budget-friendly but may not offer the sharpness, build quality, or low-light performance of more premium lenses.
But when it comes to underwater photography, things change especially once wet lenses come into play.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a travel-friendly, full-frame mirrorless camera that doesn’t skimp on features, especially for underwater shooting, the Sony A7C II should definitely be on your radar. It’s the kind of camera that makes you do a double take. Wait, that compact body houses what kind of tech?
Let’s dive into what makes the Sony A7C II such an intriguing choice for divers, snorkelers, and underwater image makers alike.
Using an external strobe allows you to capture stunning underwater photos with better colors, higher contrast, and less backscatter. You probably already own an underwater camera, and now you’re looking for the best underwater strobe. But… which one should you choose? At UWCameraStore.com, we help you find the best underwater strobe for your setup.
Would you like to go diving or snorkeling with the GoPro Hero 9 - 13 ? We recommend using the aluminum T-housing as an underwater housing for your Gopro. The underwater housing is small, sturdy and is equipped with stainless steel buttons. The maximum depth is 250 meters! This underwater housing is a lot firmer than the standard protective housing from GoPro. Each housing is machined from one aluminum block and fully assembled and tested in Germany.
When it comes to underwater photography, protecting your camera is crucial. Isotta, an Italian brand renowned for its precision engineering and distinctive red aluminum housings, has established itself as a top choice for underwater photographers. With decades of experience in high-quality metal machining since 1980, Isotta combines durability, aesthetics, and functionality to offer superior protection for your valuable camera equipment.
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