The Magic of Two Worlds in One Frame. Capturing Gorgeous Half Over Half Underwater Shots - A Beginner's Guide

Few images stop viewers instantly like an over-under split-level photo —
where sky and sea, air and water, surface and depth exist together in a single moment.

These photographs feel surreal, cinematic, and impossible.
Yet with the right technique, they’re surprisingly achievable.

What Creates a Split-Level, Half Over Half Under Shot?

A true over/under image requires:

• Half the lens above water and half below the water surface.
• Calm enough water surface to enable the frame to capture both
• Wide-angle perspective. The wider the lens you're using the easier it is to frame an image containing both. We recommend focal lengths below/shorter than 24mm.
• A dome-style, curved port to manage distortions caused by light traveling at different speeds in air (above surface) vs. underwater (below the surface). This difference is what causes various distortions and what the domes aim to correct. 

Without the right optical tools, split shots appear blurry or distorted.
That’s why dome-style ports are essential.

Why Dome Ports Are Important

As light travels at different speeds over air vs. water there are several distortions that occur. This difference in speed "bends" the light and creates the appearance of magnification, or positioning underwater. That's why a pencil in a glass of water may appear broken, for example. The image below illustrates the underwater distortion effect in question.  

Domes help correct for all of these distortions. But there's no "magic" in physics. So there are several things photographers can do to help alleviate and correct these distortions thru the use of the right equipment (camera, lens), composition, lighting, and settings. 

Best Conditions for Beginners

Start where success is easiest:

• Calm ocean lagoons

• Swimming pools

• Lakes at sunrise

• Minimal wind or waves

• Clear water and interesting skies

Good conditions matter more than expensive gear.

Camera Settings That Work

Lens: Ultra-wide or fisheye
Aperture: f/8 – f/16 for depth of field
Shutter: 1/250s or faster
ISO: As low as light allows
Focus: Slightly below the waterline

These create balanced sharpness across both worlds.

Positioning the Dome Correctly

Small adjustments make huge differences:

• Keep the waterline near the center curve

• Tilt slightly downward

• Shoot many frames in bursts

• Let waves create natural variation

Patience is part of the craft.

Creative Split-Shot Ideas

• Surfers above, reef below

• Swimmers and reflections

• Boats and marine life

• Ice, mangroves, or riverbanks

• Wildlife at the surface

Each location tells two stories at once.

Making Split Photography More Accessible

New lightweight waterproof systems like Outex with professional optical glass domes now allow photographers to create split images:

• with existing cameras

• while traveling light

• at far lower cost

That accessibility is transforming what used to be a niche technique into a widely explored creative style.

Your First Split Shot Awaits

Split photography blends:

• landscape

• underwater

• storytelling

• timing

• technical craft

And once you capture a perfect waterline frame,
you’ll understand why photographers chase them around the world.