Creating split shot photographs, also known as over-under photos, allows you to capture both the underwater world and the surface environment in a single frame. By securing your Sony Alpha camera in an underwater housing, you can submerge it half in and half out of water to create this kind of image. Your best bet to create a photo like this is to look for areas with clear water to minimize distortion and wait for calm conditions to reduce surface ripples. Align your shot to have elements of interest both above and below the waterline. Depending on where you are and the water depth, you might even want to use a tripod to stabilize your setup. Play around with a fast shutter speed, small aperture and low ISO to reduce motion blur and ensure both the underwater and above-water parts are in focus. See more examples of over-under photographs below and follow the photographers for more in your feed. Tag your own Sony photos with #SonyAlpha for your chance to be featured.

See how these adventurous photographers capture the beauty of our oceans with split shots that include above and below the surface in a single frame.

Chris Burkard – @chrisburkard

Accomplished explorer, photographer and Sony Artisan Chris Burkard strives to share his vision of wild places with others, and in the image below he shares an epic split shot to show one of his favorite places. He explains, “The over/under shot is a classic in surf and underwater photography, not an easy one to accomplish but provides a “through the looking glass” sort of perspective I think is important when contextualizing a sport or landscape that extends beneath the surface. Having spent countless hours lugging a housing around the world and taking my fair share of waves to the head for an angle I wanted - I always appreciate how much skill goes into pulling off these kinds of images. This particular trip - Mallorca 2018, I wanted to show off both ends of deep water soloing, both the ascent and swim after that make the sport both unique but beautiful to capture & I felt that the over/under was the best approach.” Learn more about the gear he uses in What’s In My Bag: Chris Burkard’s Hybrid Kit For Travel, Adventure & More.

Cristina Mittermeier – @mitty

Sony Artisan and Sea Legacy co-founder Cristina Mittermeier went just beneath the surface to get this split shot of sea lions. She writes, “Galápagos sea lions use their long, broad flippers to navigate powerful ocean currents, but they also seem to come in handy for a variety of social interactions.” Follow her for more conservation photography on land and sea.

Stan Moniz – @stanmoniz

Photographer and Alpha Collective member Stan Moniz can be found in the ocean and under the stars. With the talent to photograph nature's beauty above and below the surface, Moniz is a must-follow to keep up with his adventures. We love this over-under image of a sea turtle poking its head above the surface he captured with his Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master in an underwater housing.

Josh Munoz – @joshmunoz

Photographer, videographer and freediver Josh Munoz uses his Sony Alpha 1 to capture beautiful moments with wildlife underwater. He snapped this awesome split shot of a baby whale, and you can learn more about his complete kit for this type of photography in What’s In My Bag: A Freediver’s Hybrid Kit For Rare Underwater Encounters, Vlogging & More.

Andrew Zimmerman – @andrew.zimmerman.photography

You don't have to live by the ocean to create an over-under photograph. Andrew Zimmerman is a conservation biologist and underwater photographer in Tennessee. While most underwater photographers’ focus is on saltwater, Zimmerman's work documents the freshwater riverine ecosystems of the southeastern United States. Using his Sony Alpha 7R IV and a combination of the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G and Sony 28mm f/2 lenses, he creates images that let others experience the little gems that exist hidden under the surface of a healthy stream. Check out these awesome split-shots of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout below and read more about the gear he uses in
What's In My Bag: An Underwater River Photography Kit To Capture Hidden Gems.

Rachel Moore – @moore_rachel

Creator Rachel Moore is a freediver who has been sailing around the world for years, capturing the beauty above and below sea level. The video she created below starts with a split shot and dives into her adventures exploring the wild and remote Tuamotu archipelago of French Polynesia. All of the clips were taken with her Sony Alpha 1 and a combination of the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master and Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. She says, “I love how my Sony Alpha 1 has unbelievably good auto-tracking for human and animal subjects and maintains focus on animals’ eyes even underwater.” Follow her for more sea explorations.

Victor de Valles – @victordevalles

Underwater photographer Victor de Valles created this absolutely stunning split shot in Menorca, Spain with his Sony Alpha 7R IV and Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master in an underwater housing. “It’s a split shot in a flooded cave with a hole on the roof and an exit underwater,” he explains. “I chose the right day for sea and weather conditions and met with my girlfriend Julia (@julia_wom). After a long walk, a long swim near the cliffs, and a short dive under the cliffs, we arrived at the cave. We then waited for the sun to be at the right place, and after a few attempts, finally got this shot.” Follow him for more dreamy photos of his freediving adventures.

Kaushiik Subramaniam – @kaushman

Kaushiik Subramaniam is a wildlife conservation biologist and filmmaker. His research into human-wildlife interactions and conflicts has taken him far and wide, from studying elephant populations in the savannah of South Africa to monitoring whale shark tourism in the Maldives. He took this split shot of a beautiful whale shark in the Maldives with his Sony Alpha 7R III. Follow him as he continues to document the natural world with his research to help bring attention and find resolutions to the issues facing wildlife across the world.

Max Blakesberg – @maxblakesberg

Underwater photographer Max Blakesberg likes to explore the deep blue, and some of his favorite companions in the water are the beautiful sea turtles. Using a camera like the Sony Alpha 7R IV and a lens like the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master in an underwater housing, he’s able to capture stunning split shots like the one below. He says, “Exploring the deep blue with some of my favorite companions. Shooting underwater can be a tricky world to navigate, where understanding both your camera system and the environment you are working in is absolutely crucial. For the last 6 years, Sony camera systems have been my go to for all my underwater work. Between the lightning fast autofocus of the G-master lenses and the high megapixels, Sony bodies like the Sony Alpha 7R IV, I can feel confident getting in the water knowing I have the gear that fits my needs to ensure I can capture beautiful moments like this without missing the shot.”