Getting Good Color In Underwater Photos

If you've ever wished that your underwater photos could turn out perfectly every time, with vibrant colors that are true to life, there are easy ways to make it happen.  Thanks to easy to use technology and improved camera equipment, it's easier than ever to get quality photos each and every time you dive.  Here are some top tips for getting great color in every underwater photo you take.

Avoiding Common Mistakes 

There are many mistakes people commonly make which contribute to loss of color.  Some use auto flash instead of forced flash, for instance.  Using forced flash on a compact camera ensures the internal flash goes off every time you shoot.  This increases the amount of color you'll see in the resulting photos. 

Another mistake people make is shooting too far from their subjects.   The closer you are, the better your colors will turn out.  Remember that water diffuses light, and diffuses the red end of the spectrum first.  Your colors will be twice as bright at a distance of three feet than they will be from a distance of six feet. 

Finally, if you plan to take underwater photographs on a regular basis, you've really got to invest in a strobe if you want consistent color at depth.  While you can get good color in shallow, clear water without one, the extra light a strobe or two will provide can make all the difference. 

Getting the Most from a Flash or Strobe 

In bright natural light, use a small aperture or fast shutter speed setting to prevent colors from being absorbed, and in all cases, try to shoot with your subject within at least 1 foot of you unless you're working on macro shots, in which case your subject should be no further than 6 inches from you. 

Use manual mode if possible so you can make adjustments if needed.  In addition, play with your strobe position.  Front lighting will normally enhance color and saturation.  Finally, use the proper white balance setting - either automatic or sunny usually works well.  Using "cloudy" often causes photos to take on a yellowish or orangey hue.

Getting Great Color in CFWA or Wide Angle Shots 

Try to position yourself so the sun is behind your subject but in front of you, so the subject is mostly lit by your strobe.  You'll get consistently good results if you use manual settings and underexpose the natural light in the background.  To get close to your subjects and keep colors true, use a very wide angle lens; a fisheye lens ought to be high on your list of photo equipment to buy.

Getting Good Color Using Natural Light 

Sometimes, it is possible to get good color without using a flash or strobes.  Conditions should be calm and sunny, and water should be shallow - it's just about impossible to get good color in photos taken with no added light in more than 20 feet of water.  Shoot with the sun behind you, and use manual white balance or shoot in RAW instead of jpeg and use your RAW editor to fix the white balance.  Additionally, try using filters to block out some of the blue.  A Magic Filter is specially designed for underwater use and will let more colors from the red end of the spectrum into your photos.

If you're new to underwater photography, you'll find that you've got to practice quite a bit to get things to work out the way you want them to.  Be patient, and keep working to develop colors.  Remember that in the end, it's all about light, and you'll be shooting like a pro soon enough.