How to Get True Colors When Photographing Coral

One of the great delights for a scuba diver is being able to capture the experience on film and show it to people on the surface. You can buy underwater housings for cameras which can be taken to depth to photograph marine life. Water absorbs light waves --starting with the red color-- so the deeper you go, the more blue your objects appear. You can get true colors by adjusting the white balance on the camera or using artificial light sources when taking your photograph.

Things You'll Need

  • White underwater slate
  • Underwater camera strobe
  • Underwater torch
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Instructions

    • 1

      White balance your underwater camera. Water absorbs light as you go deeper. White balancing the camera allows the camera to adjust to what appears white at that level and should be done every time you change depth. Turn your camera to the custom white balance mode and point it at a white underwater slate to give the camera a guide. The camera will then be set for the light absorption at that level.

    • 2

      Use a strobe. Turn on your camera's internal or external flash when taking a photo of coral, to light the coral artificially and cancel the effect of light absorption at that depth. If using an external strobe then try and point at at the subject from a different angle than the camera lens to eliminate the possibility of catching backscatter --suspended particles--in the water and ruining the photo.

    • 3

      Use a torch. Point an underwater torch at the subject at the same time that you are taking the photo. The torch will provide artificial light and show the coral in its true colors. Point the torch at the subject from a different angle than the camera lens to eliminate the possibility of catching backscatter in the water ruining the photo.