{"id":17292,"date":"2009-05-25T22:24:22","date_gmt":"2009-05-25T22:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwphoto.onpressidium.com\/book\/backscatter-underwater\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T06:57:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T06:57:16","slug":"backscatter-underwater","status":"publish","type":"book","link":"https:\/\/www.uwphotographyguide.com\/book\/underwater-photography-guide\/underwater-photography-lighting\/backscatter-underwater\/","title":{"rendered":"Backscatter in underwater photography, cause and prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The underwater photographer constantly has to worry about avoiding backscatter when using strobes, or especially when using an internal flash. Backscatter presents many challenges. Backscatter is mainly caused by strobes or the internal flash lighting up particles in the water in between the lens and the subject. It can also be caused by lighting up open water directly behind a subject. Backscatter is easier to see against a dark background. <\/p>\n

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This photo suffers from the dreaded “Backscatter” – which ruined a nice photo! Brown shrimp from Redondo Beach, Southern Califorina.<\/p>\n

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Strobe position to reduce backscatter<\/h2>\n

If you are a beginner<\/strong> in underwater photography, you may want to watch my video tutorial<\/a> on reducing backscatter.<\/p>\n

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The most backscatter can be seen when a strobe is positioned right next to the lens, for example like the internal flash of a point and shoot camera. The backscatter will be worse when the subject is far away, or if the water is filled with plankton or sand. Shooting into open water also shows more backscatter than if a subject has reef directly behind it.<\/p>\n

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To reduce backscatter<\/strong>, photographers will use two strobes far from the lens, that light up the subject with only the edge of the light beams. A diagram showing this is also on the strobe diagram page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This is the strobe position I would use for a fish 2-3ft in front of the camera, to reduce backscatter. Notice how the strobes are out wider and pointing out slightly. For a macro subject very close to the lens, I would pull the strobes in just enough so the edges of the cone touch the subject, but the strobes would still be pointing out slightly.<\/p>\n

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Backscatter from yourself and your buddies:<\/h3>\n

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In sandy and silty environments, the cause of backscatter is often your own fins, or your buddy\u2019s fins. The following will help:<\/p>\n