Bluewater Backgrounds: A Fresh Approach to Underwater Macro Photography

Traditionally, black backgrounds have dominated macro photography, creating a striking contrast that isolates the subject. However, once you have mastered black backgrounds it becomes very easy, and your portfolio all tends to look the same.  

Mastering bluewater backgrounds adds a fresh perspective to your images and brings variety to your portfolio. Capturing subjects against the ocean’s natural blue hues not only highlights marine life—just as black backgrounds do—but also provides a sense of depth and context within the underwater environment, making the image feel more natural and realistic. Keep in mind that most viewers have likely never been diving or seen marine creatures in person. To them, a black background might suggest the photos were taken at night or seem artificial. Using natural blue backgrounds helps you connect with a broader audience.

In this article, we will explore the techniques and considerations needed to master bluewater background macro photography. We’ll discuss why photographers often opt for black backgrounds, the role of aperture and shutter speed in controlling ambient light, how to choose the right subjects, and essential camera settings to achieve that captivating blue backdrop. Additionally, we’ll delve into post-processing tips and the best locations to practice this technique.

Why Black Backgrounds Are Popular in Underwater Macro Photography

Black backgrounds are often the default choice in underwater macro photography, and for good reason. In the underwater environment, black backgrounds help to isolate the subject and minimize distractions, resulting in crisp, high-contrast images. The ocean is often filled with particles, backscatter, and complex scenery, which can clutter an image. By underexposing the ambient light and relying only on strobes and lighting accessories to provide the light in the scene, photographers create a dramatic look that highlights the fine details and textures of marine life. It is easy to control what part of the image is lit and hide away the ugly distractions.

This technique, involves reducing the influence of ambient light through the use of small apertures, fast shutter speeds, and close-up strobe placement. The result is a well-lit subject, seemingly suspended in a void of blackness, making the subject the undeniable focal point of the photograph.

How Do We Create Blue Backgrounds?

So if shooting black background macro is done by blocking out all ambient light and using only artificial light, to gain natural blue backgrounds we must reintroduce this natural (ambient) light into the scene, in addition to lighting our subject.

Controlling ambient light is a key aspect of wide-angle photography, where we often aim to "manage the blues" using shutter speed. Essentially, the longer the shutter stays open, the more ambient light enters the scene, making the blue areas of the image brighter. However, it's important not to slow the shutter speed too much, as this can introduce motion blur and ghosting. For instance, when aiming for a black background, you might use a shutter speed around 1/200, whereas for a blue background, you might lower it to around 1/80.

When shooting wide-angle, we're often in bright, sunny tropical conditions with clear water, but macro destinations are usually quite different. The water can be murkier and darker, so simply adjusting the shutter speed may not have as much of an impact on the image. While you could opt for long exposures, this introduces a completely different technique, which you can explore further in our slow shutter macro article.

While maintaining a shutter speed around 1/80th, we also need to let more ambient light in by adjusting the camera's aperture. In macro photography, we're often taught to shoot at f/16 or f/18 to maximize focus on the subject, but in many macro destinations, this blocks out too much ambient light. To compensate, try opening the aperture by lowering the f-stop, perhaps starting around F8. From there, you can experiment with the aperture settings to achieve the desired blue tones in the background.

By using a wider aperture, more of the natural light filtering through the water column will reach your sensor, creating a blue hue in the background. However, this also results in a shallower depth of field, so you’ll need to be mindful of focus, ensuring that the most important part of your subject is sharp while letting the background blur into a soft blue gradient. Expect your success rate to drop off slightly as you learn the technique and don’t become despondent. 99% of the time the critical focus should be on the eye, there are exceptions to this but that is something you will learn in time after a lot of practice mastering this technique.

Choosing the Right Subjects for Bluewater Macro Photography

Not all macro subjects are well-suited for bluewater background photography. To create a successful shot, it’s essential to choose subjects that will stand out against the blue background, but not get lost in it. Marine life that has contrasting colors such as reds, yellows and oranges work well against the blue background.

Brightly colored nudibranchs, for example, are ideal subjects. Their vibrant patterns and unique shapes provide a strong contrast against the blue water, making them pop in the frame. Similarly, small crustaceans, shrimp, and goby fish that have distinct coloring will stand out well. Corals and anemones also make for great bluewater background subjects, especially when paired with a shallow depth of field created when you open the aperture. This isolates their finer details while blending the background into a natural blue.

However, subjects with muted or pale colors may not work as well for this style of photography. They can easily blend into the blue background, resulting in a lackluster or washed-out image.

Positioning your subject in relation to the water column is crucial for achieving vibrant blue backgrounds. Shooting upward toward the surface typically results in the most striking blue hues, as the natural light is strongest in this direction. Choose subjects that are elevated above the reef, rather than lying flat on the bottom, as this makes the technique easier. For example, a frogfish perched on top of a coral head is much more suited for this approach than one nestled into the reef or lying flat on the sand.

Camera Settings for Achieving Bluewater Backgrounds

Achieving the perfect bluewater background in macro photography requires careful attention to your camera settings. As previously discussed, aperture and shutter speed are the two most important factors in controlling the amount of ambient light that influences your background. Let’s break down the key settings you’ll need to focus on:

1. Aperture: Use a moderately wide aperture, such as f/8 to f/11, to allow enough ambient light into the scene while maintaining an acceptable depth of field. This setting strikes a balance between creating a soft, pleasing background and keeping your subject in sharp focus.

2. Shutter Speed: A slower shutter speed, typically between 1/60 to 1/100, will allow more ambient light to expose the background, bringing out the natural blue tones of the water. However, be mindful of the potential for motion blur at slower speeds, and adjust as necessary based on your subject’s movement.

3. ISO: Keep your ISO as low as possible to reduce noise, especially in darker areas of the image, but be prepared to sacrifice some ISO in order to preserve your desired shutter speed and apertures,  ISO 100 to 400 is usually a good range for bluewater macro photography, depending on the available light in the environment.

4. Strobes or External Lighting: When shooting these shots, strobes are essential to properly illuminate your subject and separate it out from the background. Without strobes the colors of your subject will be lost into the blue water.  The goal is to light your subject without overpowering the ambient blue light in the background.

5. Focus: Because you’ll be working with a narrower depth of field when using wider apertures, precise focusing is crucial. Use spot autofocus or manual focus to ensure that the key part of your subject—often the eyes—is sharp.

Post-Processing Techniques for Bluewater Backgrounds

Post-processing can help you fine-tune the blue tones in your images and bring out the best in your bluewater macro shots. Here are a few key tips for editing these types of images:

1. White Balance: Adjust the white balance in post to ensure the blue tones look natural and not overly cyan or magenta. You can use the eyedropper tool in programs like Lightroom or Photoshop to correct any color casts and bring balance to the image.

2. Contrast and Clarity: Add a bit of contrast and clarity to make your subject pop against the blue background. However, be cautious not to overdo it, as too much contrast can introduce harsh edges or unnatural textures.

3. Dehaze or Adjust the Blue Hue: If the blue background is too overpowering or lacks subtle gradation, use the dehaze tool to add definition, or adjust the blue hue in the HSL sliders to refine the shade of blue to your liking.

4. Noise Reduction: Since you’re often working with lower light and higher ISO settings, some noise may appear in your image, particularly in the blue areas. Use noise reduction tools in post to smooth out the background without losing detail in your subject.

Best Locations for Bluewater Macro Photography

Choosing the right location can make all the difference when attempting bluewater background macro photography. Clear, open water with minimal particulate matter is ideal for capturing clean blue backgrounds. Some of the best destinations for bluewater macro include:

1.  Raja Ampat, Indonesia: Known for its crystal-clear waters and incredible marine biodiversity, Raja Ampat is a paradise for macro photographers. The region’s diverse array of critters and excellent visibility make it a prime location for bluewater backgrounds. With an excellent amount of ambient light and well positioned critters, it’s a good place to practice.

2. Anilao, Philippines: Anilao is world-renowned for its rich macro life, with a variety of nudibranchs, shrimps, and small fish species. Its relatively clear waters and abundance of subjects make it a top choice for bluewater macro photographers.

3. Lembeh Strait, Indonesia: Although Lembeh is famous for its black sand and “muck” diving, there are also plenty of opportunities to shoot against blue backgrounds, particularly in the shallower dive sites. The water in Lembeh can be a little dark, so you may need to force the camera settings a little harder

4. Bonaire, Caribbean: With excellent visibility and an abundance of macro subjects like seahorses and shrimp, Bonaire offers a great environment for bluewater macro photography in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Conclusion

Bluewater background macro photography offers a fresh look to your macro portfolio. Photographers can create images that feel more connected to the ocean environment, providing context and a sense of place that black backgrounds often lack.

Mastering this technique requires a good understanding of how aperture and shutter speed affect ambient light, careful subject selection, and attention to detail in camera settings. Additionally, post-processing plays a vital role in refining the blue tones and bringing out the best in your images. Be prepared to let your image success rate drop initially, but pushing yourself out of your normal comfort zone will yield very pleasing results.