Taking photos underwater is an entirely different experience from snapping pics on land. Being a good photographer already takes a particular skill set, but combining that with swimming, constantly moving marine life, underwater currents, and the fact that you’re taking photos through water all make it much harder to get that perfect shot.
There are tricks that will help you get better photos underwater, including using a red filter. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about using a red filter for your underwater photography and how it can take your photos to the next level.
Why use a red filter for underwater photography?
The deeper you go underwater, the less natural light that is available. Everything will begin to appear with a green and blue tint as the warm colors (reds, yellows, and oranges) are filtered out in a process called absorption. After 10 meters, the color red diminishes entirely, and after 18 meters, we lose all warm colors, with only green, blue, and purple remaining. That means that all marine life will appear to be these colors. A fish may appear purplish-brown but actually be a vivid red.
Additionally, the same dive spot could appear differently throughout the day based on other factors like how sunny it is or how murky the water is.
But what if you could counteract the loss of light as you go deeper underwater? Many divers will wear goggles with red lenses for that exact reason, and the same tactic can be applied to underwater photography. Using a red filter will all you to put the warm tones back into your photos so images and videos appear more vivid and saturated.
How red filters work
When diving, your brain will naturally try to compensate for color loss, making you think you’re seeing warm tones, even if they aren’t there. But your camera won’t do the same, so the images will appear blue and green. That is because underwater cameras will measure the colors in the frame and will white balance based on the warm/cool tones observed. Even with manual white balance, you will still be white balancing in an environment that lacks warm light, meaning images will still appear muted.
Installing a red filter will put the warm tones back into the frame, so when you white balance, the image will come out much closer to the true tones of your subject. Even if you prefer to white balance in post-production, you will still have a significantly better image to work with.
Best conditions to shoot with a red filter
If you’re diving too deep, it will be harder to take quality photos, regardless of whether you use a red filter or not. Beyond the depth you’re shooting at, the angle of the sun and the way your camera is pointed in the water will also impact the effectiveness of a red filter.
When you’re shooting with a red filter, always make sure to shoot with the sun to your back. This is standard practice when shooting anything underwater since you want to ensure that your subjects are fully lit. This will allow the red filter to work its magic and your camera to pick up the full spectrum of the colors of your subjects.
You may not need a red filter when shooting in shallow water, such as snorkeling a shallow reef, since you can likely capture warm tones with a standard white balance. The best depth to shoot with a red filter is below 2/3 meters and above 22 meters. That is because red filters don’t work the best when used with a torch. Once you reach a depth where there isn’t as much natural light visibility, you will need to use a torch. When taking photos with a red filter and a torch simultaneously, your images may actually appear overly red.
Different types of red filters
You can get red filters for basically any type of underwater filming device. The one best suited to you will depend on your camera type and housing. Some red filters screw onto your lens on the inside of your camera housing; these are called threaded filters. If you’re using these red filters, it’s important to note that you will not be able to change or remove the filter underwater, so they are best for when you are planning to shoot something specific between 3 meters and 22 meters.
Another type of red filter fits right over your lens port; these are called push-on filters. Depending on the type of camera and specific push-on filter you purchase, they may or may not be removable under the water.
Some red filters are flip-down, meaning you can flip the lens on and off inside your housing using a lever. If you’re using a GoPro, you can get a red filter adapter kit, which allows you to swap between different filters, including red and orange. The great thing about these is that you can change lenses underwater based on the conditions you’re shooting in, so you don’t need to resurface and change filters.
You can also get red filters for your cellphone camera. If you use an underwater housing for your phone you can shoot photos down to 15 meters in depth. And with the ProShot Case you can get custom-sized colored filters including red for blue water, magenta for green water, and light pink for snorkeling. These filters enable you to shoot amazing underwater photos without an expensive camera. You'll also have access to a free underwater camera app.
Should you use a red filter for underwater photography?
So, do you actually need to use a red filter for underwater photography? The answer is that it depends. If you’re snorkeling or taking photos at less than 3 meters, you likely won’t need to install a red filter. There is still enough red light at this depth to illuminate marine life effectively. If you go any lower, we would definitely recommend a red filter for underwater photography as it will make all the colors pop and show the true image of your subject in the photos.
