Last Updated on 10/22/2023

I’d say over 50% of the time I spend taking photos underwater, I don’t have the right set up. Lights may not be bright enough, subject is too far away, or moving too fast, low ambient light poor depth of field. Despite all of this sometimes you still catch a really great composed shot, but it’s blue. With enough light filtration and time you can get anything to look good, but sometimes things just don’t cooperate on a dive and you hope you can fix the shots in post.

Shooting in RAW I use Lightroom for most of my work out of habit, but as far as color correction I use Photoshop. Most of the time I’d start with the adjustment of levels then move to variations of the shot were not to far off. More often than not I would up in color channels and this really drags things out. On a typical day shoot I might come back with 1,000 plus photos and being a hobby I need something pretty quick.

Here is your answer, I found a pretty incredible color correction action for photoshop online. Right off the bat it was not working and after digging around I found that being written in French, it was throwing errors in an English version of photoshop. With some tinkering around I was able to edit the action in XML then port it back to an action file.

The Definitive Guide to Editing Underwater Photos with Photoshop

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Underwater Photography
2. The Importance of Post-Processing
3. Starting with RAW
4. Color Adjustments for Vibrant Sea Life
5. Retouching Blemishes and Distortions
6. Enhancing Depth and Clarity
7. Advanced Techniques for Professionals
8. Conclusion and Next Steps
9. Mermaid Diagram: Workflow for Editing Underwater Photos

Introduction to Underwater Photography

Diving into the depths of the ocean and capturing its breathtaking beauty is an experience unlike any other. Underwater photography allows us to freeze moments from this ethereal world, offering a glimpse into the aquatic universe few get to see firsthand.

The Importance of Post-Processing

While the marine world is inherently vibrant and captivating, underwater photographs often require some enhancement to truly do justice to the scenes they portray. Photoshop, with its array of tools and features, is the go-to software for many professionals in the industry.

Starting with RAW

Working with RAW images is crucial. This format retains all the data captured by the camera, giving photographers a higher degree of flexibility during editing.

Benefits of RAW in Underwater Photography:

• Greater Dynamic Range: Capture the brightest and darkest elements without losing detail.
• Enhanced Color Adjustments: Modify colors without compromising the quality.
• Non-destructive Editing: Make numerous changes without altering the original image.

Color Adjustments for Vibrant Sea Life

Underwater photographs often have a blue or green tint due to the water’s absorption of light. Here’s how to address that:

• White Balance: Adjusting the white balance can neutralize unwanted color casts and bring out the true colors of the sea life.
• Selective Color: Target specific colors and adjust their luminance, saturation, and hue. This is perfect for enhancing the colors of corals, fish, and other marine life.

Retouching Blemishes and Distortions

The underwater realm presents its own set of challenges, like backscatter from suspended particles.

• Spot Healing Brush: Quickly remove unwanted spots or backscatter.
• Clone Stamp Tool: Replace portions of the image to ensure consistency in texture and color.

Enhancing Depth and Clarity

To convey the three-dimensional nature of the ocean:

• Dodge and Burn: Lighten or darken areas to add depth and dimension.
• Sharpening Tools: Enhance details like the scales of a fish or the intricate patterns on corals.

Advanced Techniques for Professionals

For those seeking to elevate their underwater photos:

• Luminosity Masks: Target and adjust specific tonal ranges without affecting the entire image.
• Frequency Separation: Separate the colors from the textures, allowing for precise retouching.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Perfecting underwater photographs with Photoshop is an art. With consistent practice and the application of the techniques mentioned above, your images will not only capture the essence of the marine world but also stand out in its full splendor.