Photographing Sunbursts & Sunballs

Shooting into the sun underwater

By Scott Gietler

Schooling jacks with a sunball in the background. F13, 1/250th, ISO 200

Viewing a sunburst underwater can be very beautiful. Photographing it can be very difficult.

When taking underwater photographs with the sun in the frame, I recommend you shoot at as fast of a shutter speed as possible, at base ISO for maximum dynamic range. Sunbursts are best in water with some particles in them, so the sunbeams appear in the water. If you are also lighting up a foreground subject with strobes, make sure your shutter speed is as fast as possible without exceed the strobe sync speed of your camera. Sunbursts often have unpleasant rings around them when overexposed, so check your stops and stop down your aperture if needed.

To get a properly exposed sunburst, you will also be shooting at a small aperture, most likely between F11 and F22 (or F8 with a compact camera). To light up a foreground subject at these small apertures, you will either need very strong (expensive) strobes, or you will have to bring your strobes as close to the subject as possible. If necessary, you can remove your strobe diffusers for a little more power. This is where cameras with a fast sync speed have an advantage.

Sunburst combined with a silhouette. Practise getting the right exposure on the sunburst before the right subject comes along for the silhouette. Photo by Rand McMeins.

Sunburst, photo by Rand McMeins. D2x, F10, 1/250th, ISO 100. Once your sunbursts look like this, you can start adding foreground subjects. Your camera will need a high dynamic range, such as a Canon 7D, 5D, Nikon D2X or Nikon D300, D7000, D800.

Sunbursts often look best when partially hid by a subject.

Both photos by Rand McMeins. In the coral photo, strobes were used to light the subject. Very strong strobes are needed, or a very close strobe to subject distance, due to the smaller apertures necessary for these shots. Oly 5050Z, F8, 1/1000th, ISO64

 Soft coral from Fiji, strobe lit, sunburst partially hidden. Photo by Rand McMeins. Oly 5050Z, F8, 1/1000th, ISO64

Sunburst and sunball photography tips:

• Shoot at a low ISO, high shutter speed, small aperture
• If using strobes, get them very close to your subject to ensure they light the subject
• Hide the sun behind an object if possible
• Sunbeams are very difficult in clear water, it helps if there are some particulates
• Sunbeams are best captured close to the surface
• Be careful not to over-expose a sunburst. Underexposure is best.
• Turn off your strobes for an ambient light shot or silhouette shot, then you can shoot faster than your strobe sync speed
• Strong strobes like the Sea & Sea YS-D1, Ikelite DS-160, or YS-250 work well when shooting into the sun at small apertures

Lionfish in Anilao, Philippines. F22, 1/250th, ISO 100, dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes on full power

About the Author

Scott Gietler is the creator of the Underwater Photography Guide and owner of Bluewater Photo Store. An avid marine naturalist, Scott is the author of the Field Guide to Southern California Marine Life. He was the LAUPS photographer of the year for 2009, and his photos have appeared in magazines, coffee table & marine life books, museums, galleries, and aquariums throughout California. 

Further Reading

• Photographing wrecks underwater

• Photographing silhouettes underwater

• Guide to Close-focus wide-angle underwater

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