Backscatter UW Video & Photo

A Rare Look at Coconut Octopus Parenthood The coconut octopus is already one of the most fascinating critters in the ocean, but witnessing one guarding its eggs takes it to another level. Captured by @je.photovideo using the Olympus TG6 and the Backscatter Macro Wide 4300, this intimate moment offers a rare glimpse into the life cycle of these intelligent cephalopods. After laying eggs inside a protective shell—or in this case, a discarded clear bottle—the mother dedicates herself entirely to guarding them. She continuously fans fresh water over the eggs and keeps predators at bay, never leaving and never eating, ensuring the next generation’s survival. Once they hatch, the tiny paralarvae drift into the open ocean, beginning their journey before eventually settling back to the seafloor as juveniles. James used the 4300 video light both on and off camera to bring this scene to life. Mounted on his rig, the spot beam acted as a key light to highlight the octopus, while placing another 4300 on the sand added dramatic side-lighting, enhancing the texture of the octopus and the intricate details of the eggs. Strategic backlighting further separated the subject from the background, creating a cinematic feel. #Backscatter #CoconutOctopus #OctopusEggs #OlympusTG6 #BackscatterMacroWide4300 #UnderwaterVideo #CephalopodLife #OceanStories

Bluefin Trevally on the prowl in Raja Ampat. These electric predators patrol the shallows, using bursts of speed to ambush unsuspecting prey. Captured by Jim Decker with the Sony A7R V. #Backscatter #UnderwaterPhotography #SonyA7RV #RajaAmpat #BluefinTrevally

Conchs—easily one of the most common sights on a dive in the Caribbean, but let’s be honest… they’re not exactly the supermodels of the sea. Most divers swim right past them without a second glance. But take a closer look, and you’ll find their best feature staring right back at you—those wild, googly eyes! Up close, the intricate rings and deep colors make for a surprisingly mesmerizing macro subject. Who knew conchs had such a hypnotic gaze? 📸 Captured by: @je.photovideo | James Emery #Backscatter #UnderwaterPhotography #ConchEye #MiniFlash2 #OM90mm

Split shots showcase the best of both worlds. This stunning over-under image captures a thriving hard coral reef in the shallow waters of Fiji, with lush tropical scenery above and an explosion of marine life below. 📸 Photo by Hergen Spalink @hergenspalink #UnderwaterPhotography #SplitShot #FijiReefs #OverUnder #CoralReef #MarineLife #Backscatter #SonyA9III

A pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) caught in a moment of intensity as she prepares to spawn. These fish gather in rivers like this one in Hokkaido, Japan, continuing a life cycle that spans from the open ocean back to their freshwater origins. 📸 Photo by Tony Wu @tonywu98 #Backscatter #HybridFlash #Salmon

Video lights are often a better choice than strobes when shooting deep wrecks due to the limited time divers have at depth. With video lights, photographers get an instant preview of how the shot will look, making it much faster to compose and adjust exposure without the trial-and-error of strobes. This technique works best in dark environments, like inside a wreck, where there’s little to no ambient light competing with artificial illumination. @beccaboring put this to the test in Chuuk Lagoon, using Keldan 8XR video lights to capture this beautiful shot of the engine room of the Fujisan Maru, an oil tanker that was conscripted by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. #Backscatter #KeldanLights #FujisanMaru #ChuukLagoon

Perfect TTL, Every Time Nail the perfect exposure—effortlessly. With the new Backscatter TTL Trigger for OM Systems, capturing fast-moving subjects like this curious turtle has never been easier. Paired with the OM-1 Mark II, this setup delivers highly accurate TTL, ensuring every shot is properly exposed without the guesswork. No more manual adjustments, no missed shots. Just plug in, turn on, and shoot. The trigger’s precise communication with strobes guarantees beautifully balanced lighting, whether you’re shooting wide-angle scenes or intricate macro details. Make underwater photography easier than ever—check out the link in our bio to learn more! #Backscatter #OMSystems #UnderwaterPhotography #Turtle #BackscatterTTLTrigger

Joel Penner @newmediasoup recently took the highly anticipated Canon R1 underwater, putting its cutting-edge features to the test. Built for speed and performance, the R1 features stacked sensor technology, lightning-fast autofocus, and next-gen AI tracking, making it a powerhouse for both photo and video. While Joel primarily shoots video, he couldn’t resist capturing this stunning shot of a flamboyant cuttlefish—a perfect showcase of the R1’s exceptional image quality. Stay tuned as we push this camera to its limits beneath the surface! #UnderwaterPhotography #CanonR1 #FlamboyantCuttlefish #Backscatter

A soft coral porcelain crab carrying a clutch of eggs. Beautiful shot by @dive4photos Alex Tyrrell #backscatterttltrigger #underwaterphotography #backscattervideophoto

Nail the shot without the guesswork! @dive4photos recently put the new Backscatter TTL Trigger to the test with the Sony A1, capturing this stunning pygmy seahorse using the Hybrid Flash in Smart Control (automatic TTL mode). The result? Effortless, accurate flash exposure—letting Alex focus on composition while the system dials in the perfect light. Want to learn more about how the Backscatter TTL system works? Check out our full review and setup guide at the link in our bio! #Backscatter #BackscatterTTLTrigger #UnderwaterPhotography #PygmySeahorse #SonyA1 #HybridFlash #SmartControl #Dive4Photos

The Z6III is the latest full-frame camera from Nikon, with a new partially stacked sensor, updated viewfinder, and fast autofocus tracking comparable to the Z8 and Z9. Thanks to the fast autofocus speeds and consistent autofocus tracking, shooting tiny subjects like this opalescent nudibranch is no sweat for the Z6III. 📸 photo by @boojitom Thomas Anderson #backscattervideophoto #backscatter #underwaterphotography #NikonZ6iii #MiniFlash2 #NauticamMFO

Stealth and grace in the deep. Melanistic mantas, characterized by their completely black backs and predominantly black undersides with a central white blaze, are a rare color variation within the species. While typical mantas are dark grey on their backs and mostly white underneath, these melanistic individuals stand out with their unique pigmentation—an unforgettable sight in Fiji’s waters. 📸 @indokerri #Backscatter #HybridFlash #BlackManta #UnderwaterPhotography #MarineMegafauna