Color correction of underwater images based on multi-illuminant estimation with exposure bracketing imaging

We propose a method for color correction of underwater images based on multi-illuminant estimation. We regard the color distortion of underwater images as the color cast that is illuminated by multiple light sources. In order to effectively remove the color distortions from the underwater image, we capture underwater scenes by exposure bracketing imaging. Using multiple images taken with different exposure times, we fuse an image where the attenuation differences in the spectra information of the incoming light are mitigated. We apply a multi-illuminant estimation to the fused image to reconstruct the underwater images so as to be those in a canonical (white) illumination environment. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.