Digital image correlation is an emergent strain-mapping methodology that allows full-field surface strain mapping by comparing the images of the same region before during and after deformation. This technique has been used to explore fatigue crack growth rates and the development of local surface strain fields around a fatigue crack in air and an aerated seawater environment.Surface images were taken in situ in the environment. The successful application of this technique required the development of a suitable corrosion scale on the surface to optimise imaging conditions. The corrosion scale was used as the surface pattern required for image correlation purposes.A four-point bend fatigue test methodology has been used with single edge notch specimens in accordance with the standards for fatigue crack measurement. The material investigated was an ASTM A543 low carbon steel.The results show the effects of the environment and stress on the crack growth rate and localised surface strain around the fatigue crack with respect to microstructure. This technique has demonstrated that it is capable of providing valuable information that will aid design of materials that may suffer from fatigue failure.