Method and apparatus for downhole photon imaging. The downhole photon imaging apparatus includes a photon source that emits photons; a scintillation device that generates a light signal in response to received photons; a light sensing device coupled with the scintillation device for generating an electronic signal in response to a received light signal; and a collimator coupled with the scintillation device which has a design that allows photons with single Compton backscattering and backscattered at a pre-determined backscattering angle to be detected by the scintillation device.