Methods of reconstructing the surface topography of an object embedded in a scattering medium are provided, with example methodologies including: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a scattered signal detector; detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattered signals obtained from multiple fields of view within the medium; and constructing an image of the surface topography of the object based on said plurality of detected signal magnitude changes. A plurality of system, apparatus, control means, evaluation methods, and materials and components useful for practicing the methods are also disclosed.