Digital Shootout
Type: Competition / workshop / expedition Frequency: Annual (multiple events per year at peak) Location: Various — Bonaire, Fiji, Palau, Monterey
Overview
The Digital Shootout is a series of underwater photography competition and education events founded by Berkley White of Backscatter. The events combine hands-on photography workshops, seminars by professional underwater photographers, nightly image reviews, and formal competitions — all focused on digital underwater photography.
The series grew from early Light & Motion-organized events in 2001 into a multi-location annual program that became one of the most important educational gatherings in the underwater photography community.
History
2001 — Origins
Light & Motion hosted an early “Digital Shootout” event, described as an “all-digital event” that professional photographer Jim Watt attended ([1]). In November 2001, Wetpixel and Deep Blue Travel co-organized the Kona Aggressor II Digital Shootout in Kona, Hawaii, with Eric Cheng producing a live webcast via Iridium satellite phone and Jim Watt participating as professional photographer ([2]).
2002 — Bonaire begins
The second annual Bonaire Digital Shootout was held November 9-16, 2002, in Bonaire with Jim Watt as speaker and judge ([3]).
2003 — Expanding locations
A Kararu Digital Photography Seminar was held in November 2003 at Komodo National Park, Indonesia, led by Jim Watt, Berkley White, and Dan Baldocchi ([4]).
2004 — Fiji and Monterey
- Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 (May 6-15): Held at Garden Island Resort, Taveuni, Fiji. Third annual event with 50 participants. Sponsored by Backscatter, Light & Motion, Adobe, and Wetpixel. Eric Cheng and James Wiseman webcasted the event. ([5], [6])
- Monterey Shootout 2004 (August 13-15): 10th annual event in Monterey, CA with 150+ photographers. Seminars by Norbert Wu, Jim Watt, Berkley White, and Daniel Brown (Adobe). ([7], [8])
2005 — Bonaire and beyond
- Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 (July 23-30): Fourth annual event at Divi Flamingo Resort, Bonaire. Staff included Berkley White, Dan Baldocchi, Jim Watt, Jason Bradley, and Eric Cheng. Over $10,000 in prizes. Sponsored by Backscatter, Light & Motion, and Wetpixel. Daily webcast produced. ([9], [10], [11])
- Digital Shootout Palau 2006 announced for April 1-11, 2006, at Palau Pacific Resort. Staff: Berkley White, Eric Cheng, Jim Watt, Dan Baldocchi. ([12])
2006 — Palau
Digital Shootout Palau 2006 (April 1–11) at Palau Pacific Resort with Sam’s Tours. 25 participants; staff included Berkley White, Eric Cheng, Jim Watt, Dan Baldocchi, Sy Harris, and Kevin Davidson (photo pro at Sam’s Tours). Daily webcast produced ([13]).
2007 — Bonaire
Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 (June). 60 participants, ~400 entries in 4 categories + video ([14]).
2008 — Bonaire
Digital Shootout Bonaire 2008. 58 participants. Best of Show: John Muhilly. Judges: Berkley White, David Fleetham, Eric Cheng. Erin Quigley won categories ([15]).
2010 — Little Cayman
Digital Shootout relocated to Little Cayman for 2010 ([16]).
2012 — Little Cayman
Digital Shootout 2012 on Little Cayman. Sterling Zumbrunn and Erin Quigley led Lightroom/Photoshop post-processing seminars ([17]).
2013 — Bonaire
Digital Shootout Bonaire 2013. 60 participants, ~20 staff. Winner: Philip Seys (seahorse macro). Erin Quigley taught Lightroom; Sterling Zumbrunn led seminars ([18]).
2014 — Little Cayman
Digital Shootout 2014, thirteenth year, held June 13–20 at Little Cayman Beach Resort. 80 participants — described as “a boot camp with benefits for underwater image-makers, full of camaraderie amongst like-minded underwater photographers.” Contest held with results posted on the Digital Shootout website. ([19])
2016 — Little Cayman
Digital Shootout 2016 at Little Cayman. Greg Sherman won the Jim Watt Award for best image. Other contest winners: Marteyne van Well (Wide Angle Unrestricted), Jim Decker (Macro Traditional), James Peddle (Macro Unrestricted), Jennifer Devillier (Point and Shoot), Amalie Frischknecht (Video). ([20])
2017 — Bonaire
Digital Shootout Bonaire 2017 at Divi Flamingo. 60 participants ([21]).
2019 — Little Cayman
Backscatter held their annual Digital Shootout at Little Cayman Beach Resort. 70 participants and 20 staff discussed photography gear, shooting techniques, and editing practices. Natasha Hinojosa won the Jim Watt Award. Other winners: Molly Alvino (Wide Angle Traditional), Hannes Klostermann (Wide Angle Unrestricted), Patricia Dusman (Macro Traditional), Greg Sherman (Macro Unrestricted), Ann Donahue (Point and Shoot), Marteyne van Well (Video). ([22])
Key people
- Berkley White — Founder and organizer; owner of Backscatter
- Jim Watt — Professional photographer; speaker and judge at multiple events
- Dan Baldocchi — Light & Motion staff; workshop leader
- Eric Cheng — Wetpixel founder; webcast producer and participant
- James Wiseman — Wetpixel community member; webcast and competition coverage
- Erin Quigley — Lightroom/Photoshop instructor; competition winner
- Sterling Zumbrunn — Backscatter staff; post-processing seminar leader
- Jason Bradley — Workshop staff
Sponsors
- Backscatter — Primary sponsor and organizer
- Light & Motion — Equipment and lighting sponsor
- Adobe — Software sponsor (Photoshop CS, Camera Raw, Premiere Pro evangelists at events)
- Wetpixel — Media partner and webcast producer
References
- [23] — editorial
- [24] — editorial
- [25] — editorial
- [26] — editorial
- [27] — editorial
- [28] — editorial
- [29] — editorial
- [30] — editorial
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2001: Kona Aggressor Ii Digital Shootout Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2001: Kona Aggressor Ii Digital Shootout Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2003: Kararu Digital Seminar ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004 Results ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 11, 2005: Digital Shootout 2005 Bonaire ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2005: The Digital Shootout Palau April 1 11 2006 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 23, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2014: The Digital Shootout 2014 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 11, 2016: Results Digital Shootout Contest 2016 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2017: Official Coverage From The Digital Shootout Available ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 15, 2019: Results Digital Shootout 2019 ↩
- Kona Aggressor II Digital Shootout Webcast (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 (article) ↩
- Monterey Shootout 2004 (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout Palau 2006 announced (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout 2014 (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout 2016 results (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout 2019 results (article) ↩