Berkley White

Aliases: Berk, berkley (forum)
Role: Backscatter founder, Digital Shootout creator, underwater photographer, videographer, equipment innovator, educator
First appearance: 2003 ([1])
Location: Monterey, California
Affiliation: Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo (founder), Under Exposures (co-founder)

Biography

Berkley White is the founder of Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo in Monterey, California, and one of the most influential figures in the underwater imaging equipment industry from the early 2000s onward. Described as “a leading internationally published professional photographer, instructor and expert in the field of underwater photography and videography” ([2]), White built Backscatter from a specialty retailer into a vertically integrated company that designs, manufactures, reviews, and sells underwater imaging equipment while simultaneously running the longest-lived underwater photography workshop series in the Wetpixel archive.

White co-founded Under Exposures, a travel company specializing in dive photography, with Dan Baldocchi of Light & Motion. Together they led photo expeditions for over fifteen years ([3]). White shares his photographic techniques through international travel events, seminars, free community workshops, and extensive online gear reviews and tutorials published on the Backscatter website.

White’s personal shooting gear evolved over the years. By the mid-2000s he was shooting Nikon with a Subal ND2 housing and FE2 dome ([4]). He later transitioned to Canon, shooting a 5D Mark II with Sigma 15mm and Kenko 1.4x teleconverter in an Aquatica housing, diving with a KISS Sport rebreather ([5]). He was known for hands-on, improvised problem-solving — at the 2006 Palau Shootout, Eric Cheng photographed him “MacGyvering on a diopter with parts from a soda can” ([6]).

White worked closely with Jim Watt beginning in the early 2000s. After Watt’s death in July 2007 ([7]), the “Jim Watt Award” was established at the Digital Shootout in 2008 as the top honor, given for the best image of the competition ([8]). White also called for images from the community for a memorial multimedia presentation for Sascha Dambach of Kararu Dive Voyages after Dambach’s death in a motorcycle accident in 2009 ([9]).

Contributions

Digital Shootout (2002—2018+)

White created and directed the Digital Shootout, the underwater photography world’s longest-running workshop and competition series. The event combined daily dives, seminars on shooting technique and post-production, free demo gear from major manufacturers, professional image critiques, and a photo/video competition with prizes exceeding $35,000—$45,000 annually ([10], [11]).

Co-directors included Dan Baldocchi (Light & Motion) and Gayle & Richard Todd. Staff over the years included Eric Cheng, Jim Watt, Erin Quigley, Sterling Zumbrunn, Mary Lynn Price, Jim Decker, Rusty Sanoian, Sy Harris, and Joel and Jennifer Penner.

Key editions by location:

White’s characteristic humor was a hallmark of the events. As he told each year’s participants before announcing winners: “We’re all winners here. Some of us are just prize-challenged” ([22]).

See Digital Shootout for full event history.

Monterey Shootout

White helped organize and present at the Monterey Shootout, a local underwater photography competition in Monterey. He presented at the 2004 film festival alongside Norbert Wu and Jim Watt ([23]). In 2011, he was a presenter alongside Rick Rosenthal, Stephen Frink, Chuck Davis, and Eric Cheng ([24]). He presided over judging in 2014 ([25]).

Equipment Innovation

Under White’s leadership, Backscatter evolved from a retailer into an equipment designer and manufacturer:

Gear Testing and Reviews

White established Backscatter as the underwater photography industry’s foremost independent gear testing resource. He frequently obtained pre-production camera bodies to test fit in existing housings, providing critical early information to photographers planning purchases:

Photography and Videography

White was an accomplished photographer in his own right, contributing images to major publications and events:

Competition Judging

White served as a judge for major underwater photography competitions:

Industry Presence and Education

White was a fixture at dive industry trade shows and community events:

Conservation

White was an active voice for marine conservation in Monterey. In 2006, he organized a campaign to save the Monterey Breakwater from fishing, urging the community to attend a California Department of Fish and Game meeting to “finish a 10 year fight to save the Breakwater from hooks and spears… bring back the wolfeels and rockfish for all to enjoy” ([69]). He also supported the establishment of California marine preserves ([70]).

Timeline

References


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2014: Live Coverage Of Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012 ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2014: Video Cocos By Berkley White ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast ↩
  7. Forum thread: Jim Watt Passed Away Peacefully Yesterday ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
  9. Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2009: Memorial Service For Sascha Dambach In Indonesia ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012 ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 ↩
  13. Wetpixel article, May 27, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 Updated ↩
  14. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 ↩
  15. Wetpixel article, Jun 19, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2 ↩
  16. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
  17. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout ↩
  18. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published ↩
  19. Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast ↩
  20. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012 ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2018: Backscatter Posts Report From Digital Shootout ↩
  22. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
  23. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004 ↩
  24. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2011: Announcing The Monterey Shootout 2011 ↩
  25. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: 2014 Monterey Shootout Winners Announced ↩
  26. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Backscatter Neutral Density Underwater Filter System ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, May 16, 2012: Backscatter Announces Filter Solution For Gopro ↩
  28. Forum thread: New Housing Airlock Vacuum From Backscatter ↩
  29. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2011: Backscatter Releases Wahoo Hd Monitor Housing ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Jul 25, 2018: Backscatter Ships Tg5 Wide Angle Conversion Lens ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, Feb 5, 2020: Review Mike Bartick On The Backscatter Mini Flash And Optical Snoot ↩
  32. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing ↩
  33. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery ↩
  34. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2007: Nikon D3 Underwater Housing Preview ↩
  35. Forum thread: Backscattercom Strobe Comparison ↩
  36. Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D300 Sea Sea On Sailfish ↩
  37. Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D3x In Underwater Housings ↩
  38. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2009: Canon 5d Mk Ii Shooting Tips For Underwater Video ↩
  39. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2010: Repost Review Of Canon 7d And Aquaticas Underwater Housing ↩
  40. Wetpixel article, May 25, 2012: Berkley White On The 5d Mark Iii ↩
  41. Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2016: Underwater Review Of Eos 1d X Mark Ii On Dpreview ↩
  42. Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2010: Backscatters Best Point And Shoot Systems For 2010 ↩
  43. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2010: Alert Diver Spring 2010 Issue Available Now ↩
  44. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2010: Underwater Photography Magazine Issue 56 Available ↩
  45. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2008: Uwp Magazine Issue 41 Available For Download ↩
  46. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2010: Video Of Mv Keith Tibbetts Shot With Canon 5d Mkii ↩
  47. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2014: Video Cocos By Berkley White ↩
  48. Wetpixel article, May 18, 2015: Wetpixel Asks The Pros Wide Angle Part 1 ↩
  49. Wetpixel article, Jun 30, 2015: Ask The Pros Split Shots ↩
  50. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2014: Live Coverage Of Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
  51. Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Alert Diver Bahamas Underwater Photo Week Issue ↩
  52. Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2008: Review Of Chris Santellas Fifty Place To Dive Before You Die ↩
  53. Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2012: Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Judges Announced ↩
  54. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Results Announced Our World Underwater 2013 ↩
  55. Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2017: Countdown Entries To Our World Underwater 2017 ↩
  56. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest ↩
  57. Wetpixel article, Apr 2, 2014: 2014 Deep Indonesia Photo Competition Winners Announced ↩
  58. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: 2014 Monterey Shootout Winners Announced ↩
  59. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1 ↩
  60. Wetpixel article, Nov 11, 2006: Dema 2006 Backscatter Underwater Video And Photo ↩
  61. Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2013: Wetpixel Dema Reports 2013 ↩
  62. Wetpixel article, Oct 21, 2014: Dema 2014 Image Resource Center Schedule ↩
  63. Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Workshops ↩
  64. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2007: Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Clinic 2007 ↩
  65. Wetpixel article, Feb 10, 2009: Ncups And Backscatter Host Free Underwater Photo And Video Seminar ↩
  66. Wetpixel article, Dec 22, 2006: Free Underwater Photography Seminar At Ncups ↩
  67. Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2012: Wetpixel Hangout 1 Is On Air Join Us Live ↩
  68. Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2010: Bay Area Dive Show 2010 Photo Gallery ↩
  69. Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2006: Save The Breakwater Monterey ↩
  70. Wetpixel article, Aug 18, 2006: California Establishes Marine Preserves ↩
  71. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing ↩
  72. Wetpixel article, May 27, 2003: Kararu Digital Seminar ↩
  73. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1 ↩
  74. Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 ↩
  75. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004 ↩
  76. Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2004: Subals New Gs Viewfinder ↩
  77. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 ↩
  78. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery ↩
  79. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Backscatter Neutral Density Underwater Filter System ↩
  80. Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Workshops ↩
  81. Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Report 2006 ↩
  82. Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast ↩
  83. Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2006: Save The Breakwater Monterey ↩
  84. Wetpixel article, Nov 11, 2006: Dema 2006 Backscatter Underwater Video And Photo ↩
  85. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2007: Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Clinic 2007 ↩
  86. Wetpixel article, Jun 19, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2 ↩
  87. Wetpixel article, Jun 22, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 5 ↩
  88. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2007: Sea Sea Ys 250 Strobe Prototype Photos ↩
  89. Forum thread: Jim Watt Passed Away Peacefully Yesterday ↩
  90. Forum thread: Backscattercom Strobe Comparison ↩
  91. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2007: Nikon D3 Underwater Housing Preview ↩
  92. Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D300 Sea Sea On Sailfish ↩
  93. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
  94. Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D3x In Underwater Housings ↩
  95. Wetpixel article, Feb 10, 2009: Ncups And Backscatter Host Free Underwater Photo And Video Seminar ↩
  96. Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2009: Memorial Service For Sascha Dambach In Indonesia ↩
  97. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2009: Canon 5d Mk Ii Shooting Tips For Underwater Video ↩
  98. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2010: Repost Review Of Canon 7d And Aquaticas Underwater Housing ↩
  99. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2010: Alert Diver Spring 2010 Issue Available Now ↩
  100. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2010: Underwater Photography Magazine Issue 56 Available ↩
  101. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2010: Video Of Mv Keith Tibbetts Shot With Canon 5d Mkii ↩
  102. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout ↩
  103. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2011: Announcing The Monterey Shootout 2011 ↩
  104. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2011: Backscatter Releases Wahoo Hd Monitor Housing ↩
  105. Wetpixel article, May 25, 2012: Berkley White On The 5d Mark Iii ↩
  106. Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2012: Wetpixel Hangout 1 Is On Air Join Us Live ↩
  107. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012 ↩
  108. Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2012: Backscatter Appointed As Olympus Distributor ↩
  109. Forum thread: New Housing Airlock Vacuum From Backscatter ↩
  110. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published ↩
  111. Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2013: Wetpixel Dema Reports 2013 ↩
  112. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2014: Live Coverage Of Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
  113. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: 2014 Monterey Shootout Winners Announced ↩
  114. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2014: Video Cocos By Berkley White ↩
  115. Wetpixel article, Oct 21, 2014: Dema 2014 Image Resource Center Schedule ↩
  116. Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2014: Wetpixel Coverage Dema 2014 ↩
  117. Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2016: Underwater Review Of Eos 1d X Mark Ii On Dpreview ↩
  118. Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2018: Backscatter Posts Report From Digital Shootout ↩
  119. Backscatter Sea & Sea DX-100 review (2003) (article) ↩
  120. Kararu Digital Seminar (2003) (article) ↩
  121. DEMA 2003 show coverage (article) ↩
  122. Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 webcast (article) ↩
  123. Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 updated (article) ↩
  124. Monterey Shootout 2004 (article) ↩
  125. Subal GS Viewfinder (2004) (article) ↩
  126. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 (article) ↩
  127. Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery (2005) (article) ↩
  128. ND filter system (2005) (article) ↩
  129. Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic workshops (2006) (article) ↩
  130. Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic report (2006) (article) ↩
  131. Digital Shootout Palau 2006 (article) ↩
  132. Save the Breakwater, Monterey (2006) (article) ↩
  133. DEMA 2006: Backscatter (2006) (article) ↩
  134. Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Clinic (2007) (article) ↩
  135. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2 (article) ↩
  136. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 5 (article) ↩
  137. Sea & Sea YS-250 strobe prototype (2007) (article) ↩
  138. Nikon D3 underwater housing preview (2007) (article) ↩
  139. Strobe comparison forum thread (2007) (forum) ↩
  140. Jim Watt passed away (2007) (forum) ↩
  141. 3rd Wetpixel/DPG Photo & Video Contest (2007) (article) ↩
  142. DEMA 2007: Gates event with Stan Waterman (article) ↩
  143. Berkley White tests Nikon D300 on sailfish (2008) (article) ↩
  144. Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 winners (article) ↩
  145. Berkley White tests Nikon D3x (2008) (article) ↩
  146. NCUPS/Backscatter seminar (2009) (article) ↩
  147. Memorial service for Sascha Dambach (2009) (article) ↩
  148. Canon 5D MkII video tips (2009) (article) ↩
  149. Canon 7D / Aquatica review (2010) (article) ↩
  150. Backscatter best P&S systems 2010 (article) ↩
  151. Alert Diver spring 2010 (article) ↩
  152. Bay Area Dive Show 2010 (article) ↩
  153. M.V. Keith Tibbetts video (2010) (article) ↩
  154. UwP Magazine issue 56 (2010) (article) ↩
  155. Digital Shootout 2011 details (article) ↩
  156. Monterey Shootout 2011 (article) ↩
  157. Wahoo HD monitor housing (2011) (article) ↩
  158. OWU/DEEP Indonesia judges 2012 (article) ↩
  159. Berkley White on 5D Mark III (2012) (article) ↩
  160. Wetpixel Hangout #1 (2012) (article) ↩
  161. Digital Shootout 2012 (article) ↩
  162. Backscatter appointed Olympus distributor (2012) (article) ↩
  163. OWU 2013 results (article) ↩
  164. Digital Shootout 2013 report (article) ↩
  165. DEMA 2013 reports (article) ↩
  166. Airlock vacuum system forum thread (2013) (forum) ↩
  167. Bahamas Underwater Photo Week (2014) (article) ↩
  168. Monterey Shootout 2014 winners (article) ↩
  169. Video: Cocos by Berkley White (2014) (article) ↩
  170. DEMA 2014 Image Resource Center (article) ↩
  171. Alert Diver Bahamas Photo Week issue (2014) (article) ↩
  172. DEMA 2014 coverage (article) ↩
  173. Ask the Pros: Wide-angle (2015) (article) ↩
  174. Ask the Pros: Split shots (2015) (article) ↩
  175. Canon EOS 1D-X Mk II review on DPReview (2016) (article) ↩
  176. OWU 2017 entries countdown (article) ↩
  177. Digital Shootout Roatan 2018 (article) ↩
  178. Backscatter M52 wide-angle lens (2018) (article) ↩
  179. Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash review (2020) (article) ↩
  180. GoPro filter solution (2012) (article) ↩
  181. Review: Chris Santella’s Fifty Places to Dive (2008) (article) ↩
  182. NCUPS free seminar (2006) (article) ↩
  183. California marine preserves (2006) (article) ↩