David Doubilet
Role: Underwater photographer, National Geographic photojournalist, over/under pioneer First appearance: Referenced across Wetpixel from 2002 onward Location: New York Affiliation: National Geographic (Contributing Photographer-in-Residence since 2001)
Biography
David Doubilet is widely regarded as the “godfather of underwater photography” and the most referenced external figure in the Wetpixel archive (196 combined article + forum mentions). He began underwater photography at age 12 in the late 1950s, putting a Brownie Hawkeye camera in a rubber bag and jumping off a jetty. He has logged over 27,000 hours beneath the surface and published 75+ feature stories in National Geographic since his first image appeared in the magazine in 1972 ([1]).
He works with partner Jennifer Hayes, an aquatic biologist and contributing National Geographic photographer. He shoots Nikon D4/D3S in Seacam housings with Seacam Superdome and Sea & Sea YS-250 strobes.
He is a member of the Royal Photographic Society, the International Diving Hall of Fame, and a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers. He is a Rolex Ambassador and recipient of the Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award and the Lennart Nilsson Award for Scientific Photography.
Over/Under (Split-Level) Photography
Doubilet’s signature technique — the “half-and-half” split-level image showing above and below the waterline simultaneously — defined an entire genre. His 2021 book Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea (Phaidon) collected 80 over/under prints spanning his career, his first major book in two decades ([2]). In Wetpixel’s “Ask the Pros: Split Shots” (2015), he provided detailed technical breakdown of the technique ([3]).
Wetpixel Presence
Doubilet was primarily a subject of Wetpixel coverage rather than a contributor, but his influence on the community was immense:
- Competition judge: Beneath the Sea (namesake award), Celebrate the Sea (2005, 2008), British Underwater Image Festival (2005), UnderwaterCompetition.com 4th annual (2008), DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2020
- National Geographic features covered on Wetpixel: Indonesia/Raja Ampat (September 2007 cover story), nudibranchs (June 2008 — sparked forum debate over light-table techniques), artificial reefs/USS Vandenberg (February 2011)
- National Geographic Live tours covered: “Coral Kingdoms and Empires of Ice” (2015), The Underwater Tour (5 Australian cities, 2019)
Timeline
- Late 1950s: Begins underwater photography at age 12 with a Brownie Hawkeye in a rubber bag ([4])
- 1972: First image published in National Geographic
- 2001: Named National Geographic Contributing Photographer-in-Residence
- 2003-10: Surprise guest speaker at Visions in the Sea, London ([5])
- 2007-09: National Geographic publishes Raja Ampat marine biodiversity cover story ([6])
- 2008-05: Nudibranch images in NG spark forum debate on light-table techniques ([7])
- 2008-12: Joins judging panel for Wetpixel/DPG International UW Photo Competition ([8])
- 2010-06: Elysium Antarctic Expedition with Jennifer Hayes — retracing Shackleton’s 1914 route, -3°C water, 3,277 nautical miles over 19 days ([9])
- 2010-08: Career-spanning “Below” exhibit launches Blue Ocean Film Festival, Monterey ([10])
- 2011-06: Creates 33-image composite of WWII U-boat U352 with Hal Silverman ([11])
- 2015-06: Lead contributor in Wetpixel “Ask the Pros: Split Shots” ([12])
- 2016-06: National Geographic publishes 17 images for World Oceans Day — “one of the most influential underwater photographers of all time” ([13])
- 2019-05: Headlines The Underwater Tour in 5 Australian cities with Jennifer Hayes ([14])
- 2021-09: Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea published by Phaidon ([15])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2021: Two Worlds Above And Below The Sea By David Doubiletsships ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2021: Two Worlds Above And Below The Sea By David Doubiletsships ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 30, 2015: Ask The Pros Split Shots ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2021: Two Worlds Above And Below The Sea By David Doubiletsships ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2003: Visions In The Sea 2003 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 24, 2007: National Geographic David Doubilet In Indonesia ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 20, 2008: David Doubilets Nudibranch Shots In National Geographic ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: David Doubilet Joins Judging Panel For Underwatercompetition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 27, 2010: David Doubilet And Jennifer Hayes On The Elysium Antarctic Expedition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 25, 2010: David Doubilets Exhibit Below Launches Blue Ocean Film Festival ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 6, 2011: David Doubilet And Hal Silverman Complete A Composite Image Of U352 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 30, 2015: Ask The Pros Split Shots ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 8, 2016: Ng Publishes 17 Of David Doubilets Images For World Oceans Day ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2019: The Underwater Tour Announces Line Up And Dates ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2021: Two Worlds Above And Below The Sea By David Doubiletsships ↩
- NG Indonesia/Raja Ampat feature (2007) (article) ↩
- NG nudibranch images (2008) (article) ↩
- Joins Wetpixel/DPG judging panel (2008) (article) ↩
- Elysium Antarctic Expedition (2010) (article) ↩
- “Below” exhibit (2010) (article) ↩
- Ask the Pros: Split Shots (2015) (article) ↩
- NG World Oceans Day — 17 images (2016) (article) ↩
- Two Worlds book (2021) (article) ↩