Jim Watt
Aliases: James Watt Role: Professional marine photographer First appearance: 2001 ([1]) Affiliation: Independent; contributor to Skindiver Magazine, Oceans Illustrated, Fathoms Magazine Based: Kona, Hawaii Website: wattstock.com Died: July 19, 2007 ([2])
Biography
Jim Watt was a professional marine photographer based in Kona, Hawaii. Described by Oceans Illustrated as “one of the most successful underwater photographers in the world,” he was one of the earliest adopters of digital SLR cameras for underwater photography ([3]). He was a pioneer with the Canon D30 and D60 systems, shooting with UK Germany housings and later modified Sea & Sea housings ([4], [5]).
Watt was known for creative housing modifications, including fitting Ikelite bulkheads and a Light & Motion LCD monitor to his Sea & Sea D60 housing ([6]). He was a core staff member of the Digital Shootout events organized by Berkley White and Backscatter, serving as instructor and judge at multiple events from 2001 through 2007. He was also a jury member for the Wetpixel bi-monthly photo contest in 2004 ([7]).
Watt’s family included his wife Jody, children Ian and Jennifer, and sister Sharon. His close friends in the underwater photography community included Masa Ushioda, Carlos Eyles, Todd Mintz, Eric Cheng, and Berkley White.
Death
Jim Watt passed away on July 19, 2007, after battling lung cancer for approximately one year. He died peacefully at around 9:00 am, surrounded by family and friends ([8]). His last Digital Shootout was in Bonaire in June 2007, just one month before his death ([9]).
Eric Cheng wrote the obituary personally, calling him “a wonderful mentor for many of us” ([10]). His ashes were scattered in the ocean off Kona on July 22, 2007; spinner dolphins escorted the boat back to Keauhou Harbor. Carlos Eyles delivered the eulogy at the ash-scattering ceremony, calling Watt “the best person I have ever known.” Masa Ushioda’s tribute described a nine-year friendship and endless ocean adventures. Todd Mintz contributed a tribute recounting a story of Watt crashing nose-to-nose with a great hammerhead ([11]).
In 2008, the Digital Shootout renamed its Best of Show award to the “Jim Watt Award” in his honor ([12]).
Contributions
- Early digital SLR underwater photography pioneer, shooting Canon D30/D60 with UK Germany housings
- Core instructor and judge at Digital Shootout events (Kona 2001, Fiji 2004, Bonaire 2005, Palau 2006, Bonaire 2007)
- Led Kararu Digital Photography Seminars in Komodo with Berkley White ([13])
- Presenter at Monterey Shootout, SEASPACE, and Bonaire Digital Shootout events
- Jury member for Wetpixel bi-monthly photo contest ([14])
- Demonstrated ND filter photography techniques at SEASPACE 2005 ([15])
- Namesake of the “Jim Watt Award” for Best of Show at the Digital Shootout (from 2008 onward) ([16])
Timeline
- 2001-11: Participated in Kona Aggressor II Digital Shootout, covering for Skindiver Magazine ([17])
- 2002-01: Published sample Canon D30 underwater photographs taken with UK Germany housing ([18])
- 2002-04: Received Canon D60 from Eric Cheng; tested in UK Germany D30 housing ([19])
- 2002-07: Participated in Bahamas 2002 trip with five Canon D60s alongside Eric Cheng, David Fleetham, and Andy Sallmon ([20])
- 2002-09: Featured in “Jim Watt’s Digital Adventures” article; speaker/judge at Bonaire Digital Shootout ([21])
- 2002-12: Modified Sea & Sea D60 housing with Ikelite bulkheads and L&M LCD monitor documented ([22])
- 2003-01: Wrote about Sea & Sea Canon D60 housing tested in Bonaire ([23])
- 2003-05: Announced Kararu Digital Seminar in Komodo with Berkley White and Dan Baldocchi ([24])
- 2004-05: Led advanced composition seminar at Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 ([25])
- 2004-08: Presenter at Monterey Shootout 2004 (10th annual) ([26])
- 2005-06: Presenter at SEASPACE 2005 in Houston ([27])
- 2005-07: Staff at Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 ([28])
- 2006-04: Staff at Digital Shootout Palau 2006 ([29])
- 2007-06: Participated in Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007, his last Shootout event ([30])
- 2007-07-19: Died from lung cancer in Kona, Hawaii ([31])
- 2007-07-22: Ashes scattered in the ocean off Kona; spinner dolphins escorted the boat back to Keauhou Harbor ([32])
- 2008-07: Digital Shootout Best of Show award renamed the “Jim Watt Award” in his honor ([33])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2001: Kona Aggressor Ii Digital Shootout Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2007: Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2001: Kona Aggressor Ii Digital Shootout Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2002: Sample Canon D30 Photographs Jim Watt ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2002: Sea Sea D60 Housing Photographs ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2002: Sea Sea D60 Housing Photographs ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 21, 2004: Wetpixel Announces Bi Monthly Photo Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2007: Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2007: Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2007: Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2003: Kararu Digital Seminar ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 21, 2004: Wetpixel Announces Bi Monthly Photo Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Backscatter Neutral Density Underwater Filter System ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2001: Kona Aggressor Ii Digital Shootout Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2002: Sample Canon D30 Photographs Jim Watt ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 6, 2002: Canon D60 Digital Slr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2002: Bahamas 2002 With D60s ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2002: Jim Watts Digital Adventures ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 2, 2002: Sea Sea D60 Housing Photographs ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2003: Watt And Sea Sea Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2003: Kararu Digital Seminar ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 10, 2005: Seaspace 2005 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2007: Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2007: Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners ↩
- Kona Aggressor II Digital Shootout Webcast (article) ↩
- Sample Canon D30 Photographs (Jim Watt) (article) ↩
- Canon D60 Digital SLR! (article) ↩
- Bahamas 2002, with D60s (article) ↩
- Jim Watt’s Digital Adventures (article) ↩
- Sea & Sea D60 Housing Photographs (article) ↩
- Watt and Sea & Sea Housing (article) ↩
- Kararu Digital Seminar (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 (article) ↩
- Monterey Shootout 2004 (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 (article) ↩
- SEASPACE 2005 Report (article) ↩
- Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast (article) ↩
- Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast (article) ↩
- Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 1 (article) ↩
- Underwater Photographer Jim Watt Passes Away (article) ↩
- Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners (article) ↩