Keri Wilk
Aliases: SlipperyDick (forum username), Keri Welk (misspelling in some sources) Role: Underwater photographer, snoot photography pioneer, competition judge, expedition leader First appearance: 2005 (competition), 2007 (Wetpixel articles) Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Affiliation: ReefNet (Vice President); DivePhotoGuide (contributor)
Biography
Keri Wilk is a Canadian underwater photographer widely recognized as the pioneer of snoot photography techniques in underwater imaging. Alex Mustard credited Wilk’s “ground-breaking images” as inspiring the “current passion for snoots in underwater photography,” writing “as a judge at several major competitions I felt Wilk’s snooted shots clearly stood out” ([1]). His work directly inspired Retra’s commercial LSD (Light Shaping Device) snoot product.
Wilk serves as Vice President at ReefNet, a company involved in underwater technology, and leads annual sperm whale expeditions to Dominica. His father also uses Aquatica housings. He shoots Nikon with Aquatica housings and often uses relatively simple homemade tube/funnel snoots.
Contributions
Snoot Photography Pioneer
Published the definitive article on underwater snoot photography on DivePhotoGuide, which Mustard called a “now classic reference article” ([2]). His technique — using relatively simple homemade snoots, often shooting at night — produced dramatic selective-lighting images that stood out in major competitions. See Macro Photography.
Competition Record
- Best of Show: Underwater Images 2009, Ocean Art 2010 (+1st Macro, +1st Marine Life Portrait), NCUPS SEA 2010, Beneath the Sea 2011 (David Doubilet Award for “Flying Fish”), Picture Perfect Curacao 2011 (images used for tourism advertising)
- Judge: Our World Underwater 2013, DEEP Indonesia 2014, IWUPC Bali 2013, OWU 2018, DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2020 (alongside David Doubilet, Stephen Frink, Tony Wu)
Dominica Sperm Whale Expeditions
Led annual sperm whale trips to Dominica (2013–2017+) with government-issued permits for in-water interactions. The 2015 “poonado” incident — a sperm whale defecating while photographed — went viral globally via BBC and other media ([3]).
Lembeh-Gulen Critter Shootout
Team captain for Team Gulen in both the inaugural 2016 Lembeh-Gulen Shootout and the 2018 rematch ([4]).
Gear Reviews
Reviewed Nikon D7000/Aquatica AD7000 (field-tested in Dominica with Ikelite DS-160 strobes and Tokina 10-17mm) ([5]). Also reviewed Nikon D600/Nauticam for DivePhotoGuide.
ReefNet Expeditions
Led ReefNet/New World Publications documentation expedition to Ambon/Raja Ampat (December 2009) for marine life field guide documentation ([6]).
Timeline
- 2005-10: 3rd place Macro at LAUPS 2005 (earliest competition appearance) ([7])
- 2009-07: Best of Show, Underwater Images 2009 ([8])
- 2009-12: Leads ReefNet expedition to Ambon/Raja Ampat ([9])
- 2010-03: Snoot photography article published on DivePhotoGuide, highlighted by Wetpixel ([10])
- 2010-12: Best of Show + 1st Macro + 1st Marine Life Portrait at Ocean Art 2010 ([11])
- 2011-02: Nikon D7000/Aquatica review ([12])
- 2011-03: David Doubilet Award for Best in Show at Beneath the Sea 2011 ([13])
- 2011-12: Picture Perfect Curacao winner — images used for tourism campaigns ([14])
- 2015-01: Sperm whale “poonado” goes viral globally ([15])
- 2016-05: Team captain (Gulen) for inaugural Lembeh-Gulen Shootout ([16])
- 2020-02: Judges DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2020 ([17])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Field Review Retra Lsd Prime Snoot ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 17, 2010: Article By Keri Wilk On Underwater Snoot Photography ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 26, 2015: Keri Wilks Sperm Whale Poonado Goes Viral ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2016: First Lembeh Vs Gulen Critter Shootout Is Underway ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2011: Nikon D7000 And Aquatica Ad7000 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2009: December 2009 Reefnet Expedition Ambon Raja Ampat With Keri Wilk ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2005: Laups 2005 Contest Winners Posted ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 9, 2009: Underwater Images Competition 2009 Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2009: December 2009 Reefnet Expedition Ambon Raja Ampat With Keri Wilk ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 17, 2010: Article By Keri Wilk On Underwater Snoot Photography ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2010: Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2011: Nikon D7000 And Aquatica Ad7000 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2011: Beneath The Sea Results Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2011: Picture Perfect Curacao ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 26, 2015: Keri Wilks Sperm Whale Poonado Goes Viral ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2016: First Lembeh Vs Gulen Critter Shootout Is Underway ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2020: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2020 ↩
- Snoot photography article (2010) (article) ↩
- Ocean Art 2010 winners (article) ↩
- D7000/Aquatica review (2011) (article) ↩
- Beneath the Sea 2011 — Doubilet Award (article) ↩
- Retra LSD review — Mustard credits Wilk (2013) (article) ↩
- Poonado viral story (2015) (article) ↩
- Lembeh-Gulen Shootout 2016 (article) ↩