Mike Veitch
Aliases: mikeveitch, TahitiMike Role: UW photographer, videographer, dive resort operator, Wetpixel moderator, workshop instructor First appearance: 2004 ([1]) Origin: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Location: Bali, Indonesia (since ~2014) Affiliation: Wetpixel (moderator/associate editor), NAD-Lembeh, Underwater Tribe, Bali School of UW Photography
Biography
Mike Veitch is a Canadian underwater photographer, videographer, and dive industry professional whose career arc traces the geography of Indo-Pacific diving. He lived in Yap, Micronesia for approximately 3 years as the resident photo/video guru at Manta Ray Bay Hotel, co-managed NAD-Lembeh Resort (2008–2011), worked on the Damai liveaboard, then settled in Bali where he co-founded the Bali School of Underwater Photography (BSUP) and the Underwater Tribe media company with Luca Vaime.
With 4,541 forum posts and 18+ authored articles, Veitch wrote the definitive close-focus wide-angle (CFWA) tutorial, had a regular “In Focus” column in Scuba Diver Australasia (2006–2009), and achieved a National Geographic Traveler cover in August 2007.
Contributions
The CFWA Tutorial
“The Near and Far” (August 2011) — the definitive close-focus wide-angle tutorial — explained strobe positioning, negative space composition, and the balance between foreground subject and background. Originally from his “In Focus” column in Scuba Diver Australasia, republished on Wetpixel ([2]). See Wide-Angle Photography.
National Geographic Traveler Cover
Photo of a traditionally dressed Yapese girl in the jungle appeared on the cover of National Geographic Traveler (August 2007) — announced on the Wetpixel forums by Simon Buxton ([3]).
DivePhotoFest / Underwater Tribe
Co-founded DivePhotoFest workshops with Simon Buxton and Tim Rock (2006–2007), running workshops in Philippines, Yap, and Bali. Later co-founded Underwater Tribe with Luca Vaime, producing bespoke diving/photography itineraries, the Underwater Tribe Podcast (2018+, 13+ episodes including Dr. Mark Erdmann), and tri-weekly live webcasts during COVID-19 ([4], [5]).
NAD-Lembeh Resort
Co-managed NAD-Lembeh with Simon Buxton from December 2008. Buxton took sole ownership in June 2011; Veitch moved to the Damai liveaboard ([6], [7]).
Educational Writing
Republished his “In Focus” column series on Wetpixel (2011–2012): “The Near and Far” (CFWA), “The Ringer” (competition tips), “Light of My Life” (lighting), “8 Ways to Improve Your Photography on a Single Dive,” “The Mentor,” “Reef Respect” ([8], [9]).
Timeline
- 2004-10: First forum appearance at DEMA 2004; resident photo pro at Manta Ray Bay, Yap ([10])
- 2004-10: Wins 1st Place in Wetpixel May/June 2004 photo contest (“Mastigias Jellyfish”) ([11])
- 2005-09: Appointed Wetpixel video moderator ([12])
- 2005-10: Publishes Magic Filter review from Yap ([13])
- 2006-01: ShootUnderwater seminars in Yap/Bali with Tim Rock ([14])
- 2006-11: Co-launches DivePhotoFest.com with Buxton and Rock ([15])
- 2006-12: Second Scuba Diver Australasia cover ([16])
- 2007-08: National Geographic Traveler cover (August 2007) ([17])
- 2008-09: Covers Manta Fest 2008 in Yap with Eric Cheng — “a return to home” after ~3 years ([18])
- 2008-12: Takes over management of NAD-Lembeh with Simon Buxton ([19])
- 2011-06: Buxton takes sole NAD-Lembeh ownership; Veitch moves to Damai liveaboard ([20])
- 2011-08: Publishes “The Near and Far” CFWA tutorial on Wetpixel ([21])
- 2014-07: Launches Bali School of Underwater Photography with Luca Vaime ([22])
- 2016-05: Tests Sony A7s II with Sony Asia Pacific and ScubaCam; produces “OceanLight” film ([23])
- 2017-05: Manta ray Full Frame photo essay — years of encounters across Palau, Yap, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia ([24])
- 2018-03: Launches Underwater Tribe Podcast ([25])
- 2020-04: Hosts tri-weekly live webcasts from Bali during COVID ([26])
References
Sources
- Forum thread: Dema 2004 Show Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 11, 2011: The Near And Far ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2007: Mike Veitch Cover Of National Geographic Traveler ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2018: Podcast The Underwater Tribe Diving And Adventure Episode 6 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 9, 2020: The Underwater Tribe Hosts Live Webcasts ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: Wetpixel Members New Management Of Nad Lembeh ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 6, 2011: Change Of Ownership At Nad Lembeh ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2012: 8 Ways To Improve Your Photography On A Single Dive ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 30, 2012: Reef Respect ↩
- Forum thread: Dema 2004 Show Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2004: Wetpixel Mayjune 2004 Contest Winners ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2005: Wetpixel Expands Moderating Team ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 6, 2005: Magic Filter Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2006: Shootunderwatercom Digital Pro Seminars ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2006: New Underwater Photography Workshops Website Divephotofestcom ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2006: Mike Veitch Cover Of Scuba Diver Australasia ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2007: Mike Veitch Cover Of National Geographic Traveler ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 3, 2008: Manta Fest 2008 Wetpixel Coverage Day 1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: Wetpixel Members New Management Of Nad Lembeh ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 6, 2011: Change Of Ownership At Nad Lembeh ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 11, 2011: The Near And Far ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 27, 2014: Mike Veitch Launches The Bali School Of Underwater Photography ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 2, 2016: Oceanlight See What You Cant See By Underwater Tribe ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 9, 2017: Mike Veitch Manta Rays ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2018: Podcast The Underwater Tribe Diving And Adventure Episode 6 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 9, 2020: The Underwater Tribe Hosts Live Webcasts ↩
- DEMA 2004 thread — first appearance (forum) ↩
- Wetpixel expands moderating team (2005) (article) ↩
- National Geographic Traveler cover (2007) (article) ↩
- NAD-Lembeh management (2008) (article) ↩
- The Near and Far — CFWA tutorial (2011) (article) ↩
- Bali School of UW Photography (2014) (article) ↩
- Underwater Tribe Podcast (2018) (article) ↩