Shawn Heinrichs
Aliases: shawn heinrichs Role: Underwater filmmaker, marine conservation activist, Wetpixel senior moderator First appearance: 2006 ([1]) Affiliation: Blue Sphere Media, Wildsphere, WildAid International, Misool Foundation, Wetpixel Awards: Emmy Award (Untamed Americas, 2013), Sea Hero of the Year (Scuba Diving Magazine, 2011) Gear: Canon 1DX / 5D Mark III in Nauticam housings, Sigma 15mm fisheye, Light & Motion SOLA lights
Biography
Shawn Heinrichs is an underwater filmmaker and marine conservation activist who became one of the most prominent figures in the Wetpixel community. He founded Blue Sphere Media, a production company focused on conservation-oriented underwater video, and later Wildsphere, an organization dedicated to marine conservation campaigns. He serves on the boards of the Misool Foundation and WildAid International.
Heinrichs joined the Wetpixel moderating team in January 2007 specifically for conservation topics ([2]) and later became a Senior Moderator, playing a dual role as both content creator and industry liaison. His earliest Wetpixel contribution was a review of the Light & Motion Bluefin HD housing for the Sony FX1/Z1U in 2006 ([3]).
Heinrichs was instrumental in the successful campaign to pressure Amazon.com into removing shark fin soup products from its inventory in January 2007 — an early example of organized online conservation activism ([4]). This set the pattern for his career: using underwater filmmaking as a tool for marine conservation advocacy.
His conservation work has been featured on CNN’s “Planet in Peril” with Anderson Cooper ([5]), Dan Rather Reports, and Chinese state television (WildAid anti-shark fin commercial). He contributed cinematography to the National Geographic series Untamed Americas, which won an Emmy Award in 2013 ([6]). His film “Mantas Last Dance” achieved over 200,000 downloads in its first 24 hours, timed to build momentum ahead of the historic CITES vote that granted manta rays international protection ([7]).
Heinrichs works closely with Backscatter (Berkley White, Sterling Zumbrunn) and has collaborated extensively with freediver and model Hannah Fraser on conservation films including “Tigress Shark” and other projects ([8], [9]).
Contributions
- Led Wetpixel’s conservation moderation efforts from January 2007; later Senior Moderator
- Reviewed Light & Motion Bluefin HD housing — early HD underwater video review ([10])
- Co-led Amazon shark fin product removal campaign (2007)
- Produced “Shark Fin Frontier” conservation video for DiveFilm HD
- Covered NAB 2007 for Wetpixel, reporting on Sony XDCAM EX and Apple Final Cut Studio 2 ([11])
- Conducted 6+ video interviews at DEMA 2008 (Ikelite, Light & Motion, Sea & Sea, Gates, Equinox, Salvo, Fisheye) ([12])
- Co-led Wetpixel Turks & Caicos expedition with LiquidAssets.tv (2008) ([13])
- Co-organized Fiji’s First Annual Ultimate Shark Photo & Video Shootout (2009) ([14])
- Founded “Manta Ray of Hope” project with Paul Hilton and WildAid — direct precursor to CITES 2013 manta protection
- Filmed Sir Richard Branson with whale sharks for WildAid campaign ([15])
- Spoke at TEDxBoulder on marine conservation (2013) ([16])
- Contributed cinematography to Emmy-winning Untamed Americas (National Geographic)
- Created “Guardians of Raja Ampat” film (10,000+ community viewers) ([17])
- Contributed to Racing Extinction (aired Discovery Channel, 220+ countries) ([18])
Key Films
- “Mantas Last Dance” (2013) — Conservation film supporting CITES manta ray protections; 200K+ downloads in 24 hours
- “Betrayal” — Shark conservation film
- “Tigress Shark” (2014) — Anti-Australian shark cull film with Hannah Fraser
- “Guardians of Raja Ampat” (2015) — Marine protection in Raja Ampat
- “Rangers of the Reef” (2016) — Documentary on Misool’s no-take zone ([19])
- “The Pledge” (2010) — Anti-shark fin soup campaign video ([20])
- Untamed Americas (National Geographic, 2013) — Cinematographer; Emmy Award winner
- Racing Extinction (Discovery Channel, 2015) — Contributor
- Tales by Light Season 3, “Paradise in Peril” (2018) ([21])
- WildAid anti-shark fin commercial (Chinese state TV)
Timeline
- 2006-04: Reviews Light & Motion Bluefin HD for Sony FX1/Z1U ([22])
- 2007-01: Joins Wetpixel moderating team for conservation ([23])
- 2007-01: Posts shark finning conservation video (shot in Raja Ampat, December 2006) on Blue Sphere Media ([24])
- 2007-01: Co-leads Amazon shark fin campaign — Amazon removes products within 10 days ([25])
- 2007-04: Covers NAB 2007 for Wetpixel ([26])
- 2008-08: Co-leads Turks & Caicos expedition with LiquidAssets.tv ([27])
- 2008-10: Conducts 6+ video interviews at DEMA 2008 ([28])
- 2008-11: Co-organizes Fiji shark shootout for 2009 ([29])
- 2008-12: Featured on CNN “Planet in Peril” with Anderson Cooper — shark finning segment “Killed Just for Their Fins” ([30])
- 2009: Shooting Gates EX1 + NanoFlash; BBC approves system for HD acquisition ([31])
- 2010-12: Launches Manta Ray of Hope project with Paul Hilton through Wildsphere, partnered with WildAid — documenting the manta gill raker trade in China/East Asia ([32], [33])
- 2010-12: Releases “The Pledge” anti-shark fin soup campaign video ([34])
- 2011-08: Films Sir Richard Branson swimming with whale sharks for WildAid campaign ([35])
- 2011-10: Awarded Sea Hero of the Year by Scuba Diving Magazine ([36])
- 2012-01: Publishes “The Dark Room” — personal essay on Wetpixel ([37])
- 2012-02: Dan Rather Reports features Heinrichs in “All for a Bowl of Soup” — documentary on shark finning ([38])
- 2012-02: Writes about controversial whale shark interaction tourism in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines ([39])
- 2012-03: Injured in skiing accident ([40])
- 2013-02: “Mantas Last Dance” released — 200,000+ downloads in 24 hours ahead of CITES manta vote ([41])
- 2013-04: Captures first-ever Indian Ocean footage of orcas attacking sperm whales ([42])
- 2013-08: Speaks at TEDxBoulder on marine conservation ([43])
- 2013-09: Interview with Hannah Fraser on their conservation film collaborations ([44])
- 2013-10: Untamed Americas receives Emmy Award — Heinrichs contributed cinematography ([45])
- 2013-10: TEDx talk video published ([46])
- 2014-06: “Tigress Shark” anti-Australian shark cull video with Hannah Fraser ([47])
- 2015-03: “Guardians of Raja Ampat” released — 10,000+ community viewers ([48])
- 2015-12: Racing Extinction airs on Discovery Channel in 220+ countries ([49])
- 2016-10: “Rangers of the Reef” — documentary on Misool Foundation’s no-take zone ([50])
- 2018-08: Tales by Light Season 3 airs — “Paradise in Peril” episode ([51])
References
- [52]
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- [75]
- [76]
- [77] — community
- [78] — community
- [79] — community
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2006: Light Motion Bluefin Hd Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2007: Shawn Heinrichs Joins Moderating Team For Conservation ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2006: Light Motion Bluefin Hd Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2007: Amazoncom Pulls Shark Fin Products From Inventory ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 10, 2008: Cnn Feature Killed Just For Their Fins ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 2, 2013: Untamed Americas Receives Emmy Award ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2013: Mantas Last Dance ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 18, 2013: Interview With Shawn Heinrichs And Hannah Fraser ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 11, 2014: Shawn Heinrichs And Hannah Frasers New Shark Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2006: Light Motion Bluefin Hd Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2007: National Association Of Broadcasters Show 2007 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2008: Dema 2008 Ikelite ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2008: Wetpixel Joins Liquidassetstv On The Turks Caicos Explorer Ii Sep 20 27 200 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2008: Fijis First Annual Ultimate Shark Photo Video Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 14, 2011: Sir Richard Branson Swims With Whale Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2013: Shanw Heinrichs To Speak At Tedxboulder ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 16, 2015: Video The Guardians Of Raja Ampat ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2015: Racing Extinction Goes To Air On 2 December ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2016: Rangers Of The Reef A Documentary Short On Misools No Take Zone ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2010: Say No To Shark Fin Soup Campaign Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 27, 2018: Season 3 Of Tales By Light Goes To Air ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2006: Light Motion Bluefin Hd Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2007: Shawn Heinrichs Joins Moderating Team For Conservation ↩
- Forum thread: Conservation Video Making An Impact ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2007: Amazoncom Pulls Shark Fin Products From Inventory ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2007: National Association Of Broadcasters Show 2007 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2008: Wetpixel Joins Liquidassetstv On The Turks Caicos Explorer Ii Sep 20 27 200 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2008: Dema 2008 Ikelite ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2008: Fijis First Annual Ultimate Shark Photo Video Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 10, 2008: Cnn Feature Killed Just For Their Fins ↩
- Forum thread: Bbc Accepts Ex 1r Gates Housing Nano Flash And Swpc As Full Hd Aquisition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 9, 2010: Manta Ray Of Hope Documentary Project ↩
- Forum thread: Manta Ray Of Hope Project ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2010: Say No To Shark Fin Soup Campaign Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 14, 2011: Sir Richard Branson Swims With Whale Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2011: Shawn Heinrichs Awarded Sea Hero Of The Year Award ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 3, 2012: The Dark Room ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2012: Dan Rather Reports On Shark Finning In All For A Bowl Of Soup ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2012: Shawn Heinrichs Writes About Oslob Whale Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 19, 2012: Shawn Heinrichs Injured In Skiing Accident ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2013: Mantas Last Dance ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 24, 2013: Shawn Heinrichs Captures Epic Battle Between Orcas And Sperm Whales ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2013: Shanw Heinrichs To Speak At Tedxboulder ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 18, 2013: Interview With Shawn Heinrichs And Hannah Fraser ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 2, 2013: Untamed Americas Receives Emmy Award ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 24, 2013: Video Shawn Heinrichs At Tedx ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 11, 2014: Shawn Heinrichs And Hannah Frasers New Shark Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 16, 2015: Video The Guardians Of Raja Ampat ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2015: Racing Extinction Goes To Air On 2 December ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2016: Rangers Of The Reef A Documentary Short On Misools No Take Zone ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 27, 2018: Season 3 Of Tales By Light Goes To Air ↩
- Bluefin HD review (article) ↩
- Joins moderating team (article) ↩
- Amazon shark fin campaign (article) ↩
- NAB 2007 coverage (article) ↩
- Turks & Caicos expedition (article) ↩
- DEMA 2008 interviews (article) ↩
- Fiji shark shootout (article) ↩
- CNN “Killed Just for Their Fins” (article) ↩
- Manta Ray of Hope project (article) ↩
- “The Pledge” campaign video (article) ↩
- Richard Branson whale sharks (article) ↩
- Sea Hero of the Year Award (article) ↩
- “The Dark Room” essay (article) ↩
- Dan Rather “All for a Bowl of Soup” (article) ↩
- Oslob whale sharks (article) ↩
- Mantas Last Dance (article) ↩
- Orcas vs sperm whales footage (article) ↩
- TEDxBoulder announcement (article) ↩
- Hannah Fraser interview (article) ↩
- Untamed Americas Emmy (article) ↩
- “Tigress Shark” video (article) ↩
- “Guardians of Raja Ampat” (article) ↩
- Racing Extinction (article) ↩
- “Rangers of the Reef” (article) ↩
- Tales by Light Season 3 (article) ↩
- Conservation video forum thread (forum) ↩
- Manta Ray of Hope forum thread (forum) ↩
- BBC HD acquisition forum thread (forum) ↩