Stephen Frink
Aliases: stephen frink, stephenfrink Role: Underwater photographer, publisher, educator, Seacam USA distributor, inventor First appearance: 2002 ([1]) Location: Key Largo, Florida Affiliation: Stephen Frink Photographic Inc.; Alert Diver (DAN); Scuba Diving Magazine; Seacam (North American distributor)
Biography
Stephen Frink is one of the most published underwater photographers in the world and a central figure in the transition from film to digital underwater photography. Based in Key Largo, Florida, he serves as Director of Photography for Scuba Diving Magazine, publisher/editor/art director of Alert Diver (Divers Alert Network), and North American distributor for Seacam housings. He shot Nikon for 25+ years before switching to Canon in 2004.
His March 2002 Seacam D1X Field Journal and Operator’s Manual — published on Wetpixel — was arguably the single most important document of the film-to-digital transition: a 13-section guide covering camera setup, housing controls, TTL strobe photography, viewfinder selection, and maintenance, written from the perspective of the first person in the US to receive the housing ([2]).
Contributions
The D1X Field Journal (2002)
Received the first Seacam D1X housing in the US in January 2002. His field journal documented every aspect of housed digital SLR photography for the first time, including the critical discovery that Nikonos TTL strobes did not work with the D1X — requiring the Seacam Systemflash (a housed SB28DX speedlight) as the only TTL option. This document became the foundational reference for photographers entering digital underwater photography ([3]).
Inventions and Engineering
- SOS Safety Sausage — Invented after being swept out to sea in Palau with cameras in hand. A BC-integrated inflatable with a patented one-way valve allowing inflation via BC pneumatics. Licensed to Aqua Lung/Seaquest ([4]).
- D2X Hotshoe Syndrome fix — Discovered and documented a Nikon D2X bug where images would shoot but never write to CF card. Worked with Harald Hordosch (Seacam Austria) to develop the pin-removal fix, applicable to all D2X housings ([5]).
- Anti-vignette fix — Invented a low-tech solution using Edmund Scientific black flocked paper to eliminate concentric ring reflections from Canon 17-40mm lens in dome ports ([6]).
Gear Reviews and Testing
Published comprehensive field journals for Seacam housings (D1X 2002, Canon 1D/1Ds 2004, D2X 2005), lens/port matching guides for 8 Canon lenses with Seacam ports (2006), Canon 14mm II underwater review tested at Aquarius Habitat with Olympic swimmers (2008), and Canon 1D Mark IV early underwater test (2010) ([7], [8], [9]).
Community Commentary
Frink contributed insightful article comments including a response on the Aquatica Kodak ProSLRn housing where he wished the company well while questioning the market for the camera, and a comment on Eric Cheng’s “Mystery of RAW” article noting the relevance of Capture One software improvements for underwater RAW processing. (article comments)
USS Spiegel Grove
Coordinated the 8-year volunteer effort through the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce to sink the USS Spiegel Grove as an artificial reef, raising several million dollars. The ship famously “turned turtle” during sinking ([10]).
Conservation
Initiated a petition to designate Snapper Ledge (off Tavernier, Florida Keys) as a Sanctuary Preservation Area, producing a 7-minute film for Scuba Diving Magazine ([11]).
Timeline
- 2002-01: Receives first Seacam D1X housing in the US ([12])
- 2002-03: Publishes D1X Field Journal on Wetpixel — foundational DSLR UW document ([13])
- 2002-07: Documents Spiegel Grove sinking off Key Largo ([14])
- 2004-02: Publishes Canon 1D/1Ds field journal — marks his switch from 25 years of Nikon to Canon ([15])
- 2004-02: SOS Safety Sausage patent issued; licensed to Aqua Lung ([16])
- 2005-07: Co-shoots Seacam D2X field report with Dennis Liberson in the Bahamas ([17])
- 2005-11: Publishes D2X hotshoe syndrome diagnosis and fix ([18])
- 2006-04: Publishes anti-vignette flocked-paper fix ([19])
- 2006-11: Announces Seacam Seaflash 250 strobe at DEMA 2006 — first Canon E-TTL strobe with rear curtain sync ([20])
- 2006-12: Publishes lens testing and port matching guide for 8 Canon lenses ([21])
- 2008-01: Canon 14mm II UW review; tests at Aquarius Habitat and with Olympic swimmers ([22])
- 2008-09: Initiates Snapper Ledge conservation petition ([23])
- 2010-01: Canon 1D Mark IV early underwater test ([24])
- 2013-02: Named Diver of the Year by Beneath the Sea ([25])
- 2014-05: Leads Bahamas Underwater Photo Week with Eric Cheng, Berkley White, Alex Mustard ([26])
- 2018-03: Photographs Jardines de la Reina, Cuba on Jardines Aggressor II; shoots Canon 5Ds with 8-15mm ([27])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Forum thread: My New Patent Just Issued ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2005: Nikon D2x Hotshoe Syndrome And Fix ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2006: A Low Tech Solution For A High Tech Problem ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 7, 2004: Seacam 1d1ds Housing Field Journaloperators Manual ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 19, 2006: Lens Testing And Port Matching For Seacam Housings By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 16, 2008: Stephen Frink Canon 14mm Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Whatever Happened To The Spiegel Grove ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2008: Snapper Ledge Petition For Sanctuary Preservation Area Spa Status ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2002: Seacam D1x Field Journal By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2002: Whatever Happened To The Spiegel Grove ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 7, 2004: Seacam 1d1ds Housing Field Journaloperators Manual ↩
- Forum thread: My New Patent Just Issued ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 20, 2005: Seacam Nikon D2x Housing Field Report And Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2005: Nikon D2x Hotshoe Syndrome And Fix ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2006: A Low Tech Solution For A High Tech Problem ↩
- Forum thread: Seacam Seaflash 250 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 19, 2006: Lens Testing And Port Matching For Seacam Housings By Stephen Frink ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 16, 2008: Stephen Frink Canon 14mm Ii ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2008: Snapper Ledge Petition For Sanctuary Preservation Area Spa Status ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 24, 2010: Underwater Photos Taken With The Canon 1d Mark Iv ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2013: Stephen Frink Named Diver Of The Year ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 28, 2014: Coverage Bahamas Underwater Photo Week Part 2 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 27, 2018: Stephen Frink Jardines De La Reina ↩
- Seacam D1X Field Journal (2002) (article) ↩
- Spiegel Grove (2002) (article) ↩
- Canon 1D/1Ds Field Journal (2004) (article) ↩
- D2X Hotshoe Syndrome (2005) (article) ↩
- Lens Testing and Port Matching (2006) (article) ↩
- Canon 14mm II Review (2008) (article) ↩
- Diver of the Year (2013) (article) ↩
- Jardines de la Reina (2018) (article) ↩