Berkley White

Aliases: Berk, berkley (forum)
Role: Backscatter founder, Digital Shootout creator, underwater photographer, videographer, equipment innovator, educator
First appearance: 2003 ([1])
Location: Monterey, California
Affiliation: Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo (founder), Under Exposures (co-founder)

Biography

Berkley White is the founder of Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo in Monterey, California, and one of the most influential figures in the underwater imaging equipment industry from the early 2000s onward. Described as “a leading internationally published professional photographer, instructor and expert in the field of underwater photography and videography” ([2]), White built Backscatter from a specialty retailer into a vertically integrated company that designs, manufactures, reviews, and sells underwater imaging equipment while simultaneously running the longest-lived underwater photography workshop series in the Wetpixel archive.

White co-founded Under Exposures, a travel company specializing in dive photography, with Dan Baldocchi of Light & Motion. Together they led photo expeditions for over fifteen years ([3]). White shares his photographic techniques through international travel events, seminars, free community workshops, and extensive online gear reviews and tutorials published on the Backscatter website.

White’s personal shooting gear evolved over the years. By the mid-2000s he was shooting Nikon with a Subal ND2 housing and FE2 dome ([4]). He later transitioned to Canon, shooting a 5D Mark II with Sigma 15mm and Kenko 1.4x teleconverter in an Aquatica housing, diving with a KISS Sport rebreather ([5]). He was known for hands-on, improvised problem-solving — at the 2006 Palau Shootout, Eric Cheng photographed him “MacGyvering on a diopter with parts from a soda can” ([6]).

White worked closely with Jim Watt beginning in the early 2000s. After Watt’s death in July 2007 ([7]), the “Jim Watt Award” was established at the Digital Shootout in 2008 as the top honor, given for the best image of the competition ([8]). White also called for images from the community for a memorial multimedia presentation for Sascha Dambach of Kararu Dive Voyages after Dambach’s death in a motorcycle accident in 2009 ([9]).

Contributions

Digital Shootout (2002—2018+)

White created and directed the Digital Shootout, the underwater photography world’s longest-running workshop and competition series. The event combined daily dives, seminars on shooting technique and post-production, free demo gear from major manufacturers, professional image critiques, and a photo/video competition with prizes exceeding $35,000—$45,000 annually ([10], [11]).

Co-directors included Dan Baldocchi (Light & Motion) and Gayle & Richard Todd. Staff over the years included Eric Cheng, Jim Watt, Erin Quigley, Sterling Zumbrunn, Mary Lynn Price, Jim Decker, Rusty Sanoian, Sy Harris, and Joel and Jennifer Penner.

Key editions by location:

White’s characteristic humor was a hallmark of the events. As he told each year’s participants before announcing winners: “We’re all winners here. Some of us are just prize-challenged” ([22]).

See Digital Shootout for full event history.

Monterey Shootout

White helped organize and present at the Monterey Shootout, a local underwater photography competition in Monterey. He presented at the 2004 film festival alongside Norbert Wu and Jim Watt ([23]). In 2011, he was a presenter alongside Rick Rosenthal, Stephen Frink, Chuck Davis, and Eric Cheng ([24]). He presided over judging in 2014 ([25]).

Equipment Innovation

Under White’s leadership, Backscatter evolved from a retailer into an equipment designer and manufacturer:

Gear Testing and Reviews

White established Backscatter as the underwater photography industry’s foremost independent gear testing resource. He frequently obtained pre-production camera bodies to test fit in existing housings, providing critical early information to photographers planning purchases:

Photography and Videography

White was an accomplished photographer in his own right, contributing images to major publications and events:

Competition Judging

White served as a judge for major underwater photography competitions:

Industry Presence and Education

White was a fixture at dive industry trade shows and community events:

Conservation

White was an active voice for marine conservation in Monterey. In 2006, he organized a campaign to save the Monterey Breakwater from fishing, urging the community to attend a California Department of Fish and Game meeting to “finish a 10 year fight to save the Breakwater from hooks and spears… bring back the wolfeels and rockfish for all to enjoy” ([69]). He also supported the establishment of California marine preserves ([70]).

Timeline

References


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing
  2. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2014: Live Coverage Of Bahamas Underwater Photo Week
  3. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012
  4. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery
  5. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2014: Video Cocos By Berkley White
  6. Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast
  7. Forum thread: Jim Watt Passed Away Peacefully Yesterday
  8. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  9. Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2009: Memorial Service For Sascha Dambach In Indonesia
  10. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  11. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012
  12. Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004
  13. Wetpixel article, May 27, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 Updated
  14. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005
  15. Wetpixel article, Jun 19, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2
  16. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  17. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  18. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published
  19. Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast
  20. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012
  21. Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2018: Backscatter Posts Report From Digital Shootout
  22. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  23. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004
  24. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2011: Announcing The Monterey Shootout 2011
  25. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: 2014 Monterey Shootout Winners Announced
  26. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Backscatter Neutral Density Underwater Filter System
  27. Wetpixel article, May 16, 2012: Backscatter Announces Filter Solution For Gopro
  28. Forum thread: New Housing Airlock Vacuum From Backscatter
  29. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2011: Backscatter Releases Wahoo Hd Monitor Housing
  30. Wetpixel article, Jul 25, 2018: Backscatter Ships Tg5 Wide Angle Conversion Lens
  31. Wetpixel article, Feb 5, 2020: Review Mike Bartick On The Backscatter Mini Flash And Optical Snoot
  32. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing
  33. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery
  34. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2007: Nikon D3 Underwater Housing Preview
  35. Forum thread: Backscattercom Strobe Comparison
  36. Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D300 Sea Sea On Sailfish
  37. Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D3x In Underwater Housings
  38. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2009: Canon 5d Mk Ii Shooting Tips For Underwater Video
  39. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2010: Repost Review Of Canon 7d And Aquaticas Underwater Housing
  40. Wetpixel article, May 25, 2012: Berkley White On The 5d Mark Iii
  41. Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2016: Underwater Review Of Eos 1d X Mark Ii On Dpreview
  42. Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2010: Backscatters Best Point And Shoot Systems For 2010
  43. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2010: Alert Diver Spring 2010 Issue Available Now
  44. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2010: Underwater Photography Magazine Issue 56 Available
  45. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2008: Uwp Magazine Issue 41 Available For Download
  46. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2010: Video Of Mv Keith Tibbetts Shot With Canon 5d Mkii
  47. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2014: Video Cocos By Berkley White
  48. Wetpixel article, May 18, 2015: Wetpixel Asks The Pros Wide Angle Part 1
  49. Wetpixel article, Jun 30, 2015: Ask The Pros Split Shots
  50. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2014: Live Coverage Of Bahamas Underwater Photo Week
  51. Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2014: Alert Diver Bahamas Underwater Photo Week Issue
  52. Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2008: Review Of Chris Santellas Fifty Place To Dive Before You Die
  53. Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2012: Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Judges Announced
  54. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Results Announced Our World Underwater 2013
  55. Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2017: Countdown Entries To Our World Underwater 2017
  56. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  57. Wetpixel article, Apr 2, 2014: 2014 Deep Indonesia Photo Competition Winners Announced
  58. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: 2014 Monterey Shootout Winners Announced
  59. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1
  60. Wetpixel article, Nov 11, 2006: Dema 2006 Backscatter Underwater Video And Photo
  61. Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2013: Wetpixel Dema Reports 2013
  62. Wetpixel article, Oct 21, 2014: Dema 2014 Image Resource Center Schedule
  63. Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Workshops
  64. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2007: Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Clinic 2007
  65. Wetpixel article, Feb 10, 2009: Ncups And Backscatter Host Free Underwater Photo And Video Seminar
  66. Wetpixel article, Dec 22, 2006: Free Underwater Photography Seminar At Ncups
  67. Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2012: Wetpixel Hangout 1 Is On Air Join Us Live
  68. Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2010: Bay Area Dive Show 2010 Photo Gallery
  69. Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2006: Save The Breakwater Monterey
  70. Wetpixel article, Aug 18, 2006: California Establishes Marine Preserves
  71. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing
  72. Wetpixel article, May 27, 2003: Kararu Digital Seminar
  73. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1
  74. Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004
  75. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2004: Monterey Shootout 2004
  76. Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2004: Subals New Gs Viewfinder
  77. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005
  78. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery
  79. Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Backscatter Neutral Density Underwater Filter System
  80. Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Workshops
  81. Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Report 2006
  82. Wetpixel article, Apr 17, 2006: Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast
  83. Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2006: Save The Breakwater Monterey
  84. Wetpixel article, Nov 11, 2006: Dema 2006 Backscatter Underwater Video And Photo
  85. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2007: Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Clinic 2007
  86. Wetpixel article, Jun 19, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2
  87. Wetpixel article, Jun 22, 2007: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 5
  88. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2007: Sea Sea Ys 250 Strobe Prototype Photos
  89. Forum thread: Jim Watt Passed Away Peacefully Yesterday
  90. Forum thread: Backscattercom Strobe Comparison
  91. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2007: Nikon D3 Underwater Housing Preview
  92. Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D300 Sea Sea On Sailfish
  93. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2008: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 Winners
  94. Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2008: Berkley White Tests Nikon D3x In Underwater Housings
  95. Wetpixel article, Feb 10, 2009: Ncups And Backscatter Host Free Underwater Photo And Video Seminar
  96. Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2009: Memorial Service For Sascha Dambach In Indonesia
  97. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2009: Canon 5d Mk Ii Shooting Tips For Underwater Video
  98. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2010: Repost Review Of Canon 7d And Aquaticas Underwater Housing
  99. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2010: Alert Diver Spring 2010 Issue Available Now
  100. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2010: Underwater Photography Magazine Issue 56 Available
  101. Wetpixel article, Jul 17, 2010: Video Of Mv Keith Tibbetts Shot With Canon 5d Mkii
  102. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2011: Full Details Released About 2011 Digital Shootout
  103. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2011: Announcing The Monterey Shootout 2011
  104. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2011: Backscatter Releases Wahoo Hd Monitor Housing
  105. Wetpixel article, May 25, 2012: Berkley White On The 5d Mark Iii
  106. Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2012: Wetpixel Hangout 1 Is On Air Join Us Live
  107. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2012: The Digital Shootout 2012
  108. Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2012: Backscatter Appointed As Olympus Distributor
  109. Forum thread: New Housing Airlock Vacuum From Backscatter
  110. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2013: Report From The Digital Shootout Published
  111. Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2013: Wetpixel Dema Reports 2013
  112. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2014: Live Coverage Of Bahamas Underwater Photo Week
  113. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: 2014 Monterey Shootout Winners Announced
  114. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2014: Video Cocos By Berkley White
  115. Wetpixel article, Oct 21, 2014: Dema 2014 Image Resource Center Schedule
  116. Wetpixel article, Nov 25, 2014: Wetpixel Coverage Dema 2014
  117. Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2016: Underwater Review Of Eos 1d X Mark Ii On Dpreview
  118. Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2018: Backscatter Posts Report From Digital Shootout
  119. Backscatter Sea & Sea DX-100 review (2003) (article)
  120. Kararu Digital Seminar (2003) (article)
  121. DEMA 2003 show coverage (article)
  122. Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 webcast (article)
  123. Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 updated (article)
  124. Monterey Shootout 2004 (article)
  125. Subal GS Viewfinder (2004) (article)
  126. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 (article)
  127. Berkley White Socorro D2x Gallery (2005) (article)
  128. ND filter system (2005) (article)
  129. Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic workshops (2006) (article)
  130. Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic report (2006) (article)
  131. Digital Shootout Palau 2006 (article)
  132. Save the Breakwater, Monterey (2006) (article)
  133. DEMA 2006: Backscatter (2006) (article)
  134. Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Clinic (2007) (article)
  135. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 2 (article)
  136. Digital Shootout Bonaire 2007 Day 5 (article)
  137. Sea & Sea YS-250 strobe prototype (2007) (article)
  138. Nikon D3 underwater housing preview (2007) (article)
  139. Strobe comparison forum thread (2007) (forum)
  140. Jim Watt passed away (2007) (forum)
  141. 3rd Wetpixel/DPG Photo & Video Contest (2007) (article)
  142. DEMA 2007: Gates event with Stan Waterman (article)
  143. Berkley White tests Nikon D300 on sailfish (2008) (article)
  144. Bonaire Digital Shootout 2008 winners (article)
  145. Berkley White tests Nikon D3x (2008) (article)
  146. NCUPS/Backscatter seminar (2009) (article)
  147. Memorial service for Sascha Dambach (2009) (article)
  148. Canon 5D MkII video tips (2009) (article)
  149. Canon 7D / Aquatica review (2010) (article)
  150. Backscatter best P&S systems 2010 (article)
  151. Alert Diver spring 2010 (article)
  152. Bay Area Dive Show 2010 (article)
  153. M.V. Keith Tibbetts video (2010) (article)
  154. UwP Magazine issue 56 (2010) (article)
  155. Digital Shootout 2011 details (article)
  156. Monterey Shootout 2011 (article)
  157. Wahoo HD monitor housing (2011) (article)
  158. OWU/DEEP Indonesia judges 2012 (article)
  159. Berkley White on 5D Mark III (2012) (article)
  160. Wetpixel Hangout #1 (2012) (article)
  161. Digital Shootout 2012 (article)
  162. Backscatter appointed Olympus distributor (2012) (article)
  163. OWU 2013 results (article)
  164. Digital Shootout 2013 report (article)
  165. DEMA 2013 reports (article)
  166. Airlock vacuum system forum thread (2013) (forum)
  167. Bahamas Underwater Photo Week (2014) (article)
  168. Monterey Shootout 2014 winners (article)
  169. Video: Cocos by Berkley White (2014) (article)
  170. DEMA 2014 Image Resource Center (article)
  171. Alert Diver Bahamas Photo Week issue (2014) (article)
  172. DEMA 2014 coverage (article)
  173. Ask the Pros: Wide-angle (2015) (article)
  174. Ask the Pros: Split shots (2015) (article)
  175. Canon EOS 1D-X Mk II review on DPReview (2016) (article)
  176. OWU 2017 entries countdown (article)
  177. Digital Shootout Roatan 2018 (article)
  178. Backscatter M52 wide-angle lens (2018) (article)
  179. Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash review (2020) (article)
  180. GoPro filter solution (2012) (article)
  181. Review: Chris Santella’s Fifty Places to Dive (2008) (article)
  182. NCUPS free seminar (2006) (article)
  183. California marine preserves (2006) (article)