bruceterrill

Forum username: bruceterrill
Posts: 501
Active years: 2005–2012
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, General Chat, Shooting Technique/Workflow/Editing
Specialization: Nikon gear discussions, mirrorless camera advocacy, community building
Location: Houston, Texas area (HUPS member)

Community Role

bruceterrill was an active and opinionated Wetpixel forum contributor from late 2005 through early 2012, with 501 posts across 7 active years. Based in the Houston, Texas area, he was a member of the Houston Underwater Photographic Society (HUPS) and served as a connector between that local club and the broader Wetpixel community.

His forum style was warm, self-deprecating, and direct. He was notably passionate about education and knowledge-sharing in underwater photography, frequently arguing that the community needed more instructional material and that experienced photographers should do more to teach newcomers. He was forthcoming about his own limitations, including his struggle with presbyopia (age-related farsightedness, reaching +2.5 correction) which he cited as a significant motivation for exploring new camera formats. (^[1])

His gear journey tracked from a Nexus-housed Nikon D70S through various Nikon DSLR and strobe combinations, with a particular interest in Sea & Sea strobes and TTL systems.

Notable Contributions

Micro Four Thirds Advocacy

In October 2008, bruceterrill authored one of the earliest Wetpixel forum discussions about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and the emerging Micro Four Thirds format. He argued that the new mirrorless format was “an absolute no brainer for underwater use” due to its large live-view screen, lack of mirror-related shutter lag, and compatibility with Olympus/Zuiko lenses. His thread drew 46 replies and sparked a substantive debate about whether mirrorless cameras would bridge the gap between point-and-shoots and DSLRs underwater. He personally framed the discussion around his own needs — replacing a Nexus-housed Nikon D70S — and his presbyopia, which made looking through optical viewfinders difficult underwater. (^[2])

HUPS and James Wiseman Talk

bruceterrill organized community support for James Wiseman’s presentation on “Super Macro, gear and techniques” at HUPS in early 2009. He started a thread gauging interest in a DVD recording of the talk, arguing passionately that 99% of Wetpixel members could not attend due to geography but would benefit enormously. His post included a pointed critique: “It’s absolutely absurd for our community to have this talent ‘on tap’ and yet we sit on our arses with our mouths shut as if it’s a carefully guarded family secret.” The thread attracted significant support, with fellow HUPS member stewsmith agreeing and Wiseman himself responding with characteristic modesty. A corresponding Wetpixel article confirmed the event. (^[3], ^[4])

Nikkor 60mm Micro Technical Discussion

He started a focused 30-reply thread in August 2008 about the new Nikkor 60mm Micro G-series lens, asking two specific technical questions: whether it was an internal-focus (IF) lens, and whether it could be used with generic teleconverters (Kenko, Tamron). The thread confirmed that the lens was indeed IF, making it housing-compatible. (^[5])

Teleconverter Effects

bruceterrill authored a 19-reply discussion on the effects of teleconverters for underwater macro photography, exploring their practical implications for magnification and light loss. (^[6])

Other Contributions

• Started 52 threads and left 16 comments on Wetpixel articles
• Contributed to discussions on optical versus electrical strobe sync, Sea & Sea TTL converters, Nikon diopters, and Lightroom workflow
• Active in trip report discussions for Raja Ampat and Lembeh
• Participated in general chat threads about dive equipment, camera show-and-tell, and community humor

Activity Profile

• First post: December 3, 2005
• Last post: January 20, 2012
• Peak years: 2007–2009 (heaviest participation)
• Threads started: 52
• Comments on articles: 16
• Primary gear: Nikon D70S in Nexus housing, Sea & Sea strobes, Nikkor macro lenses
• Organization: Houston Underwater Photographic Society (HUPS)