diggy

Forum username: diggy
Posts: 629
Active years: 2007—2024
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Photo/Video Showcase, Trip Reports and Travel, Video Gear and Technique
Specialization: Macro photography, compact/mirrorless systems, Southeast Asian dive destinations

Community Role

diggy was one of Wetpixel’s longest-active community members, contributing for 17 years from 2007 to 2024. Based in India or Southeast Asia (given frequent references to diving in Bali, the Andaman Islands, and Indonesia), he progressed from compact camera systems through DSLRs to mirrorless platforms, documenting his learning journey and sharing results throughout.

His posting style was consistently helpful and curious, frequently asking well-researched questions about gear and seeking community expertise. He contributed across a wide range of topics from macro technique and strobe selection to trip reports from Indonesian dive sites, and later transitioned into video work. With 629 posts over nearly two decades, diggy represented the dedicated amateur underwater photographer who evolved with the technology.

Notable Contributions

Canon G7 and Compact Camera Photography

diggy’s earliest significant contribution was the “First Time User G7 pics” thread (36 replies), where he shared his first underwater images with the Canon PowerShot G7 and sought feedback. The thread became a discussion about strobe selection, with diggy using an Ikelite DS-51 strobe and considering upgrading to the DS-125. He experimented with Inon close-up and wide-angle wet lenses, testing them in swimming pools before dive trips. (^[1])

Micro Four Thirds Advocacy

diggy was an early enthusiast for the Micro Four Thirds format for underwater use. He started the thread “Micro 4/3rd’s finally announced and here by SEP 09” (15 replies) when Olympus announced the E-P1, noting its potential for underwater photography due to its small size, interchangeable lenses, and full-time live view. The thread sparked community discussion about housing availability and strobe sync limitations. (^[2])

Nauticam Super Macro Converter

In the “Nauticam Super Macro Converter” thread (25 replies), diggy asked about using Nauticam’s newly launched SMC lens on a cropped sensor camera like the Canon 7D, noting the product website only discussed full-frame results. The thread attracted responses from Alex Mustard, who shared comparative shots on both full-frame (Nikon D4) and cropped (Nikon D7100) sensors, and from other testers. diggy noted he already used stacked +3 and +5 wet diopters with an O-ring vacuum seal between them for greater magnification. (^[3])

Video Workflow and Storage

As diggy transitioned toward video, he started the “Back up of high res video files” thread (26 replies) in 2022, seeking solutions for storing and backing up 4K video footage. The thread generated practical advice about Synology NAS systems, OWC ThunderBay storage, and software like Goodsync for managing large media libraries. (^[4])

Trip Reports from Southeast Asia

diggy contributed multiple trip reports and photo showcases from Indonesian dive sites:

• “Indonesia - Bali” (15 replies) — Sought advice for diving Amed, Tulamben, Seraya, and Pemuteran with family, with responses from Drew Wong offering road condition updates. (^[5])
• “Some from Pemuteran/Menjangan, Bali” — Shared macro images from Bali sites. (^[6])
• “Some from the Andamans, Havelock Island, India” — Trip report from Indian diving. (^[7])
• Komodo trip report. (^[8])

Gear Discussions

diggy participated in discussions about Inon Z-240 strobes, Nauticam extension rings and dome compatibility, leak detection, and the Supe D-Max strobes. His practical approach to gear — testing in pools, seeking community advice, and sharing honest results — made his contributions useful for other photographers at similar experience levels.

Activity Profile

• Peak years: 2007—2015, with consistent posting through 2024
• Geographic focus: Bali (Tulamben, Amed, Pemuteran, Menjangan), Andaman Islands, Komodo, Lembeh Strait
• Equipment progression: Canon PowerShot G7 with Ikelite DS-51 (2007) -> Canon 7D (2013) -> mirrorless systems with Nauticam housings
• Threads started: 55
• Last appearance: March 2024