Elijah Woolery
Aliases: Eli Woolery, ewoolery
Role: Designer, photographer, editor, marine biologist
First appearance: 2006 (Divester/Wetpixel t-shirt contest)
Affiliation: Wetpixel Quarterly (co-founder, Creative Director & Editor), Light & Motion (former), Stanford d.school
Location: Sausalito, California
Biography
Elijah “Eli” Woolery is a designer, underwater photographer, and marine biologist who co-founded Wetpixel Quarterly magazine with Eric Cheng in 2007. Before his involvement with Wetpixel, he was lead design engineer at Light & Motion, an underwater lighting manufacturer based in Monterey, California. He pursued graduate studies in marine biology at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.
Woolery was based in Sausalito, California, where Wetpixel Quarterly’s offices were located at 434 Napa Street ([1]). He served as both Creative Director and Editor of the magazine, handling editorial direction, business operations, subscriber support, and press contacts for the publication from 2007 through at least 2010 ([2]).
Woolery later went on to teach Product Design at Stanford University’s d.school and co-host the Design Better Podcast (Webby nominated 2020).
Contributions
Divester/Wetpixel T-Shirt Contest (2006)
Woolery’s first documented involvement with the Wetpixel community was winning the Divester/Wetpixel t-shirt design contest in October 2006. His whale shark design, which included an underwater photographer and a quote by Rachel Carson, won “by quite a large margin” according to the announcement. The design was printed on black shirts ([3]). Eric Cheng announced the shirts’ availability in November 2006 ([4]).
Wetpixel Quarterly (2007–2010)
Woolery co-founded Wetpixel Quarterly with Eric Cheng in 2007. The magazine was a premium print publication in landscape orientation, printed on 50% recycled materials, showcasing high-quality underwater imagery alongside marine conservation content. In the press release, Woolery articulated the magazine’s conservation mission: “By drawing attention to the links between the beauty of the underwater world and the action required to sustain these environments, we’re hoping to increase interest in preserving threatened areas around the globe—and to help protect those areas that are still pristine” ([5]).
Woolery was listed as the press contact for all Wetpixel Quarterly announcements and was responsible for the magazine’s e-commerce and fulfillment operations. Eric Cheng directed forum subscribers to contact “Eli Woolery directly at his first name @ wetpixel.com” for support issues ([6]).
In his first forum post on Wetpixel (September 12, 2007), Woolery introduced himself as “one of the editors of Wetpixel Quarterly” and described himself as a “long time lurker, first time poster.” He expressed openness to expanding the magazine’s scope beyond strictly underwater subjects, stating the goal was “to create a magazine that is filled with fantastic imagery, that engages the photographic community, and encourages conservation” ([7]).
Woolery also contributed as a staff photographer. He was listed among the featured staff photographers in issue #2 alongside Alex Mustard, Eric Cheng, Mike Veitch, Luiz Rocha, Cor Bosman, Julie Edwards, Herb Ko, James Wiseman, Todd Mintz, Matt Segal, William Heaton, and Leslie Harris ([8]).
Photography and Speaking
Woolery was an active underwater photographer with a SmugMug portfolio ([9]). In April 2009, he co-exhibited a gallery show called “Ocean in Focus” at Sports Basement in San Francisco alongside Eric Cheng, displaying 16 underwater images. As part of the associated speaker series, Woolery presented on getting started with underwater photography, including a hands-on demonstration of gear, cameras, and housings. He was billed as “Wetpixel Quarterly’s Creative Director” ([10]). The gallery exhibit ran from April 3 through May 1, 2009 ([11]).
He was noted as being “inordinately fond of black & white images,” as he described himself in a trip report from a whale shark expedition to Isla Mujeres, Mexico in August 2010 ([12]).
Trade Show and Event Representation
Woolery was a core member of the Wetpixel team at major dive industry trade shows and events:
- DEMA 2007 (Orlando, FL): Represented Wetpixel Quarterly at booth #2449 (shared with DivePhotoGuide) alongside Heidi Connal, while Eric Cheng and Matt Segal covered the show floor ([13], [14]).
- Long Beach Scuba Show 2008: Sent by Eric Cheng to represent Wetpixel Quarterly alongside Michaela Brockstedt (marketing) and Adam Lau, also volunteering at casino night ([15]).
- DEMA 2008: Part of the Wetpixel team as “editor and creative editor,” alongside Eric Cheng, Matt Segal, Adam Lau (intern), and Michaela Brockstedt (marketing). The team represented Wetpixel Quarterly while covering the show floor ([16]). Photographed socializing with Dan Baldocchi and Berkley White at the Wetpixel/DivePhotoGuide cocktail party ([17]).
- Beneath the Sea 2010 (Secaucus, NJ): Co-staffed the Wetpixel booth (#109) with Eric Cheng, Abi Smigel, Tony Granata, Drew Wohl, and Sandrah Gurash ([18]). Attended the BTS evening film festival with Eric and Abi ([19]). Photographed with Wyland and with pioneering marine biologist Eugenie Clark ([20]).
- Bay Area Dive Show 2010: Set up the Wetpixel booth alongside Jane Call ([21]).
Wetpixel Dive Trips
Woolery participated in Wetpixel community dive trips, including a whale shark trip to Isla Mujeres, Mexico in August 2010. His group included Lachlan Bursle, Evelyn Conley, Marty Silveira, and Julian Cohen. He reported encounters with 100+ whale sharks and also spotted a sailfish. He produced a video montage of the trip posted to Vimeo ([22]).
Timeline
- 2006-10: Wins the Divester/Wetpixel t-shirt design contest with a whale shark design featuring a Rachel Carson quote ([23])
- 2006-11: T-shirts printed and sold ([24])
- 2007-09: Co-founds Wetpixel Quarterly with Eric Cheng; issue #1 ships ([25])
- 2007-09: Makes first forum post on Wetpixel, introducing himself as co-editor ([26])
- 2007-10: Represents Wetpixel Quarterly at DEMA 2007 in Orlando ([27])
- 2008-01: Issue #2 ships; Woolery listed as staff photographer and press contact ([28])
- 2008-06: Issue #3 ships ([29])
- 2008-06: Represents Wetpixel Quarterly at Long Beach Scuba Show ([30])
- 2008-10: Part of Wetpixel team at DEMA 2008, credited as “editor and creative editor” ([31])
- 2009-01: Issue #5 ships ([32])
- 2009-04: Co-exhibits “Ocean in Focus” gallery show at Sports Basement, San Francisco; presents on underwater photography ([33])
- 2009-04: 16 underwater images by Woolery and Cheng displayed at Sports Basement ([34])
- 2009-06: Issue #6 ships ([35])
- 2010-03: Co-staffs Wetpixel booth at Beneath the Sea 2010; photographed with Eugenie Clark ([36], [37])
- 2010-04: Sets up Wetpixel booth at Bay Area Dive Show 2010 ([38])
- 2010-08: Participates in Wetpixel whale shark trip to Isla Mujeres, Mexico; posts trip report and video montage ([39])
- 2010-08: Handles subscriber support issue on forums as “Creative Director & Editor” ([40])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2007: Wetpixel Launches Wetpixel Quarterly A New Print Magazine ↩
- Forum thread: Anyone Else Not Get There Wetpixel Quarterly ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 12, 2006: Winner Of The Divester Wetpixel T Shirt Contest ↩
- Forum thread: Wetpixeldivester T Shirts Arrive ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2007: Wetpixel Launches Wetpixel Quarterly A New Print Magazine ↩
- Forum thread: Wetpixel Quarterly ↩
- Forum thread: Wetpixel Launches Wetpixel Quarterly A New Print Magazine ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2008: Wetpixel Ships Issue 2 Of Wetpixel Quarterly ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 12, 2006: Winner Of The Divester Wetpixel T Shirt Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 3, 2009: Wetpixel Quarterly Events In Sf ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 20, 2009: Eric Cheng Presents At Sports Basement San Francisco April 23 2009 ↩
- Forum thread: Cenotes And Whale Sharks 2010 Mexico Trip Thread ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 4, 2007: Dema 2007 Show Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2007: Wetpixel Is Off To Dema ↩
- Forum thread: Long Beach Scuba Show June 21 22 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2008: Dema 2008 Wetpixel ↩
- Forum thread: Wetpixel Dema Cocktail Party 2008 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 19, 2010: Wetpixel At Beneath The Sea 2010 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2010: Beneath The Sea 2010 Day 2 Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2010: Beneath The Sea 2010 Day 3 Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2010: Bay Area Dive Show 2010 Photo Gallery ↩
- Forum thread: Cenotes And Whale Sharks 2010 Mexico Trip Thread ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 12, 2006: Winner Of The Divester Wetpixel T Shirt Contest ↩
- Forum thread: Wetpixeldivester T Shirts Arrive ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2007: Wetpixel Launches Wetpixel Quarterly A New Print Magazine ↩
- Forum thread: Wetpixel Launches Wetpixel Quarterly A New Print Magazine ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2007: Wetpixel Is Off To Dema ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2008: Wetpixel Ships Issue 2 Of Wetpixel Quarterly ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2008: Wetpixel Quarterly Ships Issue 3 ↩
- Forum thread: Long Beach Scuba Show June 21 22 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2008: Dema 2008 Wetpixel ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2009: Wetpixel Quarterly Ships Issue 5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 3, 2009: Wetpixel Quarterly Events In Sf ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 20, 2009: Eric Cheng Presents At Sports Basement San Francisco April 23 2009 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 27, 2009: Wetpixel Quarterly Issue 6 Now Available ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 19, 2010: Wetpixel At Beneath The Sea 2010 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2010: Beneath The Sea 2010 Day 3 Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2010: Bay Area Dive Show 2010 Photo Gallery ↩
- Forum thread: Cenotes And Whale Sharks 2010 Mexico Trip Thread ↩
- Forum thread: Anyone Else Not Get There Wetpixel Quarterly ↩
- Wetpixel launches Wetpixel Quarterly (article) ↩
- Winner of the Divester/Wetpixel T-Shirt Contest (article) ↩
- Wetpixel/Divester t-shirts arrive (forum) ↩
- Wetpixel ships issue #2 of Wetpixel Quarterly (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly ships issue 3 (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly ships issue 5 (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly issue 6 now available (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly events in SF (article) ↩
- Eric Cheng presents at Sports Basement (article) ↩
- DEMA 2007: Wetpixel is off to DEMA (article) ↩
- Wetpixel happy hour at DEMA 2007 (article) ↩
- DEMA 2007 Official Show Coverage (article) ↩
- DEMA 2008: Wetpixel (article) ↩
- Wetpixel DEMA cocktail party 2008 (forum) ↩
- Wetpixel at Beneath the Sea 2010 (article) ↩
- Beneath the Sea 2010 Day 1 (article) ↩
- Beneath the Sea 2010 Day 2 (article) ↩
- Beneath the Sea 2010 Day 3 (article) ↩
- Bay Area Dive Show 2010 photo gallery (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly forum launch thread (forum) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly support thread (forum) ↩
- Long Beach Scuba Show thread (forum) ↩
- Mexico whale sharks trip thread (forum) ↩
- Wetpixel Quarterly subscriber support (forum) ↩