Eunjae Im (escape)

Forum username: escape
Real name: Eunjae Im (also written EunJae Im, Eun Jae, or EJ)
Posts: 366
Active years: 2009—2017
Primary forums: Shooting Technique/Workflow/Editing, Video Gear and Technique, Photo/Video Showcase, Critter Identification
Specialization: Underwater macro video, DSLR video pioneering, 4K underwater cinematography, Southeast Asian and Korean marine life

Biography

Eunjae Im, known on the Wetpixel forums as “escape,” was a Korean underwater videographer and cinematographer who became one of the most celebrated macro video specialists in the Wetpixel community. Based in or near South Korea, he dove extensively in the East Sea of Korea as well as throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. Despite a relatively modest post count of 366, his work was featured in three Wetpixel editorial articles and his forum threads consistently attracted praise from the community’s most respected members, including Alex Mustard and Drew Wong.

Eunjae also maintained a website at ejlabs.net and a Vimeo channel where he published his underwater films. He produced content for Korean television programs about diving and underwater photography, indicating professional-level work beyond his forum contributions.

Community Role

Eunjae Im occupied a distinctive position in the Wetpixel community: he was not a high-volume poster, but his contributions — primarily underwater video productions — were consistently recognized as exceptional. Forum members addressed him as “EJ” or “Eunjae” with evident respect, and threads featuring his work drew responses from Wetpixel editors and associate editors.

His role was that of a technical pioneer and artistic inspiration. He was among the earliest underwater videographers to push the boundaries of DSLR video underwater, explore Magic Lantern RAW recording, adopt 4K with the Panasonic GH4, and experiment with advanced techniques like DPV-mounted camera rigs. His annual “Highlights” compilations became anticipated events in the community.

Eunjae was generous with technical details, sharing specific camera settings (picture profiles, ISO ranges, shutter speeds), gear configurations, and post-production workflows. His writing style — characteristically concise, with English as a second language — was direct and informative, often ending posts with “Cheers, EJ.”

Notable Contributions

Pioneering DSLR Macro Video

Eunjae was one of the first underwater videographers to demonstrate that DSLR cameras (Canon 7D and 5D Mark III) could produce exceptional macro video underwater when combined with external field monitors, tripods, and proper lighting. His Green Hairy Shrimp video from Lembeh (March 2012) was described as “groundbreaking” by community member Nick Hope, documenting a recently discovered species no bigger than a grain of rice using a Canon 7D, 100mm macro, Subsee +10 diopter, and SmallHD DP4 monitor in a Nauticam housing (^[1]).

5D Mark III Underwater Video Assessment

His Dauin video thread provided one of the first detailed underwater assessments of the Canon 5D Mark III for video, demonstrating its high-ISO performance (usable to ISO 1600, acceptable at 3200/6400 in tough situations), reduced moire compared to the 7D, and macro capabilities with the 100mm lens. He included detailed shooting data for each clip and posted ISO comparison footage that became a reference for videographers considering the full-frame Canon system (^[2]).

Magic Lantern RAW Underwater

Eunjae was among the earliest to take Magic Lantern RAW recording underwater on the Canon 5D Mark III, shooting macro footage in Lembeh in 2014 with ML v1.2.3, a 100mm lens, 1.4x teleconverter, and the Nauticam SMC. While acknowledging that RAW processing was “real PITA for run & gun style shooting,” he demonstrated that the quality gains were significant, producing what community members called footage resembling a “high power microscope” (^[3]).

Early 4K Underwater with Panasonic GH4

Eunjae adopted the Panasonic GH4 early for underwater 4K video, posting Pygmy Seahorse footage from Anilao in August 2014 that was among the first 4K underwater macro videos shared on Wetpixel. He used Aquako 4K lights and a 2.5x diopter, and noted the Olympus 60mm produced sharp images but had an uncomfortably short working distance and problematic “by wire” manual focus (^[4]).

Annual Highlight Reels

Eunjae’s annual highlight compilations became community events:

• Highlights of 2012 (Canon 7D + 5D Mark III) — described as “the best 2 minute video I’ve ever seen” by one member; Alex Mustard called it “Awesome. Fantastic clips and ideal music.” Adam Hanlon featured it in a Wetpixel editorial article (^[5]; ^[6])
• Highlights of 2013 (5D Mark III, 7D, Galaxy NX) — filmed across Indonesia, Philippines, Maldives, Bahamas, and Palau; called “the best you’ve done” by Steve Williams (^[7])

Wetpixel Editorial Features

Eunjae’s work was featured in three Wetpixel editorial articles written by Adam Hanlon:

• “EunJae Im posts his Highlights of 2012 video” (December 2012) — noting the “stellar macro and super macro video” (^[8])
• “Video: EunJae Im in Lembeh” (September 2013) — describing his Lembeh film as “superb,” shot with Canon 5D Mark III and 100mm in Nauticam housing at NAD Lembeh Resort. Comment from Shane Siers: “some of the best UW macro video I’ve seen” (^[9])
• “Video: EunJae Im on Southern Atolls of the Maldives” (April 2014) — a “stunning short film” shot on Canon EOS 70D in Nauticam with Canon EF 10-22mm and Sigma 8-16mm behind 9” dome (^[10])

Korean Marine Life Documentation

Eunjae provided a unique window into Korean diving through his forum posts. He shared underwater photographs from the East Sea of Korea showing marine life in cold, green water conditions (visibility 1-3m typical, temperature below 15C), including images with a Canon 550D and Tokina 10-17mm behind a Zen 100mm dome (^[11]). He also filmed a Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus, up to 3m/10ft length) in Korean waters as part of a Korean TV program about diving and underwater photography (^[12]).

Gear History

Eunjae’s gear evolution tracked the rapid development of DSLR and mirrorless video capabilities:

• Pre-2009: Canon PowerShot G10 compact camera
• 2009: Canon 450D (Digital Rebel XSi) with Sea & Sea RDX housing, Canon 100mm macro, YS-110a and YS-27DX manual strobes (^[13])
• 2009—2010: Canon 550D (T2i) with Sea & Sea RDX-450D housing, Tokina 10-17mm, Zen 100mm dome port
• 2011—2012: Canon 7D in Nauticam housing with SmallHD DP4 field monitor, Canon 100mm macro, Subsee +5/+10 diopters, Sola 1200 video lights, Xit 404 tripod
• 2012—2013: Added Canon 5D Mark III in Nauticam housing with Canon 8-15mm fisheye (with Magic Filter), Sea & Sea glass dome port; also experimented with Samsung Galaxy NX
• 2014: Canon EOS 70D (for wide angle video); Panasonic GH4 in Nauticam housing with Panasonic 7-14mm and Olympus 60mm, Aquako 4K lights and diopters; also Canon 5D Mark III with Magic Lantern RAW
• 2015: Panasonic GH4 as primary video camera, FIX 7000 lights; exploring Nauticam RED LT housing and DPV camera mounts (SUEX, Yellowdiving)
• 2015—2017: Mixed GH4 and Canon systems for professional underwater video production

Dive Locations

Eunjae dove extensively across Asia and beyond:

• Dauin, Philippines — primary macro destination, subject of his first 5D Mark III video
• Anilao, Philippines — macro photography and 4K GH4 testing (Pygmy Seahorse)
• Lembeh Strait, Indonesia — regular macro destination, at least three trips documented; dived with NAD Lembeh Resort and guide Parman from Aquamarine Diving Bali
• Bali, Indonesia — Nusa Penida (manta and mola mola), Tulamben (USAT Liberty wreck), Pemuteran Bay (BioRock Project)
• Komodo, Indonesia — wide-angle video
• Bohol, Philippines — early trips
• Maldives — Southern Atolls wide-angle video
• East Sea of Korea — home diving, cold water conditions
• Ambon, Indonesia — macro diving
• Palau — part of 2013 highlights
• Bahamas — part of 2013 highlights
• Truk (Chuuk) — wreck diving (Betty Bomber)
• Marsa Alam, Egypt — 4K video production

Activity Profile

Despite his modest post count of 366, Eunjae Im had an outsized impact on the community, reflected in his high article mention count of 36 and three editorial features. His 75 threads started (against 366 total posts) shows he primarily posted original content rather than responding to others, a pattern consistent with a content creator rather than a discussion participant.

His peak activity was 2012—2015, during which he produced his most celebrated work. His activity tapered after 2015, with his last recorded post in April 2017. He was part of a wave of international underwater videographers who used Wetpixel’s English-language forum as a global platform for sharing work.

Timeline

• 2009-03: First appearance on Wetpixel
• 2009-05: Asked for DSLR advice, chose Canon 450D with Sea & Sea housing (^[14])
• 2009-06: Posted first shots with Canon 450D (^[15])
• 2009-08: Bali diving — manta and mola mola at Nusa Penida (^[16])
• 2010-08: Posted green water photos from East Sea of Korea (^[17])
• 2012-03: Posted groundbreaking Green Hairy Shrimp macro video from Lembeh (^[18])
• 2012-07: Dauin 5D Mark III underwater video — first detailed assessment of 5DIII for UW video (^[19])
• 2012-08: Ocean Essay Episode #04 from Bali (^[20])
• 2012-12: Highlights of 2012 — featured in Wetpixel editorial article (^[21]; ^[22])
• 2013-09: Lembeh macro video featured on Wetpixel (^[23])
• 2014-01: Highlights of 2013 — filmed across 5 countries (^[24])
• 2014-04: Southern Atolls Maldives video featured on Wetpixel, shot on Canon 70D (^[25])
• 2014-05: Lembeh macro with Magic Lantern RAW on 5D Mark III (^[26])
• 2014-08: Pygmy Seahorse in 4K with Panasonic GH4 from Anilao (^[27])
• 2015-04: Giant Octopus video from East Sea of Korea for TV production (^[28])
• 2015-07: Researching DPV camera mounts for MIL-to-DSLR housing rigs (^[29])
• 2017-04: Last recorded forum activity