Gudge (Ross Gudgeon)

Forum username: Gudge
Real name: Ross Gudgeon
Posts: 596
Active years: 2005–2024
Location: Exmouth, Western Australia
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Photo/Video Showcase
Specialization: Canon DSLR systems, housing reviews, macro and wide-angle photography

Community Role

Ross Gudgeon, known on the Wetpixel forums as “Gudge,” was a long-standing community member active from 2005 through 2024, making him one of the forum’s most enduring contributors across nearly two decades. Based in Exmouth on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, he had exceptional access to one of Australia’s premier underwater photography locations and frequently shared images and experiences from the region (^[1]).

Gudge was particularly valued for his detailed, practical gear reviews. His most notable contribution was an in-depth comparison of Aquatica and Nauticam housings for the Canon 7D, which was featured as an article on the Wetpixel main site by Eric Cheng. Cheng described it as “an informative comparison review” and noted that the community had been “paralyzed with indecision” between the two housings, making Gudge’s hands-on comparison particularly timely (^[2]). The forum thread generated 41 replies and became a reference point for Canon 7D shooters evaluating housing options (^[3]).

Gear and Shooting Style

Gudge was a dedicated Canon shooter who used Subal and later Nauticam housings. He shot with the Canon 40D, 50D, and 7D over the years, and was knowledgeable about Canon macro lenses including the 60mm and 100mm macro. He used Subal ports and was familiar with Zen dome ports, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye, and various teleconverter setups (^[4]).

He employed advanced techniques including Flash Exposure Lock (FEL) combined with AF-ON back-button focus for macro photography, and recommended Martin Edge’s The Underwater Photographer as the definitive guide to the craft. He also used spot metering with TTL strobe control and Flash Exposure Compensation for fine-tuning exposure (^[5]).

Competition Success

Gudge achieved notable success in international underwater photography competitions:

• 2010 Beneath the Sea International Imaging Competition: Honorable Mention in Marine Life category for “InnerGlow,” a jellyfish image shot at Ningaloo Reef (^[6])
• 2010 Ocean Art Competition: Honorable Recognition (^[7])
• 2012 Our World Underwater Competition: Winner, Macro Unrestricted category for “Unwelcome Mouthguest” (^[8])
• 2012 Scuba Diving Magazine: Cover image for the May 2012 issue (^[9])

Notable Contributions

• Canon 7D Housing Review (2010): Detailed hands-on comparison of Aquatica and Nauticam housings for the Canon 7D, covering build quality, ergonomics, latches, viewfinders, and port compatibility. Featured on the Wetpixel main site (41 replies) (^[10])
• Burst Jellies (2009): Showcase thread of red jellyfish images from Ningaloo Reef shot against the sun, drawing widespread praise including comparisons to competition-winning images (26 replies) (^[11])
• Canon 50D Announcement (2008): First to post the Canon 50D announcement on the forums, noting its near-identical body dimensions to the 40D and implications for housing compatibility (18 replies) (^[12])
• Fibre Optic Retrofit (2008): Thread on retrofitting fibre optic sync to a Subal 40D housing (17 replies)

Activity Profile

Gudge maintained a remarkably consistent presence on the forums across nearly 19 years (2005–2024), with activity spanning gear discussions, photo showcases, travel topics, and conservation threads. His later years saw continued participation in discussions about Sony mirrorless systems and modern lens options, demonstrating his ongoing engagement with the evolution of underwater photography technology.