Jonathan Bird

Role: Underwater filmmaker, television producer, author, educator
Based in: Massachusetts, USA
First appearance: 2003 (forum mention of his book Shadows and Light)
Website: blueworldtv.com, jonathanbird.net
Affiliation: Oceanic Research Group, Inc. (founder, 1990); Jonathan Bird’s Blue World

Biography

Jonathan Bird is an Emmy Award-winning underwater cinematographer, television host, and marine educator best known as the creator and host of “Jonathan Bird’s Blue World,” an educational public television series about ocean exploration that has aired in the USA since 2008. He is the president and founder of Oceanic Research Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and dedicated to the conservation of the world’s oceans through education (^[1]).

Bird is also a widely published author of at least seven books on underwater photography and marine life, a director of over 30 films for broadcast and education, and a member of the Wyland Ocean Artist Society. His films have appeared on National Geographic Channel, PBS, ABC, USA Network, Discovery, and the SciFi Channel (^[2]).

His wife, Christine Rooney Bird, M.D., is co-creator and Executive Producer of Jonathan Bird’s Blue World and a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame (inducted 2011). She is also the founder and board member of Oceanic Research Group (^[3]).

Contributions

Jonathan Bird’s Blue World

Bird’s signature achievement is “Jonathan Bird’s Blue World,” an Emmy Award-winning public television series. By 2015, the series had won 8 Emmy Awards, with its fourth season released in early 2014. Bird serves as both host and director of photography, traveling the world exploring marine mysteries. The series is also available on YouTube via the BlueWorldTV channel, where it has used 60fps video (^[4], ^[5]).

IMAX Filmmaking

In 2019, Howard Hall Productions teamed up with Jonathan Bird’s Blue World to create a new IMAX production with the working title “Secrets of the Sea.” Due for release in 2021, the team had already captured footage in California’s Channel Islands, Mexico, and the Philippines by mid-2019, with filming planned to continue through 2020 (^[6]).

Bird had previously produced “Space School,” about underwater astronaut training, described as “the world’s first digitally filmed live-action fulldome film” (^[7]).

Technical Writing for Wetpixel

In February 2015, Bird authored an article for Wetpixel titled “Choose Your Weapon: SLR versus Video Cameras for Filmmaking.” Drawing on his extensive production experience, he argued that dedicated cinema cameras (such as the Sony NEX FS100, Panasonic AF100, and Sony FS7) had matured to the point where DSLRs were no longer the best choice for serious underwater video production. He identified key DSLR shortcomings including poor audio interfaces, non-parfocal zoom lenses, awkward ergonomics, and line-skipping artifacts from high-megapixel sensors. For underwater specifically, he noted that large sensors have poor corner sharpness behind dome ports, shallow depth of field makes focusing difficult, and the lack of flip-filter capability for natural light white balancing was a critical limitation (^[8]).

The article prompted a dedicated forum discussion thread (^[9]).

Equipment Testing

Bird conducted dome port extension testing for Ikelite, using his Nikon D200 with the Nikon 12-24mm lens in an Ikelite housing with 8” dome port. His tests with very small increment extensions established the recommended port configuration that Ikelite published for that lens combination. He also tested with a +2 diopter to improve edge sharpness (^[10], ^[11]).

In 2012, Bird provided a field testing endorsement for the Atlantis Light Systems MKI LED video light: “After thorough testing in the field, I can say for sure these are the brightest lights I have ever used. Perfect for HD cameras with poor low light capability when you need all the light you can get - be it in a cavern, cave, or on a night dive. And the 5 hour battery life on low is great for repeat dives” (^[12]).

In 2014, Creative Cow featured an interview with Bird about his Blue World series, covering his transition to 4K and 6K production, his move from Final Cut 7 to Adobe Premiere, and his use of the Sony FDR-AX1 camera in a Gates Z100 housing. Bird commented that the frame grabs “are 8 megapixel (!) frame grabs taken right off 4K/60p video in Premiere—not stills taken in still photo mode” shot at “150 Mbps XAVC-S 3840x2160” (^[13]).

Books

Bird’s book Shadows and Light (published by or before 2003) inspired community members to experiment with black-and-white underwater photography (^[14]).

Film Festival Presence

• Turquoise Bay International Underwater Film Festival (April 2016, Roatan) — served as host for the weeklong inaugural event, which awarded the Stan Waterman Legacy Award (^[15])
• Beneath the Sea International Film Festival (April 2016) — presented alongside David Doubilet and Jen Hayes, Howard and Michele Hall, Ernie Brooks, Andy Brandy Casagrande, and Richie Kohler at the 40th event (^[16])

Equipment

Bird has used several camera systems reflecting the evolution of underwater video technology:

• Sony FDR-AX1 in Gates Z100 housing with SWP44C wide angle port — for 4K production, shooting at 150 Mbps XAVC-S at 3840x2160/60p (^[17])
• Nikon D200 in Ikelite housing with 8” dome port — with Nikon 12-24mm lens for stills (^[18])
• Atlantis MKI LED video lights — for underwater lighting (^[19])

Timeline

• 2003-06: Bird’s book Shadows and Light mentioned by community members as inspiration for B&W underwater photography (^[20])
• ~2006: Conducts dome port extension testing for Ikelite with Nikon D200 and 12-24mm lens; results published as official Ikelite recommendations (^[21])
• 2008: Jonathan Bird’s Blue World begins airing on public television in the USA (^[22])
• 2011-01: Christine Rooney Bird inducted into Women Divers Hall of Fame, cited as co-creator and Executive Producer of Jonathan Bird’s Blue World (^[23])
• 2012-01: Provides field testing endorsement for Atlantis MKI LED video light (^[24])
• 2014-03: Comments on Howard Hall’s “California Dreaming” video: “That’s why Howard is the master!” (^[25])
• 2014-06: Profiled by Creative Cow about Blue World series; discusses move to 4K/6K production with Sony FDR-AX1 in Gates Z100 housing (^[26])
• 2015-02: Publishes “Choose Your Weapon: SLR versus Video Cameras for Filmmaking” on Wetpixel (^[27])
• 2015-10: Announced as host of inaugural Turquoise Bay International Underwater Film Festival in Roatan (^[28])
• 2016-02: Presents at Beneath the Sea International Film Festival (40th event) (^[29])
• 2019-08: Howard Hall Productions and Jonathan Bird’s Blue World announce IMAX film “Secrets of the Sea” (^[30])

References