Jonny Shaw

Forum username: jonny shaw
Posts: 1,289
Threads started: 88
Active years: 2006–2015
Primary forums: Video Gear and Technique (49%), Shooting Technique/Workflow/Editing (34%)
Specialization: Professional underwater videography, Red/Sony cinema cameras, Gates housings, post-production

Community Role

Jonny Shaw was one of Wetpixel’s leading underwater video contributors, with 638 posts in Video Gear and Technique and 444 posts in Shooting Technique/Workflow — together accounting for 84% of their total output. This concentration made them the most video-focused prolific contributor on the forum, slightly exceeding even simonspear’s already remarkable 78%.

Active from 2006 through 2015, Shaw’s posting peaked in 2009 (226 posts) and 2011 (221 posts), with consistently high output from 2007 through 2012. Their expertise centered on professional cinema cameras and Gates underwater housings — the high end of the underwater video market — placing them in a tier above the consumer HDV and GoPro discussions that dominated many video threads.

Notable Contributions

Cinema Camera Expertise

Shaw’s thread participation reads like a timeline of professional underwater video evolution during its most transformative period:

• Red Scarlet-X Official Thread (26 replies, 33 posts from Shaw) — primary community voice on the cinema camera that promised to bring 4K to underwater cinematography. Shaw documented the practical realities of shooting Red underwater, from housing compatibility to post-production workflow
• Sony PMW-200 (32 replies) — tracked Sony’s successor to the EX1R, a key professional camcorder for underwater work
• Sony NEX-FS700 (12 posts) — evaluated Sony’s large-sensor camcorder line for underwater applications
• Sony PMW-F3 (12 posts) — another Sony professional camera evaluation
• Nauticam Rossa for Red Epic/Scarlet (11 posts) — evaluated Nauticam’s housing solution for Red cinema cameras

Gates Housing Experience

Shaw was deeply involved in Gates Underwater housing discussions, sharing valuable real-world experience:

• Gates EX1 housing flooding (13 posts) — shared a firsthand flooding incident with their Gates housing for the Sony EX1, which became an important cautionary resource for the community. The detailed account of what happened, what was lost, and what could be done differently made this thread essential reading for anyone considering professional underwater video rigs
• Gates Housing for Sony PMW-EX1 (9 posts) — evaluated the housing that became a standard for broadcast-quality underwater video

Post-Production and Workflow

Shaw engaged with the full production pipeline, not just camera and housing hardware:

• Apple Final Cut Pro X (9 posts) — participated in the community’s heated discussion of Apple’s controversial 2011 redesign of Final Cut Pro, which disrupted many professional video editors’ workflows
• MacBook troubleshooting (10 posts) — practical computing issues affecting field production
• “Tape is King!!!!” (31 replies) — a spirited debate about tape vs. file-based recording during the transition era

Wildlife Filming

• Tonga Humpbacks (32 replies, 8 posts from Shaw) — combined professional video work with compelling wildlife subjects, documenting humpback whale encounters in Tonga
• Sad News in Egypt (84 replies) — Shaw’s most-replied-to thread, reflecting engagement with the diving community beyond pure technical topics

Activity Profile

• Peak year: 2009 (226 posts)
• Secondary peak: 2011 (221 posts)
• Video concentration: 84% of posts in Video Gear + Shooting Technique — the highest video focus among prolific members
• Professional tier: Thread topics indicate cinema-grade equipment (Red, Sony PMW, Gates housings)
• Active window: Core engagement 2007–2013, with sharp decline after 2013 (only 2 posts combined in 2014–2015)
• Conservation engagement: 10 posts in Conservation and the Environment
• Activity score: 1,557

References