Paul Waghorn
Aliases: wagsy, Wags, Paul Wags
Role: Wetpixel video moderator / Senior Moderator, underwater videographer, SSI instructor, filmmaker, editor
Location: Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Forum username: wagsy
Posts: 3,211
Forum threads started: 300
Active years: 2005–2017
First appearance: 2005 (forum: April; articles: July) ([1])
Activity score: 4,131
Biography
Paul Waghorn — universally known as “Wags” or “wagsy” on Wetpixel — grew up on a farm in the wheat belt of Western Australia, worked in the mining industry for several years, then moved to Cairns to work in the dive industry before settling at Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth in 1995, where he continued to live throughout his Wetpixel years. An SSI instructor, he worked full-time in filming, editing, graphics, computers, websites, and e-commerce design. His underwater material appeared on many local and overseas networks, including the BBC and National Geographic ([2], [3]).
At the time of his moderator appointment, Wags shot with a Nikon D70 in a Sea & Sea housing for stills and a Sony HDV-FX1 in an Amphibico Phenom housing for video ([4]).
Wetpixel Role
Appointment as Video Moderator
Appointed Wetpixel video moderator in May 2006 by Eric Cheng, who described him as “an ever-helpful presence in the video forums” and noted he had “provided Wetpixel members with free video-hosting space” through his website HDVUnderwater.com ([5]). Later promoted to Senior Moderator, with articles referencing him as “Wetpixel senior moderator Paul Wags” as late as 2011 ([6]).
Forum Presence
With 3,211 forum posts across 300 started threads over a 12-year span (2005-2017), Waghorn was one of Wetpixel’s most prolific video contributors and among the highest-scored video-focused members (activity score: 4,131). His posting activity traced the entire evolution of consumer HD underwater video, from early HDV camcorders through HD action cameras and cinema-style setups.
His most active forum threads reveal deep engagement with the HDV era of underwater video:
- Sony HDR-FX7 / HVR-V1 (267 replies) — a landmark thread tracking Sony’s progressive-scan HDV camcorder
- Amphibico Phenom FX1E Review & comments (134 replies) — community evaluation of the housing he pioneered
- Amphibico Endeavor with HVR-V1 review and field test (129 replies) — detailed field testing of Amphibico’s next-generation housing
- A1-FX1 Screen grab (74 replies) — sharing and discussing HDV footage quality
- Mini Cinema Plan (66 replies) — discussions on indie underwater filmmaking workflows
This thread participation profile establishes Waghorn as the central community voice for Amphibico housings and Sony HDV camcorders during the mid-2000s HD transition.
Contributions
Amphibico Phenom FX1 Early Tester
Posted the first sample HD underwater videos shot with the Amphibico Phenom FX1 housing and Sony HDV-FX1 camcorder in July 2005, helping establish the viability of consumer HD video underwater. He was “one of the first in Australia to receive my HDV housing back in 2005.” The videos generated so much interest that his web host’s bandwidth limit was quickly exceeded — a commenter noted: “too late… Bandwidth Limit Exceeded” ([7], [8]).
Amphibico Housing Reviews
Authored multiple housing reviews for Wetpixel, establishing himself as the community’s primary authority on Amphibico products:
- Amphibico Phenom HDV Housing Review (July 2006): A comprehensive review noting: “It is quite possible that I have spent more time under the water with this housing than anybody in any other ocean!” He documented filming “subjects from tiny Nudibranchs right up to massive Manta Rays and Whale Sharks for professional documentary TV crews including the BBC and National Geographic.” He noted the housing had “a few annoying problems (such as slight vignetting)” but praised Amphibico for listening to customer concerns and developing solutions ([9])
- Amphibico EVO PRO HD Housing Review (September 2006): Reviewed the housing for Sony HVR-A1 and HDR-HC1 HDV camcorders, describing it as a more compact alternative to the Phenom for divers who travel frequently ([10])
- Amphibico 95-degree EVO Port Review (January 2010): Received a pre-production 95-degree port from Amphibico to test, flying to Tulamben, Bali with the EVO Housing, Discovery G3 HID light, and 16.9 HD external monitor for field testing ([11])
Canopus EDIUS Pro 4 Review
Published a review of the Canopus EDIUS Pro 4 NLE software on Wetpixel, identifying the Canopus HQ codec’s real-time HDV conversion as his primary reason for switching from Adobe Premiere Pro: “The main reason for switching is that I can do realtime-on-the-fly conversion to the Canopus HQ codec, and the keyframeable color correction and slow-motion in real-time is perfect for our underwater footage” ([12]). His preferred editing software was highlighted at DVExpo West 2006, where Drew Wong noted at the Grass Valley booth: “Canopus Edius 4 is our own Wagsy’s favorite editing software” ([13]).
HDV Demo Reel
In August 2006, posted a widely praised 8-minute demo video of his underwater HDV work, available as a 35MB WMV or 115MB QuickTime H.264 download via HDVUnderwater.com, demonstrating the creative potential of consumer HD camcorders for underwater filmmaking ([14]).
HDVUnderwater.com
Originally provided free video hosting to Wetpixel members beginning at least in 2006 ([15]). Relaunched HDVUnderwater.com in January 2011 as a community underwater video sharing hub with Google Maps integration. Waghorn described the concept: “After seeing underwater videos all over the place on the internet, I wanted to create a single place where people can share and view underwater videos. Instead of having users upload their underwater video files to the site, users can create an account and post their direct Youtube or Vimeo underwater video links along with information about the video and even link back to their own website. It even comes with optional Google maps to mark the videos location” ([16]).
Exmouth Navy Pier DVD
Produced a DVD titled Exmouth Navy Pier showcasing the Navy Pier dive site at Ningaloo Reef, approximately 1,200km north of Perth in Western Australia. The trailer was featured as a podcast by DiveFilm HD (produced in conjunction with Wetpixel) and was available as a free download on iTunes ([17]).
Film Festival Participation
Paul and Kelly Wags entered “A Call to Action” in the 9th annual San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition (UFEX) in August 2008, a film showing “the environmental dilemma confronting the government of Western Australia.” The event was held at Qualcomm Hall and featured films from eight countries ([18]).
Community Engagement
In January 2007, Wags posted a lighthearted thread titled “A photo pro in action” in the forums, which Eric Cheng featured on the Wetpixel front page, noting: “It’s the combination of poking fun while staying lighthearted that is so special, and is what makes Wetpixel such a fun place to hang out online” ([19]).
Activity Profile
- Peak years: 2006-2009 (core HDV era)
- Forum focus: Video Gear and Technique, General Chat
- Thread participation: 3,211 posts across 300 started threads
- Gear trajectory: Sony HDV-FX1 with Amphibico Phenom housing, then Sony HVR-V1 with Amphibico Endeavor, later GoPro, Panasonic GH5, BMPCC
- Stills camera: Nikon D70 in Sea & Sea housing (2006)
- NLE software: Canopus EDIUS Pro 4, previously Adobe Premiere Pro
- Activity score: 4,131 (among the highest for video-focused contributors)
Timeline
- 2005-04: First forum appearance on Wetpixel
- 2005-07: Posts first Amphibico Phenom FX1 sample videos — among the first HD underwater video shared on the site ([20])
- 2006-05: Appointed Wetpixel video moderator by Eric Cheng ([21])
- 2006-07: Publishes comprehensive Amphibico Phenom HDV housing review — notes filming for BBC and National Geographic ([22])
- 2006-08: Posts 8-minute HDV underwater demo reel (35MB WMV / 115MB QT) ([23])
- 2006-09: Publishes Amphibico EVO PRO HD housing review ([24])
- 2006-10: Publishes Canopus EDIUS Pro 4 review on Wetpixel ([25])
- 2006-11: Work featured at DVExpo West 2006; Drew Wong references “Wagsy’s favorite editing software” ([26])
- 2007-01: “A photo pro in action” forum post featured on Wetpixel front page ([27])
- 2008-08: “A Call to Action” film shown at 9th annual San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition ([28])
- 2010-01: Reviews pre-production Amphibico 95-degree EVO port in Tulamben, Bali ([29])
- 2011-01: Relaunches HDVUnderwater.com with YouTube/Vimeo embedding and Google Maps ([30])
- 2011-05: Exmouth Navy Pier DVD trailer featured as DiveFilm HD podcast on iTunes ([31])
- 2017-10: Last forum activity recorded (per person_matrix data)
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2005: Amphibico Phenom Fx1 Video Samples ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2006: Wetpixel Welcomes Wags As A Video Moderator ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 11, 2006: Amphibico Phenom Hdv Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2006: Wetpixel Welcomes Wags As A Video Moderator ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2006: Wetpixel Welcomes Wags As A Video Moderator ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2011: Exmouth Navy Pier Ningaloo On Divefilm Hd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2005: Amphibico Phenom Fx1 Video Samples ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 11, 2006: Amphibico Phenom Hdv Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 11, 2006: Amphibico Phenom Hdv Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2006: Amphibicos Evo Pro Hd Underwater Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2010: Amphibicos Pre Production 95 Degree Evo Port Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2006: Canopus Edius 4 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2006: Dvexpo West 2006 Official Wetpixel Coverage3 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2006: Wags Hdv Demo Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2006: Wetpixel Welcomes Wags As A Video Moderator ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2011: Hdvunderwater A New Site For Sharing Underwater Videos ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2011: Exmouth Navy Pier Ningaloo On Divefilm Hd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 3, 2008: 2008 9th Annual San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 2, 2007: A Photo Pro In Action By Wags ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2005: Amphibico Phenom Fx1 Video Samples ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 10, 2006: Wetpixel Welcomes Wags As A Video Moderator ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 11, 2006: Amphibico Phenom Hdv Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2006: Wags Hdv Demo Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 16, 2006: Amphibicos Evo Pro Hd Underwater Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2006: Canopus Edius 4 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2006: Dvexpo West 2006 Official Wetpixel Coverage3 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 2, 2007: A Photo Pro In Action By Wags ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 3, 2008: 2008 9th Annual San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition Coverage ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2010: Amphibicos Pre Production 95 Degree Evo Port Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 18, 2011: Hdvunderwater A New Site For Sharing Underwater Videos ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2011: Exmouth Navy Pier Ningaloo On Divefilm Hd ↩
- Amphibico Phenom FX1 video samples (2005) (article) ↩
- Wetpixel welcomes Wags as video moderator (2006) (article) ↩
- Amphibico Phenom HDV Housing Review (2006) (article) ↩
- Wags’ HDV demo video (2006) (article) ↩
- Amphibico EVO PRO HD Housing Review (2006) (article) ↩
- Canopus EDIUS Pro 4 review (2006) (article) ↩
- DVExpo West 2006 coverage (2006) (article) ↩
- A photo pro in action, by Wags (2007) (article) ↩
- 9th Annual San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition (2008) (article) ↩
- Amphibico 95-degree EVO port review (2010) (article) ↩
- HDVUnderwater launch (2011) (article) ↩
- Exmouth Navy Pier on DiveFilm HD (2011) (article) ↩