photobeat

Forum username: photobeat
Posts: 364
Active years: 2005–2009
Primary forums: Photography Gear and Technique, Photo/Video Showcase, General Chat
Specialization: Nikon DSLR photography, wildlife/shark photography, housing comparisons

Community Role

photobeat was an enthusiastic and prolific Wetpixel member from late 2005 through mid-2009, contributing 364 posts during a highly active four-year period. A transitioning film shooter who came from the Nikonos V and 15mm lens era, he brought a newcomer’s perspective to the digital DSLR revolution in underwater photography. His posts combined genuine curiosity about gear selection with vivid trip reports and expedition accounts.

He shot a Nikon D100 in an Aquatica housing with a 17-55mm lens for wide-angle work. Despite describing his setup as “ancient” compared to other shooters’ Seacam and Light & Motion rigs, he produced quality results and was a passionate participant in the community (^[1]).

Notable Contributions

• “Ikelite Housings Vs the rest” (29 replies): Started a foundational discussion in November 2005 comparing Ikelite housings against aluminum alternatives for the Nikon D100. Coming from the Nikonos V era, he sought community guidance on whether the significantly cheaper Ikelite housing was a viable choice. The thread drew responses from David Haas of Ikelite and Luiz Rocha, generating a balanced comparison of price, weight, ergonomics, and port systems that became a valuable reference for newcomers (^[2]).

• “Guadalupe White Shark Expedition 2006” (16 replies): Wrote one of Wetpixel’s most detailed and personal expedition reports, describing a shark photography trip to Guadalupe Island aboard the Solmar V with Norbert Wu and Eric Cheng. His account provided vivid descriptions of both photographers at work — praising Eric’s fast, efficient editing style (“like watching a concert pianist perform”) and Norbert’s thoughtful mentorship. He documented practical shooting techniques learned from observing the professionals, including shooting upward through cage bars rather than at eye level. The report also candidly described challenges including seasickness, limited shark action on some days, and equipment limitations (^[3]).

• “Nitrox Question” (16 replies): Started a discussion on diving gas mixtures, showing engagement with diving technique beyond just photography (^[4]).

• “10.5 DX correction — best software” (11 replies): Started a thread about software options for correcting Nikon 10.5mm fisheye distortion, a common workflow topic for underwater wide-angle shooters (^[5]).

Activity Profile

photobeat was most active from 2005 through 2007, with a gap in 2008 before final posts in May 2009. He started 40 threads and contributed 364 posts. He was mentioned in one Wetpixel article and left 10 article comments, reflecting engagement with both community discussions and editorial content. His discussions spanned housing selection, lens correction software, dive techniques, and expedition reports, painting a picture of a well-rounded underwater photography enthusiast who valued learning from more experienced shooters.