Scott Gietler
Role: underwater photography retailer, publisher, competition organizer, photographer, judge, author
First appearance: 2010 ([1])
Affiliation: Bluewater Photo; Underwater Photography Guide; Ocean Art competition; Bluewater Travel
Location: Culver City / Santa Monica, California
Biography
Scott Gietler is the founder and owner of Bluewater Photo, a dedicated underwater photography and video retail store based in Southern California, and the publisher of the Underwater Photography Guide (uwphotographyguide.com). He is also the creator and organizer of the Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, one of the world’s largest underwater photo contests, and the founder of the SoCal Shootout, an annual Southern California underwater photography competition ([2]).
Gietler is the author of the “Underwater Field Guide to the Flora and Fauna of Southern California” and has contributed articles on underwater photography technique, including a review of wide-angle composition basics published in the Underwater Journal ([3], [4]).
He was named LAUPS (Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society) Photographer of the Year in 2009, and his work has been published in magazines, aquariums, coffee table books, and field guide books ([5]).
Contributions
Bluewater Photo
Gietler founded Bluewater Photo, which opened its retail location at 2501 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, California in February 2011. The store is described as “Southern California’s only dedicated underwater photography center” and carries inventory from more than 15 manufacturers, offering gear for every need and budget ranging from inexpensive point-and-shoot setups to professional DSLR systems and video housings. The store also offers rental systems, monthly underwater/nature/beginner photography classes, and local and international trips ([6]).
Bluewater Photo was co-founded with professional underwater photographer Mark Strickland and photographer Todd Winner ([7]). The store appeared at the Beneath the Sea 2011 trade show in New Jersey, where attendee Drew Wohl noted he “recognized his name immediately from being a member here at WP [Wetpixel].” At BTS, Bluewater exhibited Recsea housings, Light & Motion, Sea & Sea, Seacam, and Dyron products ([8]).
In addition to retail, Bluewater Photo became a sponsor for international competitions such as the Deep Visions contest, offering a $1,000 voucher as a prize ([9]). The company also launched monthly themed photo contests on Facebook in March 2011 ([10]).
Bluewater Photo later expanded into Bluewater Travel, a dedicated scuba travel agency that organizes group trips to international dive destinations. By the 2020s, Gietler’s title in press releases was regularly given as “Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel owner and Underwater Photography Guide publisher” ([11]). Mike Bartick of Crystal Blue Resort in Anilao credited Gietler with helping build the resort’s international clientele: “a good friend of mine, Scott Gietler at Bluewater Photo, he started bringing groups” ([12]).
By 2022, Nirupam Nigam had joined as “Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and a partner in Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel” ([13]).
Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition
Gietler created the Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition through the Underwater Photography Guide. The first edition was announced in August 2010 as the “first annual Ocean Art photographic competition” with $62,000 worth of prizes, 11 categories including novice DSLR and compact camera categories, and judges including Martin Edge, Chris Newbert, Marty Snyderman, and Bonnie Pelnar ([14]).
The inaugural 2010 competition awarded $67,000 in prizes. Keri Wilk won Best of Show. Judges were Chris Newbert, Martin Edge, Marty Snyderman, and Bonnie Pelnar ([15]).
The competition grew rapidly:
- Ocean Art 2011 (2nd annual): Over $82,000 in prizes, 12 categories, entrants from over 50 countries. Tobias Friedrich won Best of Show with “Manta Madness.” Judges: Marty Snyderman, Bonnie Pelnar, Martin Edge, and Tony Wu ([16]).
- Ocean Art 2013: Entrants from over 50 countries. Viktor Lyagushkin won Best of Show for an ice diving image ([17]).
- Ocean Art 2014: Over $70,000 in prizes awarded to 60 photographers. Judges: Tony Wu, Martin Edge, Marty Snyderman, and Scott Gietler. Ray Collins won Best of Show for a wave image ([18]).
- Ocean Art 2016 (6th annual): Over $75,000 in prizes to 95 photographers, entrants from over 60 countries. 16 categories. Matty Smith won Best of Show. Partnered with Reef Check Foundation as non-profit partner ([19]).
- Ocean Art 2018 (7th annual): Over $80,000 in prizes, entrants from 70 countries. Duncan Murrell won Best of Show. Added new “Underwater Art” category ([20]).
- Ocean Art 2019 (8th annual): Greg Lecoeur won Best of Show with an Antarctic crabeater seal image ([21]).
- Ocean Art 2020 (9th annual): Held despite COVID-19 pandemic. Gaetano Dario Gargiulo won Best of Show. The competition helped raise money for the WHO and CDC during the pandemic. Entries from 80 countries. Gietler commented: “The Ocean Art team was thrilled to see that so many photographers were able to get out, dive, and immerse themselves in photography this year” ([22]).
- Ocean Art 2021 (10th annual): Luc Rooman won Best of Show with an image of two pikes ([23]).
- Ocean Art 2022: Kat Zhou won Best of Show. Entries from 96 countries. Debuted a new Mobile Phone category ([24]).
Gietler served as a judge alongside Tony Wu, Martin Edge, and Marty Snyderman for multiple editions from 2014 onward ([25], [26], [27]). Mark Strickland replaced Martin Edge as a judge in later years ([28], [29]).
SoCal Shootout
Gietler founded the SoCal Shootout (originally the “South California Shootout”) through Bluewater Photo. The first edition was held September 16—18, 2011, open to any diver shooting south of Point Conception, California to the Mexico border, with over $16,000 in prizes across 9 categories for DSLR, compact, and video. Gietler stated: “We hope that divers in LA, OC, San Diego and Santa Barbara counties will come out and dive their local boats, beaches and the Casino Point dive park, shooting great images and video to share with the world. We plan to make this event bigger every year” ([30]).
Nayan Savla won the inaugural Best of Shootout. Judges included Andy Sallmon, Todd Winner, Richard Salas, and Mark Strickland ([31]).
The competition grew into an annual tradition:
- 2012 (2nd annual): Patrick Smith won Best of Shootout with a Mola mola image. Gietler served as a judge alongside Andy Sallmon, Todd Winner, Mark Strickland, Roger Carlson, and Jim Lyle ([32]).
- 2013 (3rd annual): 18-year-old Nirupam Nigam won Best of Shootout, attracting over 70 photographers. Over $15,000 in prizes ([33]).
- 2014 (4th annual): Over $14,000 in prizes. Entry fee $40 ([34]).
- 2015 (5th annual): Added mirrorless categories ([35]).
- 2016 (6th annual): Over $22,000 in prizes. Gietler judged alongside Mark Strickland and Andy Sallmon ([36]).
- 2017 (7th annual): Over $20,000 in prizes. Helen Brierley won Best in Show. Judged by Andy Sallmon and Scott Gietler ([37]).
- 2018 (8th annual): Record-breaking prizes exceeding $25,000. Josh Musselwhite won Best in Show. A key feature of the competition was that “major editing is not allowed, so the competition truly tests their abilities to capture stunning imagery in-camera” ([38]).
Underwater Photography Guide
Gietler published the Underwater Photography Guide (uwphotographyguide.com), an online resource for underwater photographers that served as the organizing body for the Ocean Art competition. He contributed educational content, including a review of wide-angle composition basics in the Underwater Journal issue 19 ([39]).
Community Building
Gietler was active in the California diving community, promoting local dive boats and dive sites through magazine articles, classes, and workshops ([40]). He was recognized as a Wetpixel community member, with Drew Wohl noting at Beneath the Sea 2011 that he “recognized his name immediately from being a member here at WP” ([41]). He was photographed with Nauticam’s Ryan Canon at DEMA 2019, reflecting his industry relationships ([42]).
Timeline
- 2009: Named LAUPS (Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society) Photographer of the Year ([43])
- 2010-08: Announced the first Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition via the Underwater Photography Guide, with $62,000 in prizes and 11 categories ([44])
- 2010-12: Ocean Art 2010 winners announced; $67,000 in prizes awarded. Keri Wilk won Best of Show ([45])
- 2011-01: Contributed a review of wide-angle composition basics to Underwater Journal issue 19 ([46])
- 2011-02: Bluewater Photo grand opening event at 2501 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica; over $3,300 in gear and boat trips raffled ([47])
- 2011-03: Bluewater Photo launches monthly Facebook photo contests ([48])
- 2011-03: Exhibited at Beneath the Sea 2011 in New Jersey, showing Recsea, Dyron, and other products ([49])
- 2011-07: Announced first SoCal Shootout (September 16—18, 2011) with over $16,000 in prizes ([50])
- 2011-08: Launched Ocean Art 2011 (2nd annual) with $75,000+ in prizes and 12 categories ([51])
- 2011-10: First SoCal Shootout results: Nayan Savla won Best of Shootout ([52])
- 2011-12: Ocean Art 2011 results: Tobias Friedrich won Best of Show; $82,000+ in prizes to 52 photographers from 50+ countries ([53])
- 2012-10: SoCal Shootout 2012 results: Patrick Smith won Best of Shootout. Gietler served as judge ([54])
- 2013-09: SoCal Shootout 2013: 18-year-old Nirupam Nigam won Best of Shootout, competing against 70+ photographers ([55])
- 2013-12: Ocean Art 2013 results: Viktor Lyagushkin won Best of Show ([56])
- 2014-08: SoCal Shootout 4th annual announced; $14,000+ in prizes ([57])
- 2015-01: Ocean Art 2014 results: Ray Collins won Best of Show; $70,000 in prizes to 60 photographers. Gietler served as judge ([58])
- 2015-08: SoCal Shootout 5th annual; added mirrorless categories ([59])
- 2016-01: Ocean Art 2015 results: Jeff Milisen won Best of Show ([60])
- 2016-08: SoCal Shootout 6th annual; $22,000+ in prizes ([61])
- 2017-01: Ocean Art 2016 (6th annual) results: Matty Smith won Best of Show; $75,000 in prizes to 95 photographers from 60+ countries. Reef Check Foundation partnership announced ([62])
- 2017-09: SoCal Shootout 2017: Helen Brierley won Best in Show; $20,000+ in prizes ([63])
- 2018-09: SoCal Shootout 2018 (8th annual): Josh Musselwhite won Best in Show; record $25,000+ in prizes ([64])
- 2019-01: Ocean Art 2018 (7th annual) results: Duncan Murrell won Best of Show; $80,000+ in prizes from 70 countries ([65])
- 2019-11: Photographed with Nauticam’s Ryan Canon at DEMA Show 2019 ([66])
- 2020-01: Ocean Art 2019 results: Greg Lecoeur won Best of Show ([67])
- 2021-01: Ocean Art 2020 (9th annual) results: Gaetano Dario Gargiulo won Best of Show; entries from 80 countries despite COVID-19 pandemic ([68])
- 2022-01: Ocean Art 2021 results: Luc Rooman won Best of Show ([69])
- 2023-01: Ocean Art 2022 results: Kat Zhou won Best of Show; entries from 96 countries; new Mobile Phone category debuted ([70])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2010: Call For Entries Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2011: Underwater Journal Issue 19 Available For Download ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2011: Beneath The Sea 2011 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2011: Bluewater Photo Launches Monthly Photo Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2011: Bluewater Photo Launches Monthly Photo Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2021: Ocean Art 2020 Results ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 6, 2019: Conversations With Underwater Photographers Mike Bartick By Henley Spiers ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 17, 2023: Results Ocean Art 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2010: Call For Entries Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2010: Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 13, 2011: Winners Of Ocean Art 2011 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2013: Results Ocean Art Contest 2013 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2015: 2014 Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2017: 2016 Ocean Art Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2019: Results Ocean Art 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2020: Results Ocean Art 20191 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2021: Ocean Art 2020 Results ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 20, 2022: Results Ocean Art 2021 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 17, 2023: Results Ocean Art 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2015: 2014 Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2017: 2016 Ocean Art Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2019: Results Ocean Art 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2021: Ocean Art 2020 Results ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 17, 2023: Results Ocean Art 2022 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 26, 2011: Call For Entries South California Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 5, 2011: Results Of The Socal Shootout Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 2, 2012: Socal Shootout Results Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2013: Results Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: Announcing The Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2015: Bluewater Photo Announces The Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2016: Cal For Entries 2016 Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 18, 2017: Winners Of The 2017 Socal Shootout Have Been Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2018: Results 2018 Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2011: Underwater Journal Issue 19 Available For Download ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2011: Beneath The Sea 2011 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2019: Report Dema 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2010: Call For Entries Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2010: Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2011: Underwater Journal Issue 19 Available For Download ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2011: Bluewater Photo Opening Event ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 22, 2011: Bluewater Photo Launches Monthly Photo Contest ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2011: Beneath The Sea 2011 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 26, 2011: Call For Entries South California Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 9, 2011: Call For Entries 2011 Ocean Art Photo Competition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 5, 2011: Results Of The Socal Shootout Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 13, 2011: Winners Of Ocean Art 2011 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 2, 2012: Socal Shootout Results Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2013: Results Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2013: Results Ocean Art Contest 2013 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2014: Announcing The Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2015: 2014 Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2015: Bluewater Photo Announces The Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 6, 2016: Results Ocean Art 2015 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2016: Cal For Entries 2016 Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2017: 2016 Ocean Art Winners Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 18, 2017: Winners Of The 2017 Socal Shootout Have Been Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2018: Results 2018 Socal Shootout ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2019: Results Ocean Art 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2019: Report Dema 2019 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2020: Results Ocean Art 20191 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2021: Ocean Art 2020 Results ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 20, 2022: Results Ocean Art 2021 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 17, 2023: Results Ocean Art 2022 ↩
- Call for entries: Ocean Art Underwater photo competition (article) ↩
- Ocean Art competition winners announced (article) ↩
- Underwater Journal issue 19 available (article) ↩
- Bluewater Photo hosts opening event (article) ↩
- Bluewater Photo launches monthly photo contest (article) ↩
- Beneath the Sea 2011 (article) ↩
- Call for entries: South California Shootout (article) ↩
- Call for entries: 2011 Ocean Art Photo Competition (article) ↩
- Results of the SoCal Shootout announced (article) ↩
- Winners of Ocean Art 2011 announced (article) ↩
- SoCal Shootout results announced (article) ↩
- Results: SoCal Shootout (article) ↩
- Results: Ocean Art contest 2013 (article) ↩
- Announcing the SoCal Shootout (article) ↩
- 2014 Ocean Art Competition winners announced (article) ↩
- Bluewater Photo announces the SoCal Shootout (article) ↩
- Results: Ocean Art 2015 (article) ↩
- Call for entries: 2016 SoCal Shootout (article) ↩
- 2016 Ocean Art Winners announced (article) ↩
- Winners of the 2017 SoCal Shootout (article) ↩
- Results: Ocean Art 2019 (article) ↩
- Conversations with Underwater Photographers: Mike Bartick (article) ↩
- Results: 2018 SoCal Shootout (article) ↩
- Report: DEMA 2019 (article) ↩
- Results: Ocean Art 2019 (article) ↩
- Ocean Art 2020: Results (article) ↩
- Results: Ocean Art 2021 (article) ↩
- Results: Ocean Art 2022 (article) ↩