scubamoose

Forum username: Scubamoose
Real name: Karel
Posts: 1,048
Active years: 2008—2011
Primary forums: Photo/Video Showcase, General Chat, Shooting Technique/Workflow/Editing, Photography Gear and Technique
Specialization: Macro photography, cold-water diving (Norway), compact camera systems

Biography

Karel, known on Wetpixel as “scubamoose,” was a compact camera underwater photographer based in Norway who contributed over 1,000 posts across a concentrated four-year period (2008—2011). He was notable for producing praised macro imagery using a Canon G9 point-and-shoot camera, demonstrating that compelling underwater photographs could be made without expensive DSLR equipment.

Karel attended commercial diving school in Norway and divided his time between professional diving and underwater photography as a passion pursuit (^[1]). He lived in northern Norway, where the early darkness allowed for “night dives almost after lunch” during winter months (^[2]).

Community Role

scubamoose was a highly active and well-liked member of the Wetpixel community, with 59% of his thread participation in the Photo/Video Showcase forum. He regularly shared his work and provided positive, constructive feedback to other photographers. Community members consistently noted his generosity in commenting on others’ work — as one member put it, “You have always a kind word for everybody” (^[3]).

His posting style was enthusiastic and self-deprecating, with characteristic misspellings and idiosyncratic phrasing that endeared him to the community. He signed posts as “Karel” and frequently used greetings like “Hi gang!” and “Cheers.”

Notable Contributions

Cold-Water Norway Photography

Karel produced a substantial body of underwater photography from the coastal waters of Norway, an unusual shooting location within the predominantly tropical-focused Wetpixel community. His “My Best from Norway” showcase (November 2009) featured images shot at commercial diving school, earning praise from Mike Veitch and other established photographers for creative lighting technique (^[4]).

In November 2011, he posted a series titled “Under my balkony…” showing macro subjects photographed literally beneath his apartment balcony in northern Norway, demonstrating the marine life accessible within 10 meters of his living room (^[5]). Alex Mustard commented on the shared experience of early winter darkness enabling convenient night diving (^[6]).

Macro Photography

Karel had a particular talent for lighting and macro composition, earning consistent praise for his directional strobe technique using a single Ikelite DS-160 strobe. His “Hermit crab shootout” (April 2010) showcased a focused project photographing hermit crabs with dramatic dark backgrounds, with the community praising the lighting and character of his images (^[7]).

His “Long wayted first encounter” thread (November 2010) documented his first-ever nudibranch sighting — Dendronotus frondosus, one of Norway’s largest nudibranchs — after years of diving without encountering one. The images received enthusiastic response, with members noting his effective use of snooting techniques (^[8]).

Practical Gear Discussions

Karel started a practical thread about connecting camera rigs to BCDs for safety, which generated useful community advice about lanyard and clip systems for securing underwater camera equipment during dives (^[9]).

Equipment

• Camera: Canon G9 (compact point-and-shoot)
• Strobe: Ikelite DS-160
• Noted for: Achieving professional-quality macro results with a compact system

Activity Profile

• Peak years: 2009—2011
• Forum focus: Photo/Video Showcase (59%), General Chat (12%), Shooting Technique (8%), Photography Gear (5%)
• Threads started: 31
• Activity score: 1,141

Personal Life

Karel had a family with a new baby as of late 2011, which contributed to his reduced diving and posting activity. He mentioned moving to Norway for the winter season (^[10]). His forum activity ceased in December 2011.

Timeline

• 2008-10: First appearance on Wetpixel forums
• 2009-03: Started thread on rig-to-BCD attachment methods (^[11])
• 2009-11: Posted “My Best from Norway” showcase from diving school (^[12])
• 2010-04: Shared “Hermit crab shootout” macro series (^[13])
• 2010-11: Documented first nudibranch encounter in Norway (^[14])
• 2011-11: Posted “Under my balkony” cold-water macro series (^[15])
• 2011-12: Last recorded forum activity