News

The Digital Shootout, the premier event on the underwater imaging calendar, returned to Little Cayman last month and full coverage is now live on www.thedigitalshootout.com.

The workshop—now in its 21st year—saw guests from around the world join staff for another fortnight of epic dives (courtesy of Little Cayman Beach Resort) as well as learning seminars and inspirational presentations. Naturally, with the event being hosted by underwater imaging retailer Backscatter, participants once again got their hands on the latest cameras, housings, strobes, lights and accessories. Of course, there was also an opportunity for some friendly competition—and the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Check out the detailed press release below summarizing the various sections of the online coverage: Shootout Life, Gear Tests, and Contest Results. To reserve your spot for next year’s event in Bonaire (June 14th–28th, 2025), head over to the Digital Shootout registration page.
 

PRESS RELEASE

THE WORLD’S BEST UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

The Digital Shootout is the pinnacle of underwater photography workshops. For two weeks, underwater photographers from Baby Boomers to Gen Z unite to scuba dive, improve their in-camera shooting skills and editing skills, try the latest in underwater imaging equipment and have the most fun anyone can have during a working vacation. Dive. Shoot. Learn. Repeat.
 

Learning – The Core Mission of the Digital Shootout

With some of the most talented underwater photographers in the industry on the Shootout staff, the sharing of their knowledge is unsurpassed in the 25 unique seminars offered. A guest-to-staff ratio of 4:1 provides learning not only in the classroom, but also on the boats, during meals, by the pool and in the Creative Cave, the drop-in help center.

And it wouldn’t be the Digital Shootout without a friendly competition at the end of the two-week bootcamp, where the best underwater stills and videos captured during the event are awarded amazing prizes.
 

Seminars and education sessions are the main draw during the Digital Shootout
 

The Digital Shootout provides invaluable opportunities to learn from the pros

Demo Gear in the House

The Digital Shootout is the only event on the planet where you can demo the latest and greatest underwater imaging gear… for free. Backscatter, Nauticam, Isotta and Pegasus Thruster literally hauled tons of gear down to Little Cayman, accompanied by their representatives, to provide an unmatched demo gear experience.
 

Participants were among the first to try out Backscatter’s brand new Hybrid Flash HF-1—with a wide variety of different diffusers
 

Nauticam’s catalog includes housings for every conceivable camera, from compacts to cinema cameras, as well as a range of high-quality optics that offer unrivaled flexibility and unique perspectives
 

The unmistakable bright red of Isotta’s beautiful made-in-Italy housings was everywhere at the Digital Shootout!

View Photo and Video Tests of the Latest Cameras and Accessories

The Digital Shootout is the perfect opportunity for the industry pros to test and review the latest in underwater imaging gear. Not only will they push all the buttons and turn all the dials, but they will also put the gear through everyday, real-life diving scenarios to see how it measures up. Click an icon below or visit the Gear Tests page to see sample content and reviews:
 

A Day In The Life at the Digital Shootout

Experience the diving, the learning, and the camaraderie shared by this amazing group of passionate image-makers by checking out the Shootout Life section of the site:
 

Day In The Life at the Digital Shootout 2024

Our Friendly Competition

While the Shootout is a learning event with emphasis on improving underwater shooting and editing techniques, the event organizers, Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo and Under Exposures, manage to gather some very cool prizes to give away in the friendly competition. Regardless of whether or not your images won a prize, congratulations to all of this year’s participants for your hard work and improvement shown during the Shootout! Each of you created captivating, artistic ocean images to be proud of, and you are all winners!

See the complete contest results and all photo and video submissions on the Contest Results page.
 

Jim Watt Best of Show Award and Wide Angle Traditional winner – Leland Jansen
 

Wide Angle Unrestricted Winner – Mako McLean
 

Macro Traditional winner – Greg Sherman
 

Macro Unrestricted winner – Leland Jansen
 

Compact winner – Ann Donahue
 

Cinematic Short Story winner – Jennifer Lu
 

Social Media Story winner – Harper Altschul

Join Us Next Year in Bonaire

The next Digital Shootout will be held in Bonaire from June 14–28, 2025.

Registration for the event is open at: https://www.thedigitalshootout.com/registration/