EVENT COVERAGE 2024 | LITTLE CAYMAN
SHOOTOUT LIFE
OUR OCEAN-LOVING COMMUNITY
In addition to the wealth of knowledge and experience shared at The Digital Shootout, the other thing that stands out is the camaraderie. This community of folks is passionate about the ocean, wants to level-up their underwater imaging skills, and has a ton of fun doing it.
This year’s group of attendees included more young people than ever before, injecting their infectious positivity and youthful energy daily. It was a very special experience to have young and not-so-young ocean lovers learn together and share information.
Harper Altschul, one of this year’s Gen Z participants, said it best, “The ocean needs protection as it has been devolving rapidly due to human impact. People will only protect what they are passionate about.”
DIVE BOATS
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.
THE CAMERAS UNDERWATER
LEARNING IS FUN!
With 25 unique, professionally presented seminars, the teaching pros at The Digital Shootout share their wealth of knowledge in shooting techniques, editing techniques and creative endeavors in the classroom.
Additionally, the Creative Cave offers drop-in assistance in a small group or one-on-one setting. Q&A sprout up organically during meals, on the boats, at the pool and around the bar! Always learning, always fun!
The Digital Shootout is proud to support the Our World Underwater – Paul Schutt Underwater Photography Internship. Learn more about the internship program.
PAUL L. SCHUTT UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNSHIP
OWEN BORNHORST
2024 Intern
A few weeks ago, my experience as an underwater photographer had strictly been from behind a GoPro. While I still believe it is one of the best underwater cameras out there, I believed I had reached a point where it was time to upgrade. Thanks to the team at Backscatter, I was able to explore a whole new realm of what is possible with underwater photography and videography. As Our World Underwater Scholar Society’s 2024 Paul L. Schutt Underwater Photography Intern, the first part of my internship began with the Digital Shootout in Little Cayman, hosted by Backscatter. At this incredible event, top brands in underwater imaging including Isotta, Nauticam and Pegasus Thrusters, as well as world-renowned experts in underwater photo and video, come together to not only educate other photographers but also to create a community of people passionate about the underwater world.
From the moment I arrived in Little Cayman, I knew I was someplace special. Immediately upon my arrival, I was connected with the incredible teams from Backscatter, Isotta and Nauticam. With their help and equipment, I was able to set up an underwater videography rig using my own topside camera, the Nikon Z6II. Bringing that camera underwater had been a dream of mine for as long as I had had it and thanks to Team Isotta, it had become reality. Jumping in the water for the first time with the camera rig l had dreamed of using was an unforgettable experience. Being able to capture the vibrant coral reefs in such incredible detail was completely surreal and it was only day two! Each day was spent diving in the morning followed by classes and then a nightly critique or presentation from the professionals. As an aspiring filmmaker and photographer, I was living the dream. I would come back from diving each day eager to show what I had captured and get the much-needed feedback on what to improve upon. Over the course of the first week, I learned more about underwater videography and storytelling than I had in my entire life.
With new-found knowledge and the equipment to accompany it, I was able to elevate my underwater cinematography skills exponentially. Getting feedback and advice from the professionals was enlightening. I began diving in a totally different manner. Before I was jumping in and taking off trying to capture as much of the reef as possible, but now I saw the beauty in slowing down and trying to fully capture individual stories within the coral reef scape. I was even able to experiment with high performance cinema cameras like the Canon R5c and incredible lenses like Nauticam’s EMWL. Capturing the same underwater environment from so many different viewpoints completely changes the possibilities of underwater storytelling and it is all made possible by innovators like them. Watching back my footage from day one, I can hardly believe that it’s the same person behind the camera on day thirteen.
Although I learned a lot in the classroom, I found the most impactful part of the Shootout was being surrounded by such an inspiring group of individuals. Hearing diving and photography stories from both professionals and other guests alike was awe inspiring and further fueled my passion to not only see more of the wonderful world beneath our oceans but capture its beauty as well. Every other night, everyone would submit videos and photographs they had captured over the course of the trip to showcase for critique by the experts. Not only did this help to fine tune my own technical skills behind the camera but also sparked so much inspiration. You can give fifty people the same camera in the exact same place, but you will never get back fifty of the same images. These critiques allowed me to take a look at the reefs from perspectives totally unique to my own, igniting waves of new ideas for how to capture Little Cayman’s incredible environment. Even outside of photography and videography, the incredible community of people that come together for the Digital Shootout was truly something to cherish, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been welcomed in.
Looking back on the two weeks of the Shootout, I can honestly say that the Digital Shootout changed my life. Seeing everyone else’s growth over the two weeks was equally as rewarding as my own. Not only did I capture footage I can confidently say is my best, but I also learned how to make it into a meaningful story. Before this event, following my dreams of becoming a wildlife filmmaker felt like a distant dream. Thanks to the help of everyone at the Shootout, professionals and amateurs alike, I can genuinely say that it feels more possible than ever. To everyone on my dive boat, a special thanks for making the start of my internship so unforgettable. To the Teams of Isotta and Nauticam, thank you for believing in and entrusting me with the incredible equipment you produce. I will forever be grateful to Backscatter for putting together such an incredible event and community to inspire the next generation of underwater photographers and storytellers.
