jimknowlton.com bio

Jim loves to venture deep into the ocean with his cameras to capture images that he hopes will inspire people to appreciate and protect the underwater world.

Since 1999, Jim has worked with Ocean Futures Society, shooting and editing PSAs, conservation films and adventure television promos.

Prior to joining Ocean Futures, Jim shot and edited shark documentaries for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Jim worked and traveled with a small team to highlight the most interesting stories on shark behavior, natural history and conservation.

Jim’s images also appear in magazines such as Audubon, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Kids, in the LA Times, and in books for the Blue Planet, Monterey Bay Aquarium and in the prestigeous Pew Ocean Commissions' Summary Report and their report on Marine Reserves. His images are marketed and sold on AGPix.com, SeaPics.com and OceanFootage.com.

After graduating from UCSB in 1988 with a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography, Jim worked for four years as a dive boat Captain and for five years as an environmental consultant in Santa Barbara, California.

He has been fortunate to dive many locations around the world and believes that creating marine protected areas is one of the best ways to ensure that healthier oceans are preserved for future generations.

Non-Broadcast Production Credits Include:

Sustainable Reefs: A Gift to the Future (2003). A 20 minute film about the beauty and fragility coral reefs, and ways to help save them. This film, edited by Jim for Ocean Futures, will be translated into 12 languages and distributed freely throughout 17 Pacific Island Nations.

Goleta Outfall Video (2002). Jim shot and edited this short film for Heal the Ocean, a non-profit organization in Santa Barbara, California. The film shows what is being pumped out of a wastewater treatment pipeline just one mile from a popular beach and surf break. The video has played in numerous public hearings and helped HTO to promote cleaner ocean water.

Science Projects in the Channel islands National Marine Sactuary (2001). Jim edited this 7 minute video about different science projects for the Channel Islands National Marine Sactuary. It is used to show how different projects help Santuary Managers learn about and manage Sanctuary resources.

Production Credits Include:

Beyond Bizarre: The Mystery of Rock Lake. Underwater cameraman. Discovery Channel, 2000.

Spanish Dance. An underwater musical adventure edited to Tchaichovsky. Editor. Classics Arts Channel, 2000.

Animal Rescue Kids: “Shark”. Underwater cameraman. Discovery Channel. 1999.

Sharks in a Desert Sea. Underwater cameraman and production manager. Discovery Channel, 1999.

Sharks of the Deep Blue. Underwater cameraman, editor, production manager. Discovery Channel, 1999.

Sharks of the Atlantic. Underwater cameraman, online editor, production manager. Discovery Channel, 1998.

Great White: In Search of the Giants. Online editor, production manager. Discovery Channel, 1998.

Shark Attack Files II. Sound effects editor. Discovery Channel, 1997.

E-Mail: info@jimknowlton.com