Above Left 1961 Sea of Cortés , Mexico , Ernest with Gene Cornelius , preparing to dive with a current meter
Above Right : 1962 Santa Cruz Island , California , Part of a study by the Dillingham Corporation into high-output lighting systems with special signature wavelength patterns to optimise light penetration aboard early submersible vehicles working at great depths
Top Right : 1983 Santa Barbara , California , International Divers ’ helmets
The underwater world is full of colour . But you choose to stay with black and white . What does this add to your images that colour cannot ? The majority of my images are exposed just with ambient light in black and white . For me this creates an image with a timeless statement that bears no date . The delicate shades that grey creates have the ability to capture a sense of wonderment or freeze action in the contrasts between highlight and shadows . This grace , beauty and simplicity creates perfection and a lasting impression on the viewer .
Some of your most iconic images are the black and white wide-angle shots of kelp forests and swarming schools of fish . Do you plan these shots ? Preparation is key . Appreciating the fact that I had only 10 exposures to capture the one exact moment , that became my method underwater – waiting for that moment when all the elements came together in one singular frame . With full frame the joy is discovering that your point of view is the same as your camera ’ s . If you want a wideangle then back up ; if you want a medium shot , just get closer . You can probably tell
that I was raised with a 4x5 view camera with one lens .
Your résumé includes a long list of awards . Is there one that is close to your heart ? They are all so very touching – each one is a treasure . As it seems , the most recent is remembered in a special way . Being the first to receive the Hans Hass Diving to Adventure Award , presented in Dusseldorf by Hans Hass , was overwhelming , as was the chance to be on stage with my earliest mentor , the very same explorer I pretended to be all those years ago . Other highlights that come to mind include being named “ Legend of the Sea ” at the 2012 Beneath the Sea . Of course , nothing is quite the same as being immortalised in stone : In 2011 , the sculptor Viktor unveiled a larger-than-life granite bust , which now stands watch at the Maritime Museum in Santa Barbara .
In the age of digital photography , you stick with a large format Hasselblad . What is it about this camera that you love ? Victor Hasselblad presented me with his favourite in 1961 , the 38mm SW with a 70mm back . After 40 years of use without ever changing the O-rings , aperture , shutter
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