FOREWORD
Photography affords us the tools to sculpt with light , to paint with textures and shapes and to write volumes into a single image – creating indelible , lasting impressions of where we have been , who we really are and where our future may take us
ERNEST H . BROOKS II
PORTFOLIO OF A PIONEER
I met Ernie at the DEMA Show in Las Vegas in 2012 . We talked about our many shared interests : art , the ocean , conservation . He has inspired me since that day , with his passion , his insights and his incomparable art . Like so many others who had the opportunity to hear him speak , I was drawn to this wise , warmhearted gentleman , and I was extremely touched by how he gave back to the ocean .
He told me that everyone is connected to the ocean , and he was very keen to be a part of what we do in Asia . He enthusiastically agreed to be a guest of honour at ADEX 2013 , as well as accepting an appointment to the advisory board of the Historical Diving Society ( Asia ). He would come back for our event in Singapore for many years . In 2018 , ADEX was dedicated to sharks , and he graciously allowed us to use one of his most iconic shark images ( which you ’ ll find on the cover and in the pages of this magazine ). That same year , the last year he came to the show , we honoured Ernie as an ADEX Ambassador ( Emeritus ).
While he had no intention to teach , Ernie was my mentor . His passion and his love for the ocean have been my inspiration , guiding me in my way of thinking until today . He will always remain close to my heart , and he will continue to inspire me as he has inspired so many underwater photographers from around the world . Thus , this edition is our collective tribute to Ernie , our celebration of his life and work , communicated through the dedications and images of underwater photographers who have been touched by this great man . Thank you Ernie . We will miss you .
One Ocean , One Love
HE has dived all oceans of the world , from shallow to deep , sport to commercial , for research to science , optics to high resolution , film to digital and a favouring towards black and white because of the lasting and timeless expression it gives to the viewer … you !
A single photograph , entitled “ Snake River ”, was captured by Ansel Adams in 1940 . The image presents all the elements : the beauty of the sky above , the powerful mountains that invite exploration and the waterway flowing to the sea .
Next to Ansel ’ s photograph is another by photographer Dorothy Kerper Monnelly , entitled “ Daybreak ”, where early morning skylight creates a reflective glow of peace to illuminate the delicate marshlands of our waterways . And next to these two remarkable photographs is a profile of a blue shark , by Ernest H . Brooks II . This one single photograph will also change the way you view all life within the sea – the power of the statement from within the beauty and evolution of this remarkable ancient creature and the struggle for continuance in our modern times .
Ernest H . Brooks II was born to be a photographer and his Portuguese ancestry brought him an affinity with the surrounding seas . The Pacific Ocean became his playground and campsite to witness the majestic Macrocystis kelp , the “ redwoods of the sea .”
His grandmother was a portrait photographer , his father a commercial photographer and his uncle a landscape photographer . Ernest followed the path of least resistance to become a spokesperson for underwater film festivals in the world .
JOHN THET Publisher , Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd CEO , Asia Dive Expo ( ADEX ) President , Media Publishers Association Singapore ( MPAS ) Founder , Underwater360 | Historical Diving Society Asia ( HDSA )
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