FROM THE EDITOR

How magical is it that with just a small handheld contraption, we are able to make a fleeting moment last a lifetime? It is indeed true what they say: A picture does speak a thousand words. In just a split second, we’re able to capture the purest and most authentic moments in life and make them permanent. And then, we can forever enjoy the opportunity to look back on them and re-examine life’s biggest and smallest of moments.

And yet, the most beautiful photographs are not those that have the most fascinating subject, most compelling composition, or most perfect light, but rather, it’s the picture that is able to tell a story the moment you lay your eyes on it. Like the famous American photographer Irving Penn once said, “A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.”

And that was the genius of legendary underwater photographer Ernest H. Brooks II.

Ernie was able to showcase our ocean, and everything that lingered underwater, in its purest and most natural form, in simple and timeless black and white. He told stories through the images he captured, inspiring and influencing the lives of all those around him. He was an extraordinary individual that lived his life with exceptional generosity and wisdom, and his passion and love for the ocean could be felt through his incredible monochrome works of art. Ernie understood the importance of trying to understand Earth’s most mysterious realm – the ocean – and you could see that in the photos he took. When he passed away in November last year, Ernie left behind a phenomenal artistic legacy.

In this issue of Scuba Diver OCEAN PLANET, we are paying tribute to our beloved Ernie, both the man and his work. Showcasing his iconic black and white photos, alongside just some of the countless underwater photographers that he has influenced over the years, we celebrate the impact Ernie has had on underwater photography, how we view the ocean and art, and how we view ourselves.