Primetime Emmy Award 2021 Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series – Producer
Website
brianskerry.com
Early life and educationedit
Skerry was born in Milford, Massachusetts in 1961, and grew up in Uxbridge.[1] Skerry began SCUBA diving in 1977, at 15 years old and received his first SCUBA certification in 1978. He has stated that he was drawn to the water from a very young age and was always fascinated by ocean documentaries, along with the movies Jaws (1975) and The Deep (1977)[2]
Skerry worked on a diving charter boat based on the coast of Rhode Island from 1982–1992, taking divers out to explore New Englandshipwrecks.[5] His early photography focused on marine life and shipwrecks. His first published photograph was in 1984 in The Boston Globe newspaper, an image of a shipwreck in Boston Harbor.[6] During the 1990s he published photos and wrote stories for a variety of scuba diving magazines.[7] His first book was published in 1995, Complete Wreck Diving, with co-author Henry Keatts.[8] In 1996 he was the first to photograph a living Oarfish, an animal that inspired sea serpent legends.[9] In 2015 Skerry was named a Nikon Ambassador (United States).[10]
National Geographicedit
In 1998 Skerry received his first assignment for National Geographic. In a 2021 article in The Maine Magazine, Skerry recalls Bill Curtsinger, one of the first underwater photographers, turning down a National Geographic magazine photo shoot of the 1717 pirate shipwreck Whydah Gally, buried in the sand off Cape Cod. Curtsinger turned down the job due to a scheduling conflict but put in a good word for Skerry, who in turn, took the story assignment.[11] Skerry had his photos published in the May 1999 edition of National Geographic.[12]
Secrets of the Whales was a multi-platform project Skerry created for National Geographic in 2017 about the science of whale culture. He credits the work of Canadian whale biologistShane Gero as his inspiration for this project.[32] Skerry proposed the project to National Geographic magazine, National Geographic Television and National Geographic Books and each division approved their respective project.[33]
The cover story in National Geographic magazine appeared in the May 2021 issue, written by Craig Welch and photographed by Skerry.[34] A book was published in April 2021 by National Geographic Books with the same name, written and photographed by Skerry.[35] The four part miniseries, executive produced by James Cameron and narrated by Sigourney Weaver, premiered April 22, 2021, on Disney+. Skerry produced and starred in the miniseries, as well as providing underwater cinematography.[36]
The documentary series was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. On September 19, 2021 the miniseries was a winner in the category Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series which was awarded to Skerry and the producers of the show.[37] The film was also nominated for two awards from the Online Film & Television Association for best narration and Best Cinematography in a Variety, Sketch, Nonfiction, or Reality Program.[38] At the Jackson Wild 2021 Media Awards Secrets of the Whales was awarded Winner: Limited Series[39] and at the 2021 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, Skerry was awarded the Shared Earth Foundation Award for Advocacy.[40]
Skerry is a Founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers,[47] and the Explorer-In-Residence at the New England Aquarium.[48]
Awards and recognitionedit
At the end of five hours in the cold water... I had this one chance and one frame and that one instant. I was ready. It came down to one second. That is the beauty of photography. It's a moment in time and it vanishes like a ghost but if you have a photo, you have it forever.
^"Brian Skerry: Revealing the 'Secrets of the Whales'". nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Society. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^Arnold, David (20 July 1984). "Taking a Dive Into History". Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 December 2022 – via newspapers.com.(subscription required)
^Powell, Kelly (3 July 2017). "National Geographic's Brian Skerry to talk 'connecting the dots' with underwater photography". The Chautauqua Daily. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^Keatts, Hank; Skerry, Brian (1995). Complete Wreck Diving Guide: A Guide to Diving Wrecks. ISBN 978-1-88165-230-4.
^Shuker, karl (26 December 2014). "Oarfish Origins and a Very (Un)Lickly Sea Serpent". Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^"Brian Skerry". nikonusa.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^ abFiorentino, Anna (May 2021). "The Maine Man Capturing the World's Oceans". The Maine Magazine. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
^Appennzeller, Tim (May 2009). "Leatherback Turtle". National Geographic. Vol. 215, no. 5. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 122. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^Warne, Kennedy (September 2014). "A World Apart". National Geographic. Vol. 226, no. 3. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 114. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^Eeckhout, Peter (March 2005). "Underneath Ireland". National Geographic. Vol. 207, no. 3. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 58. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^ abWarne, Kennedy (April 2007). "The Global Fish Crisis: Blue Haven". National Geographic. Vol. 211, no. 4. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 70. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)note
^Skerry, Brian (October 2012). "Amazing Mesoamerican Reef". National Geographic. Vol. 222, no. 4. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 92. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^Hodges, Glen (June 2016). "Swimming with Tigers". National Geographic. Vol. 229, no. 6. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 82. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^Vance, Erik (July 2016). "Great White Mystery". National Geographic. Vol. 230, no. 1. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 84. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^Hodges, Glen (August 2016). "The Shipwreck Shark". National Geographic. Vol. 230, no. 2. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 112. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^"Secrets of the Whales - Exclusive Virtual World Premiere". American Cetacean Society. 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
^Amer, Pakinam (22 April 2021). "The Deepest Dive to Find the Secrets of the Whales". Scientific American. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^Spry, Jeff (22 April 2021). "Exclusive: 'Secrets of the Whales' creator Brian Skerry on filming his stunning new docu-series for Nat Geo". Space.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^ abWelch, Craig (May 2021). "Secrets of the Whales". National Geographic. Vol. 239, no. 5. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 43. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^"New England ocean Odyssey: a journey beneath New England's waves". The Free Dictionary. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^ ab"Brian Skerry". worldwildlife.org. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^"Why great white sharks are a mystery to scientists". CBS This Morning. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via YouTube.
^"In 'Secrets of the Whales,' an intimate look at the titans of the deep blue sea". ABC News. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^"National Geographic photographer on discovering the secrets of whales". CNN. 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
^Brian Skerry: Through the Lens of a Nat Geo Underwater Photographer(Podcast). Apple Podcasts.
^"Brian Skerry". conservationphotographers.org. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^"Aquarium presents virtual lecture on the hidden culture of whales, featuring National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry". 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^"Behind the Photo: Brian Skerry". The Focus Gallery. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
^"Honorees". peterbenchleyoceanawards.org. 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^"Brian Skerry Wins Photographer's Photographer Award". The Photo Society. National Geographic Society. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
^Edmonds, Patricia (July 2017). "Explorer Honor to Brian Skerry". National Geographic. Vol. 232, no. 1. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. D4. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)
^"Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences Announces 2019 NOGI Award Recipients". California Diver. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
^Gonzalez, Jane (2022). "Commencement - Worcester State University". readkong.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
^"Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 2–6". Washington, D.C. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
^"Underwater Photography of Brian Skerry". Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^"United States Mission Geneva". 3 March 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^Alexandra, Wolfe (30 June 2017). "Swimming With the Sharks". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
^Fidler, Matt (27 August 2021). "Perpignan's Festival of Photojournalism 2021 – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
^Tyson, Mary (October 20, 2023). "Free Outdoor Exhibitions To See In Paris Right Now". parisbeacon.com. Paris beacon. Retrieved October 23, 2023. 5. Planet Ocean: Free Exhibition by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Brian Skerry at Bercy Village
^Montaigne, Fen (April 2007). "The Global Fish Crisis: Still Waters". National Geographic. Vol. 211, no. 4. Photographs by Brian Skerry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 42. Retrieved 6 December 2022. – via National Geographic archive (subscription required)note