Adam Powell Photo Exhibition: Kuta, Bali

Adam Powell, a noted marine photographer, has been meticulously taking great shots of underwater life in the Asia-Pacific region. Powell shares his love and passion with the public through his photo exhibition, organized by marine conservation group Reef Check Indonesia, at Harris Resort in the Kuta area.

The exhibition, which will run through July 14, features Powell’s works covering marine life in Indonesia, Australia, Fiji, the Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Central America.

Reef Check Indonesia also presents some of its best documentary photos to supplement Powell’s photography.

“The exhibition is aimed at increasing the public’s awareness on the beauty and the richness of underwater life, especially coral reef preservation,” Powell commented during the exhibition opening.

The works on display mostly focus on images of marine conservation, such as healthy and destroyed coral reefs. Many other photographs illustrate the amazing diversity of the marine world with its abundant species of underwater animals, including coral reefs, lionfish, squids and jackfish.

Powell has captured marine life in extraordinary and vivid photographs and has presented them in an artistic display that enables laymen to learn and enjoy this unique ecosystem.

All his photographs seem to convey a clear message that we human beings should preserve this priceless marine ecosystem for the betterment of future generations.

The documentary material contributed by Reef Check Indonesia, on the other hand, present its activities, such as coral reef preservation, animal conservation and social- and community-based initiatives to protect marine life, particularly coral reefs.

The exhibited photos are for sale at between US$200 and $800 per picture. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Reef Check Indonesia to fund its coral reef preservation programs.

Sambudjo Parikesit, director general for tourism development under the State Minister of Culture and Tourism, stressed the importance of marine conservation.

“We expect to hold a similar exhibition in other places to draw people’s attention to the preservation efforts for precious coral reefs and other types of underwater life,” Parikesit said.

Indonesia is an archipelagic country spanning over 17,000 islands with broad coral reef areas measuring at least 7,500 square kilometers — around 16 percent of total coral reef areas in the world.

The country is also home to 590 types of coral reefs out of the 700 identified types.

“Unfortunately, an estimated 85 percent of the country’s coral reefs are in dilapidated condition due to various natural and man-made causes,” Parikesit said.

A 2006 research conducted by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) across 73 sites along Indonesian waters revealed a very grim picture.

According to LIPI’s research results, only 5.23 percent of the coral reefs in these areas were in excellent condition while 24.26 percent were in good condition, 37.34 percent rated adequate and 33.17 percent garnered the worst rating.

“There are many factors that can affect the condition of coral reefs, such as the extensive use of cyanide, bombs, water pollution, natural disasters such as tsunami and global climate change,” Parikesit said.

Wasti Atmodjo