Embedded Files
Resurfacing?
Not us, only the original publications and in a digital format.
I still remember those heady heydays of Singapore diving and The Decom Stop was in the thick of it. It started in mid-1995 on a whim; it just seemed like a good idea to have a truly local dive mag. For a little more on the magazine's genesis check out the editorial on the magazine’s first anniversary (Read: Editorial, July/August 1996 issue).
The business strategy then was simplicity itself: just put something ‘out there’ and see where it goes. Yep, no business plan other than a wing and a prayer. Upon reflection, the magazine might have survived if we did have some sort of a plan, but it might not have had the same heart (or so we console ourselves thinking such).
And what was really surprising? It went on and grew for four years – twenty-four issues!
I was an avid underwater photographer then* and ran the regular feature on underwater photography. On top of that and being the editor, I was also the magazine’s head feature writer! Through the years, I wrote personal accounts to trips (Read: Kangaroo Island – It was total immersion mate!), narrated personal dive experiences (Read: You Won’t last the dive!), and put my own twist to articles from contributors (Read: Mission (Im)Possible).
We were sad to have called it a day after all that time, but Esther and I had to move on. We decided to call it a day as publishers and uprooted ourselves. Esther went back to a day job as a CPA and I went back to school, doing a liberal arts honours degree in creative writing – I just wanted to do something totally different.
And different life has been for us. Just how different? Read the other sections of this site.
*I’m considered a dinosaur now...
This happened when photography transitioned from transparent to digital media, and the whole landscape (waterscape?) of underwater photography changed as a result. Us dinosaurs were limited by the 36 frames on a roll of 35mm film while underwater and had to, as a result, be selective about our shots and compose even before pressing the shutter button. Gratification had to be deferred as exposed films had to be carefully and lovingly stored till they can be developed. And only then can the result(s) of one’s effort be gauged.
Nowadays, one is limited by the size of the camera’s memory card, and results are instantaneous and gratification (or its lack thereof) immediate.
Somehow, I still pine for those days...
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse