My name is Ribka Malise, and I am a visual storyteller. Through photography and videography, I gather fragments of life from beneath the surface, capturing the ephemeral beauty of places shaped by tide and time.
What draws me into the depths isn’t just the visual spectacle; it’s the silence, the rhythm, and the way the ocean speaks if we are willing to listen. My work is an attempt to reflect those moments in their most honest form, sometimes serene, sometimes raw, bridging the space between the reef and the surface.
My connection to the water began as a necessity. As a child, I struggled with respiratory issues and allergies that made every morning a challenge. On a doctor's advice, swimming became my daily medicine to strengthen my lungs. Weekdays were spent in the pool, but the weekends belonged to the sea. I didn't realize it then, but those mandatory hours in the water were the foundation of a bond that would eventually define my life.
While the sea was my physical healer, my connection to the natural world was a gift from my father. Growing up, our home was filled with the voices and visuals of Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet, and Discovery Channel. My dad always had the TV on, and those documentaries became the backdrop of my childhood. Even before I knew the names of the creatures on the screen, I was captivated by them, fascinated by the wildest corners of the earth and the mysteries of the deep. He didn't just leave the TV on; he unknowingly opened a window to a world I would eventually make my own.
As I grew up, life accelerated. I moved to the city for my studies and spent years immersed in the fast-paced world. Diving drifted into the background, until I found my way back to the water with a new kind of clarity. What started as a return soon became a turning point.
I began diving with intention. I earned my Divemaster certification, picked up a camera, and started paying attention, not just to what I saw, but to what the ocean was trying to say. My passion is no longer just about capturing beauty; it is about sharing a sense of presence. It is about encouraging care and reminding the world of what is still out there, vibrant, alive, and profoundly worth protecting.
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