Ernest Brooks; Founder of Photo Institute

Ernest H. Brooks, who began by photographing flowers for seed companies, saw a need for training in color photography and started what evolved into an internationally recognized institute, has died at age 80 at his retirement home in Laguna Niguel.

The founder of Santa Barbara’s Brooks Institute of Photography died June 21 after what the family described as a lengthy illness. He will be remembered at a memorial reception Friday at 1:30 at the school’s Montecito campus, one of three of the private institution, which now has about 600 students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Brooks was raised in Lompoc, where he earned his first pennies by taking pictures of his friends.

After studying at Los Angeles Trade Tech and USC, he went to work for Fox West Coast Theatres in their art layout department, then worked in a sign business. He opened his own studio and camera store in Lompoc in the late 1930s, and it was there he was commissioned by the Burpee Seed Co. to put out its first color catalogue.

He taught classes through the Depression-era federal Civilian Conservation Corps and went into the Air Force during World War II.

Back in Lompoc after his discharge, Brooks realized that the complexities of color photography in the postwar era were going to require training beyond the traditional apprentice system for would-be photographers.

In 1945 he sold his business, moved to Santa Barbara and started his institute, where his first 30 students were housed on the second floor of a downtown building.

Today, students from around the world occupy the ocean-view campuses in the foothills above the city seeking degrees in professional photography. They study under about 30 faculty members, all professional photographers with a specialty in one area.

In addition to standard commercial photography, classes and training are offered in undersea technology, nature photography, photojournalism and audiovisual studies.

Brooks retired in 1971, becoming chairman of the board and turning over the presidency of the institute to his son.

During his career he was honored by professional photography societies in the United States and Mexico while establishing an underwater testing station for color photography in Sonora, Mexico. He also conducted seminars for professional photographers in Mexico and in Australia, England, West Germany, France and the Soviet Union.

Besides his son, Ernest II, he is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, Joyce Kurtz, three sisters, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.