The Life Aquatic with Bruce Mozert
When the photographer gazed into the crystalline waters of Silver Springs, Florida, in 1938, he saw nothing but possibilities
- By Gary Monroe
- Smithsonian magazine, May 2008, Subscribe
Central Florida has many clear springs, but in the 19th century, Silver Springs also had location, location, location: connected to the outside world by the Silver, Ocklawaha and St. Johns rivers. After the Civil War, steamship-borne tourists including the likes of President Ulysses S. Grant and Harriet Beecher Stowe would flock to the springs to marvel at the sight of aquatic life seemingly suspended in space. Through the first few decades of the 20th century, whether they came by rail or by car, tourists continued to go to Silver Springs. But by the 1930s, the place needed a new image—or images—to keep them coming. For almost half a century, Bruce Mozert supplied those images.
Mozert was born in Newark, Ohio, in 1916 and followed his sister Zoë to New York City in the mid-'30s; she became a renowned pinup artist, he a photographer. On his way to an assignment in Miami in 1938, he detoured to Silver Springs because he'd heard that Johnny Weissmuller was filming one of his Tarzan movies there. Mozert says that when he stuck out his hand to shake Weissmuller's, the former Olympian responded by hoisting him in the air. Eventually, the movie star left; Mozert stayed.
He likes to say that he "took to photography like a duck takes to water." But "like a fish" might be closer to the mark. At Silver Springs, Mozert pioneered underwater photography, building waterproof housings that allowed him to go deep with a camera in hand. For some 45 years (except for service with the Army Air Forces during World War II), he created scenes of people—comely young women, for the most part—talking on the phone, playing golf, reading the newspaper...underwater, all the better to show off the wondrous clarity of Silver Springs' waters.
"Everything has a picture in it, a sellable picture," Mozert says. "All you got to do is use your imagination." To create bubbles in a champagne flute, he would stick some dry ice or Alka-Seltzer in the glass; to simulate smoke rising from a grill, he used canned condensed milk. "The fat in the milk would cause it to rise, creating ‘smoke' for a long time," he says. With his meticulous production values and surreal vision, Mozert cast Silver Springs in a light perfectly suited to postwar America—part "Leave It to Beaver" and part "The Twilight Zone." His images anchored a national publicity campaign for the springs from the 1940s through the '70s; competing against water-skiing shows, dancing porpoises, leaping whales and hungry alligators, Silver Springs remained one of Florida's premier attractions, the Disney World of its day. Then, in 1971, came Disney World.
It's hard to compete with the corporate colossus 90 miles south, but Silver Springs is still in business. So is Bruce Mozert. Almost every day he drives the 11 miles between his Ocala home and his studio near the springs, where he mainly digitizes customers' home movies. In 2004, he published a calendar featuring his work—photographs of young women posing under preternaturally clear water. He also takes the occasional commission for aerial photographs; at 91, he pilots the plane himself.
Gary Monroe wrote Silver Springs: The Underwater Photographs of Bruce Mozert, published in April.
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Comments (24)
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I met Mr. Bruce Mozert today, by chance. I took some photos to a shop nearby for restoration and soon realized I had met an icon. Mr. Mozert is so charming and personable. We spent a good hour talking about his family and his career as a photographer. He is quite amazing!
Posted by Midge Whitburn Bagby on January 13,2011 | 05:15 PM
to finish I LOVE YOU LOTS!! and MISS YOU!! Take GREAT CARE!! I Hope you can forgive my delay? Your LOVING NEPHEW,
James Steck
p/s: My wife's name is Kristina----I Sincerely hope we get a chance to talk again!?!
Posted by James( Jimmy ) Steck on June 14,2010 | 02:29 PM
Hi ! It has been a long time since we talked last.I think of you everyday. You are my favorite Uncle!! I remember so many Fantastic times;swimming at Lake Weir,eating watermelon by the creek at the mountain cabin in Tennesee,seeing " Jaws " when it first came out,riding in the jeep,working part time at the Sliver Springs camera shop,flying to Jacksonville to pick up a movie in your plane,getting lost in your home,trying to find the bathroom, laughing with you and Aunt Elizabeth in your place above the chicken restaurant in the Springs.I remember Pierre and Shaun,the people poodles.I miss those times,I am glad you are who you are,we have a lot of similarities,we like to have fun,we are creative,wild and our spirits will always be young.We do not let challenges get us down.Each day is different,struggling with failing health,however,I like to think of myself as a TIMEX watch,I take a licking and keep on ticking.I am Happily Married and We just celebrated our ninth Anniversary on June 9th.I am sorry we have not connected much,or at all,since Aunt Elizabeth died.And seeing you at my play in 1979 at the community college on your anniversary,touched me deeply.
Posted by James( jimmy) Steck on June 14,2010 | 02:20 PM
Bruce as my mentor in the late 60's and early 70's he taught me how to use light and shadow , how to use black and white polycontrast filters.
He was to me somewhat the unapproachable master, but still I think because of my mother (bette wooten) he tolerated me, I treasure my short time with him and consider him the best pphotographer of our time.
Posted by kelley l. wooten on October 6,2009 | 05:21 PM
My Aunt Irma Zaebst and her husband Al Zaebst lived near Silver Springs in the 1940's and 1950's and as a young boy I visited several times. One can only imagine the wonder a boy from Columbus, Ohio felt when seeing the monkeys, riding the glass bottom boats, handling a large snake at Ross Allen's, and swimming in the crystal clear water. We also visited Wekiwatchee Springs, fished the river, rode the jungle cruise (for which Uncle Al provided the wild animals)and was amazed by the mermaids.For the past twenty years I have lived in florida and sincerely hope that the fresh water springs can be protected and saved.
Posted by Neal Noethlich on May 23,2009 | 04:50 PM
I also grew up in Ocala and spent many happy hours at Silver Springs. My family's name is Altman and we also lived on Little Lake Wier. The old lake house is still owned by my family, the Orr's of Ocala. My brother Billy Altman was a lifeguard at Silver Springs. Billy was bitten by a dog that a tourist brought to the springs. He had to take rabies shots and a bad reaction left him paralyzed.He lived at the lake house with my mother Ruth Altman until his death. We were at the springs often and Bruce Mozert took several pictures of Billy and myself. I would love to here from anyone who may know if any of those pictures still exist. My name is Margaret Altman Baer and I can be reached by email fatemountain@gmail.com I would love to here from anyone who remembers the good ole days at Silver Springs.
Posted by Amanda Buscemi on December 29,2008 | 01:52 PM
I grew up with the Mozert's in Ocala. Bobby Mozert and I were the same age and played together. I have really enjoyed this article and the pictures. It really takes me back to when we used to go swimming at Silver Springs and at their lakehouse at Little Lake Weir nearby. Bruce Mozert is definitely one of the great photography talents.
Posted by Pamela Windspirit on December 17,2008 | 04:11 PM
To email Bruce Mozert directly send to mozertstudio@atlantic.net.
Posted by Bruce Mozert on December 2,2008 | 01:59 PM
What a wonderful grouping of comments I've read here! I'm still inspired by all that my Papa was able to accomplish. What many don't know is that he rode a motorcycle down to Florida for that freelance gig and had all of his belongings with him, much of which was stored in a ruck sack. In route however, the ruck sack was stolen. He quite literally started with nothing. I am Travis S. Mozert, son of Robert Bruce Mozert, Jr., son of Robert Bruce Mozert, Sr. Mr Mozert is my grandfather.
Posted by Travis Mozert on December 1,2008 | 02:36 PM
Bruce is not only a legend in underwater photography,he is an outstanding civic leader.He helped to start the Boys & Girl's Club,He Started the Silver Springs Lions Club.He is a Life Member,aMelvin Jones Honorary,Foundation Life Member,and the clubhouse is named The Lion Bruce Mozert Clubhouse, At 91, Bruce is still our Christmas Project Chair, Our Sight(eye glasses)Chair,Program Chair,our Foundition President, and a very active member.He is loved by all.Bruce is our club Photographer, he is at every project shoting photos. He is our historian,and he has kept a photo history of our activities.Lions is his second love next to photography..John Lovill Past President,Past District Governor 35L
Posted by john lovill on September 14,2008 | 02:22 PM
Bruce Mozert is a national treasure. If you'd like to see a fabulous video with Bruce documenting his amazing life check out this link: http://growingbolder.com/media/entertainment/movies/deep-sea-cinema-2734.html
Posted by Racher on September 8,2008 | 04:02 PM
Hi there, I wanted to draw your attention to a story Gracie Leavitt wrote about Bruce Mozert where we added a link to your website (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/da-life-aquatic.html). You can find the story at; http://www.orangelifemagazine.com/bruce-mozert-underwater-photographer/ Gwyneth Jones Managing Editor
Posted by Gwyneth Jones on August 29,2008 | 05:29 PM
I was so pleased to see this wonderful article in your magazine. Silver Springs brings back fond childhood memories! The Author, Gary Monroe will be autographing this book at A Step Back in Time, St. Augustine, FL (904.810.5829) on August 30, 2008 from 6-8pm.
Posted by Joyce Ferrigno on July 11,2008 | 12:03 PM
My mother, Mary Shepherd Thomas was one of the underwater models for Bruce. She was raised in Miami but came to Silver Springs for a photo shoot. That is how she met my Dad, Clifford (Little Diz) Thomas. She now lives in Tennessee with me. She is 90 years old and still swimming!
Posted by Helen T. Brower on June 8,2008 | 04:49 PM
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