Adonai Rocha is a Brazilian-American Senior Multimedia Producer, Photographer and Image Analyst.
Rocha has integrated technical expertise in many different fields of digital and analog multimedia, working as a photographer, photojournalist, TV director-producer, web designer, iOS app developer, and Google Trusted Photographer. He is a seasoned creator of graphics for web, apps, videos, digital signage, and arts for printing and e-books. He is also recognized for his work in social development, digital accessibility, and the documentation of cultural heritage sites using advanced imaging technologies.
Technical Skills and Competencies
Rocha has developed a diverse technical and creative skill set over his vast career in the multimedia industry. His core competencies include photo and video production and editing, graphic and website design, 360 VR, and panoramic imagery.
Up-skilling to keep pace with AI, Rocha is familiar with generative AI tools to create, edit, and transform content using text-to-image and image-to-image workflows, using Google AI Studio’s models. Additionally, he is experimenting with visual programming in node-based environments, such as ComfyUI.
He is proficient in the Adobe Creative Suite, with specific expertise in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. His technical toolkit also includes Luminar Neo, Insta360, Antigravity AI studios, and the Canva Visual Suite, among others. Rocha is experienced in the production of both printed materials and interactive PDF and eBook publishing on Amazon and Apple Books. Other Rocha's expertise includes HTML, PHP, and JavaScript programming within Adobe Dreamweaver, as well as website creation in Squarespace. He has developed iOS apps using Apple’s Xcode. He is an FAA Remote Pilot and produces commercial 360 drone imagery.
Beyond his technical capabilities, Rocha maintains strong communication and project management skills. He is fluent in Portuguese and English, with working proficiency in Spanish.
Rocha has developed a diverse technical and creative skill set over his vast career in the multimedia industry. His core competencies include photo and video production and editing, graphic and website design, 360 VR, and panoramic imagery.
Up-skilling to keep pace with AI, Rocha is familiar with generative AI tools to create, edit, and transform content using text-to-image and image-to-image workflows, using Google AI Studio’s models. Additionally, he is experimenting with visual programming in node-based environments, such as ComfyUI.
He is proficient in the Adobe Creative Suite, with specific expertise in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. His technical toolkit also includes Luminar Neo, Insta360, Antigravity AI studios, and the Canva Visual Suite, among others. Rocha is experienced in the production of both printed materials and interactive PDF and eBook publishing on Amazon and Apple Books. Other Rocha's expertise includes HTML, PHP, and JavaScript programming within Adobe Dreamweaver, as well as website creation in Squarespace. He has developed iOS apps using Apple’s Xcode. He is an FAA Remote Pilot and produces commercial 360 drone imagery.
Beyond his technical capabilities, Rocha maintains strong communication and project management skills. He is fluent in Portuguese and English, with working proficiency in Spanish.
Multimedia Education
Rocha’s formal education began at the Universidade de Brasília, where he studied Communication and Media Studies. He subsequently specialized in visual studies and earned certificates in Film Study from the University of London and the British Film Institute, as well as certificates in Photographic Visual Studies from the Polytechnic of Central London. In the mid-2000s, he returned to higher education, earning a degree in Digital Multimedia from the Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (2006–2008), where he also completed specialized coursework in e-learning and online education.
Rocha’s formal education began at the Universidade de Brasília, where he studied Communication and Media Studies. He subsequently specialized in visual studies and earned certificates in Film Study from the University of London and the British Film Institute, as well as certificates in Photographic Visual Studies from the Polytechnic of Central London. In the mid-2000s, he returned to higher education, earning a degree in Digital Multimedia from the Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (2006–2008), where he also completed specialized coursework in e-learning and online education.
Experiences
Photojournalism and Early Professional Work (1980–1990s)
In the 1980s, Adonai Rocha worked as a photojournalist for major Brazilian publications including Manchete, Isto É, and Revista Quem magazines, and the Correio Braziliense and Jornal de Brasília newspapers.
Darkroom Specialist (1984–1989)
As the owner of the company FotoMarket Ltda, Rocha developed expertise in analog photography. He mastered darkroom techniques, including film processing and printing, as well as high-level photo retouching and image restoration.
Art Director and Advertising Photographer (1989–1994)
As the art director of his own advertising agency, Omni Communications, Rocha produced a wide range of graphics and art preparation for printing, photography, TV ads, and radio spots. During this period, he collaborated extensively with other graphic artists and photographers, as well as external ad agencies.
Gemology and Photography (1988–1991)
Rocha expanded his technical repertoire into the field of gemology, a discipline requiring high levels of attention to detail and color accuracy. He became a GIA Graduate Gemologist (1988–1991) through the Gemological Institute of America, specializing in colored stones and diamond grading. Additionally, Rocha provided GIA with professional photography and video documentation of Brazilian gem mining operations.
Advocacy and Digital Accessibility (1995–2002)
Rocha dedicated the late 1990s to social causes, founding AJA Brasil to provide special education for youth with disabilities, and serving as a researcher for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and Human Rights Watch. Leveraging his multimedia expertise, he produced photography, video content, and printed materials to support training and global advocacy initiatives. In 2000, he founded the Brazilian National Association for Accessibility (ABRA), where he authored proposals for the Brazilian Congress to mandate digital accessibility for government websites.
Photojournalism and Early Professional Work (1980–1990s)
In the 1980s, Adonai Rocha worked as a photojournalist for major Brazilian publications including Manchete, Isto É, and Revista Quem magazines, and the Correio Braziliense and Jornal de Brasília newspapers.
Darkroom Specialist (1984–1989)
As the owner of the company FotoMarket Ltda, Rocha developed expertise in analog photography. He mastered darkroom techniques, including film processing and printing, as well as high-level photo retouching and image restoration.
Art Director and Advertising Photographer (1989–1994)
As the art director of his own advertising agency, Omni Communications, Rocha produced a wide range of graphics and art preparation for printing, photography, TV ads, and radio spots. During this period, he collaborated extensively with other graphic artists and photographers, as well as external ad agencies.
Gemology and Photography (1988–1991)
Rocha expanded his technical repertoire into the field of gemology, a discipline requiring high levels of attention to detail and color accuracy. He became a GIA Graduate Gemologist (1988–1991) through the Gemological Institute of America, specializing in colored stones and diamond grading. Additionally, Rocha provided GIA with professional photography and video documentation of Brazilian gem mining operations.
Advocacy and Digital Accessibility (1995–2002)
Rocha dedicated the late 1990s to social causes, founding AJA Brasil to provide special education for youth with disabilities, and serving as a researcher for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and Human Rights Watch. Leveraging his multimedia expertise, he produced photography, video content, and printed materials to support training and global advocacy initiatives. In 2000, he founded the Brazilian National Association for Accessibility (ABRA), where he authored proposals for the Brazilian Congress to mandate digital accessibility for government websites.
TV Production in Africa (2002–2006)
Between 2002 and 2006, Adonai Rocha lived in Botswana, working for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and ACHAP. He directed ICT and TV production initiatives, including the award-winning TALKBACK interactive TV program.
Photography and Heritage (2007–2026)
In 2007, Rocha began utilizing the GigaPan System to document and raise awareness of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. GigaPan Systems was founded in 2008 as a collaborative project between Carnegie Mellon University and NASA’s Ames Research Center with support from Google. The technology utilizes robotic camera mounts and stitching software to combine hundreds of individual pictures into ultra-high-resolution panoramas with extensive zooming, sharing, and tagging capabilities. Rocha’s high-resolution GigaPan imagery of Brasília has been exhibited internationally, including at the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland and the Modern Art Museum of Rio de Janeiro (MAM Rio).
Image Analyst (2014–2026)
Rocha transitioned into digital forensic science in the 2010s, serving as an accredited Multimedia Forensic Analyst for the Court of Justice of the Federal District (TJDFT) in Brazil, specializing in digital image and video forensic analysis.
Honors and Awards
- Grand-prize winner, World Monument Fund, New York, 2013 (Sensitive Urban Development category).
- Innovative Use of New Media Awards, Highway Africa (Rhodes University), 2004 (for the Talk Back TV program).
- Paulo Freire Award, 1998 (for Information Technology as a Method of Learning).
- World Bank Development Marketplace Finalist, 2002.
- Grand-prize winner, World Monument Fund, New York, 2013 (Sensitive Urban Development category).
- Innovative Use of New Media Awards, Highway Africa (Rhodes University), 2004 (for the Talk Back TV program).
- Paulo Freire Award, 1998 (for Information Technology as a Method of Learning).
- World Bank Development Marketplace Finalist, 2002.
University Degree & Higher Education
- Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina: Digital Multimedia Degree (2006–2008).
- Universidade de Brasília: Communication and Media Studies (1977–1978).
- Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina: Digital Multimedia Degree (2006–2008).
- Universidade de Brasília: Communication and Media Studies (1977–1978).
Specialized & Professional Development
- Visual Studies: University of London/BFI ; Polytechnic of Central London (1978–1979).
- GIA (Gemological Institute of America): Graduate Gemologist (1988–1991).
- University of Southampton: Certificate in Digital Marketing (2014).
- Google Career Certificates: UX Design (2023); Project Management (2021); AI Prompting (2025).
- Multimedia Forensic Science and Technology: Forensic Studies (2013–2025).
- Conselho Nacional de Peritos Judiciais (Brazil): Judicial Forensic Expert Certification (2025).
- Visual Studies: University of London/BFI ; Polytechnic of Central London (1978–1979).
- GIA (Gemological Institute of America): Graduate Gemologist (1988–1991).
- University of Southampton: Certificate in Digital Marketing (2014).
- Google Career Certificates: UX Design (2023); Project Management (2021); AI Prompting (2025).
- Multimedia Forensic Science and Technology: Forensic Studies (2013–2025).
- Conselho Nacional de Peritos Judiciais (Brazil): Judicial Forensic Expert Certification (2025).
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), Brazil
- United States Press Agency (USPA), USA
- National Council of Forensics Analysts (CONPEJ), Brazil
- FAA Certified Commercial Drone Remote Pilot, USA
- National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), Brazil
- United States Press Agency (USPA), USA
- National Council of Forensics Analysts (CONPEJ), Brazil
- FAA Certified Commercial Drone Remote Pilot, USA
Photographic Exhibitions
- Campos Interpostos, Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM), 2020, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Horizonte Construído: photography e arquitetura nas coleções do MAM, 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Zum 50. Jahrestag der Gründung von Brasilia, 2010, Kornhausforum, Berne, Switzerland
- Abstrata Brasilia Concreta, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), 2003, Brasília, Brazil
- V Documento da Arte Contemporânea do Centro-Oeste, 1983, Brasília, Brazil
- XVI Bienal de São Paulo, 1981, São Paulo, Brazil
- BSB Infrared, Photographica, 1981, Brasília, Brazil
- Adonai Rocha, The British Council and Cultura Inglesa, 1980, Brasília, Brazil
- I Mostra de Fotojornalismo, União dos Fotógrafos, 1980, Brasília, Brazil
- That Image of Brazil, Community Art Centre, 1979, Luton-Beds, England
- Brasília Vista por Seus Fotógrafos, Kodak/Fundação Cultural do DF, 1978, Brasília, Brazil
- Campos Interpostos, Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM), 2020, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Horizonte Construído: photography e arquitetura nas coleções do MAM, 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Zum 50. Jahrestag der Gründung von Brasilia, 2010, Kornhausforum, Berne, Switzerland
- Abstrata Brasilia Concreta, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), 2003, Brasília, Brazil
- V Documento da Arte Contemporânea do Centro-Oeste, 1983, Brasília, Brazil
- XVI Bienal de São Paulo, 1981, São Paulo, Brazil
- BSB Infrared, Photographica, 1981, Brasília, Brazil
- Adonai Rocha, The British Council and Cultura Inglesa, 1980, Brasília, Brazil
- I Mostra de Fotojornalismo, União dos Fotógrafos, 1980, Brasília, Brazil
- That Image of Brazil, Community Art Centre, 1979, Luton-Beds, England
- Brasília Vista por Seus Fotógrafos, Kodak/Fundação Cultural do DF, 1978, Brasília, Brazil