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When The Water Is Life.
It has been a while since I have posted a piece in my blog, not from having nothing to write about, but for finding the time and the headspace to do it in a way which is fitting for my readers.
Ove the last while I have spent at least one day a weekend underwater, washing away the cares of the world. I have spent countless moments trying to find the right direction for the next major film exploit, and at the same time have watched on, inspired by some very eye opening efforts. I am coming to realise more that my journey from taking just photographs of the marine life I see, to capturing them as a moving image is not only critical to my audience gaining a better understanding, but it is also a very difficult exercise. A photograph, a great photograph can tell a story of many words, however a great video can speak so many more. Like a photograph it still needs to be special, to be something that few may have seen or which is charged with emotion and awaits that collective wow as it wraps the audience up in its cinematic embrace. I enjoy every moment underwater, whether it be the chill of winter where 8 degree Celsius water fills my wetsuit and gives me brain freeze as my body fights to warm the parts of me critical to my own survival, or the depths of summer where the heat has your body fighting off dehydration as it produces enough sweat to cool you down before you are able to immerse yourself in the cool water. Regardless of those conditions, I can only reassure you that the marvel of life I see is wonderful to say the least and for certain worth every bit of time spent. Read More →
Sharks and Humans – Education And Respect
Today I want to share my thoughts, once again, on a subject which needs to be addressed on a well informed and sensible level.
On the weekend, a scuba diver lost his life in Tasmania. He was the victim of a shark attack. The loss of his life will be a very traumatic thing for his family and I feel deeply sorry that they must go through this.
The Connection – Radio Interview.
A week and a half ago, I was extremely honoured to have my short film, Ocean and Earth – One Heartbeat, screened as a part of the Australian Ocean Film festival Melbourne sessions. It screened as a local independent film maker to full houses and it did look very nice on the big screen. As a part of the screening, I was there to do a Q & A with the audience which went down really nicely.
Whilst there I was lucky enough to meet a radio presenter, Jules Vines from radio 3MDR 97.1. She asked if I could do a radio interview for their sustainability show on the following Monday. I have attached a link here for anyone who may be interested. It is accompanied by some random film footage that I hope is not too distracting.
Please enjoy.
Where Are We At?
On the weekend I completed another rejuvenating dive in our wonderful Port Phillip Bay. Blairgowrie was the location and the amount of marine life reminded me just how healthy this place is. I have dived here on numerous occasions and as dive sites go, what can be found there is some of the most diverse ranges in the bay. Everything from numerous schools of fish, large bull rays, small rays, nudibranchs, squid, octopus, crabs, seahorses, as well as beautiful soft sponges and corals. It rarely fails to disappoint and it offers the most sheltered location in the bay, making it diveable on most every day except when very strong Northerlies blow.
The Change
Today was a lone dive day, as my usual Sunday dive buddy had decided that the Solomon Islands was a better option than the wonderful Port Phillip Bay. To me it is a coin toss, but……………… Okay, it is not a coin toss.
My dive today with the prevailing South Easterly winds was a front beach choice, and my decision was my original haunting ground of Blairgowrie Pier. I have dived this location more than any in my 260 plus dives, and it has always offered something for those that look hard enough. Over time, dive locations transform, both naturally, and with the help of man, although the latter usually doesn’t do it a lot of help. This in my opinion is the case with Blairgowrie.
Little Ray Of Light.
As the festive days wore away, I made my way to Flinders pier where I was hoping to dive once more with the weedy sea dragons and the large rays that frequent the location. It was a mild summers day and there was little to no wind to be had, which left the ocean almost glass like, except for the infrequent tell tale ripples that formed as the breeze brushed upon its surface.
Life, Death And All In Between.
Nature and all its wonder is a part of our lives in most every place we look. It gives us the colours in the leaves that flutter in the trees on a warm summer’s day, the currents that flow across vast oceans, interconnecting creatures and places. There is much speculation that human kind is at the forefront of what is happening throughout the world from a climate perspective, and to some extent that is true, but nature is the much needed beast that fights back in so many ways, grappling to maintain the equilibrium that has always existed. I have a strong belief that unless we act now in a responsible manner where we, the human race recognise the need to treat life and what we have respectfully, that nature will be the only winner and it will fight back with a vengeance. We have only one planet and how we care for it, how we respect it and the other creatures we share it with will determine our future.
Grace And Majesty
Hello to all those that follow my blog.
Today I began day two of a holiday upon which I have a list of items to film and share with you. I have very quickly put together a short amount of footage that captures the grace and majesty of one of my favourite creatures in the ocean. The Manta.
What Equipment Do I Use?
The opening question is posed by me and is to be read as you asking for advice, and I will remain as unbiased as possible whilst giving suggestions, at the same time explaining my gear choice and thoughts. This is a bit of a step away from my blog to date which has focused on sea life and ethical behaviour, but in reality it all merges into one along the way.
I have been an amateur photographer for more than 30 years, and during that time I have had many experiences, good and bad. I have taught photography for the last 18 years, and have done so using the skills and knowledge, along with those experiences, to give what I think is very important advice on capturing images and the equipment used. There are many techniques that people subscribe to when capturing images, and each one can have its success or failure which is governed by the ability of the individual to apply themselves. There are some very basic so called rules that apply to all situations, but then in general, the final images are the interpretation of what the individual sees.