The Whale Man of Australia

Darren Jew lives a life that I would consider trading for. He spends his time photographing and making videos of whales and other marine life.  His work is the gold standard.  Amazingly beautiful imagery. His photos of whales, particularly Humpbacks, are powerful and beautiful.

I'm so glad that in my lifetime, people like Darren Jew came along at the same time photographic technology made it possible to showcase the beauty of the ocean. Now everyone can see why we need to appreciate the gifts of the sea. In the best of worlds,  the kind of inspiration Darren Jew creates with his camera can inspire people everywhere to become proper stewards of the biosphere.

Here is the link to Darren Jew's website. Be sure to check out the video on the index page...http://darrenjew.com/

Burning Man

In Nevada, every year,  an event is held known simply as Burning Man.  It's been going on for several decades now. I've never been to Burning man, but it sure looks like a fascinating blend of creativity and in-your-face defiance of cultural norms. I'm all for that.  

Burning Man

I just came across two videos that present very creatively drawn video pictures of the phenomenon known as Burning Man.  It's worth a look for it's expression of video art alone.  

Here is a link to the first video...http://vimeo.com/103975643

Here is the link to the second video...http://vimeo.com/105365388

Here is a link to the Burning Man website....http://www.burningman.com/

Humpback Whales in Tonga

Just ran across this short video that features some incredible underwater video of humpback whales in Tonga in the South Pacific. It was shot by an Australian photographer named Darren Jew. Darren works for Canon, which happens to be the brand of camera that I use.    This guy is really living the life.

I have spent time in Tonga. The life there is laid back, so much different than the pace of life here.  I have a friend, Richard Chesher, whom I first met in Tonga. He is a remarkable fellow; a marine biologist, who spends his time immersed in marine photography. His photos are amazing. Chesher lives in New Caledonia these days.  We didn't see any whales while I was in Tonga,  but we did hang out in one of Chesher's clam sanctuaries. That's an adventure I've already written about in an earlier blog about Chesher.  Click on his name in the subject column on the right side of the page.

Anyway,  this video of Darren Jew hanging out with humpbacks in Tonga is worth the admission.  Check it out.

Here is a link to the video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y2JfZC5X7M

Drones do Dolphins and Whales

Drones are becoming more and more ubiquitous in our world.   Here is a video that shows whales and dolphins at sea from the viewpoint of a drone flying a few hundred feet above.  The best part come spatter in the video when the drone follows a humpback whale mom and her youngster.  Wonderful video.  It makes you wonderful about people who could hunt them and shoot exploding harpoons into their bodies.  Anyway, this is beautiful video. Enjoy.

Here is the 'You Tube' video of drones doing whales and dolphins...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo_f8mV5khg

Best Seal Video Ever

Here's some fun. A diver named Jason Neilus used GoPro cameras to record his playtime with an inquisitive bunch of wild seals in the kelp beds of the Farne Islands in the United Kingdom

Here is the link to  the wonderful video of Jason Neilus' experience visiting with wild seals off the coast of the Farne Islands... http://vimeo.com/78209843#at=0

Deep Flight Super Falcon

The sub-aquatic terrain from ocean's surface down to about 100 feet is where most marine life forms hang out. The best place by far to experience fish and other sea life is in the shallow areas where the sea meets the land.  I've been lucky enough to have a few experiences like that.

In recent years, there's been a lot of technical innovation with submersibles designed for personal exploration of the marine environment.  Almost all of these personal submersible craft depend on filling ballast tanks with water to operate beneath the water's surface. Getting back to the surface safely requires a system to purge the water ballast with compressed air, thus returning buoyancy to the submersible.  While margins of safety are built into this kind of submersible, there is always a risk.

A new submersible design  developed by Graham Hawkes does away with the need for ballast. Called the Deep Flight Super Falcon,  this new submersible works on the same principles as an aircraft.  It remains positively buoyant at all times, providing a high margin of safety. In essence, it 'flies' underwater. It's electric propulsion system provides the forward thrust required to submerge and keep the craft beneath the water's surface.  Like an aircraft, the submersible Falcon has steerable 'wings' that allow it to be controlled.  Most important,  if power is lost, this submersible will return to the surface on its own.

The things I've read about this technology don't give an indication of the cost. I'm guessing the Falcon is too expensive to be anything more than a research tool for well funded institutions or a new kind of 'toy' for the super rich. 

Still, it is a very worthwhile innovation and offers the possibility of making underwater exploration safe and accessible to more people than ever before. 

Deep Flight Super Falcon

Here is a link to Hawkes Ocean Technology   http://www.deepflight.com/

Here is a You Tube link of the Deep Flight Super Falcon flying beneath the sea... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRsV_eUovKw#t=22

Aerial Adrenalin Rush

I can't get enough of these wingsuit crazies, leaping off cliffs and plunging thousands of feet, brushing perilously close to jagged vertical terrain.  The fun is in imagining myself young and crazy enough to go for it myself.  This is really controlled free fall. It looks totally exhilarating  for the thrill seekers up for the risk.

Here is the link to 'Sense of Flying'... http://vimeo.com/32875422

Chesher's Memory Bubbles

I have a friend that lives a life more than a few people dream about. He is a marine biologist. His name is Richard Chesher. He and his wife Frederique have been living on their sailing yacht, Moira for the last forty or so years. During that time, they have  anchored now and then in pretty much every island nation in the South Pacific. The last time I had a chance to spend time with Rick and Freddie, they were based in the harbor at Port Vila in Vanuatu.  For the last few years, they have spent most of their time in New Caledonia, a South Pacific island nation with ties to France. French is the official language in New Caledonia.

In recent years, Richard Chester has elevated himself from being just an excellent photographer to elite world class status.   His work showcases the remarkable beauty of the pacific islands and the mostly still pristine marine environment around them.  More recently, he's been using a rig he designed himself using GoPro cameras to produce images of the marine environment that are technically amazing and breathtaking. They showcase the beauty of his home environment in rotatable, 360 degree panoramic images. They allow the viewer to stand where Chesher stood, or, better stated, be where he was when he captured the image in question.  The latter is the proper way to describe what he does because so many of his images are shot in the marine environment, many underwater, and remarkably,  some straddling the surface interface of sky, land, and water. Chesher calls these images memory bubbles.

I am amazed at what Richard Chesher accomplishes from his home base, a 44 foot long motor sailing yacht named Moira. 

Take a moment to enjoy some of the great photography of marine biologist, Dr. Richard Chesher.

Each still image that follows includes a link to a 360 degree rotatable, 'virtual reality'  version. Prepare to be dazzled.

Sea Eagle Nest

Here is the link to Richard Chesher's amazing image of Sea Eagles on an uninhabited isle in New Caledonia...  http://www.360cities.net/image/ua-eagles#28.63,2.21,110.0

Click to the full screen version and rotate the next image.  You will see Chesher's vessel, Moira anchored in the background, and if you look closely, Rick's wife Freddie cane be seen in fins and snorkel.

 https://www.360cities.net/image/diving-spots-new-caledonia-ua-reef#23.43,1.87,80.0

 

 http://www.360cities.net/image/underwater-scenic-overlook-kouare-new-caledonia#356.90,6.30,70.0

If you take a moment to link to these images in all their virtual reality,  memory bubble glory,  click on the comments icon below the image and leave an expression of appreciation.

Thanks, Rick and Freddie. The world is better because of the wonderful contributions the two of you make to it.

Cascadia

Here is a beautiful seven minute video that showcases fearless young men in kayaks purposefully challenging giant tropical waterfalls.

When I see young people like this asserting themselves, risking their lives in harrowing adventure, I admire them, and at the same time I'm hoping they are also directing some of that energy and courage to the great  man-made challenges of our time. Climate change for instance. These are the kind of bold personalities that need to be on the front lines in the battle for social, economic, and environmental sanity. 

Here is the link to the very impressive Cascadia video... http://vimeo.com/57343365