Int. OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 4 - Magazine

Page 1

OCEAN N

F

I

T

L

E

M

R

N

T

A

O

T

U

I

R

O

N

2

0

A

L

1

7

OC

EA

NF

I LM

TO U R

I NTERNA TIO

NA

L

I

4

Nominal Fee: 5 EURO

VOLUME

ADVENTURE RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE WEEKEND SAILOR ACTION SURFER'S PARADISE ICELAND: THE ACCORD SHOREBREAK – THE CLARK LITTLE STORY OCEAN LIFE SAVE WHAT WE LOVE: A PLASTIC OCEAN & THE LEGACY INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FILM TOUR VOLUME 4

A PRODUCTION OF


EDITORIAL

MAKE A SPLASH 2

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


EDITORIAL

A dorsal fin cuts through the mirror-like surface and sets the water in motion. Waves curl and ripple long after the sea creature has disappeared into the blue abyss. Action – reaction – evolution: In the ocean, everything is connected. No wonder this is the place where all life began. In the sea.

Cover photo, photo page 3: Clark Little

In our fourth program, the International OCEAN FILM TOUR presents the ocean in all its might and splendor. We follow an Icelandic surfer to a tête-à-tête with a force of nature, discover a refugium of the majestic manta rays, relive the most astounding triumph in the history of sailing races, and charge the shorebreak with photographer Clark Little. Although man has long left the sea to wander on terra firma, we keep returning to the big blue. Time to take care of what we love. Time to make a splash for our seas—come along, ocean lovers!

All information, tour dates and tickets at www.oceanfilmtour.com 3

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


PROGRAMME

ONE PLANET – SEVEN (WATER) WORLDS Around the world, into the shorebreak, against the current, under the ice. The International OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 4 presents seven films revealing the treasures of the ocean, and how we can make the most of it as well as protect it

SHOREBREAK The Clark Little Story

Living in Hawaii, photographer Clark Little is never far from the ocean. What might become a bore for others, remains a constant source of inspiration for him. First as a surfer, and now as a acclaimed wave photographer, Little dives into the elusive beauty of waves.

CHAPTER ONE Kitesurfing

No sport combines the elements of water and air as spectacularly as kitesurfing. We follow the talents of the international kitesurfing scene to the best spots on the planet. Time to take off and touch down in paradise!

THE WEEKEND SAILOR

4

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4

Photos: Clark Little; Chapter One; Tjerk Romke de Vries

The most astounding triumph in sailing history The man of the hour in 1974: 50-year-old sailing debutant Ramon CarlĂ­n enrolls for the first crew-based sailing race around the world and shows the sailing elite how far determination and spirit can take you. With a motley crew and members of his family on board, the businessman embarks on a wild ride around the globe. The rest is history.


PROGRAMME

A PLASTIC OCEAN Pollution: tiny plastic, big problem

The worldwide use of plastic products leads to microscopic plastic particles in the sea—an (almost) invisible but very real threat to ocean dwellers and ultimately to land dwellers as well. A PLASTIC OCEAN shows how plastic threatens the ecological equilibrium of the oceans, and teaches us what we can and must do to change our ways.

THE LEGACY A refugium under the sea

The legacy of our blue planet is at stake. With spectacular imagery and breathtaking footage, THE LEGACY reveals what is worth protecting and how eco-systems can regenerate, if protection programs give them a chance.

JOHANNA UNDER THE ICE Freediving in the Finnish winter

Photos: © Plastic Oceans Limited; Erick Higuera; Elli Thor Magnusson; Ian Derry

In northern Finland, the water isn't salty but it is freezing cold. For Johanna Nordblad this poses a challenge but not a problem. The Finnish freediver holds her breath and finds a unique sense of freedom under the ice.

THE ACCORD

An Icelandic surfer picks a fight with a force of nature If you want to surf off the coast of Iceland, you should be on speaking terms with one particular force of nature—the North Atlantic wind—because the island is under his rigorous rule. In the mind of Heiðar Logi Elíasson, the wind takes on the form of a beer-drinking wild man, capricious and brawling. THE ACCORD shows the raw beauty and black humor of the island, and how surfer and wind join forces to conjure up the best surf action Iceland's ever seen.

5

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


H I E R BCLHI A N PDTEERRT EOXNTE B L I N D

TAKING FLIGHT Is this really a water sport? The question arises from the amount of time kite surfers remain aloft as they play between water and air. When the wind whisks them off the water, waves become kickers and with one jump the water sport becomes an aerial adventure.

6

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 3 4


H I E R BCLHI A N PDTEERRT EOXNTE B L I N D

Photo: Chapter One

Kitesurfing is a sport that has recently taken flight, but in CHAPTER ONE, the athletes happily return to solid ground as the locations of their sport look like paradise. In Hawaii, in Fiji, and on Necker Island, the conditions for playing between air and water are perfect. Kitesurfing was born out of windsurfing and advanced by luminaries like Robby Naish. The sport has since become the independent adrenaline-driven playground for a new generation of athletes. With high speeds and big aerials, the elite of kitesurfing are forging ahead, outdoing each other in every new competition. But kitesurfing has an appeal beyond the athletic arena. ”It has to be one of the greatest

travel and adventure sports of all time,” says pro-kiter Naish. ”It’s an incredible vehicle for experiencing the world and finding places you would never experience in any other way.” You’re not depending on waves, the water doesn’t need to be particularly deep, but the wind has to be on your side. Thus kitesurfers can travel long distances and discover parts of the world on the water that are inaccessible to others. For Richard Branson, owner of Necker Island and kitesurf buddy of Barack Obama, the sport is a way to let go. According to Branson ” Anybody can kite. All you need is the wind and you just go where the wind wants to take you.”

7

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 3 4


THE LEGACY

R AYS O F LIGHT Filmmaker Erick Higuera has found his ultimate paradise in the archipelago Revillagigedo, where he dives with hammerhead sharks and manta rays. The rays are a species particularly dear to him as he saw them disappear from the Sea Of Cortez in the late 90s. How did you get into diving and filming? Since I was six years old, this is what I wanted to do. Get in the water, see marine animals, know more about them, do research on them and film them. I was always fascinated by the documentaries Jacques Cousteau made, the likes you could see on BBC and National Geographic. I thought that being a marine biologist would put me in the position to make documentaries like those. But I was wrong. Being a marine biologist doesn’t necessarily get you there. While I studied marine biology, I became a diving instructor and got my camera gear. The more I filmed and photographed, the more I fell in love with this work. I always wanted to show what I was seeing to people who don’t know what’s out there. The manta ray is an animal which has a big significance to you. Why is that? I’ve been diving in the Sea of Cortez since the late 90s and I saw how some marine populations such as the

8

manta rays and hammerhead sharks have decreased drastically due to overfishing. I’ve seen that change. The Sea of Cortez used to be one of the best places in the world to see hammerheads and manta rays—it’s no longer that place. The local fishermen were fishing them year by year and the last time I saw mantas was in 2002. Every year we were hoping they would come back, but they didn’t. The population was wiped out. I started to go to the archipelago Revillagigedo in 2006. The manta population was healthy there, but no one was doing research on them, so I got started and found out that the mantas don’t leave the archipelago; they stay there. They feed, they mate and move between the islands. They only leave the islands to have babies. Mantas are so majestic and gentle animals. They love the divers’ bubbles, so they swim towards you and hover over your head! How did the Archipelago Revillagigedo become a protected area?

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


THE LEGACY

USA

MEXIKO

Photos: Erick Higuera

Archipel Revillagigego

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1993, a group of divers encountered a school of manta rays off the archipelago, when it wasn’t protected yet. When the divers returned to their boat, a fishing boat turned up in the area where the divers had swam with the mantas. The fishermen started pulling mantas out of the water and slaughtering them on the boat—the very same mantas those divers had just been diving with. So the divers filmed it and took pictures. It was such a sad moment. Once back at shore, the divers spread the word and sent the pictures to the authorities. A big controversy ensued and the Mexican government decided to protect the archipelago. In 1994, they declared the archipelago a biosphere reserve. But the effective protection didn’t come into place until 1998. A big group of researchers decided to take a closer look at the islands and soon we all realized that the archipelago was more than just a biosphere reserve; it’s a unique place on the planet. So the government started to fill in the forms to make this

place part of the UNESCO World Heritage. That was in 2008. Since then, we’ve been working towards that. But it wasn’t until July 17, 2016, that UNESCO declared the archipelago a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This helps us to attract more attention [and] forces the Mexican government to set up a patrol for the area and better management plans. Since then, the Revillagigedo area has attracted more ecotourism—a double-edged sword? Yes, definitely. We need to create management plans and the government has to issue permits for diving boats. The boats and divers are ”eyes on the sea” and they do keep the poachers away, but on the other hand the number of boats has to be regulated. The mantas haven’t shown any signs of disruption. They are still swimming up to the divers and their bubbles. But they are still wild animals and we need to give them space. We need to strike a balance between making the area accessible and protect the wildlife.

9

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


JOHANNA UNDER THE ICE

HOLD YOUR BREATH AND LET GO A Finnish free diver finds her freedom under the ice

there’s a crystal clear divide. Here, under the ice, there’s no room for mistakes—no wrong moves, no quick rescues. Ironically, Johanna feels free down here. Photographer and filmmaker Ian Derry met Johanna through her sister Elina. When he followed Johanna to her lake for the first time, Derry knew instantly that her story calls for a film to be made. Johanna Nordblad lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Helsinki, Finland. She holds the world record for the longest dive under ice without oxygen over a 50-m distance.

10

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4

Photos: Ian Derry

After suffering a terrible mountain bike accident, Johanna Nordblad was in a bad way. Her severely injured leg wouldn’t heal and the prospect of amputation was looming. Then she discovered ice water therapy. Johanna said the therapy was excruciating at first, but she slowly got used to it and the pain in her leg began to subside. For the Finnish designer, ice led the way to her recovery and, while she gets to live with both feet on the ground, ice remains an important aspect of her life. In winter, Johanna saws a hole into the thick ice in one of Finland’s countless lakes and disappears into the inky black. Between her and the world above,


RETROSPECTIVE

Since its inception the International OCEAN FILM TOUR has been featuring documentaries on pressing issues in conservation and ocean protection. A retrospective of the past programs.

SONIC SEA

Noise pollution in the ocean This groundbreaking documentary takes on a topic that was previously unheard of—oceanic noise pollution. The sound waves of countless ocean vessels and military experiments are a growing concern and threat to ocean dwellers, often resulting in whale strandings. SONIC SEA was part of the International OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 3.

LAST OCEAN

The fight for the Ross Sea A refugium at the end of the world — the Ross Sea. In the Southern ocean, off the Antarctic coast, lies the last habitat of the Antarctic toothfish. Sought-after as a delicacy in international gastronomy, the species still faced extinction. But the plea of this documentary to protect the Ross Sea was successful. In December 2017, the Ross Sea will become the world's largest marine reserve. LAST OCEAN was part of the International OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 1.

R EVOLUTION

Photos: Daniel Hinerfeld; John Weller; Rob Stewart

Conservation beyond the surface As the director of SHARKWATER, Rob Stewart didn’t have any intention of starting a revolution in worldwide conservation, above and beneath the surface of the ocean. With fascinating underwater footage and great dedication, Stewart show us how we can make a change to save what we love. Tragically, in early 2017, Stewart died in diving accident close to the Florida Keys, but his legacy lives on. REVOLUTION was part of the International OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 2.

11

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


PLASTIC OCEAN

1

REDUCE

FO(U)R THE FUTURE

Have you ever tried to avoid products that are wrapped in or contain plastic or microplastics (particles < 5mm in length)? A trip to your local supermarket will prove that it’s not easy. There are a few small shops where you can use your own bags, bottles, and glasses, but this concept still seems to be the exception rather than the rule. However, there are manufacturers working on alternative packaging materials. Papacks, for example, is using a material called “Faserstoff” (fibrous material) that consists of waste paper, industrial hemp, and similar natural fibers. It can be completely recycled and composted. www.papacks.de

Photo: NASA

About 8 tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year. How can we remove it? What can we do to prevent it from finding its way into the ocean in the first place?

12

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


PLASTIC OCEAN

3

CLEAN UP

2

RECYCLING It is absurd that we’re using a material that can easily last for 400(!) years, especially because it is ubiquitous and it's used only once and then thrown away. Plastic can be recycled—separated and properly disposed of—but when it’s left floating in the ocean, overtime, its molecular structure is destroyed by saltwater and it cannot be recovered for reuse. The fact that plastic bottles get a second life as cheap polyester clothing can't be the only solution. In fact, manufacturers have found a way to process these bottles into high-quality synthetic insulation material; other companies are working on turning ocean plastic into durable fiber for apparel or shoes.

There are already a number of ideas on how to solve the problem. Young Dutch inventor Boyan Slat and his team have developed a V-shaped sieve that filters plastic particles out of the water. The prototype was tested for the first time in 2016: www.theoceancleanup.com German architect Marcella Hansch has chosen a similar approach. As part of her master’s thesis at the RWTH Aachen, she designed a gigantic cleaning unit that is energetically self-sustaining. But for now this model only exists on the computer: www.pacific-garbage-screening.de Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of technical effort to clean up polluted beaches. With their powerful activist network, the Surfrider Foundation and Ocean Initiatives are constantly working to keep our beaches clean. And everyone can be part of it. Let’s hope that at some point this will no longer be necessary: www.initiativesoceanes.org & www.surfrider.org

13

4

ADDING VALUE For Canadian David Katz, the heart of the problem lies in the fact that we perceive plastic as garbage. David founded the Plastic Bank, an institution that accepts plastic waste and puts a value on it. For example, for every kilo of plastic, collectors get free Internet access or can recharge their smartphone. The Plastic Bank also takes care of recycling and further processing of the plastic, making this project of particular interest to poor countries without professional waste management. The project has already launched in Haiti: www.plasticbank.org

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


THE WEEKEND SAILOR

MOTLEY CRUISE

14

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


THE WEEKEND SAILOR

Initially, Ramon Carlín’s sole intention was to prevent his son from marrying way too early in life, so he enrolled himself and his family in the first-ever crew sailing race around the world. A successful salesman and sailing newbie, Carlín ultimately prevailed against all odds and the world’s sailing elite, but so did his son’s love.

15

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


THE WEEKEND SAILOR

Ironically, Ramon Carlín owes his victory against world’s best sailing teams and becoming the first winner of the Whitbread Round the World Race to his daughter-in-law. In an effort to keep his son Enrique from marrying his teenage sweetheart, the Mexican salesman enrolled his son and himself for the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973. At the time of his enrollment, Carlín had neither a boat nor a crew. But as he went on to prove to the world, Ramon Carlín is a man of few words but of great actions. The few words he does make, he keeps. 1973: The announcement for the first crew sailing race around the globe puts the international sailing scene into a frenzy. In a costly selection process, the British Navy selected the best 40 of 800 sailors to make up the United Kingdom's finest sailing crew. The sailing novice Carlín was far less conventional in his approach. In addition to his wife Paquita, his son, his trusted employee Cantis, and two of his nephews, Carlín assembles a motley crew of international sailors— Tjerk Romke de Vries of the Netherlands; the Americans Keith Lorence, Bob Martin, and Ray Conrady; the Australian David Bowen; and the Brit Butch Dalrymple-Smith—to bring the necessary manpower and know-how on board. Each man Carlín puts on the crew is a specialist in his field, and Carlín’s focus on quality and expertise shows in his choice of the vessel as well. He buys his ship, the Sayula II, in a Finnish shipyard—a 65-foot ketch with five sails and a comfortable interior to keep the crew happy even after a hundred days at sea. Naming the ship after his wife’s birthplace, Sayula, Carlín proves his confidence and his commitment to be the first Mexican to participate in an

international sailing race. The ambitious captain, his capable crew, and the brand new ship are the best recipe for surprising their opponents. As the 17 participating yachts gather in Portsmouth on September 8th, 1973, the Mexican family man without sailing experience is the laughing stock of the seasoned sailors on the other teams. But when the starter’s gun goes off, all teams are made equal by what’s in front of them—27,000 sea miles, split up in four legs: Portsmouth – Cape Town, Cape Town – Sydney, Sydney – Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro – Portsmouth. By now the regatta is called Volvo Ocean Race and has become the most prestigious and popular event in the international sailing community. After the starting shot in 1973/74 the race was held every four years but since 2006 the best sailors of the world can challenge the forces of the sea every three years. With every edition the boats have been getting faster and the rules stricter. The tragic deaths that occurred during the first race resulted in tougher security measures like mandatory security leashes on life vests. Already in the third race a female skipper joined the race: The Brit Clare Francis and her crew came in on fifth place with the boat ADC Accutrac. From the sixth race in 1989/90 and onwards, there has always been an all-female crew in the lineup—the beginning of this great tradition was marked by Tracy Edwards (UK) who joined the race with her 58-foot-slup Maiden. After the New Zealander Peter Blake had won not only the race but also all legs of it in 1989/90, the race commitee introduced a class boat for all contenders in

„RAMON CARLÍN WAS A MAN OF FEW WORDS. B U T T H E W O R D S H E S A I D , H E K E P T .” Francisco Reyes Carlín, nephew

16

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


THE WEEKEND SAILOR

Photos: Tjerk Romke de Vries

order to ensure equal opportunities. Already in the first race the quality of the contending boats turned out to be a decisive factor—Ramon Carlín would never have won if it wasn’t for his brand new boat ”Sayula II”. When car manufacturer VOLVO got involved in sponsoring the race in the late nineties, not only the number of legs but also the media coverage of the race went up. A system of points was introduced to evaluate the performance and determine the winner of the race. By now every team contending at the Volvo Ocean Race has not just the regular crew of 8 sailor (for female teams 11 sailors) on board but also a multimedia manager to document the action and provide the public with updates from the race, which lasts roughly nine months. What used to be a 120+ days race has become much more demanding: The route of the race has increased along with the number of legs. Ramon Carlín crossed the finish line after 27,000 nautical miles but the latest regatta of 2014/15 counted nine legs: From Spain to Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Auck-

The Sayula II takes a different route and wins time

land, Newport (USA) and Lisbon all the way to Gothenburg, Sweden, the race spanned the globe in 37,000 nautical miles. Come fall 2017 the game is afoot again, when the world’s sailing elite sets sail for the 13th edition of the race in Alicante, Spain. The race Ramon Carlín departed on that early September day in 1973 has gone through massive changes—just like the world it circumnavigates. What carried Carlín over the finish line of Portsmouth three months later was first and foremost his will to win and an able team of equally strong-willed individuals. But there is one thing the ”weekend sailor” Carlín didn’t succeed in: His son Enrique married his teenage sweetheart anyway after returning home from the journey. And he seems to have made the right choice. The couple is still married and enjoys regular family cruises on – you guessed it – the ”Sayula II”. Ramon Carlín saw the film project THE WEEKEND SAILOR finished in 2016. He died in May of the same year aged 92.

The young crew enjoys Rio till the police steps in

Sayula II capsizes and looses radio contact

17

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


OUR OCEANS ARE DROWNING IN WASTE THE SEA SHEPHERD MARINE DEBRIS CAMPAIGN 8 million tons of waste

Averagely get into the ocean every year

Percentage of animal species which are harmed by plastic waste:

36% 70% of that is plastic

43% marine mammals sea birds

according to the current trend up to

64 million tons of waste

will get into the ocean in

2025

100% sea turtles

2015

majority

2025

The of the waste are everyday objects, not industrial waste

Team up with Sea Shepherd and become an official partner of our Marine Debris Campaign.

WWW.SEASHEPHERDGLOBAL.ORG/MARINEDEBRIS


INTERVIEW SUSI MAI

What brings a Munich local to the Dominican Republic? My parents had a windsurfing school in Italy. One day, a friend of theirs returned from the Dominican Republic, telling them that he had found the ultimate windsurfing paradise. So my parents thought, let’s have a look. The rest is history. You are currently a successful businesswoman. Do you still have time to go kitesurfing? I’m very fortunate as I can combine my business and my sport. With our company, MaiTai, I organize kite events and there’s always time to get out there myself. What does kitesurfing mean to you? Kitesurfing is how I find balance. It’s not just the sport itself; it’s about much more than that. The sport releases endorphins, something we desperately need in times where people don’t find this balance in life anymore. Back in the day,

what is happening to the ocean. We need the ocean to pursue our sport. In the Dominican Republic, people still live off the land. Their status as a third-world country will soon be a significant advantage when you consider how a country like this has maintained its biodiversity. Soon tourists won’t travel to see the pyramids but rather to places with lush forests. That’s why I have high hopes for third-world countries that haven’t devastated their natural resources. In due time, nature will be a luxury. What’s your view of the current development in environmental policies and politics? In the last few months, there has been a major shift in what I call ”world awareness”. Although everyone is shocked by Donald Trump, there’s an upside—people are waking up and hopefully this alertness will make us question our actions

Pro-kitesurfer Susi Mai wanted to be more than a champion of her sport. Also a shrewd businesswoman, Mai is now pushing for more awareness for the oceans with the likes of Richard Branson. But she’s still in the kitesurfing game…

WIND OF CHANGE

Photo: Quincy Dein

we had to chase buffalos. Now we sit in front of computers all day. Kitesurfing helped me to not get lost in the business world. Work life is often tough and competitive, but I don’t believe that we as humans are made for such a life. We’re not computers. Your bond with the ocean becomes something entirely different when you learn how to kitesurf. The sport has definitely brought me closer to the sea on a mental level. Today it’s easy to disappear into your own little world, but kitesurfing can help us to sharpen our awareness for the ocean and its precarious state. What do you want to raise awareness for? The fact is that we won’t be able to go into the water in twenty years’ time, in ten years even, if things take a turn for the worse. As kitesurfers we’re in the front row to witness

more. We need a radical change. We have the technology to protect ecosystems, but we need people like Richard Branson, who will put their fortune toward the establishment of protected areas. Sylvia Earle has been working incessantly to create ”Hope Spots”, truly the perfect name for areas that help the ocean restore itself. I hope we can establish more of those oases of recovery. Do you keep these things in the back of your mind when you’re kiting? Yes, of course. I’m just terribly sorry to see all of it happening. I saw two kids surfing this morning and I just thought to myself, where will these guys surf when they’re grown-ups? But amidst all this pessimism there lies a source of gratitude for what we still have. For me, this gratitude is a huge motivation.

19

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


SHOREBREAK

SMACK IN THE MIDDLE Clark Little may look like a sporty 40-something, but that’s just a facade. Anyone who watches the photographer launching into the break on Hawaii’s North Shore will quickly see that he's still a kid at heart.

Haleiwa HAWAII O'AHU

20

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4

Photos: Clark Little

Honolulu


SHOREBREAK

Clark Little uses cameras and lenses by NIKON for his wave and underwater photography.

“Wow, check it out! There’s another great set coming in…” Clark Little’s face lights up. His feet are in constant motion. His eyes dart back and forth between the conversation and the beach on O’ahu’s North Shore, where one roaring set of waves after the other rolls in. Little’s hair is still wet from his last session in the shorebreak. This is his workplace, but can be more accurately dubbed his playground. Anyone watching Little at work can feel the passion he has for his elusive subjects. His objective is to catch the moment when ocean meets land and the water forms powerful, sometimes monstrous, but first and foremost beautiful creations—waves. They form perfect tunnels of water, absorbing the golden sands of O’ahu into their bright turquoise colour. And, in the midst of all this thunderous beauty, Clark Little gets his shot. Before he picked up a camera, Little says, the only motif popular within wave photography was this—a surfer barrelled in the wave, shot with a lens from the shore. Little himself has spent many years on a surfboard; perhaps that’s why he was bored by the classic and static mode of photographing waves. He wanted to take pictures of the ocean in the ocean. And so he did. With waterproof camera

gear, Little is smack in the middle of the action, capturing the power and beauty that engulfs him. And his subject never loses its appeal. No wave is like the other—ever changing, ever fascinating. Little’s photographs do have one thing in common— they draw us in. The wave gathers strength and might, then in that still point just as it reaches its peak, right before it breaks, Little captures it as a perfect blue arch over bright yellow sand. How powerful these waves actually are isn't lost on Little. He takes a beating every time he hurls himself into a wave. Every session is a succession of spin cycles in salt water. But Little doesn’t seem to mind. You can find him out for a morning session, an afternoon session, and maybe even an evening session using a flash. Little now sells his photographs all over the world, unsurprisingly as they are like a moment’s vacation for the mind. After a long day at shorebreak, Little returns to solid ground with a tired smile on his blue lips and a couple thousand pictures on his camera. And once again, he looks like a kid, reluctantly saying goodbye to his favourite playground, the big blue.

21

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


INTERVIEW CLARK LITTLE

UNWAVERING PASSION

Clark Little on his favourite spots, lay days and knowing your limits Are there any shorebreaks in the world you’d like to shoot or do you stick to Hawaii? I have shot at surf breaks including shorebreaks in California, Japan, Brazil, Tahiti and other spots. But my favorite is Hawaii. Clean and warm water with large and powerful surf. Maybe Australia would have shorebreak like this? I am sure there are other places around the world. But, in the meantime, I am very happy shooting at my local North Shore spots. What do you do on a lay day? I try to get to the beach everyday. When not at the beach, I go to my kid’s soccer and baseball tournaments and hang out with my family. I also like swimming with sharks and exploring the mountains. I also travel quite a bit and seem to be on the road every few weeks. Any pro tips for getting swallowed by a wave? My favorite piece of advice is to do something because you love it. Find passion in what you do and you will then do it often and have a lot of fun while doing it. Once you have passion, you will naturally learn what you need to do. Other than that, I would advise to be in great shape and be a good swimmer if you are thinking of shooting in the waves. Know your limits. If you are out in waves that are too big, and you are not comfortable. Go in!

22

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4

Photos: Clark Little

What makes waves so fascinating to you? Waves are fascinating since each is so beautiful, so different and then they disappear in a few seconds. No two are the same and they don’t last long. They are almost like a dream. I grew up surfing the shorebreak and I absolutely love being in the ocean, especially the barrel. This is a very special part of the wave, where time slows down and you are surrounded by water on all sides and still able to breathe. This just blows my mind. To be in such a special place that so few people get to experience. The camera then allows me to capture this fleeting moment and also take other people into this special green / blue room. Which hour of the day is your favourite to shoot and why? I used to love the morning the most during the sunrise. To have everything go from black to color as the sun rises. To be in the ocean at this time is just incredible. What a way to start the day. But these days I am not waking up in the dark to get to the beach. My favorite time is now the sunset, which is a very similar time to the morning, but opposite. With the colors fading away into darkness. So many colors come out during the sunrise and sunset. Its natures fireworks and light show. Which is your favourite spot to shoot in Hawaii? I love Ke Iki Beach which is close to Pipeline and Waimea Bay. It has some of the largest shorebreak waves in the world. Powerful and beautiful. And just 5 minutes from my house.


THE ACCORD

Surf shops—none. Bathing temperature—never. The winds—all over the place. Being a surfer in Iceland is only for the strong and stubborn. The forces of nature are raw and capricious, specially the North Atlantic wind, who turns perfect waves into a hurricane-like purgatory from one minute to the next. For surfer Heiðar Logi Elíasson, this wind can be a goodspirited accomplice, but more times than not it's his insuf-

ferable killjoy. In Heiðar’s mind, the wind takes on a life of its own as a red-bearded abusive drunkard. So there’s only one thing to do—become friends. A surfer and a force of nature drinking to brotherhood holds the promise of the best surf action around the polar circle. THE ACCORD brings a taste of Icelandic humor and creative genius to the big screen and builds a bridge between man and nature. For its unique style, THE ACCORD has already received multiple awards.

STORMY FRIENDSHIP

Photo: Elli Thor Magnusson

In THE ACCORD it’s man versus nature (over a beer)

23

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


TOURPLAN & TOURFACTS

ONE NIGHT BY THE SEA – ALL TOUR DATES More than a night at the movies: We proudly present our handpicked program in select locations across Europe. With an on-stage presenter, we bring seven ocean-themed films to the big screen. In six countries and close to 100 events, we invite you for a night by the sea!

GERMANY March 20 PREMIERE HAMBURG, Laeiszhalle - großer Saal, 8 p.m. March 21 BERLIN, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. March 23 KÖLN, Cinedom, 8 p.m. March 24 MAINZ, Capitol, 8 p.m. March 25 HEIDELBERG, Musik und Singschule, 8 p.m. March 26 FLENSBURG, Universität, 8 p.m. STUTTGART, Liederhalle/Mozartsaal, 8 p.m. March 27 WIESBADEN, Arkaden Kino, 8 p.m. March 28 ESSEN, Eulenspiegel, 8 p.m. LEIPZIG, Westbad, 8 p.m. March 29 BIELEFELD, Stadthalle kl. Saal, 8 p.m. FRANKFURT, Cinestar, 8 p.m. March 30 POTSDAM, Thalia, 8 p.m. March 31 BERLIN, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. April 01 BREMERHAVEN, Klimahaus, 8 p.m. KONSTANZ, Universität, 8 p.m. April 02 KIEL, Universität, 8 p.m. April 03 DÜSSELDORF, Savoy, 8 p.m. HAMBURG, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. April 04 BRAUNSCHWEIG, C1 - Cinema, 8 p.m. FRANKFURT, Cinestar, 8 p.m. April 05 FREIBURG, Bürgerhaus Zähringen, 8 p.m. KÖLN, Cinedom, 8 p.m. April 06 AACHEN, Cinekarree, 8 p.m. AUGSBURG, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. April 07 HEIDELBERG, Musik und Singschule, 8 p.m. ROSENHEIM, Ballhaus, 8 p.m. April 08 MÜNCHEN, Kongresshalle, 4 and 8 p.m. April 22 BOCHUM/WITTEN, Blue Beach, 8.30 p.m. April 23 STUTTGART, Liederhalle/Mozartsaal, 8 p.m. April 24 ESSEN, Lichtburg, 8 p.m. MAINZ, Capitol, 8 p.m. April 25 DÜSSELDORF, Savoy, 8 p.m. HANNOVER, Theater am Aegi, 8 p.m.

April 26 ERFURT, Kaisersaal, 8 p.m. FRANKFURT, Cinestar, 8 p.m. April 27 DRESDEN, Rundkino, 8 p.m. MARBURG, Cineplex, 8 p.m. April 28 REGENSBURG, Velodrom, 8 p.m. April 29 JENA, Uni Jena - Hörsaal 2, 8 p.m. NÜRNBERG, kl. Meistersingerhalle, 8 p.m. April 30 BERLIN, UDK, 8 p.m. MÜNCHEN, Kongresshalle, 4 and 8 p.m. May 02 AUGSBURG, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. HAMBURG, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. May 03 BRAUNSCHWEIG, C1, 8 p.m. KARLSRUHE, Konzerthaus, 8 p.m. May 04 KÖLN, Cinedom, 8 p.m. LANDSHUT, Kinopolis, 8 p.m. May 05 ULM, Kornhaus, 8 p.m. May 06 NÜRNBERG, kl. Meistersingerhalle, 8 p.m. May 07 BERLIN, UDK, 8 p.m. STUTTGART, Liederhalle/Mozartsaal, 16 und 8 p.m. May 08 HAMBURG, CinemaxX, 8 p.m. MANNHEIM, Capitol, 8 p.m. May 09 BREMEN, Pier 2, 8 p.m. ESSEN, Eulenspiegel, 8 p.m. May 10 DÜSSELDORF, Savoy, 8 p.m. KÖLN, Cinedom, 8 p.m. May 11 FLENSBURG, Hochschule Flensburg, 8 p.m. LUDWIGSBURG, Scala Kino, 8 p.m. OSNABRÜCK, Rosenhof, 8 p.m. May 12 LÜBECK, Kolosseum, 8 p.m. MÜNSTER, Aula am Aasee, 8 p.m. TÜBINGEN, Uni Morgenstelle, 8 p.m. May 13 STRALSUND, Ozeaneum, 8 p.m. GÖTTINGEN, Uni (ZHG 010), 8 p.m. May 14 LEIPZIG, Werk 2, 8 p.m. MÜNCHEN, BMW Welt, 8 p.m.

24

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


TOURPLAN & TOURFACTS

SWITZERLAND

AUSTRIA April 02 April 03 April 04 April 05 April 06

SALZBURG, republic, 8 p.m. WIEN, UCI Millennium City, 8 p.m. GRAZ, UCI Annenhof, 8 p.m. KLAGENFURT, Wulfenia, 8 p.m. INNSBRUCK, Metropolkino, 8 p.m.

THE NETHERLANDS May 06 May 07 May 08 May 09

AMSTERDAM, Podium Mozaiek, 8 p.m. UTRECHT, ZIMIHC Theater, 8 p.m. ROTTERDAM, Theater Zuidplein, 8 p.m. DEN HAAG, Theater de Nieuwe Regents, 8 p.m.

May 02 May 03 May 04 May 05 May 06 May 07 May 08 May 09 May 10 May 11

LUXEMBOURG May 13

Photo: Johannes-Maria Schlorke

ZÜRICH, Volkshaus, 8 p.m. BERN, Aula freies Gymnasium, 8 p.m. BASEL, Gundeli-Casino, 8 p.m. RORSCHACH, Carmen Würth Saal, 8 p.m. WINTERTHUR, Kongress Liebesstraße, 7 p.m. ZÜRICH, Volkshaus, 4 and 8 p.m. LUZERN, Paulusheim, 8 p.m. LAUSANNE, Salle Paderewski, 8 p.m. FRIBOURG, CO de Jolimont, 8 p.m. GENF, Salle Centrale Madeleine, 8 p.m.

LUXEMBOURG, Utopolis Kirchberg, 8 p.m.

More tour dates in the U.S. & Italy. All tour dates and tickets at www.oceanfilmtour.com 25

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4


LAST PICTURE

TONS OF OPTIMISM

Humpback whales are a beacon of hope for conservation initiatives of Least Concern in their List of Endangered Species. The recovery of humpback populations is a powerful example how conservation through fishing bans can make a difference. So these two are a beacon of hope for all the species whose future is at stake. Action�reaction. The humpback is a shining example how our actions in conservation will affect the fate of life in the ocean. If we choose to protect this giant habitat, we invest not only in the future of bio­ diversity beneath the surface, but also our own.

Imprint: The International OCEAN FILM TOUR is a production of Moving Adventures Medien GmbH | Head executives: Thomas Witt and Joachim Hellinger | www.moving-adventures.com | Editors: Paula Flach, Matthias Lüßmann, Daniela Schmitt | Art director: Birthe Steinbeck | Graphics: Claudia Wolff | V.i.S.d.P. Thomas Witt | © 2017 | Moving Adventures Medien GmbH, 80337 Munich, Germany

26

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O C E A N F I L M TO U R VOLUME 4

klimaneutral Photo: Erick Higuera

Off the Mexican coast, a young humpback calf keeps close to its mother. Humpback whales migrate from the North Pacific towards the equator to spend their winters in a milder climate, some of them around the archipelago of Revillagigedo. Mother and child are two of 80.000 humpback whales worldwide. When humpbacks faced extinction in the sixties, the international community took action by committing to a whaling ban in 1966. Thus the population was able to recuperate. Since 2008 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) rates humpbacks in the category



SSION 360° I AM ON MISSION 360° I AM ON MISS

Entdecke mehr auf nikon.de/keymission

I AM THE NEW

FROM NIKON.

Ich fange Abenteuer so ein, wie du sie erlebst, und das mit 360-Grad-Rundumblick – horizontal sowie vertikal. Ich habe keinen toten Winkel, und meine zwei UltraweitwinkelObjektive halten alles in kinoreifen 4K/UHD-Videos fest. Ich bin stoßsicher, staubdicht, frostbeständig und bis 30 Meter Tiefe wasserdicht1. Mit mir kannst du ganz in deine Geschichte eintauchen. Über die App SnapBridge 360/170 verbinde ich mich automatisch mit deinen kompatiblen Mobilgeräten, um Videoaufzeichnungen wiederzugeben oder die Kamera fernzusteuern. Ich bin grenzenlos. Die Bluetooth-Wortmarke und -Logos sind eingetragene Marken der Bluetooth SIG, Inc; die Nutzung dieser Marken durch Nikon erfolgt unter Lizenz. Daten werden in 4K/UHD-Auflösung (3840 x 2160) aufgezeichnet. Die Auflösung beim Betrachten der Videos kann jedoch, abhängig von der Art bzw. Vergrößerung des Abspielgerätes, abweichen. 1 360°-Bilder können unter Wasser nicht aufgenommen werden, da Unterwasserbilder im Vergleich zu Landaufnahmen vergrößert werden. Wenn Sie unter Wasser mit angebrachtem Unterwasser-Objektivschutz aufnehmen, entsteht ein schwarzer, das Bild umgebender Rahmen.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.