I am pleased to announce the addition of Denis Glennon of Iconic Images as a new associate instructor at Art Wolfe Workshops.
Denis & I have traveled quite a bit together—to China, Australia, and South Africa—and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Later this year I have two more sold out trips with him that I am really looking forward to. His latest workshops are listed on the international photography tours page.
More images featuring the seas off Semporna, a small town on the east coast of Sabah State, Malaysia. I was continuing to photograph the amazing Bajau ‘sea gypsies’. These children don’t go to school, or speak Malay, and the families are not even counted as Malaysian. They are off the grid in every sense- living in stilted houses atop coral reefs. These people will be among the first to permanently lose their homes (and most likely their way of life) as sea levels rise. I found some villages of sea weed farmers, and you will notice their method, particularly in the aerials. Speaking of which- I was finally able to get a helicopter after waiting in limbo for four days. But the timing was the best possible window of weather for the entire five days! I continued to shoot from my plane’s window seat on my way to Sydney, via Kuala Lumpur. The huge cumulus clouds are typical of the tropics. They contain an amazing amount of energy, and as night falls provide spectacular lightning shows. You will notice a river flowing red with sediments from inland- obvious signs of further rainforest clearing to make way for palm oil plantations.
“I have been extremely fortunate to travel and learn from Art on several occasions. Every opportunity that I’ve had to listen to him I’ve learned new things, even as recently as the Patagonia workshop. Art has transformed how I perceive a photograph. He’s worked with me in the field to get it in the camera, and has shown me stronger ways to create a compelling image in the critiques. The series of lectures that Art presents always deliver strong compositional tools which can be applied while out photographing as well as in the editing process. Art is a great teacher. He is generous with his knowledge, engaging in getting you to see creatively, and provides positive and enthusiastic feedback.”
After a few hiccups in getting here, I finally landed in Tawau, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Following an early breakfast and a 45-minutes boat ride to Sabah Park’s jetty at Bohey Dulang, my journey to observe and photograph the unique culture of the oceanic Bajau people was coming to fruition. The islands of Maiga and Bodgaya serve as home to not more than 30 families of Bajau sea gypsies who adapted themselves to settle in stilt houses- though some still prefer to spend more time out in the sea!
Sunday was my last day in town before heading off to Borneo and Australia for the next couple of weeks. I had a great time teaching a workshop to a wonderful group on Saturday here in Seattle, thank you to all who attended. A couple of good friends and I drove around the ship yards in Tacoma and Seattle looking to see what sort of “found art” we might come across… something gritty, with an edge to it is what was on the agenda today. It was a great day of working these rail cars looking for abstract compositions, and I am very pleased where it all came together.
Mendocino, California native Justin Lewis was nurtured in the raw and rustic Pacific Northwest, where he honed a keen eye for capturing images that instill wonder and inspire action. Having traveled to over forty five countries and featured in many major global magazines, Justin has woven his photography career seamlessly into his lifestyle of exploration and conservation. As an artist, Justin finds inspiration in beauty, and finds beauty in nature.
Justin has spent the last two years dedicating his life to an eight phase photo-documentary project called 70 Degrees West. The project follows a single line of longitude from Greenland to Antarctica, illustrating the impact our modern civilization has on fragile eco-regions and cultures who dwell there. His photography hopes to expand global awareness of environments at risk by capturing the extreme landscape while also giving a voice to the battles each region faces both environmentally and socially. For more information, including slide shows and two video shorts, visit www.70degreeswest.com For more of Justin Lewis’s photography, visitwww.justinlewis.com
Here are a few images from Phase I – Greenland: Thule Hunter
It is said that Greenland’s Inuit name, Kalaallit Nunaat, means “The Land of Man.” To the Greenlandic natives, it is home, where the dark days and sunlit nights demand the human spirit to endure at all costs. Here, a sled driver and dog team rest for a moment under the arch of a looming translucent blue iceberg frozen in the sea ice.
The life of a dog sled driver is one of patience and discipline. Nine Greenlandic Arctic dogs rest during a long trek across the ice. Greenlandic Arctic sled dogs are only exist north of the Arctic Circle and found no where else in the world.
The magic of Northern Greenland’s midnight sun is filled with stunning beauty and extreme isolation. This image was taken at 3 o’clock in the morning where a tidal pond formed on the surface of the sea ice. Salt water was forced up through cracks in the sea ice as the oceans tide came up.
Spring time comes to Ilulissat, Greenland and the fisherman begin to venture out into the recently broken chunks of looming sea ice. Eager to get out fishing, some fisherman launch their boats into the Arctic waters, delicately navigating through chunks and sheets of ice.
Thomas Martika Qujaukitsoq was born in Qaanaaq, Greenland, one of the northern most municipalities in the world. He wears a reindeer jacket his grandmother hand-stitched for him when he was a young man. Although he has hunted extensively through the surrounding landscape, he has never traveled to any other part of the world. His home is Qaanaaq, his life is that of hunting, fishing, and driving his dog sled. He says, “I drive my dog sled because it is my culture and my life. It will always be like that.”
During the warmer months, massive icebergs calve from the glacier head and slowly drift through vast fjords. Certain icebergs can float for many years, very slowly melting and breaking into smaller chunks of ice.
I had the chance to take a chilly dive under the sea ice during our photo expedition in Ilulissat, Greenland. Dressed in a dry suit and specialized arctic gear, it was ethereal and thrilling. Having a ceiling of ice above me and no sight of a sea floor, it felt other-worldly.
Last week I was in the Bay Area doing a Google Talk with Nik. My talk will be posted within the next couple weeks.
Later I was walking in a San Francisco neighborhood and saw two red macaws flying out over the city and I followed them down to this local park. There I met the man who had raised them and allows them to free fly out over the skyline. While in the park several people showed up making soap bubbles with wands and rope to the delight of onlookers- and me. Just something fun about bubbles! Finally, what’s a trip to SF without crossing the Golden Gate Bridge for some photos from the famous Battery Spencer vista point.
“I recently went on a winter workshop with Art Wolfe to Japan. The places we went were fantastic, the photographic opportunities were great, the people on the tour were lots of fun, and last, but not least, Art was really a great guy to be around. He was always helpful with photo tips and always had us in the right place at the right time. I wouldn’t hesitate to go on another workshop with him.”
“Another wonderful workshop! It’s hard to beat these trips — Art and Gavriel are great leaders — knowledgeable, enthusiastic, with a lifetime of experience in wildlife and nature photography, and fun to travel with. Art’s vision is truly inspirational … he has a unique ability to teach the “art” side of photography. And this was a terrific opportunity to experience the natural beauty of rural Japan and be exposed to some amazing wildlife. Can’t wait for the next trip! “
Denis & I have traveled quite a bit together—to China, Australia, and South Africa—and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Later this year I have two more sold out trips with him that I am really looking forward to. His latest workshops are listed on the international photography tours page.
