I was able to upload the rest of the images from the Sepik before hopping on the airplane to head home.
Traveling up the Sepik River has definitely been a greater challenge than the earlier part of the trip. However, struggle is not without its rewards. References to freshwater crocodiles are in evidence everywhere you look in Sepik tribal culture. The Sepik tribes revere the freshwater crocs since they are the only big, bad thing in their environment (other than the clouds of bloodsucking mosquitoes). They mimic the scales in their corporeal scarification and their houses are made of layered leaves to look like croc scales. Sacred totems and elaborate carvings also colorfully incorporate the crocodile.
Earlier in the week the leading newspaper in PNG, the Post-Courier ran a short front page story on our film project. It is gratifying to know that this project is interesting and important to so many people.
_psEmbed(“https://www.artwolfestock.com”);
Traveling up the Sepik River has definitely been a greater challenge than the earlier part of the trip. However, struggle is not without its rewards. References to freshwater crocodiles are in evidence everywhere you look in Sepik tribal culture. The Sepik tribes revere the freshwater crocs since they are the only big, bad thing in their environment (other than the clouds of bloodsucking mosquitoes). They mimic the scales in their corporeal scarification and their houses are made of layered leaves to look like croc scales. Sacred totems and elaborate carvings also colorfully incorporate the crocodile.
Papua New Guinea is the first location for a Canon Australia film project I am working on with Abraham Joffe (www.untitledfilms.com.au). It has been a couple decades since I have been to the Highlands and I was extremely excited to be photographing the Asaro Mudmen again as well as the Huli and Chimbu. The filmmakers are channeling Baraka (one of my favorite movies), using drones and movement in virtually every shot. Up next: the Sepik River.
PALOUSE WORKSHOP with Art Wolfe Pullman, Washington
August 15-17, 2014, with an evening reception on August 14th at The Hilltop Hotel.
This three-day course will change the way you look through the lens as well as how you look at your photographs. Art will share the finer points of maximizing early morning and late afternoon light. Field shoots will be at some of the most beautiful locations around the beautiful wheat fields of eastern Washington.
All aspects of outdoor photography will be covered including composition, field techniques, technology, and the unique philosophy of this highly specialized profession. There will be informative lectures, rigorous critiques and portfolio reviews.
Want to do aerial photography? Flight add-on available. Please email info@artwolfe.com.
For more info, or to register for the workshop click HERE.
In January I was in India, photographing in the desert Kutch, wild Kanha National Park and along the lush Kerala coast; I transitioned from that subtropical clime to snowy Yellowstone National Park. February took me back to India’s remote Ladakh region in a quest for snow leopards; hiking every day at high altitudes I lost seven pounds and found the cats extraordinarily difficult to photograph, but all in all it was a rewarding return to the High Himalaya.
Often my favorite shots are serendipitous and this image of a single Gentoo penguin on an iceberg is one of those cases. Here along the Antarctic Peninsula, Gentoos live on just a few islands.
As we approached slowly in the Zodiac there were several penguins sitting and standing on the iceberg, and I remember thinking to myself that it would really be cool if there were only one. As if on cue, three of them dove into the water leaving the one. I expected the straggler to follow, but it stayed as if reading my mind.
By remaining on the iceberg, the single penguin on its little chunk of ice became a metaphor for dwindling ice packs throughout the world. I wanted to show the enormity of this penguin’s world so I chose to use a 16-35mm f/2.8 wide angle lens while holding a graduated neutral density filter to give the sky more impact. The deeper gray of the sky also brings out the deep blue hues of the icebergs in the distance. On sunny days the opposite is true; the brighter sky diminishes the color of the ice. I also did something I don’t normally do: I put the subject in the center of the frame. By doing this I am making a statement about the vast expanse of this environment and the limits of the ice.
I have three trips to Antarctica coming up. Two are sold out but you can get on the wait-list:
I can say without reservation that this trip to Ladakh’s Hemis National Park was a great return to the Himalayas. I found the snow leopards extraordinarily difficult to photograph at close range. And yet with time and serendipity it is quite possible a snow leopard could walk directly through camp. Unfortunately, we experienced neither. We literally worked our butts off. I lost about 7 pounds in a week, hiking the trails every day at elevations between 12 and 14,000 feet. The dance ceremony was at the Likir Monastery, near Leh. Held annually, it commemorates the “letting go” of the previous year’s hardships. While at times disappointing, on a whole, the trip was fascinating and ultimately rewarding.
Nestled in the Indian Himalayas Ladakh is one of the best areas to see the elusive snow leopard. I am also getting to know more about the people who live here, and taking in the spectacular scenery and other wildlife.
The first couple days we spent in Leh getting acclimatized to the high altitude before heading out on our snow leopard expedition. The city and the surrounding valley and mountains are home to many imposing palaces and monasteries.
2013 was a year of firsts as well as a year of accomplishment. I did a huge amount of traveling, much of it in preparation for my new book Earth Is My Witness coming out Fall 2014. Destinations included Kenya, the South Pacific, the Galapagos, Iceland, southern Africa, my home region of the Pacific Northwest, Brazil, Australia, Borneo, Italy, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Myanmar, and India.
We published two instructional photography books with Amphoto Books: The New Art of Photographing Nature with Martha Hill and Tim Grey and The Art of the Photograph with Rob Sheppard. Find them in the store HERE
I received much-appreciated honorifics, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Nature Photography Association and the Nature’s Best Photography Award in recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Nature Photography.
The Rotella Gallery opened an exciting new Soho location. You may have seen the dramatic full page ads in the New York Times featuring my image “Spirit Horse.” Find their location information HERE
Teaching workshops is always a pleasure. In April I conducted a Masters of Nature Photography seminar with legendary nature photographers Frans Lanting and Tom Mangelsen. We have another event coming up in February 2014 and I will be posting some additional events soon at www.artwolfeworkshops.com.
If you find yourself in Seattle, please do not hesitate to drop by my gallery. As always, please keep an eye on the blog, Twitter, Facebook and G+ for the latest updates.
