Tags
Bora Bora, Bottlenose Dolphin, Coral reefs, Earth Day, Fakarava, Islands, Lagoons, Mornings, Nature, Nuku Hiva, Photography, Planet Earth, Shores, Tahiti, tropics, Tuamotu
by Whitt Birnie
Earth Day morning, 2012. Bottlenose Dolphin. Ou’a, Fenua. Whitt08
Shores: Faratara, Taiarapu, Tahiti. Fenua.
Coastals: Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands.
Islands: The Marquesas. Nuku Hiva, Taiohae, near Typee valley.
Islands: Famous Bora Bora. Fenua. Motus, rain-showers and lagoons.
Atolls: The Tuamotu archipelago. Hirifa, Fakarava. Fenua. Early morning light.
Coral reefs.
How much longer will life survive on our planet if we continue to abuse our resources? Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, increasing pollution, flooding of low-lying coasts, fished-out oceans; the scenario looks bleak. What are we planning to leave our children – one more disaster? Time is certainly running out. We need to assume responsible change for sustaining and preserving our delicate environment.
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Outbound 
“How much longer?”, you ask. Lets not get into that depressing discussion today, when we should celebrate the manifold wonders of our planet. First understand what is at stake – then plunge into the murky politics of effecting global change. Oh, I’m being way too pessimistic, I know, and spoiling your beautiful Earth Day post. Just I think the only way to divert catastrophe (from the standpoint of its present inhabitants) is for each and every one of the planet’s human population to make a conscious effort to consume less: less water, less food, less electricity, less fossil fuel, less junk … it’ll really upset the apple cart though, and we have to be aware of the huge changes we have to make in our lifestyles (well, some of us, many more of us are living responsible, sustainable lives already – forced by circumstance, rather than choice. If it weren’t for these innocents, and the innocent animals, I’d say let the earth exact revenge!).
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Sorry about that, but you did ask …:)
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Sorry about what, provoking an opinion? I guess I should say sorry too, for making you wait so long for a reaction. Being slow is somewhat against the regulations, but I like taking time to think over my options…J
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… and what options dear whit88?:)
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Time out, as an option. I always liked the idea in “Stop the world, I want to get off.” Agree or not, your opinion makes an excellent anchor to this series. How about that cup of tea? Or, maybe we could discuss Greg Mortenson’s work. Honestly, I should read more of your site. Ok for a raincheck?
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Oh dear, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot! Yes, of course, “a cuppa tea, a Bex, and a good lie down”, by all means:)
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I’ve been banging my head around trying to get over a block on this. I can’t think of anything amusing, informative or additional to add. You sewed up all the loose ends. Thank you kindly for the quality of your comment.
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I guess our discussion never got off the ground (what’s the nautical term for that?) because I hit the ground running (ditto?) rather than meandering gently in my anger and frustration. I hope we’ll do better next time:)
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Launched for the first, and +/- ‘crossed the starting line to windward’ for the second. Yes, I read your mechanical-difficulties list and sympathized but I couldn’t risk offending you again. You know, years ago we were charmed by our first visit to Sri Lanka, and decided to return again for the festival in Kandy. I wrote ahead to the Queen’s to have a room with a view for the parade, the lake and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Perfect reservations, right next to the room of a Minister. The airline personnel had tried to talk us out of disembarking, saying it was too dangerous (let’s say wild elephants.) No way we’d listen. But the fantastic torchlight festivities in the dark of night were among the most memorable ceremonies I’ve ever seen; the flaming torches, the blaring horns, the colourful costumes and the absolutely enormous elephants, with long naturally-polished tusks, dressed up in bright colors and hypnotizing, blinking lights; it got so burned into my memory I’ll never forget it. Aren’t you lucky. Sorry I got knocked off-kilter (no nautical equivalent) with your comment, which was sensitive, humanitarian, foresighted, honest, moving and thought-provoking.
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Ah, the Perahera:) What a spectacle, what a show, what a marathon – can you imagine, doing it night after night – two weeks of it, the route getting longer and longer …? A room at Queens won’t be much different since you went during the “troubles” but you’d hardly recognise the parade area around the temple and lake, or alongside Queens itself, these days. (For the better, as far as viewing comfort is concerned, but there are so many tourists now that the informal charm is missing. Having said that, the minute you hear the first horana blaring out the perahera tune, the first drums, and whip cracks all that disappears and you’re swept away into the ‘pagan’ rituals of fire and noise, as always.) I’ve been toying with the idea of going up for the perahera this year and doing a piece from Kandy itself in August, but maybe I’ll do a teaser, just for you dear Whitt because I put you on the spot on Earth Day. Did I tell you I loved that golden light …?
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Thanks for this post. The colors are amazing!
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And thank you for appreciating it. I firmly believe in the good intentions of many of the environmental organizations that speak for us, and I support them as best I can.
As to the colours, and as other observers have noticed, the light in such a clear atmosphere is partially responsible. And because you like detail, accuracy of colour photographic images is largely due to the avoidance of spherical and chromatic aberrations in a camera’s lenses. A higher quality lens will render better colour and definition. Finally, I’ve always liked to print, and that helps sharpen the eye.
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Wow! Are you a sailor? Such great sights to see.
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Hi Monica. Thanks. I’ll have to plead the fifth on your loaded question. But yes, the great outdoors grabbed my attention early in life, and the sea captured my spirit. I’m much more at home in the water than on land.
I see you’re doing more B&W now; caught your fancy?
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I love these photos. They remind me of my visits to New Caledonia: the steep sharp edged mountains, the lagoons, the leaning palm trees along the shore. Thanks for posting them.
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Hi trishworth. What photographer could imagine a more pleasing comment than “I love these photos”? A little love makes all the effort worthwhile. Yes, you’re right, islands rising from the sea, sandy shores, turquoise lagoons, gentle trades rippling the palms – they either put people to sleep or intoxicate them to the point of addiction, a real danger of the tropics.
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Beautiful photos. They make me want to pay a visit to my little sister who lives in Tahiti :-).
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Thanks Cécile. Does she like it there?
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She’s lived in Tahiti for 2 years now and she loved the nature, the sun and the relaxed lifestyle. She will come back to France soon though because she feels like she’s seen everything French Polynesia has to offer and misses family and friends (and shops!)
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I was the other way around; I leave this place and I miss it so much, I come back.
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Another stunning set of images Whitt! And a thought provoking post.
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You are very generous Madhu, thank you.
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What beautiful photos! Its images like these that make you realize how wonderful Earth truly is
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Thanks Elizabeth. We certainly live in different worlds, but the fact that we can describe the others’ world as beautiful is remarkable. Perhaps beauty is a constant, and not only ‘in the eyes of the beholder.’ You seem to be casting up pearls.
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Sometimes we get lost in the whole process, i awoke this morning tired and sore from working on the boat all weekend. These pictures are fuel for my fire 🙂 Thank You. Alan
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Hi Alan. Clicking on ‘Stormy’ doesn’t bring up your very interesting site– this does: http://artofhookie.org/. (guess storms and I don’t get along well 🙂 )
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My friend @Whitt88, our planet is so beautiful. Just look at the natural scenery of the mountains, the breadth and depth of the oceans, and the beautiful creatures that occupy them. We can certainly say, “God is Great,” how beautiful God’s creation is! I like your foto collections.
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