>> 
HELLO.
HOW IS IT GOING?
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A
WHOLE LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHY HERE,
PROBABLY OVER 100 IMAGES,
AND I'M GOING TO WRAP UP WITH A
15-MINUTE WEBISODE.
I KNOW A LOT ARE TUNED IN ON
TWITTER AND LIVE FEEDS ACROSS
100 COUNTRIES.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
EVERYBODY.
I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THAT WHAT
THAT PROGRAM IS ABOUT AND I HAVE
USED SOCIAL MEDIA AND
PHOTOGRAPHY AS A TOOL.
ONE OF THE THING I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE IN THIS PRESENTATION
AND SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN
SITTING IN A LOT OF YOUR
MEETINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE
LAST DAY OR SO, AND THE POWER OF
COMMUNICATION THROUGH
PHOTOGRAPHY CANNOT BE
UNDERESTIMATED.
I THINK THAT IT'S EASY TO SAY
IT'S -- JUST THROW A PHOTO UP
THERE OR DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT
THAT THE JOURNEY I TAKE YOU
STARTS PERSONAL AND ENDS IN HOW
I'VE LEVERAGED THE POWER OF GOOD
IMRY AND THE INTERNET AND SHORT
FILMS TO REACH A WHOLE NEW
GENERATION OF PEOPLE.
WE CAN ALL SIT HERE AND TALK
ABOUT WILD, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
BE WILD, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
SAVE THESE PLACES FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION BUT HOW DO WE REACH
THE NEXT GENERATION?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE
PLACES SAVED AND NOBODY IS GOING
TO BE IN THEM.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY
TO MAKE THE OUTDOORS RELATE TO
SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE REALLY
MADE A BIG PART OF MY CAREER.
SO BEFORE I SAY ANY MORE, LET ME
GET STARTED.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF IMAGES I
ENJOY MAKING.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF IMAGES I
DO A LOT OF.
I GET GO TO A LOT OF COOL PLACES
AND PHOTOGRAPH THESE KINDS OF
VIEWS.
WHILE THIS IS GREAT FOR A
CALENDAR, IT'S NOT THE BASIS OF
THE WAY I REALLY COMMUNICATE
WITH PEOPLE.
THE WAY I COMMUNICATE WITH
PEOPLE IS OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
LANDSCAPE.
SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A
PROJECT THAT I WORKED ON WHICH
WAS REALLY KIND OF THE
FOUNDATION THAT SET THE ENTIRE
SCENE FOR MY CAREER.
THAT WAS AS THE FIRST
PHOTOJOURNALIST EMBEDDED ON A
SEARCH AND RESCUE CREW ON
MT. MCKINLEY IN ALASKA.
I DID THIS STORY ABOUT THREE
YEARS AGO.
IT WAS FOR THE NATIONAL PARK
CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION.
PEOPLE SEE THIS IMAGE AND THIS
IMAGE IS IN MY BOOK ON THE
NATIONAL PARKS AND THEY SAY,
THAT'S PRETTY IMAGE OF MT.
FOREKER AND LOVE THE SNOW.
ALASKA IS REALLY PRETTY.
WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE IS THERE
IS TWO STORIES TO EVERY PHOTO.
THERE IS A STORY THIS PHOTO
TELLS AND THEN THE STORY OF
HOW -- WHAT IT TOOK TO MAKE
THATTAGE AND THEY ARE TWO VERY
DIFFERENT STORIES.
FOR ME THAT STORY BEGAN HERE.
I WAS UP IN AN AIRPLANE, PART OF
THIS CREW, SIX MUCH US UP ON THE
MOUNTAIN.
I WAS PART OF THE LEAD CLIMBING
RANGERS TEAM WHO IS NOW THE HEAD
OF SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR
MT. MCKINLEY.
WE FLEW IN THESE LITTLE
AIRPLANES.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN ALASKA.
I HAD NEVER BEEN TO ALASKA
BEFORE.
IT'S SO STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND
I'M FLYING IN A TINY PLANE, SKIS
ARE POKING IN OVER OUR HEADS AND
I HAVE MY ONE CAMERA STRAPPED
ACROSS MY CHEST.
THIS THING LOOKS BIGGER THAN IT
WAS IN REAL LIFE.
WE'RE FLYING IN AND THIS IS
THE -- THIS IS OUR RUNWAY.
WE LAND ON AN ACTIVE GLACIER
WHICH MOVES A FOOT EVERY DAY.
SO SOMEBODY POKES IT WITH A ROD
TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE KNOW
HOLES.
I'M THINKING THIS IS GOING TO BE
SPECTACULAR.
THE PLANE GOES AND BANKS TO COME
IN FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND
THROUGH THIS LITTLE SUBMARINE
WINDOW I PUSH MY LENS UP AND
PHOTOGRAPH THIS IMAGE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT
BEING A NATIONAL PARK
PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTOGRAPHING
IN SO MANY PARKS ACROSS THE
STATES IS THE PERSPECTIVE I'VE
HAD.
I'VE HAD SUCH UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE THESE
PLACES IN WAYS NO ONE HAS EVER
THOUGHT OF THEM BEFORE.
YOU THINK OF THE DENALI NATIONAL
PARK.
MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THE CLASSIC
FALL SCENE WITH THE MOOSE IN THE
FIELD BUT DON'T THINK OF DENALI,
THE HEART OF IT, AS A PLACE
BEING A PLACE WHERE SO MANY
MOUNTAINEERS BEGIN THEIR
JOURNEY.
THIS IS THE RUNWAY HERE.
THIS IS THE NATIONAL PARK
HEADQUARTERS AND THE WEATHER
CENTER HERE.
THIS IS WHERE I LIVED FOR THREE
DAY TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE
GEAR, RESCUE.
NOT ONLY WAS A PHOTOJOURNALIST
UP HERE I WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE,
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEAM ROPED
IN FOR, COOKING DINNER, CLEANING
DISHES, RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING
UP TENTS AND WAKING UP AT 3:00
IN THE MORNING TO CLIMB.
THERE WAS NO SHERPA TO CARRY
ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE 17
BATTERIES I HAD TO BRING AND
HUNDREDS OF GIGABYTES OF MEMORY
CARDS.
EVERYTHING WAS BEING DONE HERE
GETTING -- KIND OF GETTING USED
TO THE TRIP.
I LOVE THIS.
IT'S SUCH AN ABSTRACT VIEW YOU
DON'T PICTURE.
SPECTACULAR.
I THINK THIS WHOLE JOURNEY IS
GOING TO BE AMAZING.
THIS PLANE IS MUCH NICER THAN
THE ONE I FLEW IN ON.
THIS THESE FOUNTAINS ARE MY
BACKDROP, THE REST IS THE GOING
TO BE THE EASIEST ASSIGNMENT
I'VE EVER DONE.
HOW DO YOU TAKE A BAD PICTURE IN
ALASKA.
THEN IT LOOKED LIKE THIS FOR THE
NEXT WEEK.
THE SAYING WAS IT LOOKED LIKE IT
WAS INSIDE OF A PING-PONG BALL.
YOU HAD NO HORIZON LINE.
YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE HEAD
IN FRONT OF YOU THE WHOLE TIME.
I'M LIKE HOW DO I TELL A STORY
ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS PART OF THE STORY.
IT IS A VERY ZEN, VERY
MEDITATIVE EXPERIENCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE HEADPHONES,
LISTENING TO MUSIC.
IT'S NOT SAFE.
YOU'RE LITERALLY LISTENING TO
YOUR OWN FOOT IN FRONT OF YOU
FOR SIX HOURS EXCEPT FOR A BREAK
EVERY HOUR FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU WOULD GET
A BREAK AND THE FOG AND THE
CLOUDS WOULD LIFT AND YOU WOULD
GET A SENSE OF THE SCALE AND
PLACE YOU ARE AS YOU'RE CLIMBING
THIS GIANT GLACIER.
THEN WE GOT UP TO WINDY CORNER
WHICH WAS I SO GRATEFUL FOR.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
I READ ON TOO MUCH ON THE
INTERNET.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO, THIS IS
GOING TO BE THE PLACE.
I GET UP THERE, THERE'S NO WIND,
IT WAS WARM.
WE'RE AT 13,200 FEET WHICH GIVES
YOU AN IDEA HOW HIGH IT IS.
OXYGEN IS SCARCE AT THIS POINT.
YOU'RE STARTING TO REALLY FEEL
IT.
WHEN PEOPLE GO PARACHUTING THEY
JUMP OUT OF A AN AIRPLANE
THEY'RE AT 13,000 FEET.
LUCKED-OUT HERE.
IT WAS A GREAT CLIMBING DAY FOR
ME.
FINALLY GOT IN MY OWN RHYTHM.
ON OUR WAY TO 14,000 FEET.
AT 14,400 FEET IS MEDICAL BASE
CAMP.
I WAS HERE TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS
STORY OF RESOURCES.
THIS WASN'T JUST SEARCH AND
RESCUE BUT HOW DOES THE NATIONAL
PARK MANAGE THE RESOURCES OF THE
MOUNTAIN, HOW DO THEY KEEP IT
CLEAN, GOT GARBAGE COMING OFF,
HELPING PEOPLE INJURED, HURT,
GOT FROSTBITE, LIKE THESE GUYS.
GUY ON THE RIGHT ON THE RIGHT
WAS MORTIFIED BECAUSE HIS WIFE
TOLD HIM NOT TO GO.
NOW HE WAS GOING TO LOSE A
LITTLE TISSUE.
HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE
TISSUE... HE WAS MORE WORRIED
ABOUT WHAT HIS WIFE WAS GOING TO
SAY WHEN HE GOT HOME.
THIS IS WHERE I SPENT A WEEK
LITERALLY MAKING BURGERS FOR
PETER HILLARY, SIR EDMUND
HILLARY'S SON WHO WAS CLIMBING
ON THE MOUNTAIN AT THAT TIME.
IF YOU SAW "127 HOURS," AARON
RALSTON WAS UP THERE SKIING UP.
HE WOULD GO UP AND SKI DOWN.
HE WOULD SUMMIT EVERY DAY AND
THEN SKI DOWN BY HIMSELF INTO
BASE CAMP.
WE WOULD SIT IN CHAIRS WATCHING
HIM COME DOWN.
WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS I'M A
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER, AND THIS IS
SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSIGNMENT,
BUT IT IS THE NATIONAL PARKS.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT'S PART OF A
CONSERVATION -- PART -- A PIECE
OF LAND THAT'S PART OF A
CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
A LARGE CONSERVATION PROGRAM BY
A OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
NOW I'M PHOTOGRAPHING LIFE AND
DEATH SITUATIONS.
WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT NOTHING
EXISTS WITHOUT US BEING A PART
OF IT, EVEN THE HIGHEST
MOUNTAINS IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH
MT. MCKINLEY IS.
IT'S A HARD CLIMB.
LOT OF THINK IT'S HARDER THAN
MOUNT EVEREST.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF ELEMENTS
HAPPENING UP THERE.
YOU'RE NOT -- YOU'RE CARING YOUR
OWN GEAR.
NOT CARRYING BOTTLED OXYGEN.
IT'S A CHALLENGE.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T DO WELL WITH
IT.
THIS GUY BEING RESCUED DOWN FROM
17,000 FEET WHICH WAS AN ACTIVE
RESCUE HAD TO BE BROUGHT DOWN
AND WE BROUGHT HIM INTO THE
MEDICAL TENTED AND THEY HAD TO
HYDRATE HIM.
HIS TEAM LEFT HIM BEHIND.
HE TOLD THEM TO LEFT LEAVE HIM
BEHIND.
HE SAID GO AHEAD WITHOUT ME.
I'M GOING TO SIT HERE AND TAKE A
BREAK.
THEY MAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN,
HE'S NOWHERE TO BE SEEN AND THE
RUSSIAN TEAM OF CLIMBERS WERE
ABLE TO RADIO US AND WE WERE
ABLE TO GO UP AND THEY STARTED
LOWERING HIM AND SEARCH AND
RESCUE TOOK OVER HALFWAY UP.
HE WAS IN REALLY ROUGH SHAPE.
HE ONLY HAD SOMETHING LIKE 22%
OXYGEN LEVEL IN HIS BLOOD WHERE
ALL OF US HAVE ABOUT 19 IN HERE
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE MAYBE 90 AS
A CLIMBER WHO IS HEALTHY ON A
MOUNTAIN.
EVERY TIME HE CAME OFF THE AIR
HE WOULD -- HIS BLOOD LEVELS
WOULD COME BACK DOWN, HIS OXYGEN
LEVEL WOULD COME BACK DOWN.
HE HAD TO STAY ON THE BOTTLE
THERE.
HE HAD TO STAY ON THE BOTTLE
THERE FOR THREE DAYS BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO LINE OF SIGHT FOR A
HELICOPTER TO PICK HIM UP.
IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL THING THE
HELICOPTER, PEOPLE TAKE RISKS
AND IF THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE
RESCUED DO THEY TAKE MORE RISKS?
IT'S SOMETHING EVERYBODY IS
GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH.
THE TRUTH IS THE HELICOPTER MAY
OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET YOU
OUT OF THERE.
IN MOST CASES LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T COME BACK.
IN THIS CASE THIS GUY WAS IN
CERTAINLY VERY CAPABLE HANDS AND
AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING, ONE
EVENING THE HELICOPTER COMES IN
TO LAND.
IT'S A HIGH ALTITUDE SPECIALIZED
HELICOPTER.
THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE OF THEM IN
THE WORLD, IT'S CALLED A LLAMA,
THIS ONE IS CALLED THE DENALI
LLAMA, WHICH IS KIND OF FUNNY.
I WAS GIVEN IN A SHORT
OPPORTUNITY OF TIME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO -- ONE OF THE
BEST DECISIONS I MADE BUT CHANGE
THE COURSE OF MY CAREER AS A
PHOTOGRAPHER BECAUSE IT WAS SO
IMPACTFUL.
I'M BONDING WITH THESE PEOPLE --
THERE WAS NO REAL RADIO, THERE
WAS NO REAL -- THERE'S NO
TELEVISION, INTERNET CELL
PHONES.
NONE OF THAT.
SO YOU'RE JUST UP THERE WITH A
GROUP OF PEOPLE AND YOU LEARN
EVERYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER.
I WOULD SAY IT'S THE CLOSEST
THING I'VE EVER BEEN TO THE
MILITARY.
YOU'RE EMBEDDED WITH A CREW.
YOU FEEL THAT SENSE OF
CAMARADERIE AND I WANTED TO
FINISH THE REST OF MY TIME BUT
AT THE SAME TIME I THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN WITH THE
PATIENT.
IT WAS 11:30 AT NIGHT.
SUMMER IN ALASKA THE LIGHT IS
STAYING UP LONG.
BARELY GOES DOWN BELOW THE
HORIZON, BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN AT
NIGHT AND COMES UP A FEW HOURS
LATER, AND THIS GUY HERE, JOHN
LEONARD, IS LIKE THIS IS SUCH A
RARE OPPORTUNITY, YOU HAVE TO
TAKE IT, YOU HAVE TO PHOTOGRAPH
IT.
SO IN A MATTER OF WHAT WAS AN
HOUR I MADE A DECISION 'LEAVE
THE MOUNTAIN WHICH WAS A HARD
THING.
I GOT TO GO UP IN THIS BUBBLE
AND FLY OFF OF NORTH AMERICA'S
HIGHEST PEAK MORE OR LESS ACROSS
THE TOP OF THE ALASKA RANGE AT
11:30 AT NIGHT.
I'M IN MY DOWN, HAVE ALL MY GEAR
THROWN IN A BAG.
THE CLOUDS ARE COMING IN.
YOU COULD SEE THE CLOUD LAYER
THAT HELD HIM UP THERE WAS
LINGERING.
I'M KIND OF GLIDING ACROSS AND
IT'S THE MOST SURREAL EXPERIENCE
BECAUSE IN A MATTER OF 50
MINUTES I GO FROM THE SLOPES
THAT TOOK TWO-AND-A-HALF WEEKS
TO GO UP THERE AND I START TO
SEE THE SNOW -- I'M SEAL SEEING
SMOKE CHUNKS FALLING OFF OF
ROCKS FROM THE VIBRATION OF THE
HELICOPTER BLADES.
THEN THE GREEN STARTS TO CREEP
ITS WAY UP.
THE SUN IS GETTING LOWER AND
LOWER ON THE HORIZON.
I'M SWEEPING DOWN THROUGH THIS
VALLEY AND SEE BLACK BEARS
RUNNING THROUGH AND IN A MATTER
OF 50 MINUTES I'M STANDING IN
THE PARKING LOT WHERE MY JOURNEY
BEGAN THREE WEEKS BEFORE THAT
AND I'M IN A DOWN JACKET, IT'S
85 DEGREES, MOSQUITOES ARE
FLYING AROUND, HAVE THIS AWESOME
BEARD GOING AND I'M THINKING
WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
IT TOTALLY BLEW MY MIND BECAUSE
I SAW THIS TRANSFORMATION OF THE
ICE AGE ALMOST SPED UP.
IF YOU HAD TAKEN A FRAME EVERY
DAY.
IT WAS LIKE WATCHING THAT.
YOU GET TO SEE THE PROCESS FROM
THE ICY COLD CAP OF THE WORLD
INTO THIS LUSH GREEN LIFE.
IT WAS AN AMAZING 50-MINUTE
JOURNEY THAT I THINK COMPLETELY
BLEW MY MIND.
IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT PEOPLE
ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR LANDSCAPE.
PEOPLE ARE A PART OF OUR
LANDSCAPE.
IT GIVES US THE PERSPECTIVE.
FROM THIS MOMENT MY PHOTOGRAPHY
TOOK A TURN FROM BEING THE
CALENDAR-TYPE IMAGES INTO
INCLUDING THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN
SOME FORM OR ANOTHER.
I FOUND THAT ELEMENT IS WHAT HAS
TRANSFORMED A LOT OF MY OWN
IMAGES INTO SOMETHING PEOPLE
CONNECT WITH AND CONNECTING IS
WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
PHOTOGRAPHY IS MORE THAN JUST
TAKING A PRETTY PICTURE.
IT'S SHARING AN EXPERIENCE.
IT'S SHARING THE FEELING YOU
HAVE AT THAT MOMENT.
IT'S PUTTING PEOPLE IN THAT
EXPERIENCE.
AND IT GETS THEM INVESTED.
IT GETS PEOPLE TO SAY, WOW, I
WANT THAT EXPERIENCE, TOO, IF
YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT.
HOW BETTER TO CONNECT THAN TO
CONNECT BY SEEING SOMEBODY IN
THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S KIND OF A FUN TEST.
WOULD THIS BE A GOOD PICTURE IF
THE GUY WASN'T IN IT?
BUT IF YOU HOLD YOUR THUMB UP
AND LOOK WITHOUT HIM, IT'S A
NICE PICTURE BUT IT'S A MUCH
BETTER PICTURE WITH SOMEBODY IN.
LOOK AT THE SCALE, THE SIZE OF
THE MOUNTAINS, THE ALMOST
SEEMINGLY UNREALISTIC BEAUTY IT
HAS.
A LOT OF MY PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTINUED WITH THAT.
ALL OF IT IS NATURAL.
THERE ARE NO MODELS OR ANYTHING
SUPPOSED.
THIS IS IN A CORAL REEF, THIS IS
BACK OUT IN MICRONESIA.
YOU CAN PHOTOGRAPH A CORAL REEF
BUT YOU SEE SOMEBODY FREE
DIVING, THESE ARE THE LOCAL GUYS
DOING A LOT OF SEDIMENTATION
RESEARCH OUT THERE, IMMEDIATELY
YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH THE IMAGE
AND WITH THE PLACE.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
PLACES IS THE CHANNEL ISLANDS IN
CALIFORNIA.
I LOVE GOING OUT THERE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S GREEN AND
IT'S RARE.
MY FRIEND WENT RUNNING THROUGH
THE FIELD WHICH WAS A LITTLE
WITH IT OF A "WIZARD OF OZ"
MOMENT BECAUSE WE GOT REALLY
TIRED UP THERE ALL OF A SUDDEN,
FELL ASLEEP IN THE GRASS AND IT
WAS SUNSET.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO RELATE TO
PLACE LIKE A MARINE SANCTUARY, I
LOVE TO GET RIGHT IN ON THE
IMAGE AND SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND WHEN THERE'S NOBODY ELSE
AROUND, I'M A MODEL FOR MYSELF.
I'LL SET TIMER AND WALK THROUGH
THE PICTURE TO GIVE PEOPLE A
SENSE OF PLACE.
I FELL IN LIKE FIVE TIMES TRYING
TO MAKE THIS PICTURE.
I JUST KEPT SLIPPING OFF THE
ROCKS.
SOMETIMES THE HUMAN ELEMENT IS A
LOT MORE SUBTLE.
IT COULD BE A ROAD THROUGH A
PLACE LIKE THE EVERGLADES, A
BOAT CUTTING ACROSS THE ROCK
ISLANDS, OR THE ABSTRACT.
I LOVE TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK WHAT
IT IS THEY'RE LOOKING AT FIRST.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT'S
A -- IT'S SPRINKLERS IRRIGATING
GRAPE VINES IN CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA.
LITTLE BIT OF AERIAL -- LITTLE
BIT ABOUT MY PROCESS AND KIND OF
HOW I GO ABOUT MY PHOTOGRAPHY
AND ALL THIS THESE COOL COLORS.
IT'S BECAUSE I DO MOST OF MY
PHOTOGRAPHY BEFORE -- RARELY
BEFORE THE SUNRISES BUT THAT'S
THE IDEA.
BEFORE THE SUNRISES AND AFTER
THE SUN GOES DOWN OR RIGHT AS
THE SUN IS GOING DOWN.
MOST OF THE IMAGES YOU HAVE SEEN
WERE TAKEN AFTER DARK.
THIS IS THE PETRIFIED FOREST
WHICH WAS A VERY DIFFICULT PLACE
TO PHOTOGRAPH, ESPECIALLY IN
LATE DAY SUN BECAUSE YOU GET
HIGH CONTRAST HIGHLIGHTS IN HERE
AND THIS TURNS INTO A SHADOW
THIS IS WHITE GROUND AND YOU
LOOK AT THE COLOR AND IT'S
PASTEL AND BLUE.
MY OWN SHADOW WAS GETTING IN THE
WAY BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOOTING
SOMETHING KNEE HIGH AND YOU --
THE SUN IS BEHIND YOU AND YOU'RE
TRYING TO GET THE NICE SKY AND
YOUR OWN SHADOW IS GOING ACROSS.
SUN GOES DOWN, SKY TURNS BLUE,
PURPLE AND PINK AND THIS WHITE
CLAY ISSUE ROCK STARTS TO
REFLECT THE COLOR OF THE SKY,
THE HA SHALL CONTRAST DIES DOWN,
BALANCES OUT, ABLE TO PHOTOGRAPH
THIS 250 MILLION-YEAR-OLD LOG
THAT'S BEEN TURNED TO STONE.
REMEMBER THE GUY RUNNING THROUGH
THE FIELD.
WHEN I WOKE UP THAT'S WHAT IT
LOOKED LIKE.
THE SUN GOES DOWN AND THAT
CONTRAST ON ALL THE LEAVES,
BRIGHT GREEN, KIND OF HARSH
SHADOWS AND EVERYTHING, IT WAS A
COOL PICTURE BUT THIS ONE IS SO
MUCH MORE MAGICAL BECAUSE YOU
GET TO SEE WHAT I CALL THE TRUE
COLOR.
IT'S THAT NICE AMBIENT LIGHT,
LIKE A NICE SOFT BOX UP ABOVE
YOU BUT THERE'S NO SPOTLIGHT
COMING DOWN ON EVERYTHING.
YOU HAVE TO USE A TRIPOD.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF
PATIENCE.
SOMETHING I GOT BY BEING AN ONLY
CHILD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY
LIKE, TOO, IS TO HANG AROUND
LONG AFTER DARK, AND IT'S FUNNY,
EVERYBODY IS, HOW DO YOU GET
THAT PICTURE LIKE THAT.
I'M LIKE, I STAY.
EVERYBODY IS PACKING THEIR CAR
AND HEADING BACK TO THE HOTEL OR
DINNER.
THING IS, I DON'T HAVE GREAT
DINNERS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS
CLOSED BY THE TIME I GET IN.
BUT I'M GETTING GOOD
PHOTOGRAPHS.
THIS IS-OUT IN BAD WATER BASIN.
THIS WAS A POPULAR TIME.
SUN HAS GONE DOWN AND THIS IS
SALT.
SALT IS NORMALLY WHITE BUT FOR
ME IT'S PINK AND BLUE BECAUSE
IT'S STARTING TO REFLECT THE
SKY.
I WAITED.
ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERRERS WERE
OUT THERE AROUND THE SAME TIME
BUT THEN EVERYBODY LEFT.
I KEPT HANGING ON AND HAD ONE OF
THOSE HORRIBLE SANDWICHES I LIKE
TO MAKE MYSELF AND THEN IN THAT
EXACT SAME SPOT THE MOON ROSE
OVER THE TOP AND I WAS ABLE TO
GET THIS COOL ABSTRACT VIEW OF
BAD WATER BASIN WITH A LITTLE
WATER STILL IN IT AND WHERE I
WAS -- I WAS OUT HERE
PHOTOGRAPHING SOMEWHERE IN THIS
AREA AND I WAS UP KIND OF ALMOST
ON THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT.
YOU CAN STILL SEE THE OUTLINE OF
THE MOON.
IT WAS A MAGICAL MOMENT AND I
WAS THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE
HAVING IT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS.
ONE GOOD EXAMPLE OF SHOOTING IN
THE SHADOWS AND USING SMOKE AND
LATE DAYLIGHT, THIS WAS TAKEN AN
HOUR AND A HALF AFTER THE
SUNSET.
THIS IS IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
MONTANA.
THIS IS A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF LONG
EXPOSURE WHICH IS WHY THE WATER
IS SO GLASSY AND CLEAR.
THE SMOKE THAT WAS COMING
THROUGH, FOREST FIRE SMOKE HAD
SETTLED INTO THE MOUNTAINS,
SETTLED UP INTO THE EDGES AND
THE CRACKS, AND I WORKED MY WAY
FROM OVER IN THIS AREA HERE ON
THIS POINT, GOT IN, THREW ON A
LONG LENS AND CAPITALIZED ON THE
BLUE AND USED A FILTER TO
BALANCE IT.
ALMOST TOO MUCH.
WISH I DIDN'T.
BUT THE WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR
AND BLUE.
THAT'S REFLECTING THE SKY, THE
BLUE AND MIST AND EVERYTHING IN
THERE AND IT'S FINDING THOSE
PLACES TO GET THAT.
I LOVE VIBRANT COLOR.
THE WAY TO DO IT IS TO AVOID THE
SUN.
EVEN IN THE CAVERNS IN -- SLOT
CANYONS OUT IN LOWER ANTELOPE
CANYON NEAR GLEN CANYON NATIONAL
RECREATION AREA, THE LIGHT IS
COMING IN, IT'S BOUNCING OFF
HERE AND THESE ROCKS, THESE COOL
COLORS AND EVERY SHADOW, KIND OF
ROCK REFLECTS A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
SAME THING WITH THIS CANOE,
WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE
RESTORED FROM THE 1920S.
I ASKED WHICH PART DID YOU
RESTORE?
HE SAID THE ORIGINAL IS THE DARK
WOOD.
WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE
PARKS.
AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS.
I DID SOMETHING INTERESTING.
THE TITLE OF MY BOOK, I'M NOT
TRYING A SHAMELESS PLUG, BUT IT
WAS WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT AND
THE DISTANCE IT WENT AND THE
DISTANCE THE PHOTOGRAPHY WENT.
I NEVER KNEW -- I DIDN'T EVER
THINK I WOULD BE A PHOTOGRAPHER,
ESPECIALLY DOING THIS, AND I
NEVER THOUGHT CERTAINLY MY
PHOTOGRAPHY WOULD HAVE THE
IMPACT.
THIS IS THE FIRST IMAGE I
TOOK -- I HAD ONE OF THE BEST
SUNSETS OVER THE TETONS.
THAT OTHER IMAGE YOU SAW BECAME
THE NEXT ONE WHICH IS THE
PAPERBACK.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS I SORT OF
THINK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND
AGAIN MY PARKS OF IMAGES INCLUDE
PEOPLE A LOT.
THIS IS BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
WHERE THE WATER IS 103 DEGREES
IN THIS POOL, ICY COLD OVER HERE
AND THEY KIND OF BLEND TOGETHER.
IT'S AN AWESOME PLACE.
OF COURSE, THE WILDLIFE.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN
THE WILDLIFE.
IN THE ENDANGER SANTA CRUZ
ISLAND FOX THAT IS PEAKING OUT
WATCHING ME.
I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS THERE.
I LIKE TO GET CLOSE.
I LIKE TO GET IN THERE, EVEN GET
CLOSER, UNTIL THE FRONT LEGS
WENT UP ON THE FRONT OF THE LENS
AND THEN I RAN LIKE A SCHOOL
GIRL TO THE OTHER SIDE.
JUST THE COOLEST THINGS IN THE
WORLD.
AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PARKS
PEOPLE FORGET THERE ARE SMALL
THINGS, TOO.
I WANT TO SEE THE BIG LANDSCAPE.
I WANT TO SEE OLD FAITHFUL.
I LIVED OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE FOR
YEARS AND NEVER PHOTOGRAPHED OLD
FAITHFUL.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I HAD
TO FIND NEW WAYS TO PHOTOGRAPH A
CLASSIC SUBJECT.
IT'S BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED CERTAINLY
BY ANSEL ADAMS AND A LOT OF
OTHER VERY FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS
BEFORE ME.
YOU GO IN AND PEOPLE SAY,
THEY'RE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
PLACES IN THE WORLD, AND THEY
ARE BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN
PHOTOGRAPHED BY EVERYBODY ELSE
IN THE WORLD.
I WAS ALWAYS CONSTANTLY LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES,
TO PUSH THE PERSPECTIVE AND SHOW
OTHER PEOPLE HOW WORLDLY THERE
ARE.
WHEN I SEE SOMETHING LIKE, WHICH
IS A PERSONAL FAVORITE, YOU
REALIZE THAT IT'S -- IT MIGHT
NOT BE EARTH.
IT COULD BE ANYWHERE.
IT STARTS TO MAKE YOU THINK.
I TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
HOW WE EXPERIENCE THINGS AND HOW
THE -- HOW EVERYTHING TAKES
SHAPE AROUND US.
KIND OF WHERE DO WE COME FROM.
AGAIN, GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY SHOULD
TELL A STORY.
I THINK THAT'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING, TELLING A STORY
BECAUSE YOU START TO COMMUNICATE
WITH EVERYBODY AND COMMUNICATION
IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE AUDIENCE
THAT'S ABLE TO HEAR IT.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
IS FINDING WAYS TO DO THAT.
SO I DIDN'T JUST GO AND MARKET
MY BOOK TO THE CLASSIC OUTDOOR
PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE CROWD.
THEY DID THAT.
ALWAYS EMBRACE YOUR CORE
AUDIENCE.
I CAME FROM A MARKETING
BACKGROUND.
>>> PHOTOGRAPHY SO IT WAS ABOUT
HOW TO REACH NEW GROUPS, NEW
GENERATIONS.
SO I DIDN'T JUST DO A PRESS
RELEASE.
I DID A PRESS RELEASE IN
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
I DIDN'T JUST MARKET TO THIS
AUDIENCE OF LANDSCAPES AND
NATIONAL PARK PEOPLE.
IN FACT, THAT WAS SOME OF THE
LAST PEOPLE I GOT TO.
I STARTED PROMOTING THESE IMAGES
IN OTHER PLACES THAT ARE UNUSUAL
LIE PEOPLE MAGAZINE.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME A PARK
PHOTOGRAPHER WAS IN PEOPLE
MAGAZINE OR FISH & WILDLIFE.
HOW DO YOU GET INTO THOSE
PLACES.
I FOUND ENTERTAINMENT,
ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICISTS WHO
WERE INCREDIBLE AND INSTRUMENTAL
IN MAKING THIS NOT ONLY
SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING IN PEOPLE
THAT HAD NEVER SEEN THE NATIONAL
PARKS, NEVER STEPPED FOOT IN
THIS.
I STARTED GETTING E-MAILS.
MY PHOTOS WERE DIFFERENT.
IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THEY WERE
EXACTLY THE SAME.
I WAS REACHING AN AUDIENCE THAT
HAD NEVER BEEN REACHED BEFORE.
THAT WAS A CRITICAL THING FOR
ME.
OBVIOUSLY LEVERAGING THE POWER
OF THE INTERNET, LEVERAGING THE
POWER OF PLACES EVEN IF YOU ARE
A NATIONAL PARK FAN, MAYBE NEVER
HEARD, LIKE MAYBE THE APOSTLE
ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE OR
PT. REYES IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA, WHICH PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZED MANAGE BY THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE.
I STARTED LOOKING AT PLACES LIKE
THAT BUT ALWAYS GOING AFTER SOME
OF THE CLASSICS AND ALWAYS
REMEMBERING I HAD A CORE
AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE THAT ENJOYED
GOING TO THESE PLACES AND
ASSOCIATING THEM WITH MEMORIES.
IT'S CHALLENGING.
IT'S CHALLENGING TO FIND PLACES
LIKE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
AND SAY, I DON'T WANT TO JUST DO
OLD FAITHFUL, I WANT TO SHOW THE
GEYSERS AND FEATURES IN NEW WAY.
I DO THAT IN LAYERS, SOMETHING
IN THE FOREGROUND, SOMETHING
HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE,
SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE
DISTANCE.
YOUR EYES TRAVELING AROUND THE
PHOTOGRAPHS AT ALL TIMES.
OTHER TIMES I'M MOST INSPIRED BY
PAINTERS, NOT PHOTOGRAPHERS, AND
GEORGIA O'KEEFE IS SOMEBODY WHO
GREATLY INSPIRED MY WORK AND I
ADMIRE HER AND HER EYE.
THIS WAS A PHOTOGRAPH I DID IN
NEW MEXICO COUPLE YEARS AGO
AFTER I HAD BEEN LIVING THROUGH
THE RAIN FOR THREE DAYS AND IT
FINALLY LET UP AND AS IT LET UP
IT NEVER REALLY CLEARED UP AND
THIS IS NOT THE SKY.
THIS IS WHEN YOU GET ATMOSPHERE
ON THE MOUNTAINS.
THIS IS A LANDSCAPE IMAGE MADE
WITH A 400 MILLIMETER LENS.
I'M STANDING AT THE TOP OF THIS
SAND DUNE AND WHAT I SAW WAS THE
DRYING OFF FIRST, THE BOTTOM
LAST, KIND OF ON THIS GRADIENT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THE WET PARTS
WERE BEIGE AND THE TOPS WERE
WHITE AGAIN.
SO I GOT THIS BEIGE GRADIENT
THAT LOOKED MORE LIKE A PAINTING
THAT GEORGIA O'KEEFE WOULD HAVE
DONE.
I LOVE GETTING UP IN THE AIR.
IT'S ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO SHOW
GREAT PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S MOUNT AUGUST UN17 ON
BRISTOL BAY.
OUTSIDE LAKE CLARK NATIONAL
PARK.
FROZE TO DEATH ON THIS ONE.
MY OWN TEARS WERE FROZEN IN MY
FACE HANGING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE
IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.
SO-SO WELL WORTH IT BECAUSE I
SAW THINGS THAT WERE LORD OF THE
RINGS-ESQUE, WHICH I'M A NERD IF
YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT BY
NOW.
THE COLORS AND THE PERSPECTIVE.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO DO THIS.
I WANTED TO SHARE THESE THINGS
WITH PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO UP IN AN
AIRPLANE AND HANG OUT AT 60
BELOW ZERO AND DRESS LIKE THE
MICHELIN MAN.
I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST
SHARE THE INNERMOST PARTS AND
RARE TIMES OF YEAR IN THESE
EXTRA MOMENTS IN EXTRAORDINARY
PLACES.
THAT WAS MY GOAL AS A
PHOTOGRAPHER IN BRINGING THOSE
TO NEW PEOPLE AND NEW AUDIENCES.
THIS IS THE CLASSIC.
ALWAYS GOD TO DO THE CLASSICS.
AND THEN RETHINKING THE CLASSICS
ALWAYS IS ANOTHER THING.
THIS IS A GIANT SEQUOIA TREE.
QUICK WORK ON THE TECHNICAL
THING, PEOPLE ASK, I DON'T USE
PHOTOSHOP.
THERE'S NO PHOTOSHOP.
THERE -- EVERYTHING IS DONE IN
CAMERA.
THIS IS THE ONLY FRAME I GOT OUT
OF THIS IMAGE BECAUSE THERE'S
ONLY A SMALL WINDOW OF TIME
WHERE THE SKY STAYS BLUE AND THE
STARS COME OUT AND THEY'RE
BRIGHT ENOUGH YOU CAN CAPTURE
THEM ON FILM.
I HAD FOUND THIS TREE IN THE
MIDDLE OF WINTER THAT HAD ENOUGH
SKY WHERE I CAME IN WITH A FLASH
AND I STROBED THE WITH A WARMING
FILTER.
I DID THREE EXPOSURES AND ONLY
ONE CAME OUT.
THIS IS THE VERTICAL WITH A
WIDE, WIDE LENS SET AT THE BASE
OF THE TREE.
SIX MINUTE EXPOSURE.
IT'S JUST ONE.
SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF BECAUSE
IT'S JUST -- I ALWAYS TRY TO
THINK WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF A
PLACE.
WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF
SOMETHING?
AND I ALWAYS THINK OF A TREE
REACHING TOWARDS THE SKY.
DON'T DO IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DAY.
DO A TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT
BECAUSE IT SEEMS SO MUCH MORE
SURREAL.
WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS
WHERE THE BOOK WENT.
THIS IS WHERE THE REAL TRIP
COMES IN FOR ME.
THIS IS WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY AND
REACHING OUT CAN REALLY DO.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK EVERYBODY'S
JOB IS TO DO, ME AS A
PHOTOGRAPHER, EVERYBODY WHO
WORKS IN PLACES LIKE THE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND
ANYWHERE IN THE NATIONAL PARKS
OR CONSERVATION GROUPS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO REACH PEOPLE.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET OUR
MESSAGE OUT.
WE HAVE TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.
WE HAVE TO SHARE THESE PLACES.
I'M NOT SAYING PREACH AND SAY,
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST
CHANCE YOU GET TO SEE SOMETHING.
I'M SAYING HE CAN R, CHECK IT
OUT, PUT ON YOUR SHOES AND HE GO
FOR A HIKE.
I THINK THAT PLANTS THE SEED FOR
PEOPLE THAT ONCE THEY DO THAT,
ONCE YOU TAKE ONE LONG HIKE INTO
AVALANCHE CREEK, OR GO ON A
DRIVE YOU WILL GO BACK AGAIN AND
YOU'LL GO BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN,
WHICH IS HOW IT STARTED FOR ME.
IT'S SOMETHING I ENJOYED DOING
BECAUSE THAT SEED WAS PLANTED.
IT KEPT GROWING AND GROWING
UNTIL ONE DAY I BECOME SOMEBODY
WHO IS ACTIVE.
FOR ME THAT'S MY GOAL.
I HAVE NO OTHER LOFTY GOAL.
I'M NOT PLAYING TRUE TRY TO SAVE
THE WORLD OR BRING ABOUT WORLD
PEACE BUT I WANT TO INSPIRE
PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND IF YOU GET
ENOUGH OF THAT YOU'LL GET
SOMEWHERE.
THE INTERESTING THING HAPPENED I
HAD A FRIEND ON A TOUR IN A
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
I WANT A GIFT FROM AMERICA
THAT'S AMERICAN BUT I DON'T WANT
TO BRING A SNOW GLOBE OF
NEW YORK CITY TO AFGHANISTAN.
SO SHE SAID YOUR BOOK IS
PERFECT.
IT'S KIND OF NEUTRAL, REALLY
BEAUTIFUL, SAYS AMERICA BUT
DOESN'T REALLY SAY A MESSAGE.
LET -- CAN I BRING 10 WITH ME.
SO SHE BROUGHT THEM TO THIS
COLLEGE IN AFGHANISTAN, TO A
VILLAGE IN HAVANA CUBE YOU ON --
SAAR SEE, IN THE UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES.
THIS IS AFGHANISTAN.
I SAID, COOL.
YOU CAN DO IT.
HERE'S 10 BOOKS.
SEND ME SOME PICTURES.
WHAT WAS AWESOME IS SHE E-MAILED
ME AND SAID YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE
THE IMPACT THESE IMAGES HAD.
THESE PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA OUR
COUNTRY WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL.
SHE GOES, IT BECAME SUCH A GREAT
CONVERSATION STARTER FOR ME.
SHE SAYS, THEY WERE LIKE, WOW IS
THE WATER REALLY THAT COLOR OR
THE MOUNTAINS THAT PRETTY?
WE ALWAYS THOUGHT NEW YORK -- WE
THOUGHT AMERICA WAS
NEW YORK AND HOLLYWOOD.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS THIS
OTHER STUFF THERE.
IT BECAME A PLACE FOR HER TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND OPEN
DAYS.
THE LIGHTBULB WENT OFF IN MY
HEAD, WHY NOT LEVERAGE THAT AS A
DIPLOMATIC TOOL.
I STARTED WORKING WITH DIFFERENT
ARMS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND
DIFFERENT NONPROFIT GROUPS AND
HUMANITARIAN GROUPS AND I
STARTED SAYING, IF YOU NEED
SOMETHING TO CREATE A DIALOGUE
WHEN YOU'RE OVER THERE, USE MY
BOOK.
WHY NOT.
SO THEY DID.
AND SO THIS PICTURE THAT WAS
NONCHALANTLY TAKEN ON MY OWN
LITTLE VACATION IN GRAND TETONS,
ENDS UP GOING TO AFGHANISTAN
ALONG WITH A LOT OF MY
PHOTOGRAPHS IN MY BOOK AND
RECENTLY BECAME THE COVER OF A
SIERRA, WHICH IS A PHRASE I
COINED WHICH IS WILDERNESS
DIPLOMACY.
NOW IT'S BEING USED IN ALL SORTS
OF WAYS.
IT'S BEING USED IN A SCHOOL OVER
THERE FOR EDUCATION AL PURPOSES,
AN A TOOL FOR TEACHING ENGLISH,
NOT JUST AFGHANISTAN.
IT WAS GIVEN TO A JAPANESE
AMBASSADOR AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
AS A REMINDER OF THE HEALING
POWER OF THE EARTH.
TO SEE THIS FOR ME IS A TRIP.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK.
NOW LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THIS.
IS IT BRIDGING DIALOGUE?
AND IT IS.
IT'S CREATING A DIALOGUE.
AM I NAIVE THINKING THE WE WE'RE
GOING TO CHANGE AROUND THE
WORLD?
NO, I DON'T THINK SO BUT WE HAVE
TO ALL BEGIN SOMEWHERE.
I THINK THAT CONVERSATION AND
COMMUNICATION IS A GREAT PLACE
TO REALLY START.
AS I KIND OF CONCLUDE, BECAUSE I
HAVE A LITTLE 15-MINUTE FILM
WHICH I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
ENJOY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I
THINK APPLIES ESPECIALLY TO THIS
GROUP HERE TONIGHT, IS ABOUT
REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION AND
THIS IS KIND OF THE NEXT
EXTENSION OF EVERYTHING I'VE
DONE.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET
TOGETHER WITH SOME FRIENDS AND
WE PUT TOGETHER A SHORT FILM,
BUT THESE GUYS WERE -- WE WERE
KIND OF LIKE THE PERFECT
PAIRING.
IT WAS ME IN MY WORLD AND
TRAVELING AND GOING TO ALL THESE
PARKS AND PLACES, AND THEY ARE
ACTORS ON A LEADING SHOW THAT
HAS A GREAT TEENAGE AUDIENCE.
THEY LOVE THE OUTDOORS AND I
LOVE THE OUTDOORS.
I SAID, WHAT IF THE FOUR OF US
GET TOGETHER AND WE DO A TRIP TO
FLORIDA AND HIT THE CRYSTAL
RIVER AREA WITH THE MANATEES,
WENT TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
PLACES BUT WE DECIDED TO CREATE
AT AS FULL-ON OUTREACH.
SO WE GOT A LOGO DRAWN UP WITH
SOME ANIMATORS.
WE CALLED IT WILDLIFE KIND OF
PLAY ON THE DOUBLE ONDRAWN
DRAW -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP
IT CLEAN.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN, DRINK A
BEER AROUND THE FIRE BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FAKE THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS AS REAL
AS POSSIBLE.
OF COURSE, I'M SHOOTING PICK
PICTURES, JUMPING IN, PUTTING IN
THE SELF-TIMER.
WE MADE IT LOOK LIKE A TRAVEL
PASSPORT.
WE STARTED BLASTING OUT THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA SENSE.
WE REACHED A WHOLE ANOTHER
GENERATION OF PEOPLE.
EVERY DAY WE WOULD RELEASE A NEW
PHOTO FROM THE ROAD AS WE WENT.
I WOULD SHOOT EVERY DAY TRYING
TO FIND PLAYS LIKE THE BACK
WATERS OF THE EVERGLADES OUT OFF
THE KEYS DIVING INTO THE CHRIST
OF THE ABYSS AND GIVING PEOPLE
LITTLE BIT OF THE -- WHAT THEY
WANT TO SEE AND I KEPT CALLING
THIS THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE.
THERE WERE NO MANATEES AT THIS
TIME BUT IT WAS SO AWESOME
SWIMMING AROUND.
WE HAD A BLAST.
I GOT A BREAK FROM TAKING
PICTURES.
WE PUT PHOTOS UP LIKE THIS EVERY
DAY FOR A WEEK AND THEN WE JUST
SAID, AT THE END OF THAT, WE HAD
A WEEK, WE EDITED THE THING,
THREW IT UP ON A WEB SITE AND
120 COUNTRIES LATER WE HAD ON
OUR FACEBOOK PAGE I THINK IN THE
FIRST 10 DAYS OVER 750,000 VIEWS
AND INTERACTIONS.
WE CRASHED TWITTER WHEN WE HAD
OUR TWITTER PAGE WHEN WE
LAUNCHED THE THING.
OUR OWN SITE CRASHED.
WE COULDN'T GET IT FAST ENOUGH.
THIS ISER IN OUR OWN ROOF.
THIS ISN'T SOME BIG COMPANY.
WE DID OUR OWN -- WE PAID OUR
OWN WAY.
WE ALL PAID FOR THIS TO DO THIS
AND WE MADE SURE IT WAS
ACCESSIBLE.
IT WASN'T LIKE YOU HAD TO BE
RICH AND FAMOUS TO DO SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
NOTHING WE DID COST MORE THAN 20
BUCKS A PERSON, EVEN WHEN WE
RENTED A BOAT, IF YOU SPLIT IT
FIVE WAYS, IF IT'S $100, IT'S
LIKE 20 BUCKS A PERSON.
EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN AN HOUR OF
A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA.
AS I PLAY THE VIDEO SIT BACK AND
ENJOY AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S
KIND REACHED THIS WHOLE NEW
AUDIENCE AND THEN I'LL TAKE
QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
>> THREE YOUNG ACTORS AND ONE
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER SETTING OUT
TO EXPLORE SOME OF THE WILDEST
PLACES THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER.
THIS IS THE CREW.
THIS IS THE ROUTE.
THIS IS THE LIFE.
>> I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT A MANATEE BEFORE I CAME.
>> IT SOUND UP BEING THE PERFECT
SITUATION.
CAPTAIN HANK WAS VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND KNEW WHERE TO
GO.
>> THIS IS KING'S BAY, THE HEAD
WADDERS TO THE RIVER.
ALL THIS WATER COMES FROM
UNDERGROUND SPRINGS.
WHAT BRINGS THE MANATEES HERE IS
THE WARM WATER OF THE SPRINGS.
>> MANATEES ARE FUNNY LOOKING
ANIMALS.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A
MANATEE?
>> IT'S LIKE --
>> PART PUPPY.
>> LIKE A WALRUS.
>> IT'S LIKE THE DOG WITH THE
SQUISHED IN FACE.
>> A REALLY NICE FAT JOLLY
PERSON.
>> JUST KIND OF SITS THERE GOES
ALONG THE BOTTOM AND JUST
VACUUMING UP ITS FOOD, KIND OF
CRUISING ALL DAY.
PART OF THE EXCITEMENT OF GOING
OUT AND SEEING THE MANATEES IS
THE SEARCH FOR THEM.
>> I NEVER EVEN SEEN ONE OF
THOSE.
I NEVER EVEN SEEN A MANATEE LET
ALONE SWAM WITH ONE.
>> YOU' LOOKING FOR THE SWIRL IN
THE WATER.
MAYBE THE SNOUT COMING UP.
>> HERE HE IS RIGHT HERE.
>> WHEN YOU FIRST DEA SEE IT
FROM OUTSIDE THE WATER, IT'S
STARTLING BECAUSE YOU SEE HOW
BIG THEY ARE.
YOU SPOT THEM FROM THE BOAT.
YOU'RE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO JUMP
IN.
AS SOON AS YOU JUMP IN THE WATER
AND YOU SEE IT, YOU GET TO TOUCH
IT, IT'S LIKE, OH, MY GOD,
THAT'S ANOTHER WORLDLY
EXPERIENCE, REALLY.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BE THAT
CLOSE TO AN ANIMAL THAT BIG.
ONCE YOU GET PAST THE INITIAL
SHOCK OF JUST HOW LARGE IT IS
YOU REALIZE THEY'RE REALLY
SOCIAL AND GENTLE ANIMALS.
>> IT'S NEAT BECAUSE FOR ME THAT
INTERACTION THAT PEOPLE MAKE IS
ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL PARTS OF
BEING OUTSIDE AND WHEN THEY MAKE
EYE CONTACT WITH YOU, MANATEES
SWAM UP AND LOOKED AT ME RIGHT
IN THE EYES.
THEN THEY MIMIC YOU.
STEVEN WAS IN THE WATER SWIMMING
AND HE WOULD ROLL AND THE
MANATEE WOULD ROLL WITH HIM.
THEY WOULD MOVE THEIR ARMS AND
FLIPPERS WOULD MOVE THE SAME WAY
AS HIS HANGS.
>> THE THING KEPT ROLLING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
WOULD IT START LIKE SCRATCHING
ITSELF.
TAKE ITS ARM.
ALMOST LIKE TELLING ME WHERE TO
SCRATCH IT.
>> WE'RE NOT SPEAKING A LANGUAGE
BUT WE'RE COMMUNICATING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL
THINGS PEOPLE CAN HAVE.
>> I THINK IT WAS LIKE REALLY
INTERACTING WITH ME WHICH WAS
BLEEP AWESOME.
>> WE GET INTO THE EVERGLADES
AND WE PICK UP A COUPLE CANOES.
WE PACKED.
MINIMAL GEAR.
>> TRYING TO FIND THIS PLACE
CALLED THE PEARL BAY CHICKEE.
IT'S A GIANT WOODEN PLATFORM THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS PUT IN
THE FAR REACHES OF THE
EVERGLADES.
>> HERE IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED
THAT.
WE HAVE A STRAIGHT SHOT THROUGH
THIS MANGROVE AND IT OPENS UP
INTO THE OPEN WATER.
THAT'S OUR CHICKEE RIGHT THERE.
>> WE JUMP IN OUR CANOES.
AND WE START PADDLING THROUGH
THE MANGROVES THAT ARE ABOUT THE
WIDTH OF THREE CANOES.
>> INITIAL WILL HEY WE STARTED
OFF IT WAS SLOW GOING.
>> OH!
THAT IS SO WRONG.
>> WE WERE GETTING CAUGHT ON
BRANCHES LEFT AND RIGHT.
WHO IS STEERING.
WHO IS CONTROLLING?
HOW WE GETTING THROUGH THIS.
IT'S PRETTY SHALLOW.
WE WERE PITCHING OUR BOATS INTO
THE MANGROVES CONSTANTLY.
>> ONCE WE GOT OUT INTO THE MORE
OPEN WATERS WE GOT A LITTLE
SPEED GOING.
>> REALLY, REALLY COOL
EXPERIENCE, SOMETHING LIKE I'VE
NEVER HAD BEFORE BECAUSE YOU'RE
DUCKING THROUGH THE TREES AND
THROUGH THE MANGROVES PADDLING
THROUGH FINDING YOUR WAY, NOT
REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT
AROUND THE NEXT CORNER.
IT WAS AN ADVENTURE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.
BUT IT MADE FOR THE FUN OF IT.
>> DOES THIS MEAN I GO RIGHT?
>> NO.
>> RIGHT?
>> YEAH --
>> I MEAN LEFT?
>> YEAH, LEFT.
>> AT SOME POINT YOU'RE ALMOST
GOING THROUGH THIS -- IT'S JUST
LIKE THIS LOW TUNNEL OF
VEGETATION.
THERE'S A THICK CANOPY BEFORE
YOU.
>> IMMEDIATELY HITS YOU.
IT'S LIKE THIS ISN'T LIKE
ANYTHING I'VE DONE BEFORE.
THIS IS AWESOME.
>> I HAVEN'T FELT AS TRANSPORTED
TO SOME OTHER PLACE AS I DID
WHEN I WAS IN THE MANGROVES.
I FELT LIKE I COULD BE ON
ANOTHER PLANET, REALLY.
>> IAN AND I ENDED UP SEEING A
MANATEE IN THE MANGROVES WHICH
APPARENTLY IS PRETTY RARE.
>> A MANATEE OFF TO YOUR RIGHT.
ANY SECOND NOW.
>> AND WE EVENTUALLY GOT TO THE
CHICKEES AND THERE'S NOTHING
ELSE AROUND.
THERE'S NO TRAIL THAT LEADS TO
IT.
THERE'S NO SIGNS.
THERE'S NOTHING.
THAT'S IT.
THEN IT'S JUST YOU AND THEN THE
WHOLE ENVIRONMENT, LIKE TO
YOURSELF.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT TO ME IS
SUCH A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT FAR BACK
OUT IN THE MANGROVE AND THEN LAY
OUT THERE ON THE DECK LISTENING
TO ALL THE DIFFERENT BIRDS AND
SOUNDS OF GATORS IN THE
DISTANCE.
YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO BE
CONNECTED WITH THE WORLD
ELECTRONICALLY.
THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO BE
CONNECTED WITH THE WORLD IF YOU
JUST SIT BACK AN RELAX.
AS THE NIGHT FELL WE GOT TO TALK
AND BOND AND HAVE A COUPLE
BEERS, HAVE A LITTLE MEAL,
DANGLE OUR FEET IN THE WATER.
IT FELT LIKE PRIME REAL ESTATE.
IT FELT LIKE I WAS SLEEPING
SOMEWHERE IF I WAS IN A HOTEL
ROOM PEOPLE WOULD PAY A LOT OF
MONEY TO LOOK OUT THEIR WINDOW
AND SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT
HERE I WAS JUST ON A LITTLE
CHICKEE IN A SLEEPING BAG IN A
TENT NEXT TO MY BROTHER.
I REALLY ENJOYED THAT FEELING.
IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO END THE
NIGHT.
>> JUST TAKING IN ALL THE SOUNDS
OF THE ENVIRONMENT KIND OF ROCKS
YOU TO SLEEP.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT ALARM
CLOCK THAT HAS THE NATURE SOUNDS
THAT YOU BUT IT'S ACTUALLY REAL
SOUNDS.
>> PROBABLY THE MOST SERENELY
PEACEFUL I'VE BEEN IN MY ENTIRE
LIFE.
I THINK THAT WILL BE THE MOST
AMAZING THING I TAKE AWAY FROM
THE TRIP.
>> AND WE'RE LAYING OUT THERE ON
THIS DECK IN OUR SLEEPING BAGS
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE
WIND STARTS TO PICK UP AND WE
GET THIS THUNDERSTORM AND IT'S
JUST THESE BURSTS OF LIGHT OUT
ON THE HORIZON.
[ MUSIC ]
>> YOU'RE OUT IN THE EVERGLADES,
YOU FEEL FAR REMOVED.
THE LAPPEDSCAPE IS REALLY,
REALLY DIFFERENT.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE ABUNDANCE OF
LIFE HERE, THE ALLIGATORS,
EGRETS, BIRDS.
THERE'S SO MUCH HERE I'VE ALWAYS
LOVED.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
SPECIAL PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY.
RIGHT AWAY IT WAS LIKE THAT
PICTURESQUE BEAUTIFUL SETTING
THAT I IMAGINED IT TO BE.
IT WAS A MIX OF HAVING THE TIGHT
ENCLOSURE, KIND OF FEELING LIKE
YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH A JUNGLE,
THEN OPENING UP TO WIDE SPACES
YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES.
>> I THINK FOR ME IT'S ALWAYS
GREAT TO BRING PERSPECTIVE
OF OTHER PEOPLE IN.
IT'S INTERESTING.
TO HAVE THESE GUYS WITH YOU IT
CHANGES THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I GET REALLY EXCITED WHEN THEY
GET EXCITED.
>> I KNEW COMING IN IT WAS GOING
TO BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT LEVEL, I WAS GOING TO
SEE THINGS I HAD NEVER SEEN
BEFORE.
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THERE'S
SOMETHING NEW FOR YOUR EYE TO
TAKE IN.
>> I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE
INTERESTED INTO PHOTOGRAPHY.
THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PICKING
UP CAMERAS.
>>
>> I LOVE SHARING WHAT I DO.
I LOVE SHARING PHOTOGRAPHY WITH
PEOPLE.
SO IT'S COOL TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO
ARE INTO IT, TOO.
>> LOOK AT HOW RAD THAT LOOKS.
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A WATER
BABY.
SO WHEN WE GOT OUT INTO THE KEYS
IN FLORIDA, I WAS IN A KID IN A
CANDY STORE.
I WAS STOKED.
>> WE GOT OUT THERE AND IT WAS
LIKE CRYSTAL CLEAR, BEAUTIFUL,
JUST BLUE WATER.
YOU COULD TELL ALL OF US WERE
ITCHING TO GET IN.
AS SOON AS WE GOT BY THE CORAL
REEF WE COULD SEE EVERYTHING
AROUND US, WE WERE READY TO DIVE
RIGHT IN.
ONCE THAT YOU GET IN, THERE'S SO
MUCH TO LOOK AT.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT
COLORS, SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES
OF FISH SWIMMING AROUND,
CHECKING OUT THE REEFS AND ALL
THE FISH, EVERYTHING THAT'S
SWIMMING AROUND.
>> ONCE YOU GOT INTO THOSE
REEFS, IT WAS CRAZY, I GOT
SMACKED IN THE FACE BY A COUPLE
FISH.
>> YOU'RE IN THE OCEAN LOOKING
DOWN AND ALL THE HABITAT AROUND
YOU AND EVERYTHING LIVING,
EVERYTHING IS VIBRANT.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT FOR
ME.
>> SO AWESOME DOWN THERE, ISN'T
IT?
I ALWAYS THINK IT'S LIKE GOING
INTO ANOTHER PLANET.
>> WE ACTUALLY -- WE GOT TO GO
OUT TO THIS LITTLE SPOT WHERE
THEY HAVE THIS JESUS STATUE.
>> THIS MIGHT EVEN BE OUR GOOD
FRIEND HAY ZEUS.
>> IT'S BIG.
IT'S A BIG STATUE, WEIGHS 4,000
POUNDS.
ABOUT 25 FEET DOWN IN THE WATER.
ALL OF US GOT TO SWIM AROUND IT.
MADE SURE TO DIVE DOWN DEEPER
AND GET A FEEL JUST TO MAKE SURE
I WASN'T SEEING THINGS.
>> ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET JESUS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR
THESE LIZARDS, AND THERE'S ONE
NATIVE SPECIES HERE THAT'S
BRIGHT EMERALD GREEN AND IN THIS
PARK THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR
NONNATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES, AND
I STUDIED TWO OF THOSE BUT WE'LL
CATCH WHATEVER WE CAN FIND.
>>
>> I USED TO USE STRANDS OF
GRASS.
>> WE SCIENTISTS USE MORE
SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT.
THESE ARE THE FISHING POLES AND
THE IDEA IS WE'RE TRYING TO GET
THE NOOSE AROUND THE LIZARD'S
HEAD WITHOUT IT NOTICING.
>> NICE.
>> WOW!
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL CALL THAT BEGINNERS LUCK.
DISTRACT HIM WITH ONE HAND.
KIND OF HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH
WILDLIFE WHEN IT'S ON THE END OF
YOUR LENS.
>> YOU NEVER HAVE GOTTEN YOUR
EARS PIERCED BEFORE?
OH!
>> ONCE YOU REALIZE HOW TRULY
FREE YOU ARE OUT HERE TO SORT OF
DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AND GO
WHEREVER YOU WANT AND THERE'S
ALWAYS THAT ELEMENT TO SORT OF
MYSTERY TO WHAT'S BEYOND THE
NEXT BUSH OR WHAT'S AROUND THE
NEXT CORNER OR WHAT'S DIRECTLY
UNDERNEATH THE WATER, THAT'S
INTRIGUING AND EXCITING AND
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU GET IN
EVERYDAY LIFE.
>> I THINK IT'S THE GENERAL
PERCEPTION THAT EITHER YOU HAVE
TO BE GORETEXED OUT AND TRAINING
FOR A MARATHON, YOU KNOW, TO GO
TO A NATIONAL PARK AND BE
OUTDOORS AND IT'S NOT LIKE THAT
AT ALL.
EVERYTHING IS AT YOUR OWN PACE.
>> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU COULD
DO HALF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE.
WE HAD A BLAST.
WE HAD ALL THESE EXPERIENCES
JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE COULD.
THE FACT YOU CAN COME OUT HERE
AND DO THIS WITH LIKE A HANDFUL
OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS IN THE
WORLD.
SEEMS LIKE WOULD IT TAKE A LOT
OF EFFORT BUT IT'S NOT.
ANYBODY CAN DO THIS.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES LIKE
THE EVERGLADES THAT ARE IN YOUR
BACKYARD.
IT'S AN EXPERIENCE MORE
ACCESSIBLE THAN PEOPLE THINK.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE YOU
HAVE TO GO AND DO IT AND YOU'LL
SEE WHEN YOU GET THERE.
>> YEAH, I DON'T YOU MIGHT GET A
LITTLE DIRT IN BETWEEN YOUR TOES
BUT IT'S ALL HEALTHY.
IT'S ALL GOOD FOR YOU.
>> IT'S MADE ME REALIZE IF YOU
JUST STEP A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE
YOUR COMFORT ZONE, IF YOU JUST
STEP A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE
NORM, YOU REALLY DO GET TO SORT
OF RECONNECT WITH THE THINGS
THAT YOU FORGET ABOUT.
YOU FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT
YOURSELF.
>> YOU CAN JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES
AND BRING YOURSELF BACK.
I WILL TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THIS
TRIP AND REMEMBER THAT ALWAYS
AND JUST TRY TO USE THAT TO
RELAX MYSELF.
>> 
I WANT THEM TO REALIZE IT'S
NOT SCARY TO BE OUTSIDE.
THINGS AREN'T OUT TO GET YOU.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO COME OUT
AND PUT YOUR FLIP FLOPS ON, GO
OUT AND REALLY EXPERIENCE IT
BECAUSE I GUARANTEE IT WILL
CHANGE EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE PLACE YOU CALL
HOME.
>> WE HAVE PLENTY, PLENTY MORE
ADVENTURES TO EMBARK ON.
>> I'D GO ANYWHERE WITH THESE
GUYS.
>> AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING
OUR NEXT LOCATION RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO GO SCOUTING OUT A
NEW LOCATION AND PLAN TO THROW
SOME FOOTAGE AND PHOTOS BACK UP
ON THE BLOG SOON, HOPEFULLY OVER
THE SUMMER IS OVER.
KIND OF EXCITING TO KEEP IT
GOING AND WHO KNOWS WHERE IT
WILL ALL LEAD.
I THINK THE ONE THING I JUST
WANT TO MAKE ONE LAST POINT, IS
THAT THE APPROACH AND THE HEAD
SPACE ARE PROBABLY DIFFERENT
THAN ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN
BEFORE.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN
AN APPROACH IN THIS COUNTRY FOR
SUCH A LONG TIME THAT IT'S MAN
VERSUS THE WILD, SO TO SPEAK,
AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE
THAT WAY.
YOU KNOW, WE SAW SO MANY TWITTER
RESPONSES APPEARED FACEBOOK
RESPONSES AND THESE KIDS 14
YEARS OLD SAYING, I USED TO BE
AFRAID OF THE LIZARDS IN MY
YARD.
NOW ALL I WANT TO DO IS SEE ONE.
IT'S A TOTAL SHIFT IN THINKING.
IT WAS AWESOME.
WE KNOW HOW AWESOME IT IS BUT
HOW YOU GET OTHER PEOPLE TO
REALIZE THAT THAT WE
BROUGHT THE OUTDOORS IN, AND
SUPEREXCITED ABOUT IT ALL.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
APPRECIATE IT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
NO.
YEAH?
>> THE QUESTION IS IF YOU'RE IN
A REMOTE PART OF THE WORLD, I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY,
HO YOU DO YOU GET THEM
INTERESTED.
I THINK EVERY LITTLE BIT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS
EARLIER THAT SAID YOU CAN WORK
WITH YOUR LOCAL JOURNALISTS, I
THINK IT WAS THIS MORNING ONE OF
THE SESSIONS, GET TO KNOW THE
LOCAL PEOPLE.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.
YOUR LOCAL PAPER, GETTING PHOTOS
OUT THERE.
EVERYONE HAS A CAMERA.
THREE QUARTERS OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION HAS A CAMERA OF SOME
KIND, WHETHER IT'S A CAMERA
PHONE, WHICH EVEN THESE THINGS
ARE GETTING EVEN BETTER AND
BETTER BY THE DAY.
THEY'LL BE PRO ANY TIME, I'M
PRETTY CONVINCED OF THAT.
I THINK IT STARTS SMALL.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIT 5 MILLION
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
YOU CAN START WITH 10,000.
YOU HAVE A ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE
HERE.
IF EVERYBODY DID THAT, YOU WOULD
THAT THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
I THINK ENGAGING PEOPLE
CERTAINLY THROUGH MEDIA IS ONE
OF THE GREATEST THINGS.
WE LEVERAGED EVERY SINGLE ASPECT
OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET
WE POSSIBLY COULD.
WE STARTED A BLOG.
WE LAUNCHED A WEB VIDEO ON
YOUTUBE, VIMEO, FACEBOOK, ON
OUR OWN PAGES, FAN PAGES, WE
CALL PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE
INTERESTED IN SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
I MEAN, MTV DID A PIECE ON US.
VH1 DID A PIECE ON US.
US WEEKLY DID A PIECE ON US.
CAMPUS CIRCLE MAGAZINE DID A
WHOLE SPREAD AND CALLED IT
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MEETS
ENTOURAGE.
ANYWAY, COULD WE HAVE EVER
GOTTEN CRYSTAL RIVER BACK ON --
PRESS BEFORE THAT?
PROBABLY NOT IN A GOOD EYE WAY.
I THINK IT'S CREATIVE THINKING
AND FINDING NEW WAYS TO REALLY
SHOW WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT.
WHEN I TALKED ABOUT MY
PHOTOGRAPHY EARLIER, WHAT IS THE
ESSENCE OF A PLACE?
WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?
TRY TO CONVEY THAT TO PEOPLE.
WE CERTAINLY HOPE WE CAN KEEP
THAT BALL ROLLING AND GET TO
ALASKA AND OTHER PLACES ALL OVER
THE WORLD AND DO MORE OF THIS.
>> NOT JUST THE MOUNTAINS?
>> NO, NOT JUST THE MOUNTAINS.
ALASKA IS A STUNNING STATE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR
ASPIRING NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS?
>> I THINK IT'S NEVER TOO SOON
TO START.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO REALLY WANT
IT.
YOU HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
I THINK THAT'S IN ANY CAREER.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY
LOVE WHAT YOU DO, BECAUSE IT'S
NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD AND
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GET
ESTABLISHED.
IT'S INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE BUT
IF IT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO,
THEN IT WILL ALMOST SEEM
EFFORTLESS IN THAT WAY.
I THINK TO REALLY SPECIALIZE IN
A PARTICULAR AREA IS ONE OF THE
BEST THINGS THAT A STARTING OUT
CAN DO.
I ALWAYS SAY SPECIALIZE IN YOUR
OWN BACKYARD.
THAT'S WHAT I DID.
JUST KNOW IF YOU'RE DOING NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY -- I'VE SEEN PEOPLE
DO INCREDIBLE PHOTO ESSAYS ON
THE HABITAT IN THEIR OWN
BACKYARD IN LIKE A 30-FOOT
SQUARE AREA THAT'S FENCED IN AND
THEY HAD A SWINGSET IN IT.
I SAW SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
WORK COME OUT OF THAT.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO RETHINK HOW
YOU APPROACH IT.
I READ A BOOK ON THE BEGINNING
OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WHEN
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL WAS FIRST
STARTING THAT, AND I THINK ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT -- ONE -- HIS
PHOTOGRAPHY, IT WASN'T SO MUCH
HE HAD A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH OF A
ROBIN, A BIRD, BUT THAT IT
LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER ROBIN HAD
TAKEN THE PHOTO OF THIS ROBIN,
PULLING THE WORM UP OUT OF THE
GROUND.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU
CAN ALMOST PICTURE WHAT THE
PHOTOGRAPH IS.
IT WAS HIS WAY OF THINKING,
ESPECIALLY BACK THEN, IT WAS A
NEW PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE HADN'T
HAD.
SO I THINK SPECIALIZING IN IT.
MAYBE IT'S SPECIALIZING IN
BACKYARD BIRDS, BACKYARD
ANYTHING.
IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GO LARGER -- I KNOW PEOPLE WHO
SPECIALIZE IN BABY ANIMALS,
PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN
WHOOPING CRANES.
I STARTED BY SPECIALIZING IN THE
NATIONAL PARKS.
SO -- ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> SO WHEN DO YOU --
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> I'M READY.
YOU GUYS HAVE AWESOME PLACES.
I WOULD BE VERY EXCITED TO WORK
WITH EVERYBODY HERE.
>> WE HAD AN OLD SAYING, THE
PARK SERVICE IS LIKE HERSHEY'S
CHOCOLATE [INAUDIBLE]
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
THANKS AGAIN.
APPRECIATE IT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
