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lizseyi · 7 months ago

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7-Day Teen Adventure Trip This Summer - The Road Less Traveled

Explore the Pacific Northwest with us this summer, from kayaking along scenic coastlines to hiking through iconic national parks. If you have a busy summer schedule and can only squeeze in a shorter trip, this 7-day mini adventure could be a great option!

Check out what you could be doing below!

Day 1: Arrival in Seattle (SEA)

Your adventure begins as you touch down in Seattle, where you'll meet your fellow travelers and leaders at the airport. From there, we'll transfer to our campsite, where we settle in and get to know each other. We also get our supplies ready for our first expedition.

Day 2: Kayaking Haro Strait to Stuart Island

With the sun rising on day two, we're off to meet our local guides on the west side of San Juan Island. After a brief training session on kayaking techniques, we embark on our expedition along the breathtaking Haro Strait. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and other marine life as we paddle north, soaking in the beauty of the surrounding Canadian Gulf Islands. After a scenic lunch break, we cross the Spieden Channel to reach our campsite at Reid Harbor on Stuart Island. Nestled amidst a forest of towering trees, we settle in for a night under the stars, swapping stories by the campfire.

Day 3: Stuart Island Exploring

Today is all about immersing ourselves in the natural wonders of Stuart Island. We'll circumnavigate its shores, marveling at its rugged coastline and abundant wildlife. From bald eagles to harbor seals, there's no shortage of wildlife to spot as we kayak along the island's perimeter. In the afternoon, we explore the island's trails, uncovering hidden gems like the historic one-room schoolhouse and the iconic fog and light station. As evening falls, we gather around the campfire and play games.

Day 4: Last Day Kayaking and Transfer to the Mainland

After a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to Stuart Island and embark on our final kayaking excursion. As we paddle back towards San Juan Island, we keep our eyes peeled for Orcas, maximizing our chances of spotting these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. After landing back on the mainland, we catch the ferry to our next destination, ready to continue our adventure on land.

Day 5: Olympic National Park

Our next destination? The awe-inspiring Olympic National Park. Over the next two days, we hit the trails of Hurricane Ridge, where panoramic views and wildflower meadows await. With trails suited to all abilities, there's something for everyone as we explore this pristine wilderness.

Day 6: Kalaloch Beach and Hoh Rain Forest

For our penultimate day, we delve into the enchanting landscapes of the Hoh Rain Forest and Kalaloch Beach. From the vibrant mosses of the rainforest to the rugged beauty of the coastline, we soak in the rich biodiversity of this unique ecosystem. As the sun sets over Kalaloch Beach, we gather for a celebratory banquet, reminiscing about the adventures shared and friendships formed along the way.

Day 7: Departure

As our adventure draws to a close, we bid farewell to Washington, and our new friends before catching flights home from Seattle.

To see the full trip details, check out The Ultimate Washington Adventure! This is a one-off trip and spaces are expected to fill quickly. Schedule a call if you would like to learn more about the trip and hold your spot!

#Pacific Northwest

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carriagelamp · 3 years ago

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Weirdly enough, I often find myself reading less in the summer, since I have more time than I do during the rest of the year to do other things. Also artfight has been eating up more than a bit of my free time! But here’s a collection a graphic novels I sat around on the hammock reading, and some novels I finished up...

(Everyone go read All Systems Red, holy crow guys)

A Whale of the Wild

The “sequel” to A Wolf Called Wander, though it doesn’t actually connect to the previous novel except in the stylistic/thematic sense. A Whale of the Wild is very much a standalone novel. And a pretty decent one! Personally, I think I liked Wolf more, but this one was a pleasant, informative read, with just the right amount of crushing dread sprinkled in. It’s about a young orca called Vega who is learning to become a new wayfinder for her pod but who still has a lot to learn, especially in an ocean that is becoming increasingly hostile to orcas and the other sealife that live alongside humans. When a devastating earthquake hits, Vega and her little brother find themselves separated from their family, lost in a now horrifyingly unfamiliar environment, and fighting starvation as the salmon that sustain them become more and more unreliable. It’s a desperate fight for survival as they search for food and their missing family. This book is written for a middle grade level, and does a really good job of putting the current environmental crisis into an animal’s perspective while giving the readers something to hope for.

The Adventure Zone: The Crystal Kingdom

Every July I eagerly anticipate the next Adventure Zone graphic novel. This one is for their fourth arc, The Crystal Kingdom, in which Magnus, Taako, and Merle respond to a SOS from a floating laboratory that is gradually being consumed by crystals and which threatens the entire world should it fall into the ocean. Carey Pietsch’s art continues to be absolutely fantastic, so beautifully and hilariously expressive, and this one delivers some great Merle moments, lots of Carey Fangbattle, and, of course, Kravtiz. Kravitz, my beloved…

Anyway, I obviously always recommend these. If you’ve never gotten into The Adventure Zone, I totally recommend either trying these graphic novels — or even better, just go listen to the podcast because it really is both hilarious and creates a shockingly good and heart-wrenching story by the end.

All Systems Red

I’ve seen The Murderbot Diaries on my dash occasionally, and it always looked interesting, but a friend’s recommendation finally compelled me to read the first novella of the series. And holy shit y’all. Absolutely the best book I’ve read this month, it’s amazing. Mind-blowingly good. Also, if you’re like me and want a good audiobook, it’s a nice three-hour listen, very chill!

Anyway, All Systems Red is about a Security Unit, an artificially created being that’s part-organic part-mechanical and all-company-owned-and-controlled. However, self-named “Murderbot” has managed to hack into the system that suppresses its own will, and is now coasting along, doing the least amount of work its job requires not to be noticed, while preferring to spend all its time watching the hours and hours of soap operas it has downloaded into its brain. And it’s a tolerable if somewhat dull life, until the science team that it's currently rented to is attacked and the whole mission goes pear-shaped. Suddenly Murderbot has to scramble to keep its humans alive… while its humans scramble with the realization that their “SecUnit” isn’t actually a mindless robot like they had all believed...

This story is both gripping and hilariously funny. Murderbot has such a unique voice and perspective and it’s an absolute pleasure to follow its story. I reallly need to read the next book...

Asterix and the Banquet

A classic. I was startled when I realized I hadn’t actually read this Asterix story… but hell I’m not gonna complain, it lets me read one of the originals for the first time again! In this Asterix volume, the Indomitable Gauls and the Romans end up arranging a bet — the Romans intend to keep them under siege, trapped in their village, while Asterix is confident that he can easily evade them… and will prove it by going on a tour around all of Gaul, collecting iconic foods from each region in order to return and put on a fine banquet. So we get a fantastic adventure in which Asterix and Obelix run all over the country, pursued the whole way, while making cheerful stops at the various eateries along the way. Also the first book Dogmatix shows up in! All around, a wonderful read, fun like all the best Asterix comics are.

Beauty Pop v4

A less impressive graphic novel. The first Beauty Pop is one of my guilty pleasure manga because… it really is pretty stupid but in the best possible ways. I mean, the whole thing is framed around hairstyling battles, like a shojo sports manga without the sports. It’s bonkers. Unfortunately, the series does not really manage to hold up, and it really begins to feel repetitive and dragging as it continues… as a lot of series like this do. *shrug* Unsurprising but still kinda disappointing I suppose. The building three-way romantic tension is mildly interesting if for no other reason than the main character Does Not Notice and Does Not Care about any of it, which is amusing and refreshing.

FRNCK v5

Now this series only gets better and better as it goes. This is the first book of the second arc, and somehow the danger just seems to be ramping up and up and up. The cavefamily have lost their home… as well as Léonard and Gargouille. Heartbroken, shocked, and angry, Franck is the one who ends up shouldering the blame for their presumed deaths as the others mourn. Things only get worse when Franck finds himself separated from the family, and in the territory of another tribe, this one hostile and cannibalistic...

Haikyuu v5

I continue to read this series because it continues to be charming… though it is beginning to feel, maybe, just a little repetitive. Kind of an inevitability with sports manga. But so far it continues to be good enough to overcome that. I’m not sure what I can say about this series that I haven’t already, so I’ll simply say it continues to be one of the most impressive sports manga I’ve read, and the author does a fantastic job of creating engaging characters, fleshed out teams, and really compelling relationships. I do genuinely adore all the main members of Crows, along with a number of characters from the rival teams as well. And of course it has some kickass volleyball scenes that are just drawn so dramatically they can’t help but take your breath away a little.

M*A*S*H Goes To Maine

Meh. The original book of the series was actually quite good in my opinion. This one… considerably less so. The first part I enjoyed more, since it was about Hawkeye, Trapper, Duke, and Oliver Jones trying to set up the FinestKind Clinic and Fishmarket in Crabapple Cove (which… is just the best premise I could have ever asked for). However, the book spends most of its time describing the quirky lives and times of other people living in the area and I… just… don’t care. It was funny at times but… I just don’t care. I wanted to hear more about the main cast. Also I found this book felt more racist and misogynistic than the first which also put me off :/ Wouldn’t bother if I were you. Go read the first book instead, or better yet just watch the TV show which is an obvious banger.

My Heart’s in the Highlands

I have had this on my “currently reading�� list for so long but I’m officially giving up. It’s a really good book in theory but my god I can’t get over the pacing.

It’s about Lady Jane, a woman studying medicine in Edinburgh in 1888, and who suddenly finds herself back in the Highlands in the 13th century. Lost and confused, Jane is now at the mercy Clan Donald’s hospitality while she tries to adjust to this new world and hunts for her broken time machine. Fortunately, this hospitality include a burgeoning friendship with a red-haired warrior woman, Ainslie nic Dòmhnaill, who opens Jane’s eyes to the way the world could be.

Listen. It drives me nuts. This book should be completely up my alley, it has everything I like — IT HAS ALL OF ITS HISTORICAL FOOTNOTES CITED AT THE BACK, LITTLE EXTRA DETAILS ABOUT EVERY CHAPTER. THAT’S MY SHIT RIGHT THERE. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LIKE BEING ABLE TO GO OVER HISTORICAL DETAILS?? AND WELL RESEARCHED FOOTNOTES?? And yet it doesn’t. Fucking. Work for me. It has a kickass Scottish warrior lady as a love interest! It has a badass lady doctor! It has fish-out-of-water culture shock! But it also has a completely meandering plot, no sense of building tension, and a romance that just happens out of nowhere and feels completely unearned and uninteresting.

I would genuinely just rather read Outlander again, which I know has its own host of problems, but at least Outlander felt exciting and interesting and tense and funny. The romance built in fits and starts, it was complicated, and kept me interested. That book had me hooked (and has me hooked every time I reread it) whereas this book I’ve been sadly picking at for months like its a plate of overcooked spinach. This felt like an attempt at a queer, historically accurate knockoff which I would normally be super into but which just could not stick the landing.

Moomin on the Riviera

My first time actually reading anything from the Moomin canon. I have zero idea how to feel about it! It certainly is as feral as I’ve heard described! Overall, I think I enjoyed it but it sure made me feel strange emotions I didn’t know existed. I’m not even going to try to describe it. Read it if you want a batshit insane anti-capitalist comic.

Surviving the City

This was good in some areas, less good in others. It had a very interesting indigenous perspective on life in the modern city, the foster system, and The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women issue, which I’ve never seen handled in a book before. Something about the pacing did not completely click with me and I found myself getting easily distracted, but it’s definitely worth the read just to experience it and look at the issues it deals with through the characters’ (and author’s) eyes. It did give me a lot to think about and wrestle with, which is sometimes the best thing a book can give you.

Torchwood: Pack Animals

A really fun read, more so than I had ever expected! If you like Torchwood and want more stories about the team before everything goes to shit, this is perfect for that. It includes the entire cast, an interest mystery to be unravelled, lots of slavering monsters, Rhys being really wonderful and sweet (which I didn’t know I wanted until I read this book), and all the humour I expect from Torchwood. I had to send a lot of quotes to my long-suffering girlfriend who a) does not watch this show but b) needs to tolerate it because I find it too funny to keep to myself. It was good enough to make me go out another book of the series since this was the only one my library carried.

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exit-path · 4 years ago

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My Upcoming Personal Demon List

Hi guys! Huh, I guess GD has really been bleeding into this blog. Well I thought about getting all my GD demons I’m expecting to beat down on a Tumblr post, so here it is.

You might be wondering what a “personal demon list” is, and where it deviates from the “Demonlist”. And that’s a good question.

The Pointercrate Demonlist is the list of the hardest levels in the game. It’s the Main Thing™. People come here to see what the hardest levels in the game are, or to find extreme demons to beat.

[Image Description: a screenshot of the Pointercrate Demonlist. The top 4 hardest levels are visible, as well as a list of list moderators.]

On the other hand, a person’s “demon list” is their own personal list of demons, once they get skilled enough to do that. While most people know about the Demonlist, few people have one of these personal lists.

It’s usually a spreadsheet, where some people only put the demons they’re planning to beat or have heard of, while others (like this person) just have a list of all the demons in the game and mark them in green once they’re done.

[Image Description: an example of someone’s demon list. This one is by Wod.]

For my list, I’m only going to say levels I’m definitely going to try and beat in the future. Before we continue, here are some useful timeframes of the game:

Update 1.6: early 2014

Update 1.8: late 2014

Update 1.9: 2014–2015

Update 2.0: 2015–2017

(the current update is 2.1)

So without further ado, let’s go!

1. “Twilight Step V2” by blackPS2full

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A 1.6 insane demon, “Twilight Step V2” was made by blackPS2full, the same person who made “Alphabet X”. In fact this level is supposedly harder than Alphabet X (although to me it doesn’t feel that way).

It’s a remake of another 1.6 level called “Twilight Step” by ZenthicAlpha, although that was a medium demon and this is an insane demon. Twilight Step V2 fell off the demonlist in June 2016, after staying on it for two years.

I actually picked this level up two weeks ago, and I’m SO CLOSE to beating it. I got 98% three times. Expect a 100% post coming somewhat soon. It’s not even that hard. (Sorry SrGuillester from 2015, no offense)

2. “Rupture” by Jekko

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This is the first hard level that actually feels menacing. “Rupture” is a 1.9 insane demon by Jekko. Paradoxically, it’s the easiest one on this list, having fallen off the demonlist in January or February 2016.

It’s most well-known not for the level itself, but for the insane reactions by the player “Cold”, who beat the level as its second legit victor. (Warning: take caution if you watch this video and you sympathize easily, as it will make you feel lots of despair.)

3. “XYZ Step Infinity” by Orca SN

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This is a really weird level. For its difficulty, “XYZ Step Infinity” by Orca SN is pretty unknown, and is actually the most disliked insane demon at over 10K dislikes.

That might be because it’s a remake of an easier demon, “XYZ Step” by Cole. Compared to that popular easy demon, this 1.6 level is unrelenting and annoying, having been updated sometime in the last 4 years to its current buffed state.

4. “El Dorado” by LmAnubis

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“El Dorado” is a 2.0 insane demon by LmAnubis that’s really menacing because although it doesn’t get fast, it gets really fucking tight. It’s a top-tier timing demon.

It’s also themed too, where you wander through an overgrown jungle until you reach the famed golden “El Dorado” kingdom. This level fell off the demonlist in March 2016.

5. “Acropolis” by Zobros

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“Acropolis” is a 1.9 insane demon by Zobros that’s the original slow, tight menacing demon. I get claustrophobic just looking at this. It’s a high-quality timing demon that still holds up today, just like the previous level.

Speaking of which, starting with “El Dorado” I think I get to chill. Because compared to some of the other demons I’ve beaten, El Dorado is supposedly easier than “Alphabet X” or even “Endorphin”, not to mention Acropolis should be even easier than that.

6. “Necropolis” by IIINePtunEIII

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Now we’re getting into the harder levels. “Necropolis” is a 1.8 insane demon by IIINePtunEIII that’s known for its menacing aura, how old of an update it was built in, and its famous creator.

Themed around death, this level didn’t fall off the demonlist until October 2017. That’s so long in the future that the demonlist was extended to 100 demons by the time this fell off.

7. “Creeper Force” by CreeperMILK

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I might beat this level. MAYBE. I might skip this level and go straight to the next one, but in case I’m doubtful, I might beat this level to assure myself that I have enough skill to beat the next one.

“Creeper Force” by CreeperMILK is named after exactly what you think it is. In respond to Minecraft hitting its cultural peak in 2013–2014, RobTop decided to add a creeper icon in Update 1.8 as the reward you get when you beat the newest 16th level, “Hexagon Force”.

In 2014 someone grabbed the “CreeperMILK” username, and they built one of the hardest levels in the game with it. This 1.9 insane demon just so happened to use the song “Hexagon Force” as well. Creeper Force fell off the demonlist in May 2018.

8. “ICE Carbon Diablo X” by roadbose

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This is it. The ultimate goal. This isn’t just one of the of hardest demons in the game—it was the hardest level in the game, from November 9, 2014 to January 3, 2015, the day Cataclysm was released.

“ICE Carbon Diablo X” is a 1.6 EXTREME demon by roadbose known for being once the hardest level in the game. And it is my ultimate goal—if I can beat this level, then it will be the hardest thing I ever beat. I cannot beat anything harder than this.

By now this level is not even close to being the achievement it once was. This fell off the demonlist in June 2018—ridiculously close to the modern day. But at the time of its release there was almost no doubt about this being impossible.

[Image Description: a screenshot of the GD Fan Wiki article on ICE Carbon Diablo X. A section of Trivia is highlighted which reads, “This level was once thought to be borderline impossible until Update 1.9 when Riot completed it.”]

Well, that’s my personal demon list for now. I’ll make mental changes to this list as they come and go, but for now, until next time! 👋

#peysi talks #geometry dash #long post #flashing tw

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whaletalesorg · 3 years ago

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It's #FunFactFriday! Did you know that J1 “Ruffles” (est. 1951-2010) was an iconic member of J pod and was well known by whale watchers for his enormous waved dorsal fin that gave him his name? He spent most of his time J2 “Granny” and because of their close relationship, researchers thought J1 was the last calf of J2. However, a paternity study on the Southern Resident population in 2011 revealed that J2 wasn’t the mother of J1 and his mother was listed as unknown. In 2018 a genetic study revealed that J1's mother was in fact L45 "Asterix." Similar to L87 "Onyx," Ruffles was an L Pod whale who spent his time with J Pod. While this discovery was unexpected, it is also just another way that these animals continue to surprise us.⁠ Photo by @gary_j27⁠ #orcaawarenessmonth #orcaactionmonth #ruffles ⁠ #whaletales #orcalove #whales #killerwhales #orca #orcamonth #juneisorcamonth #salishsea #SRKW #JPod #getonaboat #exploreBC #storytelling #orcastory #orcafact #savetheorca #funfactfriday #dyk https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtH7LJL_TN/?utm_medium=tumblr

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newmusickarl · 4 years ago

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Album of the Week: 91 Days In Isolation by The Slow Readers Club

When Mancunian indie rockers The Slow Readers Club released their fourth studio album The Joy of the Return in March this year, they probably weren’t expecting to drop their fifth studio album just a few months later. However 2020 has been a strange year, with COVID-19 causing non-stop disruption and hardship on both the music, and wider world. Summer festivals and album tours were off the agenda, with the Readers instead plunged into a UK-wide lockdown.

Not to be deterred, the time was spent productively with each member of the band working individually at home on different elements of songs. This eventually all came together and out of this bleak, secluded period comes 91 Days In Isolation – an immensely timely and politically-aware record, that also features some of the band’s finest moments to date.

The Starkie brothers, James Ryan and David Whitworth have never been ones to shy aware from the darker social and political issues, and whilst confined to COVID lockdown it’s come as no surprise they’ve dived headfirst into the changing times that the pandemic has caused. Across the album’s eight tracks, the Readers share their observations during an intense summer of fear and uncertainty, letting the listener into their most vulnerable thoughts and feelings. All of this is propelled wonderfully by their signature sonic backdrop of pulsating synths and atmospheric guitar riffs.

From the ominous swell of the mightily infectious Yet Again, the piano-driven outro of Like I Wanted To and the stinging guitars and heartfelt vocals on Everything I Own, the lockdown has really brought the very best out of the Readers. However it is arguably Two Minutes Hate that offers up the record’s crowning achievement, with the track’s arena-ready chorus of “And I start to crave chaos, unleash this rage in us” providing the perfect anthem for 2020.

All in all this is a fantastic record, not only one of the Reader’s best to date but also an album that couldn’t be more of-the-moment.

Best tracks: Two Minutes Hate, Everything I Own, Yet Again

Albums also recommended:

Letter To You by Bruce Springsteen

From a record that was forged over 91 days to one that was crafted in just five. On the Boss’ 20th (yes 20th) studio album, he looks back on his life and career in profound and poignant fashion, crafting some of his best work in years. Recorded live with the ever-present E Street Band, songs like the stripped-back, Dylan-esque strum of One Minute You’re Here and the roaring Born-To-Run vibes of Ghost, show Brucey still has plenty left in the tank.

Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez by Gorillaz

Damon Albarn has revived the output of his cartoonish creation through Gorillaz’s new Song Machine project, which sees the band releasing a new song each month. Now Season One collates all the tracks released throughout the year so far, featuring some iconic guest artists including Elton John, Kano, Robert Smith, Peter Hook and St. Vincent, as well as current favourites like Slowthai, Georgia and Octavian. It all makes for a fun, fascinating listen, that potentially offers an insight into the next evolution of music releases beyond the traditional album format - roll on Season Two!

Tracks of the Week

Been In My Dream by Dave Jakes

The former Lonely The Brave frontman has returned, with a new self-titled EP arriving in December. Been In My Dream offers the first taste of Jakes’ solo material, and it shows undeniably that he still has his flair for beautiful, heartfelt songwriting, that hits you right in the gut. Stunning!

Artifice by Sundara Karma

Reading-based indie darlings Sundara Karma mix things up on their brilliant new single, with the guitars taking a backseat to xylophones, synths and frontman Oscar Pollock’s distorted auto-tuned vocals.

Straight To The Morning by Hot Chip featuring Jarvis Cocker

Enrolling the legendary Jarvis Cocker to join them, Hot Chip’s latest dancefloor-ready single is “a disco anthem about going out, for a time when people really can’t.”

Teardrops by Bring Me The Horizon

With an apocalypse-inspired new album dropping later this week, Sheffield rockers Bring Me The Horizon have dropped the final teaser in the form of Teardrops. Continuing their trajectory back towards their heavier tendencies following their recent pop-detour, the track draws heavy Linkin Park comparisons blending alternative metal with a mainstream pop hook.

First Aid by Gus Dapperton

And finally this week, indie-pop sensation Gus Dapperton has already assured himself of a spot on my Albums of the Year list thanks to his incredible sophomore effort Orca, and one of the main reasons for that being the case is his track First Aid. Now released as a single with a striking, self-directed video, First Aid sees Gus confront head on (literally in the video’s case) his mental health issues, in what is still one of the most heartbreaking, emotionally-stirring, but ultimately uplifting songs I have heard all year. Check out the video above and definitely give Orca a listen if you haven’t already.

#the slow readers club #91 days in isolation #gus dapperton #first aid #orca #bring me the horizon #hot chip #jarvis cocker #gorillaz #bruce springsteen #dave jakes #sundara karma #new music #best of 2020 #album of the week #album recommendation

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loafingdragon · 4 years ago

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who are your favorite top ten black clover characters & ships? talk about them!

A question? For me? 🤭 Let’s see if I can collect my thoughts long enough to answer! I’ll put things in no real order under the cut~

Kaiser Granvorka, captain of the Purple Orcas (sing that title. You will not regret it.)

Sometimes less is more. I love his design. I love his chill. I love his love of his wife. I love how he stepped up to clean up his trash squad.

Reve

I LOVE the elves and I really wish that they would get some recognition. Did you know that Phantom Knights just calls Reve and Charla “Dorothy (reincarnated)” and “Charlotte (reincarnated)”? They’re different people!! They have NAMES. Why wouldn’t they use their names?? The elves have so much lost potential!

Anyway, Reve is also very chill. A sleepy queen. I have a LOT of headcanons about her. I also have an au where the elves stay after reincarnation and share their bodies with their hosts, and she and Dorothy are best friends and girlfriends and hang out in glamour world together and I love them.

Nebra and Nozel Silva

Listen,,, she’s so pretty,,, I’m gay,,,

But in all seriousness, she’s my favorite Silva. She’s just sort of a mean, sexy lamp in the manga/anime, but she gets slightly more character development in Phantom Knights, where you see that she’s at least an honorable knight who really cares about getting things done right and even goes above and beyond the call of duty; she’s a lot more mature than Solid, and it even seems that she’s more concerned about capabilities than status at some points (much to Solid’s surprise.) That doesn’t mean she won’t go out of her way to make trouble, which is fun. The wiki also suggests she has confidence issues which is super interesting to me. I’d like to see her grow as a character or get like... even a little bit of attention at all besides backing up Nozel and Solid and getting stabbed. I also think her magic is really cool... would love to see her actually use it sometime.

-coughcough also since she gets so little screen time i can write her how i want in my fics and as far as we know it’s canon coughcough-

There’s more to her than her pretty, pretty face!! She’s probably my #1 favorite.

1) I love powerful fictional royals in general. 2) I love to write fics where he is embarrassed and vulnerable. Silvas deserve a healthy dose of humility whenever you can give it. He is an easy target with his uptight nature and silly hair. I’d also like him to grow as a character.

hehe look at Nebra peeking out of the corner of this pic lol

Fuegoleon, Mereoleona, and Leopold Vermillion

I am still a simp for powerful fictional royalty, okay? Everyone love the Vermillions. There is nothing I could say here that has not already been said, except that I love writing fics where Fuegoleon gets to be embarrassing and oblivious.

Dorothy Unsworth

She’s so cute and the coolest witch. Love her chaotic energy. Love how she knows things she probably shouldn’t. Always shaking it up. Another sleepy queen. I wish I could sleep all the time and still get my work done. Also since I made her my icon on discord, I have been cheerier.

Charla

I’m so deep in headcanons for this one but see my earlier elf complaint with Reve before continuing. Okay, understand? Charlotte is awesome, but the sheer hilarity of Charla and Charlotte sharing a body is what make Charla so, so good. The LAST thing Charla did before going away forever is SNITCH on Charlotte to her crush. This elf loves drama. She would help Charlotte so, so much, but also make her life a living hell. We stan a queen who can’t mind her own business.

Alecdora Sandler

This man is hilarious. He’s a full grown man ready to throw hands with a 15 year old because William gives him attention. He fell in a hole and had to be saved. Yuno let him declare all his love for William and then obliterated him. It’s so funny. It’s what this asshole deserves. A perfect, satisfying character arc and a hilariously embarrassing personality wins him his place among my faves. I love to hate him so much. I’d like to put a picture of his stupid face in a locket to look at and give me strength in any situation. “At least I’m not this man child,” I would say. A smile would tug at my lips as a single tear ran down my face. “Thank you, Alecdora,” I would whisper, holding his image close to my heart.

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My favorites tend to change around with my moods, so maybe on any other given day, you would find Charlotte Roselei, Paplo Espuma, or Kirsch Vermillion (post royal knights exam humbling) on this list. Charlotte is badass, Paplo cute, and Kirsch is funny with cool magic. Also working with Charlotte on my blog, @lawstaverse makes me fond of her, and I have some fun party boy headcanons for Kirsch and the Coral Peacocks. Mimosa Vermillion is also super duper cute. Honestly, Jien Du could even be on here for being accused of being evil and then going “let me clear things up” and then just doing the super villain laugh- also for having rainbow lights flashing around him when he fights. I can hear carameldansen playing in the distance whenever he’s doing stuff.

Now for my favorite couples!

Fuegoleon Vermillion x Nozel Silva

This one is probably #1! They obviously care for and respect each other and a lot of Nozel’s dialogue gets... debatably romantic. I just really enjoy writing them in sort of ‘boys will be boys’ situations, where they can let their guard down around each other and their friends and be stupid and silly. I also love the idea of Fuegoleon being oblivious about how flirty he comes off. Nozel is pining but more in an annoyed way than a sad way. “No homo, bro,” says Fuegoleon, as he kisses Nozel on the lips and gives him a ring after they eat together and wrestle in the woods. Nozel rolls his eyes into the next solar system and admires his new wedding ring. Currently working on a 150k+ word slowburn bisexual disaster Fuegoleon fic with @thespiralgrimoire that involves this ship and the third on this list, along with tiny snippets of others.

Leopold Vermillion x Asta

Leo saw Asta do something cool and said “I’m done being classist. Actually I’m in love with you,” and never looked back. Every single Royal in Asta’s age group being obsessed with him is very very funny. I picture their relationship is much like Nozel and Fuegoleon’s as described above, but they’re BOTH extremely oblivious bros being romantic bros.

Fuegoleon Vermillion x Nebra Silva

Less my fave but still on here bc it’s fun. Nebra is fun, she can push Fuego out of his comfort zone, and also feel comfortable and confident with him. It’s nice. Ngl, anything that gives Nebra a chance to develop her character, whether it be in a friendly or romantic setting, is good.

Nebra is sexy. Fuegoleon is sexy. Together they are super sexy.

Reve x Dorothy Unsworth

I mentioned this briefly earlier, but they finally get someone who can share their world with them! Dorothy was so happy to have Reve in her head, and didn’t even regret being possessed at all. Also, Reve’s chill personality can balance out Dorothy’s excitable and unpredictable one! I think that them both being in dream world, with the magic power to look into each other’s minds(even more than other elf/human cohabitants) means that they can pretty easily become super duper close. They also have a space where they can physically meet. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.

Zara Ideale x Ina’s Father (did he really not get a name???)

There is no way you can convince me that Ina is not Zara and that man’s child. Look at their eyebrows. Rewatch episode 138. You’re lying to me if you tell me you don’t see it.

Nebra Silva x Zora Ideale

🤷🏽‍♀️ Punk and Prep is a fun combo, I like pitch romance, and the more info we get for Nebra, the more likely I see her willing to go vigilante and have a good time working with/ playing around with Zora. They both like to mess with people, Nebra appreciates a job well done, and Zora likes seeing people improve themselves. Nebra would def need to develop a bit for this to work, but I like to believe that would happen.

#Anonymous #black clover #ask #thank you anon #<3

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csnews · 6 years ago

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Killer whale family sighted in UAE for first time in more than a decade

Ruba Haza - March 20, 2019

A killer whale family last seen off the UAE coast in 2008 has been sighted near Moon Island, about 70km off the coast of Dubai. The apex predators were sighted over the weekend by an Emirati businessman returning from a fishing tournament. Ghaith Al Khaja, 27, said their appearance had been a once in a lifetime experience. The whales, also known as Orcas, included a calf, making the encounter even more special.

“I was returning to Abu Dhabi from a fishing tournament at Moon Island when I first saw the whales,” said Mr Al Khaja. “It was around 11.30am. I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing the smartest and strongest creatures of the sea so I started filming them,” he said.

Killer whales, a highly social species, are found in almost all of the oceans and seas around the world. They feed on a variety of fish, mammals and sea birds, and their highest densities are in the north-east Atlantic around the Norwegian coast, as well as the north Pacific and the coast of Antarctica. Footage of the mammals posted on Instagram by Mr Al Khaja caught the attention of local scientists, who realised its significance.

Georgina Gemmell, co-founder of the Northern Indian Ocean Killer Whale Alliance, a collaborative study of killer whales across the entire Northern hemisphere of the Indian Ocean, said experts found some of the pod were already known to researchers.

“After analysing the footage that was forwarded by Dr Ada Natoli, founder and director of UAE Dolphin Project, researchers agreed that the group comprises of at least eight animals, including one calf and one adult male, and that some individuals are well known to the study and even have names,” said Ms Gemmell.

“Three of the killer whales sighted in Dubai were identified as members of Pod 11, two of which were first recorded off Abu Dhabi in 2008, and then seven years later almost 3,300km away in Sri Lanka.

“This movement between the Arabian Gulf and Sri Lanka provided the first ever record to show killer whales cross the Arabian Sea.

“This sighting is an important piece in an ever-shaping puzzle, demonstrating that this movement is not a one-off and that the same individuals seem to go back to the same areas.”

Ms Gemmell went on to reveal that in February, the Fujairah Whale Project reported one encounter with a pod of killer whales and that it was possible this was the same group. Researchers are able to track particular mammals by identifying unique features such as tears on a dorsal fin or tail.

“The shape nicks, tears and even small scars help researchers distinguish between each animal,” she said. “For Orcas, the iconic white eye-patch is also used for identification.

“The Northern Indian Ocean killer whales are some of the most elusive on the planet, and it is thanks to an ever-growing alliance of individuals and organisations, stretching from the Arabian Peninsula all the way to Indonesia, that we are starting to shed some light on their lives.”

Dr Ada Natoli, founder and director of UAE Dolphin Project, said many marine-life projects in the region relied on citizen science, where members of the public report sightings to researchers.

“The use of social media has allowed citizen science to flourish and is currently aiding scientists in uncovering some long-held whale mysteries,” she said.

“This sighting is again proof of the power of citizen science and scientific collaboration. It is hoped that more sightings of these remarkable animals will be reported in the future, to continue learning more about them and laying the basis for their protection.”

Last month, a small pod of false killer whales, also called Pseudorca crassidens, were sighted four or five kilometres off the Fujairah coastline, some 24 years after the first and last recorded sighting of the species in the area.

#news #wild #orca #sighting #cetacean #dolphin #whale #killer whale #research

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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Arctic vs. Antarctic: how to pick your polar adventure

If you’ve ever dreamt about visiting one of the polar regions, use our guide to picking your Polar adventure: Arctic vs. Antarctic.

The North and South Poles were only “conquered” in relatively recent history. The South Pole was first set foot upon in 1911 by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen after his epic race with the ill-fated Scott. The conquest of the North Pole is a little murkier thanks to its location in the middle of the Arctic Ocean amid waters that are almost permanently covered with permanently shifting sea ice.

It’s possible that Frederick Cook was the first to reach the North Pole in 1908, or perhaps it was Robert Peary in 1911 or maybe Richard E. Byrd who was the first to fly over it in 1926… But it wasn’t until Roald Amundsen’s definitive flight over the Pole on 12th May 1926 that the first consistent, verified and scientifically convincing attainment of the North Pole was recorded.

Polar exploration has long sparked the public’s imagination and in recent years, travellers’ appetite for adventure means there is even more on offer than ever before.

Kia and I both dream of taking trips to the Polar circles – it’s just that we’re not sure when and where to go. (Well, that and the lack of funds…)

If you’ve ever dreamt about visiting one of these faraway destinations, use our guide to picking your Polar adventure: Arctic vs. Antarctic.

Temperature

Whether you head north or south you’re going to be cold. Very cold. However, it’s useful to know that unlike the rest of the planet, the south is colder than the north.

Broadly speaking, the Arctic region will experience temperatures between -43 and +5°C (-45 and 41°F) with coastal areas (which is where tourists are most likely to be) reaching +10°C (50°F) in the summer months. Average July temperatures range from about -10 to +10°C (14 to 50°F) with some inner land areas occasionally exceeding 30°C (86°F) in summer!

The Antarctic is a different story. It is the coldest continent on Earth. In 1983, researchers at the Soviet Antarctic station recorded the lowest natural temperature ever at ground level of -89.2°C (-128.6°F). Temperatures in Antarctica regularly reach -80°C (-112°F) in the interior in winter and between 5°C (41°F) and 15°C (59°F) near the coast in summer.

The Antarctic is considerably colder than the Arctic.

When to go

Winters and summers in the Polar regions are easier to define than in most destinations.

Put simply, the Arctic is closed from October to March thanks to much of the region being icebound, meaning ships cannot pass. The six-month darkness of the Polar night engulfs the region making sightseeing a rather tedious affair. Likewise, the Antarctic is closed from April to October due to freezing temperatures, the Polar night and pack ice reaching up to 1,000km beyond the edge of the continent.

Outside these timeframes, it largely depends on what you want to see and do and where exactly you want to go. For example, if you’re only interested in the bragging rights that come with crossing the Arctic Circle then this can be done year round in Scandinavia without leaving mainland Europe. At the other end of the world you’ll have to wait for the pack ice to break up between January and March to have a shot at crossing the Antarctic Circle.

The table below gives an idea of the best time to visit depending on your interests.

Best time for… Arctic Antarctic Largest icebergs Apr-Jun Nov-Jan Whales Apr-Sep Dec-Apr Humpback whales Apr-Jul – Narwhals Apr-Sep – Bird life Apr-Sep Dec-Mar Penguins – Dec-Feb Northwest passage accessible Jun-Aug – Ross Sea accessible – Jan-Feb Arctic circle crossing Year-round – Antarctic circle crossing – Jan-Mar North Pole expedition Feb-Apr – South Pole expedition – Nov-Jan Svalbard Jun-Aug – Greenland Apr-Sep – Falklands – Oct-Feb South Georgia – Oct-Jan Aurora watching Jan-Mar Mar-Sep

WildlifE

Even though the two Polar regions share many similar traits, they differ greatly in wildlife with a much wider range found in the north. This is because much of the landmass in the north is attached to continents that stretch further south while the Antarctic is completely isolated. This means the Arctic homes far more terrestrial mammals.

On land in the north you’ll find muskox, reindeer, caribou, foxes, hares, wolves, lemmings and of course, the polar bear. Marine mammals include seals, walruses, and several species of whale: humpback whales, baleen whales, narwhals, killer whales (orcas) and belugas.

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In the south it’s slim pickings on land. The flightless midge, Belgica antarctica, is just 6mm (0.25in) in size and is the largest purely terrestrial animal in Antarctica. In the water there’s more to see with several species of penguin including Emperor, Adélie, Rockhopper, King, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins all living in the Antarctic peninsular. Additionally, there are blue whales, killer whales, colossal squids and fur seals.

ADVENTURE

If you want to see how you measure up against the great Polar explorers of the past then here are a few of the best options available.

COMFORT

It’s unfair to call those unmoved by the above unadventurous – surely travelling to the Polar Regions is adventurous by definition. However, if you would prefer a little more comfort then there are plenty of cruise and activity holidays available which won’t leave your loved ones biting their nails until your safe return.

I have my eyes on the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland as well as a trip to Tromsø in Norway to see the northern lights after our failed attempt to catch them in Iceland several years ago. Quark Expeditions offer a range of cruise-based holidays in the Polar regions.

The Arctic Circle Trail follows a course through an area known as the “land of one hundred lakes” (Image: Visit Greenland, Limited Commercial License)

Northern vs. Southern lights

One of the most stunning natural phenomena in the world are the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis, more commonly known as the Northern and Southern Lights. Unless you’re a Norwegian astronomer there really is little difference between the northern lights and the Southern Lights other than geographical location. They both take place over the Polar regions and are basically the same phenomenon.

That said, the northern lights are far more accessible. They can be viewed from Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Russia, Greenland, Canada and Alaska. Outside of continental Antarctica, the Southern Lights can only be seen from southernmost New Zealand, Argentina and Australia.

Culture

Arctic nations include Canada, Greenland (a territory of Denmark), Russia, United States (Alaska), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Within these nations, around four million people live within the Arctic Circle. Unlike the Antarctic, the Arctic has an indigenous population stretching back thousands of years.

The Inuit people inhabit the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska, while other Circumpolar North indigenous peoples include the Buryat, Chukchi, Evenks, Inupiat, Khanty, Koryaks, Nenets, Sami, Yukaghir and Yupik. There are also industrialised cities within the Arctic Circle. The four largest communities within are in Russia and Norway: Murmansk (population 307,257), Norilsk (175,365), Tromsø (71,590) and Vorkuta (70,548).

Nenet woman among reindeer, Yamal Peninsula in Siberia © Lexi Novitske

In the Antarctic, there is no indigenous population. There are zero permanent inhabitants but there are numerous research stations set up across the continent. In the summer as many as 5,000 people reside in the Antarctic but this drops to around 1,000 in the winter. You won’t be visiting any craft markets here!

Cost

Simply put, Polar travel is expensive. You will be visiting the most inhospitable regions on the planet where life is hard. The Arctic Circle is far more popular due to its accessibility and the fact that travel is cheaper there. That said, some of the most expensive countries in the world (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia) are located along and within the Arctic Circle, making even the cheapest Polar weekend break an expensive affair.

The Antarctic is without doubt more expensive than its northern sibling. It is further away from transport hubs, there is no permanent accommodation available and life is simply harder further south. For an easy comparison of costs, a 13-day Arctic cruise and flight with Quark costs $7,995. In comparison, a similar 10-day Antarctic cruise and flight will set you back $11,595 – considerably more for considerably less.

Likewise, at the expedition end of the scale, Adventure Consultants’ North Pole – Ski the Last Degree trip (15-19 days) starts at $42,000 while the equivalent South Pole – Ski the Last Degree trip (15 days) costs $62,500.

Arctic vs. Antarctic

Polar travel like most forms of travel is on the rise. It is almost impossible to verify how many people visit the Arctic but during the 2009-2010 tourist season, over 37,000 people visited Antarctica – twice the estimated 14,000 that visited in the 1999-2000 season 10 years before. One assumes that this figure will continue to double every 10 years although I doubt (and hope) the Antarctic or the harder-to-reach areas of the Arctic will ever compete with Thailand or other popular destinations.

For me, the Antarctic is the very definition of adventure. The very mention of its name evokes tales of against-the-odds survival and iconic names such as Amundsen, Shackleton and Scott. I dream of completing the seven summits which means that one day I will have to climb Vinson Massif in Antarctica – an ambition I look forward to with both boyish enthusiasm and wary trepidation.

The South Pole was first set foot upon in 1911 by the Norwegion Roald Amundsen

Kia and I were in Tierra del Fuego last year but at the wrong time for a trip to Earth’s southernmost continent. We will just have to go back one day…

Maybe it’s because we live in Europe but the Arctic simply doesn’t have the same allure as the Antarctic. Sure, we want to visit Greenland, trek the Arctic Circle Trail, see the northern lights and cross the Arctic Circle. But considering many of these are just a (relatively) short plane ride away, it just doesn’t have the same end-of-the-Earth appeal.

For me, the Antarctic still grabs all the headlines.

G Adventures are the largest small-group adventure travel company in the world with over 650 small group adventures to choose from and offer a range of Antarctica cruises.

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from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2J7i5JW via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

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swampgh0stt · 6 years ago

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repost from Dec 2016

The importance of media representation, in regards to SeaWorld’s most “notorious” whale.

Since the release of “Blackfish” in July 2013, outrage and concern has been sparked for the once beloved and iconic member of SeaWorld’s assets and family: Shamu. From welfare concerns to captivity debates, the movie managed to reach a broad audience and seemed to change the tide of public opinion towards whale captivity. This is not a debate on the captivity and welfare of SeaWorld’s animals though, as SeaWorld was not the only target of “Blackfish.”

Famed killer whale Tilikum was one of the biggest victims of “Blackfish.” Painted as a monster suffering from psychosis and other mental health issues, Tilikum has been called every negative name in the book since the movie’s release. While the movie also sparked concern and sympathy for the animal, I’ve heard more questions on WHY Tilikum is still alive rather than why he hasn’t been moved to a seapen or released (which, y'know, would kill him). As we all know, I am absolutely in love with Tilikum. No, to say I love him is an oversimplification. Soul-mates isn’t quite the fitting term either, but I have heard of rumors about stories in our culture (Native American’s cultures) where one spirit can reside in two separate creatures. For me, this seems like the most appropriate way to describe my relationship with Tilikum; it was as though a piece of my soul has been missing for my entire life, but is suddenly present whenever I’m around him. He is comfort, he is love, he is everything I strive for and hope to achieve, and I will not stop until I am at his side and working with him everyday. So for me to find out from an old friend of mine that there is a parodied version of Tilikum in “American Dad” was a bit of an excitement to me.

Finally, last night, I was able to see it.For someone who knows the animal, the jokes are…. Well, there is no denying it’s Tilikum. The animal shows up with a muzzle on, introduced as “Killaton” and sold for a cheap price after “killing a few people in a park in Canada.” Tilikum’s origin was in Sealand of the Pacific, a Canadian park where the unfortunate death of Keltie Byrne occurred. The animals involved were Tilikum and two other females who had shown more aggression than the bull orca himself, but for the sake of continuous coverage- Tilikum will always seem to take the blame of deaths. Later in the episode, Killaton spits out an arm- another reference back to another tragic trainer death.

In 2010, trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed after a Dine With Shamu show, supposedly while guests were still in Underwater Viewing (as police reports and eye-witness accounts claim). The popular rumor that spread afterward was that Tilikum swallowed her arm, which isn’t true; he did rip it off though, or so I’ve seen confirmed by multiple reports. This is blatant representation of Tilikum by this point, and paints the same picture that Blackfish, the media, and the now general public have of this animal.

Speaking as someone who runs a fairly popular blog and is constantly seeing people say “We can’t release him, what if he comes back and kills our loved ones!?” or drawing crude pictures of him bloodied up and cornering Katina with the lyrics to “All Men Are Pigs” as inspiration, I have to say this is appalling. For a society that claims to love animals, where does Tilikum fall? He is not the monster that keeps your children up at night, and he’s not plotting the next trainer death from his pool.

When are we going to reject this image we’ve helped paint of this gorgeous animal?

#tilikum #orca #blackfish #killer whale #seaworld #orca squeaks ;

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noaasanctuaries · 6 years ago

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Using art to highlight our connection to national marine sanctuaries

By Andrea Fisher

This summer I snorkeled in a kelp forest, went tidepooling with marine researchers, had coffee with a recreational angler, learned from a Chumash weaver, and painted. While not your typical summer graduate school internship, these experiences were part of my quest to better understand – and share – the various ways individuals and groups connect with national marine sanctuaries. My internship specifically took me to the five national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast in Washington and California.

Fisher explored Santa Cruz Island during her visit to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Andrea Fisher

At each sanctuary I spoke with fishermen, sanctuary staff, visitors, indigenous people, sanctuary volunteers, and other community members to better understand how they feel and identify with the place. Afterwards, I produced an acrylic painting for each sanctuary to summarize and celebrate the species, activities, and emotions mentioned during the conversations. I decided to paint my findings, because art can showcase the ocean’s beauty, as well as capture complex stories, relationships, and emotions that are otherwise difficult to express. Below you can see the painting and read the highlights for each sanctuary.

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington: A wild place, then and now

Image description: A painting of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. A tidepool containing sea stars and sea anemones is in the foreground. A beach stretches into the background on the left side of the image. A sea stack is in the middle. On the right side of the painting is the ocean, which contains a ship, four indigenous canoes, and orcas.

I first made my way to the northwestern coast of Washington state to visit Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary includes a vast offshore area, including deep-sea habitats, kelp forests, and an iconic, rugged coastline. Communities of the Makah Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Hoh Tribe, and Quinault Indian Nation have long-lived connections to certain species, natural items, and places of the region. Today, the communities simultaneously celebrate their ancestral ties to the ocean, manage their treaty-protected resources, and embrace modern fishing techniques.

My painting aims to capture the sanctuary as described by those I interviewed: "wild" and "remote." The coastline – with marine fog, silver-colored driftwood, and sea rock formations – was often described as a peaceful place, especially for visitors "escaping" their daily lives in major cities. My painting also showcases a mint-colored sea anemone and ochre sea stars for those who expressed their love for tidepooling.

The four traditional canoes represent the four native communities and allude to an annual event called the Tribal Canoe Journey, an event where indigenous communities from the United States and Canada undertake a long-distance paddle journey to celebrate community and tradition. I was fortunate to see some of the canoes leaving La Push, Washington, during my trip. Each tribal community is distinct and rich with culture, and therefore, my painting also refers to some of the past and current valued species as explained by various tribal representatives. A Makah representative described how halibut was dried on Tatoosh Island, and how orcas are considered protectors of the tribe. A Quileute representative explained how each year they welcome migrating gray whales with salmon and a ceremony.

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, California: A place of mystery and wonder

Image description: A painting of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. In the bottom of the painting is a reef covered in pink and orange invertebrates. Fish swim in the foreground and background; a remotely operated vehicle hovers in the middle-left; a whale swims near the top of the painting.

Next I traveled to Point Reyes, California, to learn about Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This sanctuary differs from other sanctuaries along the West Coast as it is completely offshore and can be difficult to access due to unpredictable weather and ocean conditions. Luckily, advanced research technology and underwater photography has brought the sights of Cordell Bank to us.

My painting offers viewers a glimpse of the mysterious underwater world of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photos taken during research missions inspired my rendition of Cordell Bank, a rocky undersea feature that rises to 115 feet below the ocean surface. When viewing the research photos, I was struck by the tropical-looking, colorful corals, sponges, and anemones on the reefs. I also heard from a technical diver about his dive at Cordell Bank. He described the bank as the underwater Mount Everest.

In my painting you’ll see a red remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) that represents deep-sea exploration and other research happening in the sanctuary. I also wanted to showcase the productivity at the sanctuary, described to me by those I interviewed. People explained how the sanctuary attracts an array of seabirds, and how seeing thousands of juvenile rockfish or 30 blue whales at one time is possible.

Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, California: Healthy ecosystems and communities

Image description: A painting of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The top third of the painting shows the rocky Farallon Islands. The middle third depicts a surfer. The bottom third shows a view underwater of a whale, white shark, sea lion, kelp, and small fish.

Next on my itinerary came Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, located just north of San Francisco. The sanctuary encompasses a large, complex system of bays, estuaries, marshes, nearshore reefs, rocky shores, and oceanic waters. It also surrounds the iconic Farallon Islands that can be seen from San Francisco on a clear day.

My painting of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary highlights how communities come together in this place. Upwelling, an ocean phenomenon that brings nutrient-rich waters to the surface, creates an abundant food source for a variety of species. The sanctuary attracts a multitude of whales and seabirds who feed in the region, and supports one of the world's most significant populations of white sharks.

Human communities enjoy the waters as well, through activities such as wildlife viewing at the Farallon Islands and surfing at places like Bolinas Beach. A couple of beachgoers explained the sanctuary as “clean,” while a high school surfer said time in the sanctuary made her feel happy, centered, and relaxed.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California: A place for all

Image description: A painting of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The bottom half of the painting depicts a nearshore environment with sea lions hauled out on rocks and a sea otter resting in a kelp forest. Further into the background, a diver surfaces and a humpback whale breaches.

Next, I had the chance to explore Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – the place I live and describe as my home. This sanctuary is adjacent to the Big Sur coastline, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Half Moon Bay. Many describe the sanctuary as one of the best places on Earth to watch marine wildlife. Its diverse habitats – large sandy beaches, uninterrupted kelp forests, rocky shorelines – offer visitors endless recreational activities. The sanctuary also protects a variety of features like an inactive underwater volcano and a deep-sea canyon comparable in size to the Grand Canyon.

My painting showcases the diversity of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is rich with marine life, but also full of humans interacting with the natural systems. Human activity on land, whether agriculture in Salinas or day uses of Big Sur, define and affect the sanctuary.

I came across scuba and free divers, surfers, bay swimmers, kayakers, whale watchers, beachgoers, sailors, fishers, and people admiring marine life from shore. People I interviewed especially enjoyed watching sea otters (a crowd favorite), harbor seals, and sea lions. A diver described the sanctuary as “one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen,” and others explained the place as "home," "my sanctuary," and "life."

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California: A magical place, focused on community

Image description: A painting of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The top third of the painting shows an above-water view of Santa Cruz Island, Chumash people in a traditional tomol, and other boats. The bottom third of the painting is a view of a kelp forest, including several types of fish and a diver.

For my final stop, I headed south to visit Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is just off the coast of Santa Barbara and Ventura and surrounds the five Northern Channel Islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. The islands are surrounded by majestic coastal vistas, kelp beds, and diverse shoreline features. The islands and surrounding productive marine area have been, and continue to be, special to the Native American Chumash community.

My painting aims to capture the sanctuary as described by those I interviewed: "magical" and "a place that celebrates community." The Chumash community maintain their connection to the Channel Islands in various ways, such as the annual tomol (traditional canoe) crossing from the mainland to Santa Cruz Island, Limuw. While various species are valued by the Chumash, a Chumash weaver identified abalone as especially important.

The painting also alludes to stories I heard about children snorkeling above a bat ray and scuba divers encountering seals, sheephead fish, bright orange Garibaldi fish, and giant sea bass in the kelp forests. The boats in the painting represent the active recreational angling and commercial fishing communities, as well as the boats that take visitors to the sanctuary and islands.

Painting a picture of our shared connection

My summer journey confirmed that national marine sanctuaries are valued by various individuals and groups for different reasons. The diverse accounts of how people connect to their national marine sanctuary, when woven together, create a dynamic story, a story that reflects how we collectively think of and value a place. My paintings are a platform for visualizing these stories. I hope they provide you a new look at national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast, and inspire you to consider your connection to a special ocean place.

Andrea Fisher is an intern for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries West Coast Regional Office and MPA Center. She is a graduate student at Middlebury Institute of International Studies focusing on ocean and coastal resource management.

#art #painting #nature #STEAM #west coast #landscape #scenic #ocean #culture #travel #journey #noaa

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nitewrighter · 6 years ago

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For the soundtrack prompt (is that what this is called?): ‘the master switch’ from rogue one a star wars story

Ooh that song’s dramatic—let’s go with the night Zurich Headquarters blew up for that one! I did say I need to fill some gaps in my fic continuity…

—-

Mercy had handed her letter of resignation in to Jack 11 days before. There was no arguing, no bargaining, no promises. She had threatened resignation before and he had managed to convince her otherwise in previous years, but they both knew this wasn’t the Overwatch she had joined anymore, and that there was nothing he could say to make her stay. He just looked to the letter and looked back up at her with an expression on his face that said, “This might as well happen.” The next week was spent more or less assuring that the science and medical division wouldn’t collapse when she left—showing her replacement the ropes, referring her last patients to new physicians, mountains of correspondence, and so on. The remaining four days were spent unceremoniously cleaning out her lab. Much of her research legally belonged to Overwatch, but she couldn’t trust what they would do with it when she was gone, so she was painstakingly grabbing everything she legally could. She was a ghost in the Watchpoint–people looking at her out of the corner of their eye but not making eye contact as she carried her boxes down the hall.

There had been a handful of colleagues talking about how they would miss her. Reinhardt took it hard, but Torbjörn was understanding. Genji was long gone, but as Jack had said, he had every right to leave now that the Shimada clan was eliminated. She had been sending him texts regularly, but with no response. That was fair, she supposed, it wasn’t as if Genji had a lot of good memories with Overwatch. McCree had disappeared to god-knows-where and now had a bounty on his head for violating his plea deal with Overwatch. In a way she sort of admired that—McCree had left sooner than she did, even if it meant going against the law. Still, she had come to peace with her own decision well before she handed her letter of resignation in. She had no regrets about it.

She walked a little brisker with the last box–technically she wasn’t supposed to take her caduceus staff, but Overwatch had the blueprints to it, and she had built this one herself. It was her most trusted model, disassembled into three parts and hidden beneath several paper files in the box.

It was a lonely evening in early autumn the last time she walked out of Zurich Headquarters. She was in the parking lot loading the last box into her car, about a hundred yards from the main building of the headquarters when it exploded.

She knew the sound better than she would have liked, and for a brief second wondered if the stress of the past few days had suddenly caught up to her and she was flashing back but no, she could feel the earth rumbling beneath her feet and hear the roar behind her, so loud it was disorienting. She only barely glanced over her shoulder to see the rushing flames, the smoke, to feel the shift in the air. She vaulted and slid across the hood of her car to take cover behind it, covering her ears and ducking her face down as the world roared around her and the hot wind swept through, shattering her car’s windows and showering her in glass. For a few brief seconds she was a scared little girl in Thun, the weight of her parents’ bodies on her, and the smell of smoke disorienting her as the ground continued shaking beneath her.

It will pass, she told herself, pressing her hands hard to the side of her head, It will pass then you must act.

Ashes were already fluttering down in the air and she pulled up her black turtleneck over her nose and mouth to keep out the smoke, which stung her eyes. The emergency vehicles were already pulling up as she was desperately digging through the other boxes in her trunk, pulling out an untested prototype biofeed and re-assembling her caduceus staff.

“Ma’am—” a swiss policeman hurried up to her, “You need to get out of the area and let the first responders—”

“I am a first responder!” snapped Mercy, putting on the biofeed. She had been playing around with making a biofeed that was also a comm, and the result was a headband-like angled circle. She pushed it against her forehead and strapped her caduceus staff around her back.

“What?” said the policeman.

She pulled her turtleneck down briefly to show her face and pulled up her ID card. “I’m Angela Ziegler,” she said, “I need you to get me in that building.”

—

They gave her a jacket, helmet, heavy gloves and an oxygen mask, but what she wouldn’t give for her Valkyrie suit in that moment. She had been in burning buildings before with all her rescue work, but it was a whole different experience when it was the Zurich headquarters. She wasn’t running fast enough. The reduced oxygen made the Caduceus staff heavier in her arms, and despite the goggles of her oxygen mask, she could feel tears running down and pooling against the foam seal of the goggles. She had spent so much time mentally distancing herself from this place, and now that it was in flames, the thought popped up like a reflex, “Not here. Not my home.” But it was never her home–but there were still people here she needed to save.

“Survivors through there!” she said, seeing figures lit up green through the walls on her biofeed and pointing. A firefighter bodyslammed through the door and emerged carrying several heavily burned survivors toward the exit.

PRIORITY TARGET: GABRIEL REYES–CRITICAL HEALTH, blared in her earpiece as a cross symbol appeared in the corner of her vision.

“Oh no…” she said, turning on her heel and rushing down a hall toward the cross symbol.

“Doctor Ziegler, wait!” said a firefighter, hurrying after her. The hallway opened up into a high walkway in a large hangar where Orcas and jeeps underwent maintenance. Nearly all the vehicles were burnt out skeleton frames now

CRITICAL HEALTH, CRITICAL HEALTH, the biofeed blared in her vision as she looked down to a lone figure sprawled out on the cement floor surrounded by flames, the red and white icon hanging over him.

“Commander Reyes!” Mercy had to stop and remember that she wasn’t wearing the Valkyrie wings to keep from vaulting over the railing of the walkway to fly toward him. No guardian angel, here. She raced to the stairs and hurried down them with the firefighters still struggling to keep up with her. He was in full tactical gear so it was hard to see the full extent of his injuries, but smoke was trailing off of him. She dropped to one knee next to him. “Commander!” she swatted out some of the flames on his uniform. “Gabriel!” she shook his shoulder and his eyes opened blearily.

“Ange…?” Gabriel’s voice was gravelly from the smoke.

“Just hang on,” said Mercy, activating the biotic stream of her staff as two firefighters finally caught up with her.

“Thought you quit…” murmured Gabriel.

“I did,” said Mercy, “That doesn’t mean I’m leaving you to die.”

“Shit…” one of the firefighters said as they looked down at the blackwatch commander. Gabriel suddenly flinched and grunted hard as the biotic stream hit him.

“Nngh! Ange–don’t—!”

“It’s okay–the nerve endings react differently to biotics when it’s a burn injury,” said Mercy.

“Get Moira,” said Gabriel, his voice a growl.

“I don’t know where she is—Where’s Jack!?” Mercy suddenly looked around.

“Gone,” said Gabriel.

“What…?” Mercy’s eyes went wide. Suddenly a loud groan of steel beams buckling lowed down from the ceiling of the hangar as the fires spread and roared around them all.

“This place is coming down!” said one of the firefighters, “We need to get out of here!”

“Help me with him!” said Mercy, bringing her hands up under Gabriel’s arms and struggling to haul him up.

Mercy and the two firefighters managed to haul Gabriel out of the hangar and pulled him a fairly safe distance away onto the headquarters’ tarmac.

“Bring the EMT around to the tarmac! Get us a crash cart!” one of the firefighters barked into their comms as Mercy pulled off Gabriel’s armored vest and shoved up his hoodie to look at the injuries on his torso. She reared back at the sight of a void of black smoke crumbling upward.

“What—what is this–?” she said, her eyes wide.

“You should’ve left, Ange…” mumbled Gabriel.

“No–I’m not leaving you to die,” Mercy’s voice was thick from grief and fear and smoke. She activated the biotic stream but Gabriel only convulsed and groaned in pain under the biotics.

“He’ll crash faster if you keep that stuff on him!” shouted one of the firefighters as Mercy realized the same thing took the stream off of him.

“Moira–We need Moira—” Gabe was mumbling, closing his eyes.

“I don’t know where she is, Gabriel, and if I did there’s no way we could get her here in time!” said Mercy, “What happened here!? What happened to Jack?! Were we attacked?!

“You can still walk away…” Gabriel said softly

“I’m not doing that!” said Mercy.

CARDIAC ARREST IMMINENT, flashed on Mercy’s biofeed.

“No!” Mercy yanked off her oxygen mask and put it over Gabriel’s face, “Stay with me! Where is that EMT!?” she looked over at the firefighters.

“The west building collapsed, it’s blocking the road!” said one of the firefighters, holding his hand to this comm, “They’re finding a detour–”

“We don’t have that kind of time!” said Mercy.

“You can’t save everyone, Doc…” Gabriel’s eyes rolled back into his head.

“No! Stay with me!” said Mercy.

CRITICAL WARNING: CARDIAC ARREST blipped above Gabriel’s red and white cross icon on the biofeed.

“No!” Mercy gripped his shoulders, “Defibrillator! I need a defib—”

Gabriel’s red and white cross icon on Mercy’s biofeed blipped into a pale gray-white skull icon.

“No…” Mercy said quietly, “Commander!” she shook him, “Commander Reyes! Gabriel!” Tears streaked down the gray ash now staining her face. She cupped a hand over her mouth and stared at his body.

Trace Post-Mortem Biotic Energies detected, the biofeed stated, Window of 10 seconds for Biotic Countershock Defibrillation. 7….6…

Mercy’s eyes eyes flicked to the caduceus staff at her side.

“Wait—” one of the firefighters started, “If it was hurting him before—”

“This is the only chance he has,” said Mercy, picking up the staff, holding it over Gabriel’s body, and setting the biotic output to maximum. “Helden sterben nicht,” she said quietly before holding down the trigger on the staff. Both of them were suddenly encased in columns of yellow light as the flood of biotics burst out from the staff. The yellow light faded and Mercy sat there, still gripping her staff. Gabriel was still on the ground, but he wasn’t registering on Mercy’s biofeed. Was she too late?

“Is he…?” one of the firefighters leaned over Gabriel.

Gabriel’s chest slowly rose in a shallow, rattling breath.

“Gabriel…?” Mercy spoke his name but her voice was half-muted by the crackle of the flames and the wail of sirens behind her.

Gabriel didn’t breathe out.

Gabriel screamed. He screamed and screamed and screamed and his back arched against the ground as his torso crumbled upward in smoke.

“What’s happening!?” shouted one of the firefighters.

“Gabriel!” Mercy shrieked, flailing out a hand to him but his flesh eroded away before her hand could make contact, like the image of a riverbank collapsing sped up. His screams didn’t sound human. They were throttled, drowning and burning all at once.

And then, in a plume of black smoke he was gone.

“What…what was that? What was he?” said the other firefighter.

Mercy opened her mouth to speak, then a haze passed over her. Her vision darkened at the peripheries. Zurich Headquarters was burning. Gabriel was gone. Gabriel was dead.

Gabriel Reyes had died twice.

The second time was in agony.

The second time was her fault.

“Doctor Ziegler?” one of the firefighters.

The building. Headquarters was burning. She still had people to protect. She would have to grieve later.

“We… we need to find the other survivors before the whole building comes down…” Mercy moved to rise to her feet but her legs turned to jelly beneath her. Her vision went black. She didn’t feel herself hit the ground.

—

Mercy woke up in a stark white hospital room.

“You took off your oxygen mask in a smoke-heavy environment,” a voice spoke, and Angela turned her head over to see a black woman with close-shaved gray hair sitting in a chair next to her hospital bed, “Combine that with the… emotional distress…” she closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

“Under-Secretary Adawe,” said Mercy, sitting up in bed, but pressing a hand against her forehead as the blood rushed from her head.

“I’m retired and from what I heard, you resigned,” said Gabrielle Adawe, pushing a glass of water across the bedside table, which Angela took and drank deeply from, “No need for formalities here.”

“The survivors—” Mercy started, her voice raw from the last gulp of water, “Jack–?”

“Jack Morrison’s DNA was found in the blast site, but no sign of him… it’s… safe to assume that he died in the blast, and his body was destroyed along with the Headquarters,” Gabrielle trailed off, “I’m sorry, Angela.”

Mercy’s mouth drew to a thin line.

“I never thought Overwatch would ever be this successful,” Gabrielle said quietly, “…I never thought it would be this much of a disaster, either.”

“What happened?” said Mercy, “Were we attacked?”

“Reports are adding up to explosions on the interior of the building…” said Gabrielle.

“So infiltrators,” said Mercy, “Moles–Saboteurs—”

Gabrielle was silent.

“Or…” Mercy trailed off, “Or…” She had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Something worse. Something much worse.

“You should’ve left, Ange…” Gabriel Reyes’ gravelly voice echoed in her mind.

“If it was an infiltrator, it speaks to the current state of Overwatch’s incompetence… this is all the UN needed,” said Gabrielle.

“All the UN needed…?” Mercy repeated.

“They’re shutting Overwatch down. All of it. No suspensions. Complete shutdown. The Watchpoints are being mothballed. Anyone acting under what they claim to be Overwatch-sanctioned activities is now a criminal. I suppose you should count yourself lucky that you were already on your way out.”

Mercy pursed her lips. “Lucky…” she said softly.

“That’s not the right word. I apologize…” said Gabrielle, standing up, “I’m… a bit tired myself. I… I have a lot of families to talk to. But if you need—I can stay…”

Mercy shook her head. “I… I should probably rest,” she said, glancing off.

“I understand,” said Gabrielle, getting out of her chair and moving to the door of the hospital room. She paused in the doorway. “You gave so much to this organization, Angela. You deserved better from it than this.”

“I think we all did,” said Mercy.

Gabrielle huffed. “On that, we can agreee. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do from here on out,” she said, walking out the door.

“You as well,” said Mercy.

The door clicked shut behind Gabrielle Adawe and Mercy glanced at the small pile of her effects on the bedside table next to the empty water glass. She reached forward and dug into it, pulling out her old Overwatch comm.

“Shutting down Overwatch…” she said, tracing her fingers over the Overwatch insignia on the comm. I suppose there was more than enough reason, she thought, but still her stomach turned slightly at the fact that it would no longer be there. She turned the comm on and it buzzed and she nearly dropped it in surprise. A Message blipped up on the screen of the comm.

14 Missed Calls.

4 messages.

She opened the calls. The name “Genji Shimada” appeared 14 times with the times of the calls listed and various voicemails left. He had been trying to get in contact with her.

She didn’t have the energy to make a phone call, she turned over to her text messages.

Genji Shimada 22:06: Saw Zurich on news. Are you all right?

Genji Shimada 22:11: Doctor?

Genji Shimada 22: 21: I am fine I am sorry for falling out of contact. I was out of comm range.

Genji Shimada 22:33 Please write back, Doctor.

Mercy wanted to text him. She had to let him know she was all right. But there were a few minutes where she just pressed her comm to her forehead and rolled up in a little ball in her hospital bed. She forced herself to look at her phone screen again. She had to let him know she was alive. Tears were welling in her eyes as her thumb shakily moved across the projected keyboard as if possessed.

It’s all gone, she texted, It’s all burnt down. They’re both dead.

#overwatch #gency #overwatch fanfic

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worstjourney · 7 years ago

Photo

Herbert Ponting, Camera Artist

Ponting was the son of an English banker, but a few years’ experience convinced him he didn't want to follow his father's footsteps, so he followed the romance of the West to California. He dabbled in mining, ranching, and fruit farming, none of which were successful, but the photographic hobby he picked up during that time took off, after he won some contests which he was encouraged to enter by a professional.

Thus began his career as a travel photographer, taking journalistic photos abroad, as well as the popular stereoscopic images for the souvenir market.

Most of the early 1900s was spent in East Asia, from Japan to Burma, and his photos appeared in The Strand. It was while reporting on the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-5 that he met Cecil Meares, though it's hard to know whether it was this connection that got him in Scott's sights, or his media presence generally.

On the Expedition, Ponting's association with instances of 'bad luck' didn't pass unnoticed; old seafaring superstition labelled him – or, more charitably, his cameras – as 'the Jonah.' Arguably the first major instance of this was before they'd even set up base: Ponting had set up on some sea ice to film some orcas that had been spotted nearby, but the orcas noticed him too, and set about breaking the ice to upset it and knock him into the water. It was only by a miracle (and, no doubt, plenty of adrenaline) that he got back onto the ship before he satisfied their curiosity.

He conformed almost comically to the stereotype of the nervy perfectionist photographer, but Ponting was a connoisseur of his craft – his insistence on being referred to as a "camera artist" was amusing but true. His primary instrument was a large format glass-plate camera, on which many of the most iconic polar photographs were taken; I had the good fortune in 2012 to see an exhibition of his photos printed at full size, and can tell you with confidence that any digital facsimile falls far short. He also had a full spread of premium lenses and filters which he used to great effect, and taught a handful of enthusiastic amateurs how to use them too, including Scott himself, who in a short time became quite an accomplished photographer.

He also brought a cinematograph (motion picture camera) and shot miles of footage, which he developed in the tiny darkroom in the hut and took back with him to Britain when he returned after the first year. While his fellow travellers were making their attempt at the Pole, Ponting showed his moving pictures and magic lantern slides to enthusiastic audiences back home, never imagining what was playing out back on the ice until the news hit a year later.

Ponting was media-savvy – moreso than Scott, whose pre-existing contracts Ponting found unwise – and aside from knowing how to take a visually appealing photo, knew what sort of imagery would sell. He had been doing well off his Antarctic work, but when news came through of the tragedy he committed proceeds from it to the memorial fund, which put the Expedition's finances back in the black and supported the surviving family members of the men who were lost. When he got wind that Teddy Evans was using his photos for his own lectures, without permission or recompense, he blew up, and though it all got sorted out eventually he continued to bear a grudge against the second-in-command – an episode which adds an interesting frisson to the introduction to the 1933 sound version of his Antarctic film, 90° South.

Meanwhile, Ponting's own finances were taking a downward turn; he tried to get on as a war photographer but was turned down for being too old, and had a few unsuccessful business ideas, including a new film projector which he tried to sell in Hollywood. Nevertheless he remained committed to the idea of his Terra Nova work remaining as a memorial to the friends he'd lost. After a long period of declining health, he died in London in 1935.

Sources:

The Great White South by Herbert Ponting

The Lost Photographs of Captain Scott by David Wilson

Wikipedia! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Ponting which appears largely drawn from Photographs of the World: a biography of Herbert Ponting by H.J.P. Arnold.

British Antarctic Expedition: Miscellaneous Papers, a volume of which contains a rather sad collection of letters from Ponting to Debenham (by then head of SPRI) essentially begging for start-up money for his inventions.

#herbert ponting #camera artist #scott expedition #characters #character design #terra nova expedition #drawings

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