“In Iceland, you can feel the power of the elements” Reynisfjara Beach at Vik, Iceland. Photo Peter Hannan.
Head to Merimbula on May 25 and immerse yourself in a sea of images, films, and information about our beautiful sapphire oceans, at the 10th Annual Marine Science Forum.
Presented by Eden’s Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre, this year the Forum showcases a ‘school’ of marine and ocean photographers, filmmakers as well as the technologies that help them capture their high impact images.
Among the highlights of this year’s forum will be the attendance of UnderseaROV duo David Rowland and Ian Homes from Batemans Bay. They will attempt to live stream from the waters of Merimbula, along with a screening of their film ‘Through the Garden of Eden’.
Richard Wylie’s award-winning image. Sea dragon into the light. Photo: Richard Wylie
Award-winning National Geographic photographer Richard Wylie will present a talk entitled “Zen and the Art of Sea Dragon Maintenance”.
P T Hirschfield of ‘Pink Tank SCUBA‘ describes herself as a “real life mermaid, writer, under-water photographer and video-maker, with terminal cancer” will talk about underwater adventuring while dealing with cancer.
Sheree Marris is an award-winning aquatic scientist, author, TV presenter, and one of Australia’s youngest ambassadors for the environment. Sheree is known for delivering information in a way that is fun, sexy and entertaining, hence her presentation title – “High Speed – Feeding, Fighting and Fornicating”.
Speaking alongside these internationally known activists and image-makers are three of our own Sapphire Coast photographers, Pete Hannan, Louise Kelly, and Dave Rogers.
The seals of Montague Island. Photo: Louise Kelly
About Regional is proud to be able to present an exclusive look at some of the stunning images from these talented landscape and underwater photographers, just a taste of what this year’s Forum will offer.
Born in Pambula, Louise Kelly is an ocean lover who started photographing the underwater world she explored while fishing, diving and surfing. “Watching the waves roll over me, seeing interesting fish, seaweed dancing around, capturing the movement of water,” she says.
Louise doesn’t feel herself if she’s not in the water at least once a day. “I get cranky!”
Her relationship with the ocean starts early every day with the family surf check.
She believes that “the photography of our amazingly talented photographers here on the Sapphire Coast shows people how beautiful our coast is, the seascapes, the lakes and the rivers that lead into the sea.”
“Hopefully this reminds people we must protect this beauty.”
“I love watching the waves roll over me.” – Bella. Photo: Louise Kelly
“I love seeing interesting fish and watching the seaweed dancing, capturing that.” Photo: Louise Kelly
“Reminding people of the beauty of our waters.” Photo: Louise Kelly
Tathra resident Dave Rogers is a photographer for whom the ocean provides ever-changing environments to capture. He lives on the beach and tries “to shoot both sunrise and sunset every day”.
Dave often revisits the same location, as he says, “on returning again and again, you begin to notice the complexity of the surrounding environment. I try to show this in my work by capturing an ocean landscape in its most uniquely beautiful condition.”
Dave has worked extensively in media (newspapers and magazines) and his talk at the Forum will focus on ‘images for social media’, a platform he believes can help change the way we view and appreciate our world.
Pambula River Mouth – “Photographers have the ability to tell a powerful story through a single image.” Photo: Dave Rogers.
Bithry Inlet, sunrise. “I am forever chasing light. Sunrise over the ocean is just fascinating.” Photo: Dave Rogers
Iconic Horse Head Rock, Narooma. “I try and capture an ocean location in its most uniquely beautiful condition.” – photo: Dave Rogers
“I’m always chasing light.” Dave Rogers’ bioluminescence shot at Nelsons Lagoon went viral in 2018. Photo: Dave Rogers
Peter Hannan has been in, around and on the ocean every day of his life. He loves and respects the power of the ocean, “it can be so calm one minute, and terrifying the next.”
A Sapphire Coast local, Peter spends many months each year in extreme locations like Iceland, Greenland and the Antarctic. At this year’s forum, he’ll talk about the human impact he’s observed on these landscapes over the years, in particular, Iceland.
“The power of the elements in Iceland astounds me. Ice, light, sea, fire,” he says.
“The ice is absolutely beautiful, and the ocean is full of life; seals and whales feeding just offshore.”
Peter believes photographers, “need to do whatever we can to raise awareness of the state of our oceans. The forum is a great opportunity to learn first-hand from experts on many different fronts.”
The frozen waterfall Kolufossar in Western Iceland. Photo: Peter Hannan
Ice Cave ‘Treasure Island’ at Vatnajokull, Iceland. “The power of the elements.” Photo: Peter Hannan
Reykjavik’s Grotta lighthouse under Aurora Borealis. Photo: Peter Hannan
Kerryn Wood from Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre says there will be a very special surprise at the opening of the forum this year. About Regional can only report that it is a ‘musical calling from one of our local sirens’.
The 10th Annual Marine Science Forum takes place on Saturday, May 25 at Club Sapphire from 9 am to 5.30 pm and is followed by a dinner at Wheelers Restaurant. For bookings for forum and dinner go HERE.
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