Working on a Big Green Project
For those who support my work here's a way to do that and come out trumps with a Coffee Table Book to celebrate the wilds of Okinawa.
As many of you are aware if you've been keeping up with my social media posts of late I'm about to start on a pretty ambitious project. 'Yambaru, the Green and Beating Heart of Okinawa' are the titles for both a Coffee Table Book and a video documentary that will be premiered on my seawildearth YouTube Channel. Both of these 'end products' will also signal the completion of a two year filming and photographic binge to record as much of the flora, fauna and landscapes of the unique environments and species of Northern Okinawa. In order to offer those of you who support my plans a way of being involved with this I have also created a Patreon for the project. Patreon, for those of you unaware, is a social platform where creative entities such as myself create an account where those who are so motivated to do so can support the creative effort with a small monthly contribution.
Indicative of the Yambaru, the dense green of this unique location is permeated with numerous streams, rivers and impressive waterfalls.
It is hard to get photography to pay these days, tough to make a living from that's for sure. It seems to be compounded even more so when one delves into Wildlife Photography as a viable and potential revenue stream. It seems there is simply not the interest in the natural side of our planet as there was when I was a young boy. I remember being glued to the screens when anything to do with wildlife and nature, especially underwater, came flickering across the television set. Something that I feel has sadly been lost on the younger generations of today is probably down to all the technological advances since those times mixed with the myriad distractions currently vying for young minds and attention spans.
For the few out there who share my love and passion for nature, the great outdoors and all forms of wildlife I give you the option to support my work via the Patron platforms. I have set up what is a small monthly contributions system that will allow me to give more of my time to concentrate on the shooting required for this project. I'll be straight with you from the get go. The finalized product, the Coffee Table Book will not be a cheap commodity. Given the quality of the materials for both the binding and printing mixed with the fact that I'm planning for the hard backed, dust sleeved book to comprise 132 pages printed on premium quality paper. All in all the total the final product will have a recommended retail price equivalent to US$275.00, it will be a thing of beauty. All captions and texts will be in both English and Japanese to appeal to both local and international buyers.
Yes, it is expensive, to do anything remotely well these days using the printed medium is not a cheap undertaking. To this end the Patreon solution exists for those people willing to support the project as a way to literally pay for their copy of the book via a small monthly contribution over the span of the expected shooting duration. This will only be possible with memberships that stand the test of time and span the two years required to complete the imagery acquisition for this endeavor. Many folks in passing have suggested they will buy the book when it is done but in reality it does reflect quite the investment. Surely it would be better to purchase your copy incrementally at a rate, without interest, that spans and facilitates the imagery acquisition stages?
To close this post I extend a cordial invite to you and ask that if you sincerely do support my work and wish to see this project reach fruition that you consider signing up to the Patreon support page for this endeavor.
Many thanks,
Mark.
"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence".
Ansel Adams - Photographer
About the Author
Internationally recognized as a provider of quality mixed media Mark Thorpe is always on the search for captivating content.
Photographer / Cameraman
Mark Thorpe
Emmy Award Winning wildlife cameraman and Internationally published landscape photographer Mark Thorpe has been an adventurer since he could walk! Spending 17yrs as an Underwater Cameraman at the start of his imaging career the highlight of which was being contracted to work with National Geographic. In that role as a field producer and cameraman he's been privy to a mixed bag of hair raising adventures. For some reason he was always selected for projects relating to large toothed marine predators such as Great White and Tiger Sharks, Sperm Whales and Fur Seals. Additionally he has also been active within Southern Africa on terrestrial projects dealing with a wide array of iconic wildlife.
Currently based in Okinawa, Japan he's always on the lookout for his next big adventure. He shares his exploits online with a totally organic social audience. Sponsored by a number of photographic industry manufacturers he is constantly scouring the islands for captivating landscape and 'Oceanscape' compositions. Videography wise he continues to create short photographic tutorial videos as well as content to promote the diversity of wildlife within the Okinawa prefecture as well as a growing lean towards matters of conservation and responsible environmentalism.
Mark has long been an advocate of simplified living. Fortunate enough to have a partner whom shares that vision he is increasingly vocal about what he perceives to be the requirement for man to change his ways. He advocates for people to change and adopt what he calls a true L.I.F.E or Low Impact Focused Existence in order that future generations also have the opportunity to enjoy the natural wonders of this planet to the same extent that his generation has. There is a growing sense of need for such a radical change.