Photographers capture incredible lightning show over western Washington
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Youngstown YMCA to dedicate sculpture with spiritual theme
Youngstown’s YMCA is inviting members of the public to come downtown and visit a new sculpture created by an artist whose works are designed to spark compassion and other spiritual values.
CT artists’ music video, featured nationwide, shows opioid crisis’ toll through 106 victims’ faces
RIDGEFIELD — Local musician Ethan Isaac has lost many close friends due to the opioid epidemic over the past 10 to 15 years.
“There was a period of a couple of years where every couple of months I’d hear another story of somebody that I knew overdosed,” said Isaac, who is co-owner of Factory Underground a 13-year-old media production company in Norwalk.
So when his longtime friend and fellow musician Bruce James, a Stamford native and former Norwalk and Darien resident, asked him for advice on how to raise awareness through a song he wrote, called “Dedicated to Life,” about the epidemic, Isaac had an idea.
“I said, ‘Why don’t you make a video around your song? … Let’s find ways to bring in some imagery in the video that will help raise the awareness of the problem and let’s get this thing out,’” said Isaac, who produced the music video, “Dedicated to Life,” based on James’ song.
The video, which can be accessed on YouTube, has been selected by the Association of People Against Lethal Drugs to be part of the nonprofit’s third annual national opioid crisis awareness campaign and rally day on May 6. On that day, more than 25 rallies in cities across the United States will play “Dedicated to Life.”
‘Talk about the crises’
The four-minute music video encourages people to “talk about the crisis, talk about what’s happening,” said Isaac, whose 6-year-old daughter attends Ridgebury Elementary School, and whose wife, Karen Zimmer, is a singer and songwriter.
The video features James talking about the opioid crises and shows 106 photographs of people ranging in age from 15 to 48 who lost their lives from addiction.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved for treating severe pain. In 2020, more than 56,000 deaths involving synthetic opioids (other than methadone) occurred in the United States.
“What you can hope is that people see this (video) and realize how serious it is and they either reach out to help a friend or family member that’s going through this,” Isaac said.
He continued: “Or, they might be having the problem themselves and they see this video and they don’t want to be one of those people that are affected or killed.”
James, who now lives in South Carolina, said aside from everyone who lost their lives through addiction, addiction affects the loved ones they leave left behind.
“These people — their lives are never whole again. So then they resort to their vices, whatever they are drinking or drugs or food,” James said. “So it really destroys a large part of the family unit.”
James, himself, will perform “Dedicated to Life” at a rally at a church in Greenville, S.C., on May 6.
Isaac said he has made a difference through his music on multiple occasions. One was in 2005, when he traveled oversees with his band, Edisun, and played music for U.S. troops in active war zones all over the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The band produced a documentary in 2021 about its experiences on the road.
“Our first single was a song called ‘Medicate,’ which… raised awareness toward the overuse of medication in today’s day and age,” he said.
What’s next?
Isaac and his music partner, Norwalk resident Kenny Cascioli, look to grow Factory Underground Tech, an audio and film school they founded in Norwalk in 2020.
He also hopes to perform oversees again.
“Now that the world is kind of reopening from the pandemic… (I hope) to go back out and continue entertaining the troops and servicemen and women all over the world,” he said.
“There’s nothing better than being able to make a difference in your music,” he added.
There will be rallies in more than 25 locateions on that day, across the United States.
Visions of a Life: Uprooted Visions at Edinburgh Printmakers
With the Conservative government’s vicious anti-immigration policies continuing, a new exhibition at Edinburgh Printmakers emphasises the importance of elevating marginalised voices through international collaboration.
Royal photographer reveals exclusive photos of King Charles III
Royal Photographer Christopher Jackson reveals exclusive photographs of King Charles III ahead of his coronation on Saturday.
“He is great to photograph, he brings a real energy, he’s got this amazing ability to connect with people from different cultures and societies all around the world,” Mr Jackson told Saturday Herald Sun columnist Steve Price.
Photographers dive into fundraising for ocean conservation
Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.
A picture of a manatee and her calf relaxing in Florida’s eelgrass and an image of seahorses feasting on plankton late at night are just two of the limited-edition prints that will go on sale this month, as part of an initiative that unites 100 renowned photographers to raise money for ocean conservation.
Set up by photographers Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier and Chase Teron, 100 for the Ocean will run throughout the month of May, selling prints starting at $100.
The three co-founders believe that art has the unique ability to “bring the world together and give voice to the creatures who depend on the ocean for survival.”
“Photography can provide a window into this mysterious world, showcasing the extraordinary diversity of life and habitat that rely on a healthy ocean,” Teron said.
He hopes that the sale will raise at least $1 million. “With the 100 photographers we have on our team and our community of ocean lovers, we think this is very doable, but it’s not an easy feat,” he added.
In this image, captured by 100 for the Ocean co-founder Paul Nicklen, an emperor penguin propels itself out of Antartica’s icy waters. Credit: Paul Nicklen/100 for the Ocean
Net proceeds go to Sea Legacy Canada Foundation, which will use the money to expand its own conservation efforts, and support other ocean-focused organizations through media connections and documentary storytelling opportunities, according to a press release. SeaLegacy was started by Nicklen and Mittermeier to use storytelling to protect the ocean.
According to a paper published in 2020, investments of $175 billion per year will be needed to conserve and ensure sustainable use of the ocean, to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 — “Life Below Water.”
“As a small group of photographers, we’re just going to raise a drop of that,” Mittermeier said in a press release. “The hope, however, is that we’re going to shine a spotlight on the ocean.”
“Ensuring our own survival”
The ocean faces many problems; more than 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2021, a figure that is projected to double or triple by 2040, according to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. It also faces threats from warming, overfishing, and acidification.
“The health of our ocean determines the health of our planet. When we protect the sea, we are not only safeguarding the countless species that call it home, but we are also ensuring our own survival,” said Teron.
Curated by Kathy Moran, former National Geographic deputy director of photography, 100 for the Ocean features prints from world-renowned photographers including Steve McCurry, Jimmy Chin and Joel Sartore.
Teron added that the purpose of 100 for the Ocean resonated with many photographers, who saw it as an opportunity to create a lasting impact through their art.
The Incredible Bond Between Animals And People Captured In The Magical Photography Style Of This Artist (41 New Pics)
Anastasiya Dobrovolskaya finds similar features between animals and people to create beautiful fairytale-like images. They focus on our connection with nature and beauty beyond stereotypes.
Last year, Anastasiya was ranked among the 90 best portrait artists in the world. Though her work has sparked controversy over the animals in her photoshoots, her work is born out of love. In her previous post on Bored Panda Anastasiya emphasized: “If an animal can be so much like a human, then its life, desires, and interests should be valued no less than human ones.”
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Fundraiser harnesses power of photography to protect the ocean
100 For the Ocean was co-founded by photographers Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier and Chase Teron. The project is a collaboration between 100 renowned photographers to raise money for ocean conservation. This photo by Nicklen shows an emperor penguin propelling itself out of Antarctica’s icy waters. “To have communities come together like this, all for the purpose of good, to amplify and help grow other organizations, is a really beautiful thing,” said Nicklen in a press release.
World’s Largest Matchstick Sculpture: world record in Wadsworth, Ohio
Wadsworth, Ohio, United States–The annual Blue Tip Festival every June in Wadsworth, Ohio, started with the lighting of a 17 ft. tall match during the Blue Tip Parade; the match burns 24 hrs a day for the duration of the festival; the giant Matchstick is now on permanent display and sets the world record for being the World’s Largest Matchstick Sculpture, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY: https://bit.ly/3NVkda3
Photo editor set to begin his life in wildlife photography
Mason Maron is an interesting person who is very passionate about birding, wildlife photography and more
Mason Maron is one of the most interesting people in the Daily Evergreen newsroom. He is graduating Saturday with a major in wildlife ecology and conservation sciences and a minor in forestry. He has been at the Evergreen for five semesters, isn’t a communications major and has been heavily invested.
Maron is the former president of the Wildlife Society Chapter in Pullman and is the current photo editor for the Daily Evergreen.
He is extremely passionate about wildlife photography, so much so that he has put it at the forefront of his life.
“I got into wildlife through wildlife photography. Obviously, I’ve kind of based my life around it, because I’m about to graduate with a degree in wildlife. It’s something that I really enjoy. And I really enjoy nature, so something about capturing it in photos and capturing those moments I find fun. When you get a nice photo it’s very satisfying and very gratifying,” Maron said.
He was originally going to go into mechanical engineering, but around his junior year of high school, he found wildlife photography and did a 180 his senior year, becoming very passionate about wildlife. Maron declined a scholarship from Autodesk, a 3D modeling company in Portland, Oregon to pursue wildlife in college.
Maron is going to take a gap year after graduation, take some time to travel and then work a winter field job, potentially in Hawaii or Antarctica. Then he plans to apply to graduate schools.
A week after he graduates from Pullman, his plan is to do a cross-country road trip. He will leave from Pullman and travel down to the southernmost part of Texas and then to the upper peninsula of Michigan. He will then fly to Rhode Island and spend a week and a half in Rhode Island and Connecticut, then fly back to Washington.
Maron has high goals; his plan is to get his master’s degree and then a Ph.D.
“Cornell would be nice, but it’s pretty competitive especially in that field because they have the Cornell Lab of Ornithology which is like their bird lab. It has a low number of openings. It’s basically the number one place to study that’s in the world,” Maron said.
He went to WSU because of in-state tuition, scholarships and the fact that his sister went here. He gave credit to his parents for always being supportive of him and his endeavors.
“My parents have been very supportive of what I like to do. Which is good, because you don’t make a ton of money in wildlife,” Maron said. “My parents have worked so hard to get us to live comfortably, but they’re supportive because they can tell that it’s stuff that I like to do. Truthfully, if I decide later in life that I’d rather go do something else, they would be supportive of that as well.”
Maron’s portfolio features a wide degree of things. He also speaks Spanish and studied abroad in southern Chile. In the semester of spring of 2022, he took the opportunity to study abroad. He said that he was rusty when he first got there but eventually was confident enough to speak fluent Spanish to Chileans.
He spoke about birding, explaining how competitive it truly is. People compete in a competition called a “big year,” which people take very competitively, setting aside 10s of $1000s. They fly across the country to see a rare bird, ready to go somewhere at the drop of a hat.
Maron did a “big day” in Washington a couple of years ago. He traveled all over Washington State to see as many species of birds as he could in one day. He set the state record for individuals at 193 bird species in one day.
“I didn’t go to sleep that night. I stayed up the whole night listening for owls to start off, and then at sunrise I was at the Puget Sound and then I drove all throughout Washington, like through the Cascades, and I think the furthest east I got was Othello. The entire day was just driving places to see birds,” Maron said.
Regarding his wildlife photos, Maron has been published in a multitude of different publications, including three of four field guides, in different publications in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, a few research publications, magazines and the Cornell Lab. He has been on the local news and has hopped on different podcasts to talk about wildlife and birds.
Initially, when he started at the Evergreen, he was a photographer and was not interviewed they just sent him the paperwork and he started taking photos. Then after his study abroad semester, he applied to be the photo editor and got the job. He said it has created some good friendships.
“I think some long nights spent in the newsroom helped form some bonds between the people in there and I hope that I can stay in touch with the people that I’ve worked with,” Maron said. “I think that it was a good experience and there’s definitely some good times and good memories looking back. Everybody kind of sitting and working late hours on a Wednesday.”
Letter from the writer:
When I first got started at the Evergreen it was very unconventional; I randomly took the job as the deputy sports editor and got placed in a desk right next to Mason. Our friendship has grown as the year has gone on, from mainly acquaintances to friends. He has been so kind to me and we have talked hours on hours about a wide-ranging amount of topics.
He is wildly interesting and is such a great person. I am proud to call him my friend and am happy to see him follow his dreams in wildlife.
