5 MORE things you can do to save the Earth!

I am sure somewhere down the road, at one time or another, you have picked up a book or magazine, or glanced at an email, or a website, with the title "Ten things you can do to save the earth". I myself have seen many of them. Most of the things on these lists are all fairly simple tasks, which I have attempted at one point or another, there are some that even work for me on a daily basis, like the good 'ole jar of water, in the toilet tank trick, to save water every time you flush.

There are even books out there that teach us "50" or "101" or "500" things you can do to save the earth. I have read them all, and I have noticed, when the numbers start to get that high their tasks seem to lose their "Simplicity". Many become things that are usually looked over by all of us on a day to day basis, or not even attempted at all, ever. You are probably not going to find alot of people who are willing to "Write to computer chip manufacturers and urge them to stop using CFC-113 as a solvent. (#59).

The shorter top ten list obviously seem more doable, simpler, reasonable, when it comes to our modern day life's. But the top ten list are unfortunately all the same. There might be a slight variation for one list to the other, but for the most part they are all the same. This led me to think, there has got to be several more "SIMPLE" things we can do to save the earth. I have come up with a few of my own, and revised the top ten list to "The top FIFTEEN things you can do to save the earth".

Here are my additional 5

1) Bananas, do you really need to put them into a plastic bag to take them to the checkout counter, where they probably will be put into another plastic bag to transport them, two, four, six miles to your home? Bananas already come wrapped in their own natural bag of sorts, which can be safely discarded, even composted. And it's not just bananas, what about water melon's, grapefruits, mango's, orange's, etc.

2) Pick up someone else's trash, that's right I said it. No one else will, and least not in today's world. How many time's have you heard "I'm not picking that up", or "I didn't put that there"? I think Nike's catch phrase has a much better ring; "Just do it". Consider it your good deed for the day, and trust me, this will become a good deed you can easily repeat day after day.

3) Buy Method, and Seventh Generation products! Support and use earth friendly products, rather than the established, well know names or companies. And be loyal, it now seems that most of the big name companies have jumped on the green bandwagon, and have started producing there own versions, of what they feel is safe for our environment. Why give them your money, when you can support small businesses, who truly care.

4) Join a local clean up, it's very gratifying, and leaves you with a great sense of accomplishment. Take it a step further and organize your own, with friends, neighbors, or coworkers.

5) Teach your children well. As a new father to our son Lucas, who is now 25 months old, and smarter than I could have ever imagined, being green, and respecting the earth, will be at the top of the list, next to respecting your elders, please, and thank you.

Maybe you can even think of some new "simple" ones of your own. Owww, I got one more, send this to ten more friends. :)

Saving the Bahamas Sea Turtles

This August The Doongalik Studios Art Gallery in the Marina Village on Paradise Island will be host a very significant type of art show. Along with presenting the work of 70 Bahamian artists, they will be helping the environment by bringing awareness to some of its most beautiful and unique creatures that inhabit our planets precious oceans. Below is the Press Release for the show.

for immediate release;

Doongalik Studios Art Gallery, located in Marina Village at Paradise Island has invited the 70 local artists it represents to participate in an environmentally conscious Art Exhibition entitled ‘SAVE THE TURTLES’ scheduled to coincide with the Miss Universe Pageant to be held this August on Paradise Island.  The Official Opening will be held on Friday, August 7 and the Show will be on exhibition until the end of August.

Manager of the Gallery, Pam Burnside stated, “Earlier this year Teleri Jones, one of our Abaco artists, suggested that we have a ‘Turtle Art Show’.  But as the worldwide effort to promote the conservation of turtles and the international ban on the killing of turtles is an ongoing topical issue we felt that we should expand the scope of the Exhibition since this would be an excellent opportunity to focus more attention to the plight of this endangered species around the world as well as in The Bahamas. What better way to increase public awareness and change than through the power of art especially during a time when the international press and a large group of visitors will be present on Paradise Island.”

Co-owner of the Gallery, Jackson Burnside added, “Not only is Art a vehicle for providing enjoyment but it should also provoke thought, questioning and change”.

The ‘SAVE THE TURTLES’ Art Exhibition has been enthusiastically sanctioned by the Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group (which includes the Bahamas Humane Society, Advocates for Animal Rights, Animals Require Kindness, The Humane Society of Grand Bahama, Re-Earth, The Bahamas National Trust, Underwater Explorer’s Society Dolphin Experience, Grand Bahama Nature Tours, Earth Care Grand Bahama and The Nature Conservancy) who will provide educational literature on the topic for visitors to the Gallery to highlight The Bahamas’ efforts towards this cause. In addition the Gallery and the artists will donate 10% of all sales to assist the local turtle conservation groups with their public education efforts. You can learn more about this initiative by visiting their website at http://saveourseaturtles.com

Unable to attend the show, I was quite honored when hey chose to use one of my Surface Series images in their invitation, and promotional material. The image used is entitled "Montagu", which can be seen here.

You can help by signing the petition today, which can be viewed here

This petition along with accompanying letters, documents and articles, has now been submitted to The Bahamas Prime Minister, Minister of Fisheries, and Minister of Tourism.  Please continue to sign and forward the petition.  It will be left active and online until the Bahamian government action requested has been taken! As well it continues being updated. Check the last turtle rescue photo album at the end!

If you would like to learn more about protecting Sea turtles in the Bahamas, click here

And remember to support local art!

Lucas Gynell and Clyde Butcher

Just wanted to share a quick moment I had this past Father's Day, when I drove my son, Lucas out to my old stomping ground in The Big Cypress National Preserve, to meet famed photographer Clyde Butcher. For those of you who don't know, fresh out of college, I worked with Clyde for four years living and working a week at a time in the middle of "the swamp".

We made the trip out to Clyde's Big Cypress Gallery, as he was there signing books and doing his usually meet and greet, with his adoring fans. I hadn't seen Clyde since I made the trip out for his annual "swamp walk", a few years back. It was great seeing Clyde again, and Lukie had a ball. We saw a few alligators in the front of the gallery, and Lukie enjoyed safely played with Clyde's alligator bench in the gallery.

New look for Limited Edition Prints!

Let me start by saying, I think I have the worst hand writing in the world. People who watch me write something down always say one of two things; either "dude you write so weird" or "you write like you are left handed". I am right handed. 

In my never ending quest trying to produce the best quality product I can with my Fine Bahamian Landscapes, I have chosen to eliminate what I consider an eyesore in my previous handwritten numbering and dating system used with my Limited Edition Prints.

Previously my Limited Edition Prints of my Fine Bahamian Landscapes, once matted, were signed with archival pigment ink in the lower right-hand corner of the print, and numbered and dated in the bottom left-hand corner of the print; (i.e. 1/10 2008). I then apply my LIMITED EDITION PRINT Bio Page, which includes, biographical info, the image title, the image size, along with the edition year, edition number, and copyright date, on the back of the matt. This is a system which I adopted from the Clyde Butcher school of photography. Many fine art gelatin silver photographers/printers would argue, any or all black and white photographs should be dry mounted, matted, and then signed, with an overpriced pencil in the lower left hand corner ON the matte only. I never really subscribed to this train of thought. Signing a matte, leaves you with an unsigned photograph.

Starting in 2009, I chose to give my Limited Edition prints a make over of sorts. 

All of my Limited Edition prints are still signed with archival ink (ON the print) , if the lower right hand corner and, new for 2009 are now embossed with "Limited Edition Print" in the lower left hand corner of the print. The print which is mounted within its mat, using only corner tabs, is also numbered on the reverse side of the print in ink, and again signed.

I have viewed, read about, and debated many variations and takes on this topic, and have come to the conclusion that, aesthetically this format and practice is the most pleasing for me.

Hope you like the new look, and enjoy!

John B

3rd Annual Greening of the Gables Gala

The 3rd annual Greening of the Gables Gala was held on January 30th, 2009 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida. Growing up and living in Coral Gables I was more than happy to oblige when I was asked to donate one of my limited edition "Fine Bahamian Landscapes" as part of their silent auction, to raise money for a very worthwhile cause. I was in very good company, as the long list included donors; Bacardi USA, Inc., Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, Romero Britto, The City of Coral Gables, Miami Art Museum, Ocean Reef Club, The University of Miami, The Florida Marlins, and The Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

 The Limited Edition gelatin silver photograph I donated was a recently shot image from South Andros Island, Bahamas. The photograph was of a lone mangrove in a vast open bight separating Central and South Andros, and area not to far from, and not to unlike the existing landscape here in South Florida.

 Whether it is native oak, pine, mangrove, or thatch palm, whether it is a widely used public sidewalk, or a isolated stretch of coastline, our natural world around us needs to be cherished and respected, whether existing or sown. I hope that through my gift others can see that there are spectacular places within and just outside of their backyard that should be valued as well as appreciated.

The Coral Gables Community Foundation is a non-profit organization that puts on the "Greening of the Gables Gala" each year. It is their major fundraiser of the year and a great support for the local community as well as the environment. The Greening of the Gables Gala's goal is "to enhance the quality of life for people living and working in Coral Gables by planting trees, bushes, and other foliage in public rights of way, parks, and downtown areas, improving the beauty, value, and environment of our community."

The Black-Tie event was attended by over 200 guests, who enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while bidding on silent auction items in the Biltmore's lovely Danielson Gallery. "A wide variety of unique and exciting silent auction items were generously donated by local artists, vendors, and loyal community supporters. 

The Horses of Harbour Island

On my most recent trip, I had the pleasure of visiting the pink sand beaches of Harbour Island, just a short boat ride, off the coast of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. I was there for the annual "Princess Street Gallery evening of Wine and Art". I was in Harbour Island for an extended weekend and enjoyed a wonderful stay, and a great show, where I met several locals and visitors alike, all with many kind words about my work.

The next day after the show ended with a walk up the beach for me, the daily routine of gallery owner Charles, and his trusty dog bandit. Taking a break from shooting 4 x 5, black & white, I headed towards the beach with my trusty Nikon DSLR in hand, and soon found myself immersed in a different type of photo-op. We parked Charles' golf cart off to the side of the small dirt road we were on and walked a narrow path down to the beach. As we got down to the water, coming up the beach behind us were the horses of Harbour Island. It was dusk. 

I must admit it I really did not, and still do not know that much about the horses. I had seen pictures, even video of them, and had only heard very little about them. The first time I actually saw the horses, was the day before, when I arrived, and had lunch on the deck of the Coral Sands Resort. They were off to the left, thirty or forty yards up the beach, resting in a pen type area, beneath some palm tress. The next day I spent some time at the beach, and saw the horses again. They were being lead up the beach by a caretaker. They were halted and rounded up  a couple of times to take a few photos with several eager and excited tourists, in what seemed to be a very common experience. 

As the horses approached on my third encounter, on this cool evening, I dropped back and allowed the horses to catch up as I started to photograph them. They seemed very comfortable with a stranger just following them up the beach. A few times I proceeded to get if front of the horses to shoot them as they approached. As they got close, they stopped, as if I had blocked their path. They just waited to see what I was going to do, leading to more great photo opportunities.

I told Charles I would catch up, as I stayed behind, now following at the horses' pace. As the sun was now below the horizon, the light was disappearing quickly, leaving a beautiful faint pink, and blue sky as a backdrop. I knew I might get some great shots out of the moments that lay ahead, so I fired away. Needless to say, after a little editing, I was very pleased with the results.

If you would like to see more of the horses, these lovely images will be available online at www.korateo.com. Open Edition Prints of all of these images as well as many more will be available by going to my "Island Series" Gallery. I soon also hope to be producing a Limited Edition Portfolio of forty five, along with two Artists Proofs. This portfolio of a total of fourteen photographs will soon be made available online, and at all gallery locations.

The road less traveled . . . Rokers Point, Exuma

Last summer I found a beautiful stretch of coast line in Rokers Point, just north of the new Four Seasons and Grand Isle resort at Emerald Bay (a.k.a - Ocean Bight), on Great Exuma. A few years ago I went down a dirt road in Rokers Point with Mr. Basil Minns, to take a look at the progress on the new marina at the Four Seasons. I had never been down this road, but Mr Minns had, and he showed me the way. Just this past summer,I travelled down this road once again. 

Now that the new marina is open, I decided to drive in and take a look around. Driving to the tip of the marina turned out to be very rewarding as I got a great view of an area that lay just ahead towards the north, where my dirt road had ended. It was a massive cleared piece of land, which was rather depressing, but there was glimpse of hope; a rocky cliff-filled shoreline, that even had a surf break in it. A beautiful area that was untouched.

Back when I went with Mr. Minns a few years earlier, the road that led to this area, turned into a dead end; nothing but bush. This time, as I approached the end of this same road I saw a open gate, two construction trailers, and a single car. I drove in, attempted to knock, and was verbally waved in. The woman working there was very nice, and seemed rather pleased to have some unexpected company for the day. I explained who I was, and what I was doing. She said “no problem”, and I was off.
Wow! within 30 sec. I realized that I didn’t have enough film, nor time. I got one shot off but had to pack it up, as I had friends to pick up at the airport. Two days later I was back. I carry 12 filmholders/24 shots, which usually means 3 photographs, as I bracket my film and expose 8 sheets per image.



I never got back there on my last trip, but hopefully the area will still be accessible for the next couple of years, seeing how slowly things get done in the Bahamas. I got 4 pretty amazing images, and the knowledge that I found a new stretch of coastline on Exuma to capture on film.
I have traveled down lots of paths, dirtroads, and trails in Exuma. This was the first time any kind of progress help in my search for pristine, untouched areas. Normally when I hit a dead end, or the bush gets to think, I turn back, and look for another shot. But this time thanks to a newly developed marina, and newly cleared road, I was able to get some good shots, so thank you resort developer people. My race to capture the unspoiled, beautiful landscapes of the Bahamas, before they disappear is allways on, so is the race of progess and developement. See you at the finish line boys.