Visual Ballads is a dynamic and evolving photography-based project. It will translate the experience of one man trekking alone through the Olympic National Forest into a story of changing environmental conditions and the ecological impact of man-made climate change. Conservation Made Simple will publish images, short films, and the projected impacts of climate change on the Olympic National Forest to interest groups and media followings. Visual Ballads will be a vital tool in communicating the immediacy of climate-related policy to citizens, organizers, and public officials in a way they can observe, not just absorb.
Conservation Made Simple has long been focused on the ability of film and photography to communicate the state of the natural world and inspire action from concerned and apathetic citizens alike. That’s why the opportunity to fund a long-term expedition into the wilderness that assesses and publishes content reflecting these ecosystems’ dire needs is so indispensable. Conservation Made Simple has partnered with wilderness expert and professional photographer Bryant Carlin, who has over twenty years of experience exploring the Olympic National Forest for entire seasons at a time. For two years Bryant will make extended treks into the interior of the Park and all its biomes, avoiding the beaten paths and typical trails through the vast wilderness area. By having a one-man crew responsible for taking photos, videos, and audio recordings, a sense of authentic intimacy with nature will be preserved in the final product that would not be possible with a larger camera crew. Visual Ballads aims to capture a wide variety of subjects from the lens of Bryant’s camera. The only limitation to what can be captured is whether it contributes to a stimulating narrative surrounding climate change and the resilience of the environment. Visual Ballads is currently undergoing several two-month trial periods. |
Visual and audio capture of the ecosystem is crucial to Visual Ballads, but these are far from the only mediums that the project will employ to tell the story of the forest. Throughout his journey, Bryant will keep a regular field journal; an indispensable part of any long-term discovery process. These written entries will allow for self-reflexive poetic pondering of his journey and provide more context to the “ballad” portion of the project alongside the visual components. Daily writings also allow for the development of long-term investigative questions that are crucial to shaping the outcomes of the project. Based on repeated observations of various issues that present themselves visually, the Conservation Made Simple team will develop guiding questions to be addressed by the project’s release or followed up by the scientific community beyond the scope of Visual Ballads.
In Other News
Lost and Found
August 19, 2015 Former Real Change editor spent nine days hiking with vendor Bryant Carlin. Together, they unearthed a purpose. |
Real Change Vendor Bryant Carlin Captures a Rapidly Changing Landscape
November 28, 2018 Real Change highlights Bryant's upcoming two year project. |