B&H Photo Video
Apple Training and Certification introduces a NEW GREEN Certificate fulfillment process...contributing to a GREENER and better Environment
© Gunther Deichmann
- taken care of our Environment in 2008 and
beyond...
Hi,
Since environmental considerations are an integral
part of Apple's business practices, Apple Training
and Certification is pleased to introduce a new Green
certificate fulfillment process. Beginning August 1,
paper certificates will no longer be sent to Mac OS X
and Pro Apps students who pass certification exams.
Instead, students will receive an email with a link
to download a PDF version of their certificate at no
charge. Students will be able to print these
certificates, but we hope that most will choose to
simply post the PDF certificates on their websites.
This new system will be available worldwide.
Apple Training and Certification
A nice letter from the National Geographic Traveler and the closing chapter on our Nudibranch Photography discussion as seen in the recent National Geographic Magazine...plus a short intro... the Olive ridley Turtles, an endangerd species.
...the closing
chapter? maybe...but YOU never know what is
around the next corner.
© Gunther
Deichmann - “Caring Hands -Save and Protect our
Environment”
...Olive
ridleyTurtle
hatchlings been released into the Ocean,
Philippines.
The leatherback, hawksbill and
Kemp's ridley turtle species are listed as
endangered. The breeding populations of Olive ridley
and green sea turtles are endangered along Mexico's
Pacific Coast, and threatened elsewhere, the study
found. Coastal development, beachfront lighting,
pollution and hunting are contributing to the demise
of the sea turtles, which come ashore periodically to
lay their eggs in "nests" dug in the sand, according
to the study. "Threatened" means a species could
become "endangered," which means the species might
face extinction.
GD
See
below the letter from Marilyn Terrell; thanks Marilyn
for your kind words, lets do this again one of these
days with topics concerning our Environment or
related issues.
Fascinating
discussion, and I'm impressed that marine biologist
Lee Goldman took the time to write such an informed
and thought-provoking response. Thank you Gunther for
hosting this worthwhile conversation. I like it that
people with differing points of view are given a
chance to express their concerns and opinions on your
blog in a civilized way.
All best,
Marilyn Terrell
National Geographic Traveler
Intelligent Travel blog:
http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com
Marilys letter came in response of our last
discussion and the letter written by Lee Goldman, if
you have missed it just click on the link below.
Underwater Photography…are you a responsible
Photographer? A letter from a Marine
Biologist…Education, awareness, an article in the
recent Fins Magazine fits in nicely with the
Nudibranch images in National Geographic Magazine…
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html
GD
Underwater Photography…are you a responsible Photographer? A letter from a Marine Biologist…Education, awareness, an article in the recent Fins Magazine fits in nicely with the Nudibranch images in National Geographic Magazine…
“A Photographer’s Responsibility” by Richard Smith, a great article describing the
Do and Don’t…
Check this link the article is a pdf file for downloading, Environment.
© Gunther Deichmann - “Our Environment” the image was
created in Photoshop to ilustrate our fragile
environment.
Thanks again
to all who have responded to this discussion…if
nothing else comes out of it at least we have tried
to guide new and not so experience Underwater
Photographers in the right direction explaining about
our precious Marine Life and to follow the rules of
engagement, Don’t
Touch.
The mention article in Fins Magazine is not only a
guide but it is extremely educational for new and Pro
Underwater Photographers.
Maybe National
Geographic Magazine should publish an article,
but this time not with pretty images but explaining
the Do and Don’t
which could be very educational to the million of
readers they have.
Last but not
least…let me quote one example from the recent
article in Fins Magazine; did you know? Don’t take to
many shots of each Animal. You know how a Camera
Flash from a few meters away can blind you? The same
flash can kill Pigmy Seahorses.
Not only that… I have seen large Fan corals
completely destroyed by irresponsible “Underwater
Photographers” to get this shot of the Pigmy
Seahorse.
Now everything is
gone.
GD
See below a letter
from Lee Goldman a Marine Biologist…
I was hesitant to write a reply to the blog about the
nudibranchs, mostly because, as you know, I agree
with your points.
Recently, however, a response was written about your
blog from SM Jayabalan, a response that I don’t
necessarily agree with. First off, would people’s
lives be less enriched or ‘disadvantaged’if they
don’t ever see a nudibranch? Well, it depends, right?
Perhaps they won’t make more money at work or solve
the reasons for why the kids get tattoos early in
life, but to see the nudibranch may provoke a
direction in their lives that lead towards
responsibility to the environment even if on a
personal level. How many times before have we heard
that a photograph inspires? What if the particular
person who appreciates the nudibranch is 18 years old
and has an epiphany that leads towards a career in
marine biology; where he studies nudibranchs and does
work to protect them (and their environment)? It is
slightly irresponsible for the author of the response
to say that the photo of a nudibranch won’t do
anything for anybody. Could a photo of the nudibranch
in its natural environment do the same thing?
Perhaps, but I know of thousands of photos of Ayer’s
Rock and for each one, five-thousand people prefer it
over all the others. Is that justification for moving
marine organisms around? I don’t know, but then
again, if none of them were harmed, nor their lives
dramatically changed (or changed at all for that
matter) then it boils down to other areas of
concern…not at all whether it had an affect (or not)
on the viewer of the photograph.
The statement about a percentage of millions of
people whose new perspective of nudibranchs is that
they live in white walled sections of the reef…with
piped music? When you go to an aquarium how many
people above the age of seven do you think believe
all of the fish live in glassed tanks in the ocean?
This is a huge stretch that not even a good lawyer
could sell a jury. What percentage? As a marine
biologist, professional aquarist, and professional
dive guide I have had my share of folks who needed a
lesson in the most basics of the ocean and
marine-life, but never have I encountered someone who
would believe such a thing as this author is
suggesting. I believe NG explained this particular
shoot so the audience would understand the concept as
well as the natural history and habitat of the
nudibranch.
You had it right from the start about the ‘message’
it sends. In the current world of marine photography,
to me, the greatest area of stagnation is creativity,
mostly due to everyone striving for the same
picture/subject as everyone else. Don’t believe me,
check out just about everyone’s portfolio; pygmy
seahorse, a shark of some sort, wide angle reef
scene, manta ray, turtle, nudibranch…oh, nowadays the
over/under shot. David Doubilet approached a ‘worn’
subject and added a bit of creativity (and I believe
entire WHY NG DID go this route). The dangerous area
that this photo shoot leads to is the hundreds of
less than respectful photographers with less than
proper equipment, knowledge, and support doing the
same thing.
We talked before about this and I told you that I
felt that with the right equipment, attitude, and
knowledge it can be pulled off so that nothing is
harmed. I believe David Doubilet is probably one of
the few photographers capable of doing this…mostly
due to his inexhaustible resource for the right
equipment and support. I believe the approach NG and
Mr. Doubilet took was that of no disrespect to the
organism. As you also know, my fear is that other
folks may try and copy his work.
Lee Goldman, Marine Biologist
Not only Photographers can help to save our Planet...U2
Christmas is over, the New Year is
approaching, as photographers we can help to get the
message out there, the survival of our Planet is
important for our younger generations. I have seen
with my own eyes so many changes over the past 30
years, hence
the images below. We have to do something and think
about it now, before it is
too late.
Mother planet is showing us the red warning
light. Be careful, she is saying.
To take care of the planet is to take care of our own
house.
Dalai
Lama
Happy Holidays and thanks for all your support,
from Gunther, family and
team.
A very happy
New Year - prost
Neujahr - bonne
année - onnellista
uutta vuotta - gelukkig
Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain
faoi mhaise - selamat tahun
baru - godt nytt
år - szczliwego
nowego roku - feliz ano
novo - gott nytt år
manigong bagong taon - sawatdii
pimaï - kung hé fat
tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao
-
godt
nytår - eutichismenos
o kainourgios chronos - felice anno
nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom
- sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân
Xuân- yeni yiliniz
kutlu olsun
Before...
After...
Too late!
The
species extinction rate has increased to one species
a day.
Lets make the coming years more greener and protect
our environment.
©Gunther
Deichmann - more environmental images at:
www.deichmann-photo.com
Think...!
____________________
The ugly things I have to shoot sometimes.
From 30,000 feet above (my last Blog)to 100 feet
below or more...
the ugly things I have to shoot
sometimes.
We
are again at the end of the year, wow how fast this
one past... but then not as fast then the
disappearance of our animal species.
The
species extinction rate has increased to one species
a day.
Lets make the coming years more greener and protect
our environment.
Think!
Mother
planet is showing us the red warning light. Be
careful, she is saying.
To take care of the planet is to take care of our own
house.
Dalai
Lama
Confiscated shark fins... eating the soup...yuk...
when the slurping stops... the killing will
too.
Embryo
shark... mother and child got killed... for?
Nothing!
An
endangered animal or plant is a species that is
considered in immediate danger of becoming extinct.
Its population is very small and it needs active
protection to survive. In many countries, hunting of
endangered animals is not allowed. Neither is
importation of their meat, fur, tusks, blubber, or
other products.
Extinction has happened throughout history, but in
modern times the rate has increased dramatically.
There is a link between the increase in the
extinction rate and the growth in human population.
The worldwide human population was 1 billion in 1600,
1.5 billion 100 years ago, and is over 6 billion
today. At the same time, the species extinction rate
has increased to one species a day. If this
continues, it will cause a dramatic drop in the
diversity of life on our planet, which will most
certainly have serious effects.
If
you have any interesting images related to the
environment or stories to tell, please let me know
and I try to incorporate these in my Blogs, thank
you.
For other recent related environmental issues, please
click these links below:
http://marinebio.org/Oceans/History/
http://www.samstours.com/blog/
______________________________________
Website update and upcoming Photography Magazine spreads
I like to inform you that I have just updated my website: www.deichmann-photo.com
New look at the home page, change of image, I have also added a new category on Environment within the site. (top bar in between Tibet and Wildlife)
Within the next two weeks you be able to download also some pdf files;
Portfolio spread and the cover in Click Magazine, the Digital Photography Magazine from Malaysia.
Also Portfolio spread in the Asian Photography Magazine, talking about Aperture and Photography, I inform you all on my blog once both Magazines can be downloaded as a pdf file from my site under publication.
Enjoy the new images and thanks for all your support,
thanks,
GD
www.deichmann-photo.com
Global warming, Photo ©
Gunther Deichmann
Sharks and Discovery Channel, voices of concern
and offered their support, please read the unedited letters I have so far received, thank you all for your feedback, from Germany, Australia and Singapore so far.
For those who have not read the letter please go to: http://www.divephotoguide.com/discovery_shark_week.php
Gunther
www.deichmann-photo.com
Snail055@web.de
Subject: open letter (sharks)
Date: July 21, 2007 4:50:21 AM GMT+08:00
To:gdeichmann@mac.com
Hi Gunther
Den offenen Brief zur Rettung der Haie ist sehr bewegend. Diese phantastischen Tiere muessen einfach in ihrer Artenvielfalt ueberleben. Leider ist der Mensch das groesste "Raubtier" und jagt diese Tiere manchmal nur aus Vergnuegen. Ich habe gesehen, wie ein Haendler (irgendwo in China) tausende von Haifischflossen gelagert hatte, nur um sie fuer die "Haifischflossensuppe" zu verwenden. Diese Flossen sind den Tieren bei lebendigem Leib abgeschnitten worden, was den sicheren Tod zur Folge hat. Leider koennen diese Tiere keine entsetzliche Schmerzensschreie ausstossen. Es ist ein Jammer, das diese Menschen es nicht verstanden haben, das diese Lebewesen zum Oekosystem der Meere gehoeren. Sterben die Haie aus, kippt das Meer um und bringt das Gleichgewicht der Natur durcheinander, was auch auf die Landtiere Einfluss hat. Diese Denke trifft natuerlich auch auf andere vom aussterben bedrohte Tiere (Berggorillas, Wale, Meeresschildkroeten, etc.) zu. Bedauerlicherweise haben die Menschen, die diese Tiere ausrotten, es nicht begriffern, das mit diesen Tieren der Tourismus eine sehr gute Einnahmequelle sein kann. Die Meere werden ueberfischt, unsere Luft wird verschmutzt, die Umwelt durch Gifte und Pestizide verseucht. In Deutschland wird zur Zeit mit einem Zeppelin, der in großen Hoehen fliegt, geprueft, ob die belasteten Luftschichten sich regenerieren. Passiert das nicht, erstickt die Menschheit an ihren eigenen in die Luft geblasenen Schadstoffen. Die Automobilindustrie ist an dieser Miesere nicht ganz unbeteiligt. Hinzu kommen noch die natuerlichen Belastungen aus den Vulkanen mit den pyroklastischen Wolken. Die Reihe laesst sich weiter fortsetzten. Es muss eine umweltgerechte Denkweise der Menschen einsetzen, die nicht nur auf den (schnellen) Profit ausgerichtet ist, aber in den "armen Laendern" ist dieser Denken reiner Luxus. Hier geht es ums taegliche Ueberleben.
Cheers Mojan
From: dcallard@bigpond.net.au
Subject: Sharks.
Date: July 21, 2007 9:56:36 AM GMT+08:00
To: gdeichmann@mac.com
Hello Gunther,
I have read your blog re shark conservation with great interest. I watch Discovery, History, Nat Geo to be educated. I too have been appalled by the negative portrayal of sharks as man-eaters while largely ignoring the larger vital role they play in the functioning of the ecosystem. I expect truly objective science from programs such as Discovery, and Nat Geo, which also seems to have sold out to the public fascination with disaster; I am thinking of NG programs like "Raging Planet", even docos about American prisons!
The sensational Discovery programs about sharks seems to have more to do with the ratio of ratings to the $ bottom line. It is certainly not objective science. Anyway, if it takes sensationalism to sell a program Discovery could objectively promote their cause and that of conservation by highlighting the real issue which of course is the truth about sharks. This approach would provide all the sensationalism they want while coincidentally telling the real story. In other words, the truth is likely to be more 'sensational' and marketable than mythological conceptions of sharks (and many other examples of Nature).
I find it interesting to contrast the issue of shark conservation with that of whales. The campaign to "Save the whales" has been high profile and effective in promoting that cause. I see no difference between the basic priorities: sharks, whales, frogs, butterflies and so on. We must protect them all from us!
Never has the world needed objective, informed and balanced media more than it does now. Yet what do we get? CNN devotes headlines to Paris Hilton! For goodness sakes, enough, enough I say! The important truths will always sell, if only we can get them.
Well, those are my thoughts Gunther. Keep up the good work! I am just about to get back behind the camera myself.
Cheers,
David.
On Jul 20, 2007, at 3:04 PM, aaron@lennoxnooi.com wrote:
Dear Gunther,
I've just read through the letter. I agree 100%.
Aaron
Please help our Sharks and Turtles, an Environmental message
Unborn Shark, it's Mother and Baby got
Murdered!
Stop
the killing and say no to Shark fin soup, it
is
Disgusting.
Sharks
are
NOT
man-eaters, it is us who eat and destroy them,
and why do we kill Turtles and burn our forests?
Why???????
Gunther
Deichmann and his friends are fully in agreement with
this letter!
Photos
© Gunther Deichmann,
www.deichmann-photo.com
Please take a good look at the images above,
there is a community in Bataan, who used to collect
turtle eggs and sell them.
No
more,
they now take care of these precious creatures,
collect the eggs and once they have hatched release
them back into our Ocean, I wish we had more
communities like this, and who thought this is happen
in the Philippines, but this is the fact, including
road signs in this area have been put up for our oil
guzzling cars.
More in details about this amazing Turtle loving
community in one of my future blogs, but please read
on regarding the letter which I have
received
from my friend and supporter Jason Heller at
DivePhotoGuide and get all the info
@
http://www.divephotoguide.com/discovery_shark_week.php
For
those of you have not seen this yet, please feel free
to post it. It is a formal
response from the world’s foremost shark scientists,
researchers and conservationists
regarding this year’s Shark Week content. If you
support shark conservation, please
consider posting or publishing it.
http://www.divephotoguide.com/discovery_shark_week.php
Our Environment-some of us do care!
Interesting
note from David Callard in Australia, his comments on
the Environment issue and images, please read below,
some of us do care.
Thanks David for your views and nice words.
G.D.
From: dcallard@bigpond.net.au
Subject: The planet in the
oven.
Date: June 9, 2007
10:19:28 AM GMT+08:00
To: gdeichmann@mac.com
Hello Gunther,
Love the new
environment images. I think my favorite is the plain
water drop on the leaf; that really says it for me.
Addressing climate change has to be the biggest
challenge mankind has faced, yet I am not totally
pessimistic about our ability to solve it. Unlike the
Mesopotamians or the Aztecs modern man has the
scientific knowledge to identify the problem and
propose solutions. Yes, we will have to accept some
major changes to our lifestyles and means of
production but capitalism has clearly won the
ideological wars and of course its greatest strength
is its capacity to rapidly adapt to change. So, I put
my faith in science to find alternative energy
sources. I am in favor of nuclear power as a stopgap
solution until we can get solar and other sources
fully developed. More later - have to do some more
study.
Cheers, David.
To
view my new collection on Environment images,
please go to my Aperture Gallery:
http://homepage.mac.com/gdeichmann/ENVIRONMENT%20PART%202/
or
go to my PhotoShelter archive for high res. images:
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann
Some of us do care!
Just received
this nice note from Mark Cox, please read below:
Hi Gunther,
You are so right mate! all we humans ever do is
take take & more take, then we start crying when
its too late, we will definitely destroy our
selves its just human instinct I think. If all the
tree's & rain-forest disappear human
life will cease to exist. I'm the same as you Gunther
the world has to come together before its too late
really.
Great Work Gunther.
Mark Cox
mark@tech-dive-academy.com
Photographer & Adventurer
Global warming and water crisis
I have created some images trying to portrait the on
going world water crisis and Global warming issue.
enjoy these images and...
THINK!
It is indeed a serious problem world wide,
lets do something about it.
THANKS!
You can help.
Too!
Click this link to view more images on
my Aperture web Gallery
Blue Planet Run: The Water Crisis
We do have a problem, no arguments about that. Not only in Africa......
.......but on a Global scale.
I have provided a link to the Aperture Users Professional Network.
AUPN BLOG.
There you can read the whole article/story how we can be part of this and help,
I certainly will!
Gunther
Photo: © Gunther Deichmann
The world is just a drop away from disaster
Photo: © Gunther Deichmann
It is in our hands to make a difference!