Christian Miller Photography
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • News

This is whats happening!

Parley Snotbot Westafrica

5/9/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I bet you all can relate to the excitement arriving to a completely new country, a new culture and especially an area that has been explored very little. We expected this expedition to Gabon to be more challenging than any other, and guess what, our expectations did not disappoint. 
Collecting data from the region was to proof one particular point. You can, with a small crew and a small budget, - travel to a remote understudied region, get the data, get out. 
Picture
Picture
Everything was hard in Gabon. Starting with permits (not that i was doing this part), to logistical arrangements, communication and even nature did not make it easy for us. Even the little things we take for granted, such as paying with Credit Card or getting money from an atm, not in Gabon. We had to figure out how to extract cash out of the air. 
The first few days it was very windy. Snotcollection was hard, very hard. But we did average about 3-5 samples per day. 
Then a crew from BBC "dragonfly', who are doing a piece on stories around the Equator where joining us. This was one of the (if not ... the) nicest crew we have worked with so far, and we got what we needed. 
Picture
Picture
After the film shoot we had a few days left, and the weather was finally deciding to work with us. It did not take long to increase the Sample size to over 50 snot gold nuggets, making this in fact the most successful ... and hardest ... Parley Snotbot expedition of all times. What a great crew (including myself hahahaha) and thank you for Parley and our Special friend Pam for making this happen! 
0 Comments

Tonga - more whales than people!

6/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Did you ever notice, that if you want something really hard, keep it visually in front of you, and the opportunity will come. 
On the last day of my minke whale trip, i got the message of a friend running whaleswims.com in Tonga to come join her. 
I needed some motion vision of whales underwater for the snotbot and parley story, so the answer was "Yes" ... of course. 
It's not the most easy way to get there, considering it's just a hop on the map. 
I never really looked to much into Tonga, but wow this place is way more beautiful than i would have envisioned. The most surprising things that stroke me was how far behind it is, and how few tourists, but also few people live there. 
Everything seem the way it should be, and since i am not generally drawn to being a tourist, its like paradise to me. 
Needless to say that the whales didn't  let me down either. The humpback whale migrate up north from their feedings grounds in the Antartica. Most of them travel up the east & west coast of Australia. But quite a good number is heading past tonga and french Polynesia, with the purpose to breed and give birth, and nurse in a warm and save environment until the newborn are strong and big enough to make the journey back south. 
It's mind blowing how inquisitive and gentle these giants are, how they allow us to be so close and how calm they are around us. Tonga has not seen the last of me ... 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Australian Olympic Swim Team

22/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Richard Fitzpatrick and myself made a promise to the Citizen GBR organisation to support their mission in recruiting the Australian Dolphins as ambassadors for the Great Barrier Reef. 
We took a day to explorer the local Reefs in front of Cairns, take them snorkelling and give them a chance to absorb the marine world we are fighting so hard for. 
Above you see Mack Horton being mesmerised by this Green Sea Turtle at Vlassof Cay. The only struggle of the day was to keep up with all the camera equipment. Even instruction to the Dolphins to swim slow, we had to realise their definition of swimming slow is not the same as it would be for us :)
0 Comments

Argo Expedition Minke Whale Trip

20/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Its technically a rule. I cannot let a year go by and not swim with our locally migrating minke whales. 
Luckily a short window opened up and i was able to join a trip of my friend Richard Fitzpatrick and other crew to steam up to the far northern Reefs in the hope to get investigated by these curious (small) giants. 
It didn't take to much time for us to get into the water with the first few. The most important part is to keep them entertained, but having human "bait" in the water at all time. 
Picture
Picture
If you miss this small detail, the whales would get bored and go somewhere else. 
One individual in particular was the main attraction. It would keep coming close, in arm reach, eye balling every one in snorkel gear over and over. 
​Once the minke whale sightings have filled up our memory cards, exploring the remote reef on scuba was on the agenda. A reminder as of why the Great Barrier Reef is called 'Great" ! 
0 Comments

AUP Dive Conference Coffs Harbour

11/6/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Wow, it was about time i am getting to dip myself into the cooler waters of the south Australian regions. Sure it was cold, but how different and what amazing marine life. 
This is what i love about diving, exploring never stops.
​
The real reason i had to head down south was the privilege to present at the Dive Conference over 2 days. 
The objective was apart from talking about my role as ambassador of brands like Atomic, Zeagle, Bare or Oceanic, but also my role as film maker, photographer and especially Parley for the Oceans. 
The feedback was quite overwhelming. In short, the entire dive retail sector wants to actively work towards eliminating plastic, and further we are also looking into up cycling into dive products and other super exciting projects in the near future. 
Pumped full of energy and enthusiasm i was able to finally fly back home ... and reflect on a few great trips ... again! 
Picture
0 Comments

National Geographic - One strange Rock

30/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

Finally, after i was asked to be silent for over a year, i am able to announce that the Snotbot sequence shot of NatGeo's One Strange Rock, hosted by my childhoods Hollywood Hero Will Smith is finally on Air .... and i am allowed to talk about it :)
Its an incredible interesting and mind-blowing natural history documentary as i have not seen it before. The Snotbot appearance is not until the 6th episode, but what you learn until then is truly crazy. What a planet we live on, and what a privilege it is. All we have to do now is, respect it, and treat it this way! 
0 Comments

Cap Horn Philippines the 2nd

26/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
It appears to be Murphy's law, every time i plan a project, there will be with guaranty at least one, more likely two other projects announced on exactly the same dates. 
Not unexpected, the awaited email came from Endemolshine Production, which is doing the Survival Series with my friend Mike Horn, they want me to come back to the Philippines for a new Episode. All i had to do was joggling between dates, airlines, hotels and transfers to get in time from Fiji to the Philippines, but to make it more exciting, i had to be on the last day of the shoot in Coffs Harbour as Key Note speaker for a Dive conference, but that was another issue to be solved. 
In the meantime i made my journey from Fiji to Leyte, a paradise like region not spoiled by tourism yet, and i had to find out why very soon, as it is very hard to get to. I was looking at some of the most beautiful beaches, the clearest water, animated like coves, and corals as we would wish they still did exist in other parts of the world. 
One of our highlights was a surreal encounter with a whale shark, which was scooping around us for almost half an hour and created some of the most memorable imagery i can think off. I was glad i brought my RED Helium Weapon with me, as this should not have been recording in anything less. 
We made some really good friends here, i must say i am deeply impressed by the local philippine people here, and some plans for future education and plastic interception projects have been made, until then ... i had to make my journey back to Australia to get the dive industry involved in eliminating plastic from our life's, and especially the oceans. 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Shark Data Project in Fiji continues!

18/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Biopixel Ocean Foundation Team, consisting of Richard Fitzpatrick, Adam Barnett and myself returned for another round of shark rodeo to our favourite apex predator spot on the Planet, Beqa lagoon in Fiji, where we are hosted my Mike and his team at Beqa Adventure Divers. 
The objective is to monitor the behaviour of Bull sharks, Grey Reef, White tip and Black tip Reef sharks interacting with Dive Tourists, as well as being fed small amounts of fish 5 times per week. Mike (owner of BAD) is more than just passionate about sharks, the whole business was established solely for the purpose of conservation. This data and initiative ensures the established marine park zone is kept free from fishing, by paying nearby communities to protect it, rather than fishing it. 
This is no doubt one of the coolest projects to be involved in, and i am counting the seconds for the next round! 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Maldive Ocean School and New Parley Adidas Products made from Ocean Plastic!

5/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
It was 3 years ago when we started the Project in the Maldives, and now its time to move it to another level. All of the 65,000 school children need to be taken into the Ocean by the end of the year. We are also building Parley Station one, a little island down South. 
Now, the Parley ocean plastic has become the countries second largest export. Last year alone Adidas made 1,3 Million shoes alone from our intercepted PET bottles. Pollution is still a huge problem, and so much work needs to be done, but it is all moving into the right direction. 
While i was in staying on Hadahaa Park Hyatt i was filming for the Porter Magazine with Mario Sorrenti and his Team, then Artist Doug Aitken came and we looked into the upcoming project of an underwater Art installation. 
​One more step to end plastic! 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Snotbot Mexico 2018

12/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
I have just returned from our first ParleyxSnotbot expedition in Mexico this year. 
The first leg of the trip was going to San Ignacio Lagoon to do a new and different type of population count by using a fixed wing Drone, called the Flightwave. The drone performed well, but some details have to be improved in order to reach our desired goals. 
From there we went on a long road trip to Loreto, where we had an amazing encounter with Blue whales the year before, shooting the sequence for the National Geographic Documentary "One Strange Rock", which is premiering in New York next week hosted by Will Smith. 
Back to the trip ...
Sadly we had to find out that this year very few whales had been sighted, also the weather made it very hard to even get out onto the ocean. 
Our lucky charm kicked in early, and we had encounters from day one, but we had to work hard for it and be extremely patient. 

32 Snotsamples where in the bag after one week. Even a Poo sample was in this years collection. Part of the export conditions was to dry it before taking them into the US. It took 3 days and made our appartment the least popular hang out place. 

One lucky Sea turtle was also part of this years highlights. On day 2 we saw a heavily entangled green turtles with plastic bottles as floats. I managed to catch it and free it with Iain Kerr's help. One more animals saved, and i spirit lifted for the rest of a very successful trip. Only a very very long flight back home to Australia, where new adventures await! 
0 Comments

Cap Horn Philippines

1/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Its been many years since i was on an expedition with Mike Horn. 
During our investigation trip in Bali i received the long awaited text message. "Can you come to film with us on this survival series in the Northern part of the Philippines in 3 days" . Tickets changed, bags packed and up in the air. The only thing i would have wished for was to have more preparation time, as i had to find out that i was on the limit of my fitness. 
Climping through dense Rainforest, unexplored Caves and into an active volcano it what it takes to be part of a film crew for Mike Horn. 
It was great to catch up with old friends, have some good laughs, and knowing the limits of your body when you get older. Wow what a trip. 
0 Comments

Ocean School New Zealand

25/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
The continues grow of supporters and ambassadors for the Oceans brought us to New Zealand to recruit some very very
special individuals to learn how we can save our blue planet. Unfortunately i can yet not talk about it ... but listen to the News, and you will understand soon. 
It was only a one day event, including some educations sessions, ocean immersion and beach cleanup near Aukland. Short but very successful ... 
Time to pack my backs and heading back to Indonesia .... 
0 Comments

New Year, new challenges ...

18/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
The year has barely started and a small team was sent to Bali/Indonesia to report on the Ocean Plastic Crisis for Parley. 
I have seen a lot of "Bad" in my time, having been involved in environmental issues for almost a decade. I have also travelled all over Asia for years, and have seen how bad pollution was getting. 
But i have not see what really happened in the last few years, and i was certainly not prepared for it. 

Plastic is taking over, and us- as the Parley team, we where almost at a point of 'giving up'. It felt like no one really cares. 

Talking to people of all demographics, everybody says they care, and they love and respect nature. But what has happened, and how could this happen ? If everybody loves nature, then where is it all coming from ? 

The system is falling apart, and its all of our fault. Now we have to rise and take extraordinary measures to get out of that. Otherwise i am not sure if there is a future ... for the oceans ... and for us. 

At Parley for the Oceans a different scale of challenges has begun, and i never realised before how urgent and important it is for all of us to step up, avoid single use plastics, push for legislation, push for enforcement, push for a material revolution and don't greedy businesses get away with it ! 
0 Comments

Back to the roots ...

28/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Finally there was an opportunity to escape the tropical heat, back to where i was born.
​ 
Eating food we grew up with, smelling the fresh cool dry air, catching snowflakes with your tang, sipping on hot "Gluehwein" , but more importantly, being with family and old friends. 
​
There are amazing places on this planet, and i can call myself lucky to get to most of these corners. 
But there is something about a place you grew up. There is some emotional attachment, and i must say, as older as i get, and as more as i travel, as more i learn to appreciate. 
Appreciate everything, not only nature and wildlife around us, not only beaches, forests, rivers, waterfalls, but also cultures, smiles, friends, good company, laughs, visions, food, smells, sounds ... everything is not taken for granted anymore. It's all special and different, but then also the same. 
Now as i have really confused you, i will go back to pack my bags for the next trip to explore this beautiful planet :)
Picture
0 Comments

Back to home, the Great Barrier Reef!

2/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
I had a couple of days to catch a breath, and up on sleep, the Great Barrier Reef was calling. 
With my dear friends Adam Barnett, Richard Fitzpatrick, Bevan Slattery and a dedicated team in the background we are 
having big plans for the Reef. In callobaration with Parley for the Oceans we will not only increase research on the reef, but also clean up, create youth ambassadors, host ocean schools, explore, film, educate in schools and collaborate with other existing projects. There was the chance for all of us to sit down on one table, right where it happens, out on the Reef! Can't wait for 2018 to kick off .... 
0 Comments

From threat to thread!

27/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
The next stop after very successful workshops in Korea and Malaysia, was in Taipei - Taiwan. 
This is where all the ocean plastic gets sent to. Here it is washed, shredded, transformed to pellets, then into Yarn, fabric and sent to the manufacturing process. I have never actually seen how this is done, and it was an amazing opportunity to find out about all the challenges ob recycling plastic ... the different types, what needs to happen on the other end, what not to do, and what we need to do so the recycling process is working smooth. 
Then i also had to present at a school further in the South of Taiwan, where some very keen students are very passionate about keeping our beaches clean. After all this, i feel very positive and competent that we do have a chance to win this war! 
0 Comments

Parley Malaysia

26/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Since over a year i am talking with my dear friend, the Royal Princess Zatasha from Malaysia about joining forces to end plastic pollution in her country. 
It has been many years since we have working on projects with Mike Horn's young explorers program. 
Parley for the Oceans was the perfect opportunity to reconnect where we left off. After a very productive day with Parley founder Cyrill Gutsch we are proud to announce Parley Malaysia will be a strong and leading partnership within Asia Pacific and an important mile stone to set an example that if we as people work together, we can achieve anything. We brought ourselves into this mess, and we can invent us out of it! 
Picture
0 Comments

Run for the Oceans - Korea!

24/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Parley for the Oceans is expanding its fight against Plastic pollution into Asia. 
We are aware that most of the pollution is coming from Asian countries, but we are all guilty off it, because here is were
we produce, because labour is cheap, and technology is advanced. 
The feedback we received from here was overwhelming. It looks like the whole world is crying out for solutions. We are all sick of polluted beaches. I was even told people stop going to beaches in some asian countries, because they are to dirty. 
The next chapter is well on its way, and it is exciting. Every crisis brings opportunities, and it brings out the best in people! 
0 Comments

Great Barrier Reef IMAX

15/10/2017

0 Comments

 
I literally placed my feet onto the Australian soil, and i had to go straight back out to sea to help Richard Fitzpatrick
and the December media crew to continue the story. The Reef looked beautiful as i ever remembered it. The colours
are back and life was abundant. Two magic days with my dear nautical friends, especially sea turtles. 
I had to catch a ride back home with my old colleagues from Pro Dive Cairns, as another Parley mission is calling. 
​
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

The ultimate Shark selfie ... easy in Fiji !

26/9/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Shark conservation is a huge issue, but even a much bigger task. I believe one of the most successful ways of actively fighting for a chance of their survival is sustainable shark diving tourism. 
The Team from Beqa Adventure Divers are truly committed to do this. One might say feeding sharks just to get up close is not the right thing to do. but if you take into consideration that the only alternative there would be is shark fishing - then its the next best thing. 
Adam Barnett and myself (biopixel shark team) where invited by Mike Neuman and his team to conduct a study on the residential sharks at 'Shark Reef'. Being surrounded by dozens of Bullsharks, Nurse sharks, Grey Reef, Silver Tip, White Tip and Black tip sharks is making it rather hard to stick to your physical limits in staying underwater. We have successfully tagged 6 White tip reef sharks with the aim to get a better understanding on how the human interaction is affecting their long term behaviour. It is also important to know what are the sharks doing on days there is no snacks from humans, and what are they doing after we leave Shark Reef. 
Each diver enjoying these magnificent creatures here is paying $ 25 which will go straight to the nearby fishing villages. An agreement has been made that they will not be fishing in this area, and especially the sharks are left in peace. 
It will be interesting to get hold of the data, but in the meantime the residential Shark Biologist Gauthier is getting more data. Can't wait to go back .... 
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

Mike Horn's Pole2Pole

25/8/2017

0 Comments

 
It's been a few years, or better - a few years to many since we last met. After the Pangaea Expedition from 2008 to 2012
there was certainly a hole in my life that needed to be filled. And so much has happened in the meantime, privately and  in the conservation & exploration world. 
Mike has just crossed the Antarctica on its wides point and is due to his way up to the Arctic region to walk across the North Pole. On we way we planned to do some environmental projects, bringing all our partnerships such as Parley for the Oceans, Mercedes Benz, our young explorers, the Biopixel Ocean foundation and Huish Outdoors together on one table (or sailing vessel) and work primarily on Ocean Plastic issues and Marine research. 
I believe some exciting times are coming up, and myself and my Cameras can't wait to get stuck into it :)
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Parley Snotbot ALASKA the 2nd

25/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Preparing for Alaska 2017 did come with big expectations. Last year, i was not prepared, but how could i ... i had no idea what nature could possibly have on its mind. 
This i year i was equipped with my new Canon 1DX m2, all the lenses you need, an underwater housing, the RED Epic Dragon, and 2 of the latest DJI Inspire 2, shooting Aerials in high frame rates and RAW, double the speed, double the flight times .... what can possibly go wrong ....  :)
After the first 3 days is looking like this year will be nothing like 2016. We had to increase our range in the search for Hering's and Krill, because where they are, whale's won't be far .... 
Right between Baranof and Admiralty Island, with an opening to the Pacific Ocean is where our luck and legacy would live to our reputation (so i am hoping). Not only is the country side absolutely postcard spectacular, but we found two large groups of bubble net feeders. 
Picture
Picture
Just imagine yourself on this 27 foot boat from the Alaska Whale Foundation, surrounded by Glaciers, waterfalls and pristine Rainforest. Then you hear as loud and clear as a person talking next to you, the feeding call of the lead whale, from probably 100 feet below the surface all the way through the hull of our Aluminium vessel. 30 seconds later you can see 15 giant mouths breaking through the surface, sea skulls joining in for Hering's trying to escape from the baleens before the jaws close this last emergency exit. This event is followed by about a minute of opportunity to collect blow samples, then they will re-group for the next dive. This will literally repeat all day long. 
Picture
Picture
And as there is no bar set in how much luck you are allowed to receive in one life time, we had Orca's on 4 seperate days, even the Transit Mammal eaters. In fact this was the first time for me ever to be up close to this giant dolphins, our encounters lasted for hours, and i enjoyed every single second of it with a massive smile on my face, and my fingers rarely leaving my camera trigger. As a bonus, we even collected a blow sample. 
All good things have an end, so now i am back in Australia, already thinking about my next trip to Alaska ... but can you blame me ? .... 
0 Comments

National Geographic "Earthlive" from Alaska ....

23/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
After last years Alaska "Snotbot" Expedition, our expectations where high. Promises about whale encounters where spoken loosely, but who can be blamed when you are surrounded by hundreds of Humpback Whales at a time. 
Well this year, due to National Geographic's Live Show, it had to be one month earlier. And when you work with wildlife, timing is everything. It did not look good after the first 2 days. Rehearsals for the upcoming show finished with rather devastated facial expressions, and i am sure some of the team where already thinking about other career options after this .... 
But then the impossible happened, and we believe it was the whales saying thank You. Right in the second when the world turned live to us, a whale turned up next to the boat, and right in the second when it was scheduled to collect Snot ... live with a drone from a whale, while everyone is watching, yes it did happened. Even the most manly Men on board had a little bit of a tear in their eyes, but no one will admit, not even myself ;) 
The whole Ocean Alliance - Parley Snotbot team, Plimsol Productions, National Geographic, Alaska Whale Foundation and Intel had a very short time to celebrate this worlds first achievement, before most of the 22 headed crew packed their bags to get back to normal live. What a team, i would work with each and everyone of them again ... and again. 
​What we yet did not know is what is next to come .... because for us, the trip has only just started .... 
​
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Shooting the next sequence for the Big Screen .... this time the biggest of all animals!

5/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have been spending a lot of time with whales the last few years, and i feel incredibly privileged. Most of my encounters require excessive travelling, nothing wrong with that, but when you have some of the most friendly species living in your backyard, even better. 
Heading out on Argo Expeditions with my good friend Richard Fitzpatrick, our destination is going to be the far northern Ribbon Reefs, the place where Minke Whales come to watch humans. 
​Handling a giant 3D Imax housing underwater is not easy, but if the whales are coming to you, all you have to do is be patient, breath, don't move and keep the finger close to the record button. 
Picture
Picture
Not one second did they disappoint. There where times when i had over a dozen of individuals swimming close circles around me, a selfie to proof it above :)
We are absolutely loving our new BARE wetsuits, SUUNTO computers, ATOMIC Regulators and ZEAGLE BCD's. I can't thank enough for this partnership and of course, the whales ! 
0 Comments

Heart of the Reef campaign for WWF Australia

2/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I must admit it was heart breaking (literally) to go back to dive the outer Reef of the coast of Airlie Beach, where i started my dive career a long long time ago. I remember the most vivid colours, animal encounters that would change the way i feel about our Oceans and diversity that made me who i am today. 
Diving the same spot 15 years later, i could not believe my eyes. After this dive i had to sit down and had no one talking to me just so i can process what can actually happen to our oceans if we do not take care. This was another wake up call to keep fighting harder ... i only wish everybody on this planet would feel the same way .... 
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

© COPYRIGHT Christian Miller  2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • News