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

This is whats happening!

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

3 Comments

 
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
3 Comments

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

Escaping reality to the Whitsunday Islands ...

1/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Spirit Luxury Charters is the most prestigious luxury Yacht in the Southern Pacific. 
How lucky to call it a job to create promotional material and a film for it, especially when the chosen location is Whitsunday Island with the one and only Whiteheaven Beach. 
Of course i love the boat, its so big, i kept catching myself with my mouth wide open several times a day. But also the crew is spot on, there is no wish that needs to be spoken, and there is no limit in entertainment. And no, i am not getting paid to say this .... but then .... it would be nice though :)
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Another Turtle released back to the Wild!

25/6/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Picture
To rescue a Sea Turtle is pretty cool by itself. But there is no feeling like when a sick and injured animal is rehabilitated and ready to go back to where it belongs. This can take up to several years, and we are lucky to have such a large amount of supporting individuals that want to spend their own free time to help wildlife. 
One more animal saved, no one gets left behind! 
1 Comment

It took me 12 years to find the most amazing spot on the Great Barrier Reef!

3/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
We have just completed the second shoot for the IMAX series on the Great Barrier Reef. Our lucky Crew was calling the most southern Reefs their home as we prepared to capture the gathering of countless giant Manta rays in the waters of Lady Elliott. The water temperature was 24 degrees, which is about 2-3 degrees warmer than what is should be. But this didn't stop the manta's from giving us their best show. 
At times we had 5-6 individuals getting a cleaner wrasse treatment right in front of our eyes. A strong wind warning did cut our trip short by about 5 days, and we had to jump onboard the MS Adrenalin to seek shelter behind Fraser Island. 
It took me over 12 years of diving the Great Barrier Reef to find one of the most amazing spots i had the privilege to submerge! 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Parley and Corona are joining forces to end plastic pollution!

25/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Chris Hemsworth picking up plastic in the Maldives! Source: Parley for the Oceans
Tulum, Mexico - Today, on International Recycling Day, Corona and Parley for the Oceans announced their partnership in the movement to end marine plastic pollution, one of the biggest threats to human health and the survival of the planet’s largest and most important ecosystem – the world’s oceans. The long-term partnership launches with a plan to protect 100 Islands by 2020 starting in six key regions in different parts of the world – Mexico, Maldives, Australia, Chile, Italy and Dominican Republic. 
An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans each year. The problem is found in every known ecosystem and at every level of the food chain. If current marine pollution trends continue, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by the year 2050. The partners will protect these regions by implementing Parley’s creative, multidisciplinary approach and signature formula, the Parley AIR Strategy (Avoid, Intercept, Redesign).
​Now i am back to Australia with the mission to establish the Australian & SE Asian project parts !
Picture
Diego Luna becomes ambassador for Parley!
Picture
0 Comments

Filming for the biggest Screen has started ....

28/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
After several technical issues, weather delays and extensive planing, we have finally officially started filming the IMAX Great Barrier Reef in partnership with December Media & Biopixel. 
Our first trip took us to our Turtle Hospital, followed buy a release of our little Green Turtle "Leo Di Carapace" at Flyn Reef. 
The release went well and was extremely quick, which is a good sign. After some underwater shooting in rather challenging conditions we where heading to Green Island to get some 3D action shots of local Salt water Crocodiles. Next in the pipeline are the Manta Rays of Lady Elliot, followed by the inquisitive Minke Whale visiting the far Northern Reefs. 
Picture
0 Comments

DJI Inspire 2

25/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
the DJI Inspire 2 in Mexico!
As exciting as it seems, sometimes i wish technology wouldn't advance as quick as it does. You are just getting used to one drone, there comes the next one, better, faster, saver and you have to make up arguments to justify spending money you don't have. 
Having worked with blue whales before, i knew the Inspire 2 will give us this extra bit of advantage to make this next expedition even more successful. Longer flight time, extra safety with 2 batteries, DNG Raw format, 5.2 K video, higher frame rates, over 90 km/h top speed, increased range .... well, i had to. 
Bottom line: this is without any doubt the perfect tool and all the specs above paid off. Lets hope they don't make one even better within the next 2 years. 
Picture
the Snotbot Team 2017 - Loreto
Picture
0 Comments

Snotbot - this time with National Geographic

10/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our 21 foot boat appears to be a toy!
Certainly my expectations where high, but what nature has presented us once again was much higher. Can you imagine over 20 Blue Whales lunge feeding on the service within feet of our tiny boat ? The expedition was a huge success, the whales had plenty to eat ... and so did we ! 
It seemed to be a lot of ask for, taking breath condensate samples of the largest animal that ever lived on our planet. But we did pick the right place and the right time. The marine park of Loretto was filled with bio mass, the amount of Krill was hard to even believe. During Day time the Krill is down deep, means the whales are feeding deeper, meaning longer dive times and harder to predict. Early in the morning and late at night this delicious whale feast is moving towards the surface - resulting into a spectacular lunge feeding show. It was surprisingly easy to find the animals and stay with them. 
This feeding fancy also attracted other relatives, such as the Fin Whale, Sei Whale, Humpback, Minke and even Orcas. 
Pair all of this with the breathtaking Mexican landscapes, the friendly and welcoming locals and mouth watering cuisine, i guess you will understand while we are already playing to come back next year again. 
Picture
Collection Snot of a Blue Whale!
The Snotbot team has just returned from another breathtaking expedition from Loreto (mexico). This time for shooting a special edition for National Geographic, which gave me the opportunity to put my talent to good use. 
Picture
Collecting Gold for Science!
Picture
The Fin Whale - the second largest Marine Mammal!
Picture
0 Comments

Proud to be Brand Ambassador

11/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

3 years ago i was lucky enough to share a dive trip with Mike Huish and his family. We where heading out with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions to encounter the inquisitive Minke Whales during the migration into the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef. 
We shared a common love for the ocean and i am very proud to become Brand Ambassador for his Dive Brands including Atomic Aquatics, Bare, Zeagle, Stahlsac, Suunto, Liquivision and Sharkskin. 
I will always support brands that support the environment, this is the best way we can ensure the best chances to keep out blue planet in a good shape and repair damage that has been done! 

Picture
At Huish Outdoors in Salt Lake City Utah
Picture
Mike Huish at his Office
0 Comments

Nothing like good news for the new year! 

15/1/2017

0 Comments

 
I am stoked and honoured to receive the first Place award of the "Ocean Art Competition" 2016 in the conceptional Category with one of my all time favourite Turtle Shots. 
I want to congratulate all the other inspiring Photographers out there that have either won or tried. 
​I am lucky to receive a trip to Sulawesi, which comes with perfect timing to get deeper into the Plastic solution around Asia Pacific. 
Picture
0 Comments

2017 - Asia Pacific ! 

1/1/2017

1 Comment

 
Spending Christmas in Bali and Lombok was a start to get an idea on how big the Ocean Debris issue is in Asia Pacific. As you may have guessed .... it is huge. 
Together with Parley this is going to be one of our big projects for 2017 and it will be challenging. 
Picture
Picture
The good news is, i could certainly see a lot of businesses, hotels, pubs and restaurants to reduce the consumption of single use plastics and come up with alternatives such as bamboo straws. 
I could also see a lot of signs and smart approaches to make everyone aware of the issues. 
We are now scanning for the best partners and will start to initiate pilot projects in Indonesia and Malaysia! 
I can't wait to get it started! 
1 Comment

IMAX Great Barrier Reef ! 

18/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
It was long in the planing, but finally our production of the second IMAX movie shot on the Great Barrier Reef is finally here. This week we jumped into a pool to test the equipment, allign the cameras, play with the focusing and the image composition required to shoot a big screen 3D movie. 
In the image you see Richard Fitzpatrick aiming to frame a Pool shark and also playing with the new Gates UW lights. Outside the Pool is Stephen from December Media taking notes of all the settings. 
I can't wait for the first official Ocean shoot .... 
0 Comments

Ocean School the 2nd with Adidas & Parley

10/11/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
A shoe made from Ocean Plastic ? Does that sound weird to you ? 
It is now reality. Exactly one year ago we have taken Adidas to the Maldives to introduce a new concept of making shoes and at the same time cleaning up the mess all of us (humans) have created. 
Now, 12 months later its all reality. Adidas is releasing the first 1 Million Shoes made from Plastic bottles from the beautiful islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. 
The Parley Strategy "AIR" - Avoid : Intercept : Redesign has been put into Action, and it is only the start. 
Ocean School - consist of different activities including Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Surfing, SUP, School Projects, Beach Cleanups, Workshops and Ambassador Parley Talks. 
It is such an honour not only creating the vision for this project, but also to be an Ocean Ambassador alongside with Emily Penn, Kahi Pacarro and Iain Kerr. 
This year was a huge success and we can't wait to see what other changes Adidas can make. Millions of Plastic bottles have already been taking away from ocean pollution and landfill, making the Maldives more beautiful, our oceans cleaner, and giving us a product with an inspirational Message! Its time to change - NOW! 
Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments

Underwater Art to Inspire Ocean Conservation! 

29/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Parley is doing it again! I was heading straight from the Philippines to Catalina Island, a small piece of paradise right in from of Los Angeles. 
Artist Doug Aitken is building outer space looking underwater Spheres in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans. Despite the cold water, i did fall in love with Californias breathtaking underwater world! 
0 Comments

Philippines, the Marine Diversity hotspot of our Planet! 

15/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Winning photography Awards is a great honour by itself, but receiving some of the best dive trips is an pleasant added bonus. Natures Best Photography awarded me with an unforgettable trip to the Philippines, which i will certainly never forget. 
Picture
Highlights such as diving with 15 giant Whale sharks, being surrounded by trillions of sardines, capturing the Flamboyant Cuttle fish hunting at night and submerge in some of the most pristine and alive coral Reefs i have ever seen. I will be back .... 
0 Comments

Make-a-wish, with lots of fish! 

30/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
For many years now I am privileged to be working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Every father or mother out there can only imagine what a family is going through when a child is fighting for their lives. This time it was different - I was the wish. Chloe wanted to learn to photograph on the Great Barrier Reef, underwater. We had such a great time, Chloe is a real fighter, and we created some magic moments! 
0 Comments

Great Barrier Reef, work never stops! 

20/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Once again I am back home in Cairns, for a short time. Together with my friend, shark biologist and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Richard Fitzpatrick, we are setting up a foundation to protect our beloved Great Barrier Reef. 
Work will include shark tagging programs to further set up marine protected areas, manta ray and turtle research and a youth ambassador program I am extremely passionate about. And if that's not enough, we are also getting ready to film the new IMAX film about the Great Barrier Reef ! 
Picture
0 Comments

Next stop: Hawaii 

15/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
IUCN, Obama announcing the world's largest marine park and Parley's launch of the Deep Space Project, all happening at the same time. 
I was lucky to meet some real leaders in conservation and also deep sea exploration, including my favourite Ocean Hero once again, Sylvia Earle. 
But I was also fortunate enough to spend time with my friend Kahi, the founder of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. His organisation is working tirelessly on cleaning up the islands' beaches, but also educating, and working on solutions to eliminate plastics to wash up on our shores.
I have seen a lot of ocean plastic, but it was never so evident what micro plastic means, and how it just keeps breaking up into smaller pieces, eventually ending up on our own plate, in our own bodies, impacting our lives. Maybe this will make human's change, finally ? ... 
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    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