A Passport and A Past Life
A Passport and a Past Life is a portrayal of how Thomas Oliver’s previous career as a wildlife biologist, his current career as a high school biology and environmental science teacher, and his recent world travels combine to influence his photography.
The exhibit (on display [03-31 July, 2019] at the Copper Country Community Arts Center, Kerredge Gallery, in Hancock, MI) follows a storyline similar to that which Tom presents in his high school AP-Environmental Science classes.
As humans have advanced from pre-industrial agricultural societies toward the modern post-industrial age, many species of wildlife have been able to tolerate the changes, we as a species, bring. In some cases, a few species even thrive in the conditions humans create.
However, it has become abundantly clear that the exponential growth of the human population during the past 200 years has actually influenced an unprecedented overall decline in species diversity worldwide - an affect far worse than we had previously imagined.
To bring awareness to this situation, biologists and conservation groups select species to represent our best ideas and goals for slowing the biodiversity loss we are witnessing. Yet, in many cases, these “icons of wilderness” are also either 1) needing to shift behaviors to fit with the world humans are creating or 2) are themselves becoming imperiled.
All the while, human progress continues - as it will. With human progress, we will likely continue to see changes we could not expect and, likely, hope would not happen - such as the rapid worldwide decline of animal groups like amphibians and bees. With human progress, we will also see changes that are easy to predict, though no less disheartening (e.g., the steady depletion of marine fish resources, the increase of urbanization and subsequent loss of agricultural land to accommodate our burgeoning population).
While each of these things I have highlighted merely showcase a sampling of problems, in human progress, there is also hope. It’s easy to gather hope from that which is expected. For instance, our ability to evaluate and solve problems will very likely lead us to sustainable urban growth and agricultural stability. Yet, hope can also exist in unexpected accidents - such as the hope I realized in the closing photo of this exhibit - discovering a species that is critically endangered in its native range, yet it is beginning to thrive in new areas it had never previously existed.
With such hope, we can all move forward, progressing as we will. Trying to do the best that we can - for ourselves, for our families, for our species, and ultimately (hopefully) for our planet
Dusk On U-Bein Bridge
U Bein Bridge, named after the local town official who oversaw its construction, is thought to be the oldest and longest bridge of it type - made almost entirely of teak. It is an important causeway for locals to cross Taungthaman Lake – such as this gentleman walking his bike, loaded with baskets, toward the tourist concession area.
I selected this photo to open the exhibit because this man walking his bike loaded with handmade baskets represented so much of the pre-industrial society I observed while in rural Myanmar.
Location: U Bein Bridge, Mandalay, Myanmar
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55, f/3.5-5.6 IS II
Focal Length: 47mm
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/320 sec @ f/11
Support: Hand-held
Planting Rice - South Korea
Even with the use of modern planting machinery, the maintenance of wet rice agriculture is still very, very labor intensive. After rice is sown into small seedbeds in early spring, the seedlings are then transplanted to a prepared paddy. However, sections of fields are sometimes missed by the planting equipment. In those cases, the laborers who tend the paddies follow behind and hand plant rice seedlings one-by-one to maximize production from each flooded field.
Whenever I see the local farmers hand-planting rice seedlings in this way, I am reminded of the back-breaking and dedicated labor required for everyday life, that pre-dates our modern society
Location: Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeongi-do, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 320
Exposure: 1/640 sec @ f/8.0
Support: Hand-held
Arc de Triomphe Light Trails
When visiting Paris for Christmas, I learned that our lodging in was only about 5 blocks from the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, I decided that I needed to get a long exposure pic with light trails from the cars moving around it. So, the first morning, I woke up early and headed out into a steady drizzle in an attempt to avoid the (other) tourists. It paid off. After a few practice shots, I figured out the traffic patterns and got a photo that I liked.
Yes, it is a rather cliché shot of a popular tourist destination; however, when in Paris, there seems to be a couple of things that one seems obligated to do: 1) photograph a few specific famous landmarks and 2) at least attempt to use the language. As it turns out, cliché is a French word. C'est la vie!
What could be more fitting to represent human achievement than a triumphal archway glowing from artificial light propelled by highly advanced machinery - all located in a city known for a vast array of human achievement?
Location: Champs Elyse, Paris, France
Camera: Sony DSC-RX100 Mark V
Lens: Canon 24-70mm, f/1.8-2.8
Focal Length: 8.8mm
ISO: 80
Exposure: 15 sec @ f/11
Support: MeFoto Carbon Fiber Tripod
Hexagenia Silhouette
A Giant Mayfly (Hexagenia limbata) on a Hardstem Bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus). When the mayfly emergence is in full swing many species of mayflies can fill the air with gracefully rising and falling clouds. Adult mayflies have no functioning mouthparts so they are not able to eat...leaving them with one sole purpose, to find a mate and breed before they die. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, due to cold water temperatures, the nymphs (aka., naiads) can take up to two years to develop, then after metamorphosing into adult form survive for only a couple of days.
As long as our species does not pollute our waterways, this species will continue to thrive alongside us.
Location: Au Train Township, Michigan
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/4000 sec @ f/4.6
Support: Hand-held
Spotlit Spot-billed Duck
On a cool morning at Sinjeongho Lake in Asan, South Korea, the fog hung tight in the valley as the sun rose. A variety of waterfowl frequent the lake so, it can be a good place to watch birds at any time in the year. This Spot-billed duck (Anas zonorhyncha), a very commonly seen duck in South Korea, caught the rising sun just right so it was brightly lit against its darker surroundings.
Again this is another example of a species that thrives among human populations. In this case, finding habitat among the 52 million residents of South Korea - a country the size of the state of Indiana.
Location: Sinjeong-ho, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 500
Exposure: 1/1000 sec @ f/8.0
Support: Hand-held
Expected Territory
Nearly every day since I noticed this branch just off our driveway, I had been waiting for at least 20 minutes in the early evening for a bird to use it. Given its position and height, I expected the branch to be a prime location for a songbird to express itself – and given the birch tree in the background I thought that whatever landed there would be quite visible against the background. nearly a week later, shortly after a rainstorm, I walked out and waited for about 5 minutes when this male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) arrived and started singing. I love it when the wildlife do as I expect.
An interesting thing about American Redstarts is that they are not closely related to the Redstarts of Europe and Asia. The American Redstart is, instead, a species of Warbler. It got its name because people coming from the “Old World” thought it looked like a redstart, so that’s what they called it. Similar to how the American Robin is not a robin - but is actually a Thrush.
Preferring open woodlands for nesting, this species fares decent among the edge habitat humans create as we reduce forestland and increase grassy openings.
Location: Au Train Township, Michigan
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/320 sec @ f/6.3
Support: Hand-held
Sinjeong-ho Morning Fog
Sometimes peaceful places exist right in the middle of all the noise. I came upon this scene while was taking a walk around a reservoir (Shinjeong-ho Lake) near my house. It was about a half hour after sunrise. There is a 4.5km path that completely encircles the lake. Along the path are strategically placed and concealed weatherproof speakers (cleverly disguised as rocks and street lanterns), which play classical music. As you begin to lose the soft sound from one speaker, the next speaker became discernible. Although not the natural sounds we would associate with wild-ness, the music helped cover up the more obnoxious urban sounds, while simultaneously not distracting from the visual tranquility. It was nice to be in the middle of the city and to find such a relaxing place to spend my morning.
Location: Sinjeong-ho, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 100mm
ISO: 500
Exposure: 1/640 sec @ f/18
Support: Hand-held
My. Evans Sunset Stroll
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) have been admired by people since pre-European settlement of the western United States. This species remains an icon of wilderness in the United States. It is the state animal of Colorado and is the symbol for the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.
This particular female was walking up the road near the peak of Mt. Evans. I was struck by how she was lit by the setting sun and contrasted against a backdrop of “purple mountains majesty.” I was also intrigued by the dichotomy of such a wilderness icon walking along a paved highway in (what was at one time) one of the more inaccessible places in the United States.
Location: Mt. Evans, Colorado
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55, f/5-5.6 IS II
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/250 sec @ f/7.1
Support: Hand-held
Sunrise on the Setsuri
In February of 2016, my wife (Kathryn) and I took a trip to Hokkaido, Japan to see the wintertime courtship displays of Japanese Red-crowned Cranes - known in Japan as "Tancho" - (Grus japonensis). Tancho are one of the most endangered species of cranes, worldwide. Having only about 2800 individuals living in the wild, about half surviving in Japan.
This species of crane has been a symbol of happiness and longevity in Japan for centuries and their images continue to adorn artwork, kimonos, shrines, doors, chopsticks, and essentially anything else that can fit an image of the bird. Herein lies a paradox. What “you see” and what “is,” in Japan, are often not the same…and the sacred crane of the country is no different. An icon of wilderness and of Japan, itself, Tancho have been hunted for meat (prized by emperors) and forced from their habitat to make way for agriculture and urbanization for centuries.
Our first morning in Japan could not have been more breath-taking. We were out the door early and were greeted with a beautiful (and very brisk) sunrise to introduce us to this enduring icon. This picture was taken at a Red-crowned Crane nighttime roost in the Setsuri River just downstream from the Otowa-bashi Bridge.
Location: Setsuri River, Hokkaido, Japan
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 320mm
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/1000 sec @ f/10
Support: Swarovski Steel Tripod
Abstract Wilderness Icon
The Common Loon (Gavia immer) has long been an icon of wilderness in the State of Michigan...yet, it remains a relatively uncommon inhabitant of what should be prime locations for the species throughout the state. This species is, what biologists refer to as, an “obligate piscivore.” In real-world language, that means they eat fish and (pretty much) that is all they eat. This causes a challenge for the species’ population growth in the state: 1) They are extremely sensitive to lead poisoning and readily die due to ingestion of lead sinkers and jigs (please choose to use non-toxic alternatives for fishing); 2) Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury hinders their physiology and reproduction (low pH [acidic] water bodies [found throughout the UP] appear correlated to elevated mercury levels in fish); 3) Some invasive species (e.g., round goby) are thought to be causing outbreaks of Type E Botulism which has killed many water birds over the past decade. 4) While not related to having a fish diet - shoreline development of inland lakes drastically hinders their nesting needs.
With all of those challenges, I felt very fortunate to see this bird on the lake while riding in a pontoon boat with friends.
Location: Au Train Lake, Michigan
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/40 sec @ f/5.6
Support: Hand-held
Orange-belted Bumblebees on Joe-Pye Weed
These Orange-belted Bumblebees [aka: Tri-colored Bumblebees] (Bombus ternarius) are feeding on Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum). This species of bee tends to be very docile and only stings when severely provoked. As an example, the week before I took this picture we caught our parents’ puppy mouthing and nosing one of these bees in our yard and, even after being inside a dog’s mouth and flipped around repeatedly, the bee still wasn’t provoked to sting. However, if Orange-belted Bumblebees do choose to sting, they are able to do it repeatedly without disemboweling themselves because their stingers lack a barb that would hook their stinger into whatever they impale.
With the recent decline in bees worldwide, I was very pleased to see so many of these around our yard this past summer.
Location: Au Train Township, Michigan
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55, f/5-5.6 IS II
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/1250 sec @ f/5.6
Support: Hand-held
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
A Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana). The name "vinous" means "wine-colored"...though, it is not overly evident with this individual that it's throat has a pinkish hue. This species is both gregarious and ubiquitous within human-altered habitats. I would estimate that there was at least 100 birds in this individual's flock. They were all flitting about in thick patches of reed grass, chattering and feeding as they moved about. They are tiny and quick, so most of my shots were either out of focus or a blur of tail feathers. Finally, after about 20 minutes of following the flock through the dew-covered grasses and shrubs, this little guy slowed down for about 3 seconds...and politely posed.
Location: Sinjeong-ho, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 500
Exposure: 1/320 sec @ f/5.6
Support: Hand-held
Grey Heron Sunrise Silhouette
Location: Changyong-ri, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/1000 sec @ f/7.1
Support: Hand-held
Hard at Work
Location: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 320mm
ISO: 1000
Exposure: 1/160 sec @ f/5.6
Support: Hand-held
Negligence
Location: Sinbong-ri, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF50mm f1.8 STM
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/6.3
Support: Hand-held
Paradise Lost
Location: Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55, f/5-5.6 IS II
Focal Length: 29mm
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/100 sec @ f/11
Support: MeFoto Carbon Fiber Tripod
Jagalchi Nocturnal
Jagalchi Market, in Busan, is South Korea's largest seafood market. They sell live, fresh, and dried seafood of all varieties. The seafood is available to package up and take home or it can be prepared and eaten at the market. Most of the people who sell fish at this market are women (the Jagalchi ajumma), though that did not surprise me, since we live in a farming town and (with only a few exceptions) most of the people working in the gardens, paddies, and orchards are also women. Our initial plan was to have dinner here; however, we arrived late and all of the Jagalchi ajumma were doing the hard sell on everything to try and not have to store their stock overnight. Taking pics was even a challenge because I was constantly being "sold to."
I am continually reminded of the intense negative impact we are having on marine species as our population grows and we expand our search to satiate our need for high-quality foods. Growing up among the Great Lakes I was well aware of the severe impact we have had on that ecosystem over the past 200 years. It was not until I began traveling to other places that I discovered that the affect we have had on the Great Lakes is minimal when compared to our impact on the world fisheries.
Location: Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan, South Korea
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55, f/5-5.6 IS II
Focal Length: 40mm
ISO: 800
Exposure: 1/80 sec @ f/5.0
Support: Hand-held
Lin Heung Tea House
The Lin Heung (Fragrant Lotus) Tea House is famous for its traditional Chinese dim sum and variety of teas. We nearly walked right past it while trying to dodge taxis. However, I turned around wondering what another photographer was taking pictures of. It turned out he was focused on the warm glow reflecting off the face of the woman in this picture. For, me though I was struck by how much red was surrounding us at that moment.
As our species’ population continues to grow, scenes such as this begin to dominate the landscape, in order to accommodate our needs and wants. Yet, through proper planning and development, we may be able to grow our cities with minimal outward expansion, maintain our agricultural lands, and conserve wild lands critical for maintaining vast biodiversity around the world.
Location: Lin Heung Tea House, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Camera: Sony DSC-RX100 Mark V
Lens: 24-70mm, f/1.8-2.8
Focal Length: 8.8mm
ISO: 4000
Exposure: 1/30 sec @ f/5.0
Support: Hand-held
Endangered But Thriving
The Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) is a critically endangered species in its native range. However, there are about 200 of these birds which have taken up residence in Hong Kong and they are actually thriving. This is a somewhat unusual circumstance because most invasive species (wherever they may be) are usually species that not only thrive in their adopted home ranges but also in their native home ranges. The dilemma for this species is that the cause of their endangerment is largely trapping for the pet industry, which is what has brought these birds to their new range in the first place.
I chose to close this exhibit with this picture because I recognize it as a sign of hope. This is a species which has been on the brink of extinction for some time. However, it has gained a foothold in an area of the world most unexpected.
Location: Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 250
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/7.1
Support: Hand-held