Posted by Florian – February 8, 2011
Die Premiere von "Ruf der Wildnis II " beim Wunderwelten Festival in Friedrichshafen am Bodensee.
( English version see below)
Es dauerte einige Wochen in denen Emil und ich intensiv an unsere neuen Multivisionshow “Ruf der Wildnis II” arbeiteten. Dann war es soweit. Die Premiere beim Wunderwelten Festival am 7. November 2010 in Friedrichshafen. “Ruf der Wildnis” – eine Homage an Jack London, der meine Leidenschaft für die Wildnis Nordamerikas geweckt hat. Es war ein unglaubliches Gefühl zu sehen, wie sich das Graf Zeppelin Haus immer weiter füllte bis ich zuletzt vor einem Ausverkauften Saal stand und 1000 Besucher vor mir hatte. Die gewaltige Leinwand von über 12 m Breite ließ die Bilder zur vollen Wirkung kommen. In der neuen Show hatte ich die Gelegenheit, viele meiner Erlebnisse in der Wildnis Nordamerikas – zwischen Alaska und Baja Kalifornien, Mexiko – an die Zuschauer weiterzugeben.
Visions of the Arctic event with Earthjustice in the Times Building in New York City
Auf WunderWelten folgte dann eine Tournee in der Schweiz, Vorträge in Nord Amerika und weitere Festivals, so dass ich in den letzten 3 Monaten an über 7000 Besucher meine Bilder und Erlebnisse weitergeben konnte. Ich muss ehrlich sagen, es ist anstrengend, wenn man oft Tag um Tag auf der Bühne steht. Aber ich habe es lieben gelernt, denn das Medium des “Live-Vortrags” ist etwas besonderes. Menschen nehmen die Bilder, die Erlebnisse und auch die Botschaft ganz anders wahr, als z.B. in einem Dokumentarfilm aus dem Fernsehen oder etwa im Kino.
Florian speaking at a Earthjustice event in New York
Für mich war es ganz besonders, die eindrücklichsten Erlebnisse unserer Reisen und Expeditionen für unsere Multivisions-Show aufzuarbeiten. Es gab mir nämlich die Chance mich an die verschiedenen Orte zurückzuversetzten und mich daran zu erinnern, was ich damals gefühlt habe. In den Vorbereitungen der Show achten wir ganz besonders auf die Bilderfolge um die Witterungen und Lichtstimmungen in der Wildnis weiterzugeben. Emil hat besondere Fähigkeiten in der Muskikauswahl und der Abstimmung auf die Bilder, so dass wir das Erlebte als gefühlte Atmosphäre weitergeben können. So können wir unsere Zuschauer in die Wildnis entführen.
Gleichzeitig gibt es mir die Möglichkeit über wichtige Naturschutzprojekte zu sprechen und auch auf direkte Gefahren für einige der Wildnis-Regionen, in denen ich arbeite, hinzuweisen. Das Rückmeldungen bisher waren überwältigend! Gerade gestern habe ich wieder eine ganz besondere Email erhalten, von der ich einen kleinen Auszug zitieren will: ” Selten habe ich Menschen um mich herum so mitfiebern sehen. Die Geschichte vom Karibu-Kalb, die Wölfe und Bären, das, was Du von Euch erzählt hast – grandios ! …….
Von der Macht der Bilder bin ich immer überzeugt gewesen, doch dass sie so eine intensive Wirkung haben können, dass sie direkt “ins Herz gehen “, hätte ich nicht für möglich gehalten ! “
Über 1600 Besucher bei der Mundologia in Freiburg - bisher unser größtes Publikum
Vor Jahren habe ich einmal einen Zeitungsartikel über die Fotografie im Zeitalter des Films geschrieben. Obwohl ich auch kleine Filmabschnitte in meinem Vortrag habe, wurde mir wieder klar wie besonders das stehende Bild ist. Man kann einfach die Augen eine Weile lang auf den Fotografien ruhen lassen. So kann man z.B. den heruaspringenden Wal wirklich erfassen. Das Medium des “Life-Vortrags” bringt etwas ruhe in unseren hektischen Alltag.
"Ruf der Wildnis II" bei der Mundologia 2011
Die Zeit der Vorträge ist nun vorbei und ich werde mich nun wieder auf die Arbeit im Feld konzentrieren. Falls Sie bei Ruf der Wildnis waren, bedanke ich mich für Ihr Kommen. Hoffentlich dann bis zu unserer nächsten Show über die Arktis.
Posted by Florian – February 8, 2011
The pemiere of our "Call of the Wild" show at the WunderWelten Festival
It took a number of weeks of concentrated work until Emil and I had finished our new multimedia presentation “Call of the Wild II”. As a child I was inspired by Jack London to explore the wilds of North America with his picturesque language. We presented our premiere at the WunderWelten-Festival on the 7th of November 2010 in Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance. It was an incredible experience to see how many people flocked to the event until I stood in front of a sold-out hall with 1000 guests. The giant screen brought the images to life. In the new show, I had the opportunity to share my experiences in the wilderness of North America between Alaska and Baja California, with the audience.
WunderWelten was followed by a tour through Switzerland with over 18 events, other presentations in North America and Festivals in Germany. In the course of the last 3 months I was able to share my images and stories with over 7000 people. I have to be honest – being on stage day after day can be tiring, yet I became to love this medium of the “live-presentation”. It is very special. People experience the images, stories and the message in a very different way from a documentary on TV or a film in the movies.
Florian speaking at a Earthjustice event in the Times Building in New York City
It was a great experience for me to turn some of our most memorable experiences from our travels and expeditions into a multimedia presentation. It gave me the opportunity to travel back to the different locations through my mind and remember what I felt at the time. When we prepare the show we take special care to reproduce the atmosphere of weather and light. Emil has a special ear for the ideal music that goes well with the images to reflect the mood of a place. This way we are able to take our audience out into the wilderness with us.
At the same time, I have the chance to talk about important environmental issues and specific threats to wilderness areas I am documenting. The feedback has been overwhelming. I just received another wonderful email yesterday: ” Seldom have I experience the people around me so involved. The story of the Caribou, the wolves and bears, an all the stories you were sharing – magnificent ! …. I always was certain that images had immense power, but I had absolutely no idea, that they could have such an incredible impact, that they go directly “into the heart” ; that I would have never seen possible in such intensity ! “
With over 1600 people our larges audience to date at the Mundologia Festival in Freiburg, Southern Germany
Years ago I wrote a newspaper article about still images in the era of the moving picture. Even though I also have included some film clips, I once again realized the power of the still image. The eye can rest and absorb the photograph. The medium of the live presentation brings some calmness into our hectic society.
Our show "Call of the Wild II" at the Mundologia 2011
The time of presentations this spring has come to an end now. We now have to concentrate on our field work until the fall – when we will have a new series of shows.
Posted by Florian – April 3, 2010
THE WINGED MIGRATION
I have been working on my second Freedom to Roam project ” B2B – The Wild Coast ” for a few years now. This spring I came back again to Baja California to photograph aspects of the massive migration that takes part along America`s West Coast. I was specifically interested in the different shore birds and waterfowl that rely upon a “daisy-chain” of wetlands on their migration to their nesting grounds up north in the high arctic. A lot of the habitats are in tidal zones along the coast. They are facing different pressures from encroaching development and the possibility of significant sea-level rise in the coming decades. For me the migrations symbolize the interconnectedness of the natural world like few other phenomenons.
In comparison to legged land mammals, birds have the incredible advantage of wings that lets them overcame huge distances of unsuitable habitat or developed landscapes. They however cannot master the enormous migrations without adequate reserves of energy. Migratory birds are dependent on important habitat that lets them consume large quantities of high energy food in a short period of time. It is therefore essential we set aside such important migratory bird sanctuaries that allows migratory birds to stop over in the course of their long migrations.
Migration hotspots can be found all along the west coast. One of the most famous locations for the Western Sandpipers is the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska. Several million western Sandpipers make a stopover there before they continue their journey to the arctic.
Posted by Florian – July 20, 2009
Dreaming is such a wonderful thing. It lets our mind unfold in an entirely hopeful fashion. No fears of failure or negativity. It seems that the older I have grown, the more I dare to dream. It unleashes an incredible amount of energy. When I dreamed off the arctic in the past it was the thoughts of a wast unspoiled wilderness filled with resilient life. A landscape so unknown and big, that my imagination could run free creating a fascinating sense of wonder and desire to explore. As wilderness is shrinking around the world, we need such wilderness, that is not disrupted with mines and drilling rigs. We need it, to simply give our mind and spirit the Freedom to Roam!
By the hundreds of thousands members of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd fill valley after valley, Nikon D3x, 24-70mm f2.8
Barren Ground Grizzly wandering the edge of the Arctic Refuge. Nikon D3x, 600mm f4 VR lens
Far away from the centers of our civilization lies a land of wonder, where hundreds of thousands of caribou roam the plains, where myriads of birds migrate to rear their chicks and where the kingdoms of grizzly and polar bears meet. It is America’s vast Arctic, far removed from the rest of the world, but heavily affected by humankind.
Thousands of murres gather on pools on the ice awaiting the nesting season on the nearby cliffs; Nikon D3x, 70-200mm f2.8
A large lead opens in the Chuckchi Sea between Pt. Hope and Cape Lisburne; Nikon D3x, 24-70mm f2.8
For many years environmental organizations have fought for the protection of the Alaskan arctic, but as the energy crisis worsens, pressure is driving Congress to open this wilderness sanctuary to oil drilling and mining operations. As part of my Freedom to Roam project in connection with the Blue Earth Alliance and Braided River Books, I am working to produce photographic material in support of the Arctic Conservation Campaign. With compelling imagery I hope we can reach Congress and the general public by showing a true portrait of a land often called a “barren wasteland”.
Sea ice landscape at the edge of the lead. Nikon D3x, 14-24mm f2.8
A polar bear roams the edge of the packice in the Chuckchi Sea. Nikon D300, 200-400mm f4 + TC/E 1.4
After spending many months on the ground amongst hundreds of thousands of caribou, nesting birds and barren ground grizzlies in 2008, I realize, that the only way to cover this massive expanse of land is the aerial perspective. So in 2008 I started to plan a major “Arctic Aerial Expedition”, as part of the 2009 work on the Freedom to Roam project. The goal was to show wildlife in their environment, offering a true representation of the way animals depend on this interconnected ecosystem. My goal was to document the retreating sea ice, the platform for seals, walrus, birds and the polar bear as well as to document the 3 major caribou herds of the arctic slope.
I want to invite you to follow my blog as I am going to share with you some of the amazing experiences I had over the last weeks photographing Alaska`s Arctic. Please pass the info on to friends who are interested in wildlife, conservation, Alaska and photography.
Posted in: Adventure, Alaska, Conservation, Expeditions, Experience, Photography, wilderness, Wildlife | Tagged: aerial photography, aerials, Alaska, American Arctic, Arctic, arctic aerial expedition, arctic ocean, Conservation, Freedom to Roam, nature photography, nikon, Photography, polar bears, sea ice, seals, wilderness, Wildlife
Posted by Florian – June 29, 2009
Outdoor photographer highlights Freedom to Roam II – B2B
The July issue of Outdoor Photographer has a wonderful story on my ongoing Freedom to Roam project on North America`s western seabord from Baja California to the Beaufort sea (B2B) in the arctic. The article gives a great overview of my conservation photography project focusing on wildlife corridors. Take a look at the magazine to see the images in print and read the great story OP has put together in their series on the environment!
Get the July issue of OP to see the story in Freedom to Roam II in print
Posted in: Conservation, Interviews, Photography, Wildlife | Tagged: article, Conservation, florian schulz photography, Freedom to Roam, nature photography, op, outdoor photographer, Photography, publication, story, wildlife photography
Visions of the 
