Today I will take my family to see the James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Avatar (in Imax 3d of course). I realized this morning when I awoke that there is a relationship between this movie and my career as a fine art nature photographer. This will be the third time that I have seen it. The movie is visually stunning a real feast for the eyes. The story takes place on a planet called Pandora. On this planet all things of nature are interconnected in a living network created by the roots of the trees that cover this imaginary world. This network of all living things or “Eywa” is accessed by the native people and the other creatures that inhabit Pandora. It is inhabited by a race of 10 foot tall people who are closely linked to this network and who respect and revere the spirit of nature. These Na’vi are reminiscent of Native Americans as well as the native peoples of other cultures around the world.
Regardless of how you feel about the plot of the movie, the special effects and the beauty of this imaginary world are awesome. I will admit, however, to being somewhat saddened by the fact that it takes a movie that cost $240 million dollars to remind this generation of movie goers of a relationship that is central to all of us. We are all connected to and a part of nature from the smallest dew drops on a blade of grass to the grandest mountains.
Nature’s “special effects” are every bit as impressive and aweinspiring as James Cameron’s screen spectacular.
My hope is that people will be motivated by this movie to get out and reconnect with the natural world around us.
Capturing, revealing and sharing the spirit of nature and our connection with it has been a central theme of my life since my childhood. It is a bond that I have spent a lifetime illustrating through my photographic art.
