KIMBERLEY, AUSTRALIA DAY 6: eighth WONDER OF THE WORLD
9 Minute Read: Go behind the scenes of a filmmaking expedition in the remote Northwest region of Australia, The Kimberley. In this 14-part series, we’ll share the highs and lows, from marathon shoots aboard luxurious yachts to heart-stopping encounters with nature's fiercest creatures. Welcome to the wild side of cinema. (Part 6 of 14)
good morning from a local nurse shark 🦈
A Dance with the Tides: Day 6 of the Kimberley Expedition
As night transitioned to dawn, we found ourselves in the company of an unexpected visitor—a grey nurse shark, gliding gracefully around the Akiko. It was a mesmerizing sight, proof to the untamed beauty of Kimberley's coastal waters.
By day six, I had fallen in love with The Kimberley. She was unpredictable and volatile. She was beautiful and magical. The contrasts spoke to my heart and captured my mind. She felt like the Alaska of Australia.
LOCKED AND LOADED
Eighth wonder of the world 🔮
With the call time set at 3:30 AM, our crew stirred to life, fueled by a potent mix of excitement, anticipation, and coffee. I’m personally not a fan of caffeine but our crew loves orange mocha frappuccinos (and other drinks with weird names). If you have seen the gas station / Jeep scene in Zoolander, that is a close representation of our crew in the morning. It is embarrassing to admit for an expedition team.
SUNSCREEN APPLICATION NUMBER ONE
As we gathered aboard the Akiko, the Nyaid and the Seabourn-branded black MK5 Zodiac bobbed patiently in the water, ready to transport us to today's adventure.
For me, this marked a personal milestone—the first day of the expedition where I could partake in all three meals without sickness looming over me. Wohoooo! At full strength health and a solid plan in place, I was ready to direct and photograph the 8th Wonder of the World.
A Great Plan Never Survives Contact with the Enemy
With talent primed and ready, our crew embarked on the Nyaid with Josh at the helm, while the rest of our crew, including Britt, Manjit, and client KT, joined Robin in the zodiac. The pre-dawn light bathed the cliffs in an ethereal glow, setting the stage for what promised to be an unforgettable day. As we sailed in the morning breeze, everyone was eager to witness the raw power of Kimberley's tidal forces firsthand. Dawn is my favorite time of day to be alive.
At dinner the previous night, folks on the scout bragged …”The tides are crazy!” + “The water is spinning in every direction!” + “I’ve never seen anything like it!” Everyone was stoked heading into the bay.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE ZODIAC (ORGANIZED CHAOS)
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THROUGH THE LENS ©SEABOURN
But as we approached the bay, a sense of dread settled in. The water lay eerily silent, void of the rapid currents we had anticipated. Everyone is asking, “Where are the rapids?” Unfortunately, Mother nature had chosen to withhold her most spectacular display, potentially leaving our narrative without this historic location.
Let’s rewind a minute. How did this happen? We checked and rechecked tidal information. That’s the beauty of mother nature. Your plan never survives contact with her. Mother nature is always in charge and she changes her plans whenever she feels like it.
WAITING IN THE SHADE FOR THE TIDES TO TURN
Working with mother nature, the ability to adapt swiftly is key. Our schedules may appear rigid, with specific times for “breaky” (breakfast) and takeoff, but this approach stems from an essential truth: in the world of location filmmaking, every moment counts. By hustling, we can accomplish more with less, a valuable asset when stakeholders come to us with complex challenges that need to be solved within constraints of time, money, and resources.
EXPLOSION OF UNDERWATER LIFE
In the face of adversity, our team refuses to yield. With no rapids to speak of, we improvised, capturing close-up shots of our talent reacting to the imagined power of swirling tides. We also focused on additional drone photography and video of the surrounding area. It was another reminder that in the unpredictable realm of filmmaking, our reaction to adversity is key. How do you react to adversity?
EXPLORING THE AREA FROM AN AERIAL PERSPECTIVE ©SEABOURN
Are you a Carrot, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean?
The story goes like this:
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans.
She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minute she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee into a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see?”
“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.
PREPARING FOR DRONE FLIGHT
She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, “What’s the point, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity… boiling water – but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after being through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.
“Which are you?” she asked the daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”
shooting boat to boat in talbot bay ©SEABOURN
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after death, a break up, a financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.
When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate those around you?
How do you handle adversity?
ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?
HORIZONTAL FALLS BY AIR ©SEABOURN
Capturing the 8th Wonder of the World
As the day wore on, the tides began to swell, offering us a window of opportunity to capture the historic Horizontal Falls. With our coffee bean mentalities, we seized the moment, immortalizing the beauty of Kimberley's natural wonders.
But our work was far from done. From boat-to-boat shots showcasing the Nyaid's grace and power to capturing the breathtaking spectacle of a Kimberley sunset, every moment was an opportunity to push the boundaries of our craft.
a stunning KIMBERLEY SUNSET sailing away from talbot bay ©SEABOURN
As we sailed into the night, I couldn't help but feel gratitude for our team & the film gods. For in Kimberley, every moment is a chance to capture a land untouched by time.
On the next Dash…first contact with artwork 41,000 years old.
