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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Really, really, really isolated project, what would you take / suggest.

Sounds like a really fun project, wishing you all the best with it!
 
Thanks guys for the comments and good will.

This is all very much in the early planning stages. I'm heading out on a trip to the location in May next year in order to shoot a small pilot, albeit a pilot on the main Red Circle base location. I wish I could head out there earlier but that just isn't on the cards at the moment. In the interim I'll be honing the storyline and working out the shot list per location, the small story lines that will then be stitched into the complete fabric of the piece.

I'll be looking also for the services for post, coloring and editing too. Working at it as a one man team is fun, if not time intensive. Gonna be a blast and aiming for a few more 'paperweights'. Once I've come up with a complete logistics plan I will also update it here.

oh, and the title I'm tentatively working with at this time?

IndiegogoThumb.png


It will not be a slasher type sharks doco, more like a study of the area, a large part of the marine segments will cater to the local shark populations but in general it will be a balanced natural history, anthropological study on the region.

It all starts here....

Cheers,
Mark.
 
Update: Had a cool meeting today, more like a dive brief from someone who had just been through the area. Buzzing with life and also a new marine reserve that was previously not figured into the plan. Another story element comes into the fray.

Cheers,
Mark.
 
Just a quick comment Mark, if you bring along an aviation radio that has emergency capability (121.5 MHz), at any point in time there will likely be a dozen or so airliners within radio line-of-sight. All you need do is transmit the standard Mayday call, they will relay your position and nature of the emergency to all relevant rescue organizations. Cheers.
 
yup, here is a handheld one... buy if you dont really care to listen to the chatter, just get a PLB, and it will have that homing frequency in it. We now use a PLB and the Delorme InReach. love both.
 
Mark, I was thinking more along these lines, standard aviation transceiver, this is the one I use: http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/2552

The Delorme product above is a good solution as well, but you'll need to pay a monthly subscription, maybe Randall could let us know how much that is?

With the aviation transceiver, once you've alerted an aircraft to an emergency, the same response network will be activated, as with the Delorme folks. A PLB is also a very good idea.
 
Looking good Tom.

On the Delorme inReach front I scanned their website:

Upload their software / App to a smart device, planning on getting the Samsung SIII to replace my iPhone. This then turns the smart device into a global communication and GPS unit accessing the global Iridium communications networks. Feature set and cost as follows:

Expedition Plan
Seasonal: (4-month minimum) $64.95 Monthly
SOS: Unlimited
Predefined Messages from inReach: Unlimited
Messages: 120 per month
Tracking: Unlimited
Coverage: $0.25 per message

There are three planned periods of complete isolation, the most being around 300km in all directions. This would be a great option to set up a communication protocol and daily message regime with a contact on the main base location. Absolute guaranteed zero standard cell coverage out there.

Cheers,
Mark.
 
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For that price Mark, the Delorme is a no-brainer. Now, will they let you connect to Reduser for daily updates haha?

Randall, re motoring up the east coast, last time I was hanging around the Horn of Africa, the air was full of stray lead. Lots of problem areas there, and lots of freelancers operating without let or hindrance of any kind. I'm sure you're up on all of this, convoying is probably the best way to get through, although the logistics can be complicated.

That being said, I've been planning an expedition (since I've gotten my Epic) to Dalloi in the Danakil depression in the Ethiopia/Eritrea region, yellow sulfur ponds, green acid lakes, towers, salt geysers, black and red salts, what a place for 5K! http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/photos/dallol/dec10/alien-landscapes.html
 
Randall Brown said:
What troubles in the horn of africa?
Click to expand...
If you are looking to head through Somalia then I would seriously suggest you take a strong look at a potentially alternate route. Especially after this recent event. We all feel safe in ourselves but in a lawless country that ease of being could well land you in strife. I was based for two years north of Somalia in Djibouti in the early 90's. An incredibly beautiful country aesthetically but prone to tribal law and violent outbursts. Lost a close friend there on a simple night out when he stumbled alone into the wrong neighborhood.

Cheers,
Mark.
 
Hi Mark,

I just did 10 days up on the kenyan somali border in the bush and struggled with power.

The more batteries to start with the better. I had a solar charger equal to the larger system suggested early in this post. I still had problems getting batteries to full charge, and on cloudy days I would be brought to a stand still. I even had a small generator which would give me about 2 bars on 126w v-mount after 3-4 hours.

Get several v-mount travel chargers so you can charge several batteries at once, when you can charge.

USB 3.0., I swapped my Mac Pro for this trip and it saved me. I got a bunch of my passport 2tb USB 3.0 drives.

A good generator with enough fuel is better then solar, it's expensive and does not work great with clouds.
 
Hey Michael,
Great feedback, thanks for that. Am doing some serious work on the whole power issue. I will take small silent genies with me based on the growing number of recommendations.

On another point: How was the security or general mood of the area? That could be welcomed, or not, news for another contributor to the thread here.

Cheers,
Mark.
 
If you are looking to head through Somalia then I would seriously suggest you take a strong look at a potentially alternate route.
Click to expand...

That is very wise advice. I was in and out of Mogadishu on 'business' in the early nineties, not much has changed since then, possibly even more anarchic than it was. Last I heard, the Somali Olympic team had to be told, in no uncertain terms, that boating and shooting are completely separate events. :-)

All kidding aside, you'll want to do considerable research on making your gear and purposes as stealthy as possible, that's a very shiny set of kit that will attract the wrong kind of attention, not to mention all of the issues crossing remote land borders, and the 'border guards' who make shit up as they see fit, with a definite eye to enrichment. We got out of tight corners by paying our way out most of the time, but there's only so much cash you can carry without making yourself even more of a target than you already are. It's not the Africa of 50 years ago.

My .02 cents, research and pick the places you want to get footy from, hopscotch via chartered light aircraft (an adventure in itself), overfly the dung to get to the rose.

Above all, Africa is full of astonishing beauty. From my years spent there, I'm convinced it's where God lives, or at least keeps a pied-à-terre.

Whatever happens, you're in for a one helluva an eye-opening adventure.
 
So, looking at the Google sat pic, big lagoon with only a few narrow passes to open ocean, recipe for some great stuff. Reminds me of a Cranston docco at Rangiroa in French Polynesia, saw it one time just by chance, was hooked, and made my way there, gear in tow. The Tiputa and Avatoru passes were some of the most productive shots I ever had the privilege of bringing a u/w camera to bear, hundreds upon hundreds of grey reef sharks milling, churning, waiting for the turn of the tide, all that life sustenance coming out of the lagoon. Other-worldly, astonishingly alien, magic, I am at a loss for words.

I guess Mark, that is in play here for you. I often wondered at how land-lubber types look at all of this u/w stuff, makes me think, when you put together a serious piece designed for public consumption, you need to come up for air on a fairly regular basis. Topside, over-under, deep under, takes a reasoned mix of all of those shots to make it breathable and friendly.

Just my 02. cents.

Moreover, when you see your first-born come forth, shortly I gather my friend, the first breath the little one takes, is a moment, vastness come impossibly near, you will never forget, as long as you live.
 
Tom Hamilton said:
So, looking at the Google sat pic, big lagoon with only a few narrow passes to open ocean, recipe for some great stuff. Reminds me of a Cranston docco at Rangiroa in French Polynesia, saw it one time just by chance, was hooked, and made my way there, gear in tow. The Tiputa and Avatoru passes were some of the most productive shots I ever had the privilege of bringing a u/w camera to bear, hundreds upon hundreds of grey reef sharks milling, churning, waiting for the turn of the tide, all that life sustenance coming out of the lagoon. Other-worldly, astonishingly alien, magic, I am at a loss for words.
Click to expand...
And this is only one of the locations. Have been informed of one spot where divers basically descend through a food chain to rest on Bommies at 30m whilst all manner of life and predators dance that dance for survival just inches from your mask. SO much to potentially document, topside culture, wildlife etc etc. Chomping at the bit to get it on....

Tom Hamilton said:
I guess Mark, that is in play here for you. I often wondered at how land-lubber types look at all of this u/w stuff, makes me think, when you put together a serious piece designed for public consumption, you need to come up for air on a fairly regular basis. Topside, over-under, deep under, takes a reasoned mix of all of those shots to make it breathable and friendly.
Click to expand...
This is the reason I want to spend a couple of years on location. Cover everything and cover it again. There's no telling how long the place will remain 'hidden' so best get enough content for further projects and huge amounts of 5K stock.

Tom Hamilton said:
Moreover, when you see your first-born come forth, shortly I gather my friend, the first breath the little one takes, is a moment, vastness come impossibly near, you will never forget, as long as you live.
Click to expand...
AM looking forward to that one mate, November 17th is the expected date of arrival. Pics will follow when he checks in...

Cheers,
Mark.
 
Mark, if there is anyone who can pull this off, it's you mate. Stay the course. Will be following intently.

Hope you don't mind, but before you start shouting existential epithets at the skies, after months and months of deprivation and grueling isolation, I plan to use my aviation connections to chopper in a crate-load of beer, several bottles of Talisker, a bag of crisps, maybe even some dancing girls of a certain persuasion. You know, the ones that don't compromise one's marriage vows. :001_smile:

Just a short thing my friend, all we need do is drink the stuff, do some more shouting at said imperturbable skies, world problems solved, then I'll be right outa yer hair so you can carry on doing what you do best :beer:.

Gotta a project of my own working it's way slowly through my grey stuff, amazing how it takes hold and never lets go.

Cheers
 
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