National Geographic Live: Coral, Fire and Ice with photographer David Doubilet

               It has been my practice since a long time to download photos from the Nat Geo website to adorn my desktop or screen saver. And even though I make it a point to read about the whereabouts of the picture taken, seldom have I taken the time or effort to actually read about the photographer. And hence, I was wonderfully surprised that some photos that I already had seen earlier, like these-

                                       - had been shot by this very renowned Nat Geo photographer, David Doubilet.

          And the surprise turned into awe because National Geogeographic Live came to Singapore with a series called "Coral, Fire and Ice" with photographer David Doubilet and the event was held in my university, NTU. 

           Simply put, it was an honor to just be sharing space with this legendary figure who, according to me, is much more that a mere photographer. An adventurer, philosopher, ecologist, eco-preservationist, raconteur of tales, a man deeply in love with nature and it's beauty and a torch bearer of his generation that is slowly witnessing the deterioration of nature's bountiful beauty and purity- he's all that and more.

           Here are some of his other pictures that he spoke about in yesterday's talk, and that stand as testimony to his undaunted passion to reach the farthest corners and deepest trenches of the earth in his quest for beauty and sublimity.

 Hawkbill sea turtle

  Rain forested volcanoes

Clown fish in anemone

                                   Baby harp seal

Harp seal on ice, Madeleine Islands

River bushmen, Botswana

                              Yongala shipwreck

           And, to end it, the mother of all pictures. His ultimate quest for the perfect coral reef culminated in this sheltered coral garden in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea. What more can a man ask after he's seen such tranquil and sublime beauty on Earth?

His speech too was like him- humble, humane and brilliant! I recorded the last section of his talk, which sort of summarized the essence of his life's work.

Thank you David, for being what you are and the legacy that you've left behind.