still. from Ruby Stocking on Vimeo.
“Still” dives into the life of Carlos Eyles and his ocean philosophy.
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We are very much aware of our environment on land– yet very much is still unknown about the body that encompasses over 70% of earth: our oceans.
Eyles, a 72-year-old ocean photographer, author, and free diver, shares a spiritual connection between the ocean and humankind. In the short documentary of Still, we accompany him deep into the depths as he describes his intimate relationship with the marine world, serving as the voice of the ocean against the constant environmental and biological threats.
Floating through coral reefs photographing dolphins and sea turtles, Eyles says, “the ocean exists as a fundamental reality of the earth. Through that mirror, you can see the fundamental reality of yourself.”
In recent years, underwater freediving—diving without breathing equipment– has found new popularity. Dating back thousands of years, it’s an ancient tradition and a recognized sport, but for Carlos Eyles, freediving is a way of life.
The above film was shot over a month in Hawaii, with most of the footage coming from five days of underwater shooting. According to Michael Barth, one of the filmmakers of Still, “Eyles really is a Mr. Miyagi of the sea. Sometimes he felt like swimming in the sea longer than any of us young guns could keep up, and other days he just needed a day off to play his bongos.”
Swimming among the dolphins, whales, and sharks, Eyles reflects on a realm that is still within the province of the unknown, illuminating how profoundly wondrous it is to live within the great scheme of life and nature.
To note, Eyles has currently written ten books based around the ocean. To see more of his work including photography, books, and more, please visit his website.
~Via Carlos and Margaret Eyles, and Vimeo
by Skippy Massey
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This post originally appeared at the Humboldt Sentinel. Reprinted with permission.