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I struggle to try and articulate my experiences on this trip because so many things have been said about the sea. I feel anything I might utter would be trite. But I can confirm the truth in many of those well worn descriptions of the past. The ocean is in fact immense, and humbling. When you leave land behind and gaze out, the expanse is at once a watery desert and an endless pool of energy that demands reflection. There is an impenetrable mystery to its great mass that I doubt will ever be fully dispelled. I hope it never entirely is.
I came on this trip with the goal of photographing something novel that would bridge my parallel interests in photojournalism and science communication. I believe I succeeded in that task largely due to the generosity of the R/V Sharp’s crew who let me click away my shutter and record the amazing things I got to witness on their boat. Perhaps at times I was a nuisance but they have my sincerest gratitude. I hope everything I’ve posted can provide some meaningful record of this experience that words cannot capture in the same way. I hope others might see what I saw and feel inspired like I was.
To end this blog post I want to note a few disconnected thoughts, first being tossed around by big waves was exciting. Second, to any artists reading this, there is a place where our passions and the sciences intersect. We can have a role to play in the work they do so don’t be afraid to get involved. Lastly I just want to thank my Oceanography teacher at the Community College of Baltimore County for recommending I apply for this experience and sparking my interest in the environmental sciences.
