Launch: X of February, 2022
“Dramatis” is a 1/1 NFT collection of my fine art wildlife photographs framed in the context of cinema. My creative journey started in filmmaking, and this discipline persisted through to my conservation photography career. With each encounter I look for a a narrative, and my perspective is heavily influenced by films that have inspired me.
Collection Details:
Collection Size: Six (6) 1/1 NFT Photos
Photographed by Noel Guevara, Conservation Photographer & Filmmaker
Shot in the following locations:
Malapascua Island, Philippines (2015)
Balicasag Island, Philippines (2016)
Churchill, MB, Canada (2018)
Apo Island, Philippines (2019)
10% Creator Royalty
Proceeds will fund my conservation photography projects and % will be donated to an environmental organization (see below)
“CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE THRESHER KIND”
Reserve Price: 5.0 ETH
Much like the final arrival of UFOs and Extraterrestrials on Devil's Tower in Spielberg's film, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), encounters with Thresher Sharks on Monad Shoal, Malapascua are just as mysterious and awe-inspiring. The visual parallelism with a a cinematic scenes of an alien encounter cannot be more captured in this shot: a non-humanoid species visiting from above, and two humans exhibiting what would be a normal reaction in such films: taking a photo and greeting with a peace sign.
Monad Shoal is the only spot in the world where you can see these sharks on a daily basis.
"GLITCH IN THE MATRIX"
Reserve Price: 1.2ETH
Photographed with a slow shutter, these Schooling Bannerfish create streaks akin to the lines of code in the “Matrix” (1999).
These fish were dancing around the lush sanctuary of Apo Island Protected Seascape and Landscape, the very first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Philippines. MPAs provide significant benefits to the community through tourism and by providing fish stocks to replenish henceforth improving the livelihood of artisanal and coastal fishermen in the region.
"SUNSET BOULEVARD"
Reserve Price: 2.0ETH
"All right Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my Close-Up" - Norma Desmond.
This Green Sea Turtle could have uttered the same words when I creeped up on it for this portrait shot. Comfortably munching on sea grass in the shallows of Balicasag Bohol, it uncharacteristically stopped and posed for me. I could hear Gloria Swanson saying the lines in my head as I snapped the photos. "Sunset Boulevard" (1950) is one of my favorite film noir black comedies from the 50s.
Green Sea Turtles are currently endangered due to being caught unintentionally in commercial fishing nets, enroachment of their nesting sites, and poaching.
"AURORA"
Reserve Price: 2.0ETH
"There is a castle in the woods where a princess sleeps—the most beautiful princess that ever lived".
So goes the legend of sleeping beauty (1959), later named "Aurora" by Disney. Such a name is thus appropriate for this enchanting female Polar Bear, sleeping soundly in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. It is not a coincidence that this small town in the subarctic is a perfect vantage point for photographing the Aurora Borealis.
Polar Bears at times sleep with "pillows" much like us humans. They make use of rocks or any readily accessible object that is available to them.
"JOY OF SQUID"
Reserve Price: 1.2ETH
I caught this pair of mating Bigfin Reef Squid in Gato Island, Malapascua, going at it without a care for my camera snapping just inches away. It's a callback to the sexy thrillers from the 90s such as "Indecent Proposal", "Basic Instinct", and "Disclosure" which were taboo viewing when I was a child.
"Dramatis" is a 1/1 NFT collection of my fine art wildlife photographs framed in the context of cinema.
"SUPERMARINE"
Reserve Price: 1.5ETH
With its huge pectoral fins, the Thresher Shark shares a recognizable profile with a Supermarine Spitfire's when seen from below. The Spitfire is my favorite fighter aircraft of WWII and "Battle of Britain" (1967) is one of my favorite films, thus I recognized the similarities immediately as the graceful shark swam around me in Monad Shoal.
Unfortuantaley, because of these fins and their long, caudal (tail) fin, Thresher Sharks are usually considered prized catch for shark fin soup.
WHERE WILL THE FUNDS GO?
Proceeds of the sales will be used to fund my conservation photography projects for 2022, focusing on the following stories. (Stories and projects are dependent on government COVID-19 protocols and regional health status and may change without notice)
Turtle nest protection and conservation in La Union, Philippines (with Project CURMA)
Follow the story of a volunteer ranger and his pack of two dogs as they comb the beaches of La Union looking for Turtle nests for proper protection and relocation. Similar focus will be on Project Curma, an organization dedicated to Pawikan (Sea Turtle) conservation.
Philippine Eagle Conservation in Bukidnon (with the Philippine Eagle Foundation)
Cove the efforts of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in the conservation and captive breeding of Philippine Eagles. Adjacent to the story will be to cover the indigenous forest rangers as they patrol the range of these majestic raptors.
Marine Park management during the Pandemic in the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (with Tubbataha Management Office)
Capture the stories of the Marine Park Rangers who have been maintaining and protecting Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, during the pandemic. Two years of strict government lockdown has left the Marine Protected Area (MPA) with no tourists—and no funding.
DONATION
On top of funding my projects, a percentage of the sales will be donated to Save Philippine Seas, a non-profit, non-government organization focused on environmental education, waste management and stability, shark conservation, and technology and innovation.
Donations will be based on sales volume milestones:
5ETH total sales: 5% will be donated ($#### approx)
10ETH total sales: 10% will be donated ($#### approx)