Posts Tagged ‘Desert’
Drawing a Line in the Sand……
From Suitcase Media & Productions uploading from the Sahara desert, our final GoPro video of the Marathon des Sables 2012, Stage 6:
I would just like to say a big thank you to the rest of the SMP team – editors Rob Antill, Maite Luque and photographer Romaine Sepulchre, for their collective inspiration, creativity and passion.
‘Only’ One + A Half Marathons to go…!
As the road book for the penultimate Stage 5 becomes available and competitors contemplate running some more, several reflect on the longest (and arguably the hardest) stage so far…
Stage 4 recapped in GoPro HD:
MdS Runners & Home Viewers: A Pole Apart
Face time with the competitors of the Marathon des Sables 2012.
It’s hot in hell, but it’s a dry heat.
There is nothing like a trip to the desert to remind you of the precious commodity that is: water.
What we all wouldn’t do for a shower!
From camels to ruins; blisters to smiles, this video aimed to captured what is, after all a human experience.
Watch out for the dung beetle!
‘Marathon des Sables:’ Desert Run, Day 1!
The ‘Marathon des Sables 2012′ starts this morning with 1013 competitors from 46 different countries around the world; from Chile and Mexico to New Zealand, to the Ukraine, Jordan and Japan!
“Today’s course featured a series of low dunettes, two jebels*, and several black-rock regs. Though the distance was a bearable one, the terrain made for the greatest challenge. After several days of mild desert weather, the heat and aridity are now back. Thermometers on course reportedly hit 40 degrees C (104F) and the race administration reported that between five and ten runners had dropped out of the race.” – Meghan Hicks, runner
*A jebel is a fairly flexible word that can mean either hill or mountain.The plural is actually jibal, although they’re known as jebels to most western Europeans. (Definition from Saudi Aramco World)
The film/s du jour were shot in GoPro splenti-colour, as a Suitcase Media Production.
E voilà:
GoPro Sahara!
Experience the Marathon des Sables 2012 in film!
The UK to Moroccan bivouac #1 in trippy timelapse…
And beamed via satellite from the Sahara, the check-in day where competitors enjoy their last big “feed” while kit is weighed and inspected by the race organizers.
Check back tonight for the next installment!
Large Format Wall Prints
Well, I have finally put together a gallery of images that would look good on your living room, bedroom or office wall… All the prints are available at any size and normally will arrive unframed so you can custom buy to suite your home. The two galleries I have begun with are a general and one specifically of Paris. Email me to get a price.
Go here to view - http://www.junglemoon.co.uk/parisprints/
And here – http://www.junglemoon.co.uk/printgallery/
Select and send me the form email with any questions or orders….
MDS 2011
Just back and here are a few images from the portfolio….. The portfolios can be found on my Facebook and Flickr page and will be on junglemoon soon….
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- Learn to look at the world from a different perspective. Take and EyeforLife course.
James Cracknell’s Marathon des Sables
James Cracknell – Superhuman?
I first met James at the bivouac on the Marathon des Sables, also known as the MdS. One of my commissions was to supply images for Discovery TV as they were filming James during this years race for a scientific programme analysing how the body reacts under such pressure in the desert heat. I was keen to examine his performance.
Is he superhuman or just a normal human being who is able to achieve the extraordinary? Like athletes Daley Thomson or Jesse Owen, or Richard Branson and Steve Jobs of the business world; these are individuals who found or find it hard to achieve anything less than perfection in their chosen fields.
The Marathon des Sables is a 250km run over some of the harshest terrain the Moroccan Sahara can throw up. It is a stage race where competitors run increasing distances each day until stage 4 which is 82 km long. They have to battle through of sand, mountains, rocks and wadi beds. Stage 5 is an official marathon and finally stage 6 is a mere 20 km but over some of the highest dunes in the world. And that brings them to the end of the race. It is a self sufficient run so James had to carry everything he needed for the 7 days and water was rationed and handed out at checkpoints and at the end of each stage.
The highest ranking Brits prior to this year were the two previous years at 13th. Ian Sharman in 2008 and William Davis in 2009
“I am not a runner and I weigh in at 90kg” James told me. “I will be pleased to finish top 50”. I was a bit sceptical at first as I have run the event and not being a runner and that heavy is incredibly hard going. Most of the top racers weigh in at 65 kilo’s max!
Read the rest of this entry »
Reconciling Kuwait
Reconciling Kuwait.
I have changed names in the text.
I have now completed my 3 weeks that turned into 5 in Kuwait. I find myself on the Qatar Airways flight out to London reflecting on the experience. Freddy asked me last night if I was sad to be leaving. I said no.
But I am not not sad because my time in Kuwait was one I regretted or did not like. Quite the opposite. However, I was so glad to be going home as the power of family is so great in my make up that nothing would be could be better than returning. <–more–>
The sadness I now find myself feeling on the flight is partly induced by the good red wine I had and partly by a good film. But also by the thoughts and memories I have from my time spent in this intriguing country. The people I met and the values they hold. Values not dissimilar to mine but that seem to have eroded in my own society. Values based on family and faith. Read the rest of this entry »
