Capturing the fragile beauty of our planet: exploring vulnerable places with impact photographer Christian Clauwers.

Welcome to my highlights of episode 21 of the Mizter Rad Show, where I explore the world's most vulnerable places through the lens of an impact photographer, Christian Clauwers.

I met Christian in Svalbard, close to the North Pole, in June this year. We were both depositing “digital assets” in the Arctic World Archive for eternity. More on that in episode 16.

Christian Clauwers - the impact photographer and explorer

In this episode, Christian tells me about his incredible experiences and his thoughts about what he sees in the most untouched territories of our planet.

One of the key highlights Christian discusses is his experience inside the Global Seed Vault – a facility 130 meters above sea level, inside the permafrost of a mountain in the high Arctic built in 2008, that safeguards seeds. There are less than 5 people with keys to the vault, and Christian is one of the few humans that were able to enter it so far.

Later in the conversation, he starts talking about tribal cultures in Melanesia.

Have you ever heard about Melanesia? Do you even know where it is?

Well, I never did. And until then, I was not sure where Melanesia was.

Apparently, in Melanesia, there are isolated communities that have remained untouched by the industrial revolution and Christianity. When he met some of these tribes Christian had to use nonverbal communication. He offered them some “modern world” tools to then capture their stories and culture through his lens.

He also talked about the impact of rising sea levels on low-lying islands such as Tuvalu (Polynesia), Kiribati (Micronesia), Solomon Islands, and Nauru (Micronesia). These communities, historically connected to the ocean, now face the threat of their homelands disappearing. Christian sheds light on the consequences of climate change, including the destruction of coral reefs and declining coastal fish populations.

Antarctica

I have never met someone who had been in Antarctica. I mean, the real remote Antarctica. Not the one you can get to by cruise from Argentina, or Chile.

The reason I wanted to have Christian on is that he has been in scientific expeditions to the most inaccessible places on earth, including untouched territories in Antarctica.

We delved into the critical issue of the melting ice caps in Antarctica, and talked about how, as the driest, coldest, and highest continent, Antarctica plays a vital role in regulating our climate.

Using photography to bridge the gap between science and policy

Throughout the episode, Christian emphasizes the crucial role of photography in bridging the gap between science and policy. By capturing the visual stories of vulnerable places and species, he aims to raise awareness and inspire change. Christian's passion for showcasing these stories has led to worldwide exhibitions and lectures, where he shares the narrative behind each image.

Join me on this thought-provoking episode as we explore the world's most vulnerable places through the lens of an impact photographer, Christian Clauwers.

Stay curious, my friends!

Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform:

Spotify,?Apple,?Amazon, Google, or?here?if you want to access the transcripts.