EISF High Definition Media Projects

"Guardians of the Gulf" High Definition Documentary

Agricultural runoff. Global warming. Phosphate mine and lake overflow. Refuse from cruise ships. Over-fishing. Inadequate septic systems. Toxins. Industrial waste ...

From urbanization to fertilization: everyone has their own theory of what causes Florida’s red tide – called a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) by the scientists who are investigating it.

But what really is causing the unique HABs along Florida’s Gulf Coast? Are there ways to predict or even prevent red tide? And what are researchers, citizens, and businesses doing to circumvent this crisis in the seas?

The Essential Image Source Foundation (EISF) explores this natural yet noxious phenomenon with Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) in a High Definition (HD) documentary.


This unprecedented partnership examines the impact of HABs on human health, industry and the environment. Do the irritating effects of the red tide microorganism – Karenia brevis – have long-lasting health risks? Is the presence of Karenia brevis in the estuaries impacting spawning in Florida’s vital fisheries? How can we mitigate the red tide’s negative effects on industry – such as recreational and commercial fishing, retail, outdoor and recreational sports, hospitality and tourism?

In addition, EISF and START delve in to what is being done by scores of scientists each day to understand what causes these seemingly unpredictable blooms. What research and technology is being used to forecast and alleviate this complicated HAB? What is still needed? And what surprising positive benefits and discoveries have been associated with the red tide, as well?



EISF and START are joined by Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and the NOAA Coastal Center for Fisheries and Habitat Research in collaboration on this vital presentation which enlightens, informs, and motivates viewers to seek solutions to the dilemma of Florida’s annual red tide occurrence.

The documentary takes advantage of immersive HD technology which features superior image resolution, even in turbid and low-light settings – making it ideal for the marine environment. Utilizing stunning HD aerials and satellite imagery to microscopic close-ups,  the film will give the viewer an intimate look at Karenia Brevis: from its minute features to the massive consequences it creates on Florida’s coastal communities; while exploring the positive and innovative approaches used to protect the legacy of clean, blue waters along Florida’s Gulf Coast today.

 

For more information, see "Red Tide High Definition Documentary Production Launched" under EISF.org News.


Also be sure to check out the Behind the Scenes - Blogs "Guardians of the Gulf - 2008 USF/CMS Production Dispatches" & "Red Tide HD Documentary Production Dispatches"

Jewels of the Pacific: The Channel Islands

The Essential Image Source Foundation presents an unprecedented and unmatched production, with exclusive museum and theater screenings, of the extraordinary riches of the Channel Islands with "Jewels of the Pacific: The Channel Islands", a high definition docu-feature film. "Jewels of the Pacific: The Channel Islands" will employ compelling images, moving narration and memorable musical scoring to inspire, inform and influence viewers throughout the world. State-of-the-art technology and the most advanced means of exploration will enable the public to experience the most intimate adventure on the most exciting virtual journey yet produced about these national treasures. In addition to producing the docu-feature, the Foundation is simultaneously collecting and cataloging an extensive library of underwater, terrestrial and aerial high definition images, plus interviews and documentation for further education, research, scientific and outreach applications.

A Painted Journey of the Channel Islands

Highly acclaimed plein-air painter David Gallup and The Essential Image Source Foundation have united in a “collaboration of conservation” to produce an unprecedented, multi-media museum exhibition. One of our nation’s most treasured natural resources—the Channel Islands—are their artistic muse.

More than 50 of Gallup’s Channel Islands paintings will be featured, complemented by high definition video plasmas of similarly stunning imagery. A high definition large-screen documentary, complete with an original musical score, about Gallup’s artistic quest to the islands and an accompanying catalog and book will further culminate in one of the most immersive, emotionally moving journeys museum patrons and visitors will ever experience.



Capturing the Channel Islands’ most beautiful and mystical moments in luminous color and dynamic brushwork, Gallup, in partnership with the Foundation and its breathtaking high definition cinematography, will create a sensory experience to transcend canvas and screen. A dreamscape of awe and inspiration awaits viewers, who will discover both the grandeur and vulnerability of these islands.

 

Part of a national park, as well as a national marine sanctuary, the Channel Islands are known worldwide as the “Galapagos of North America” .The islands are home to over 2,000 species-many threatened and endangered-found nowhere else on earth. Marine life there ranges from the microscopic plankton to the majestic blue whale, the largest animal in the world. An over 13,000 year history of visitors also makes it the sacred place of over 200 shipwrecks including those dating back from those of Spanish explorers in 1542, Chumash Indian archaeological sites and countless other cultural artifacts. Each island provides a unique palette of exquisite colors and tremendously diverse subjects upon which imagination and artistic vision find limitless possibilities.

The seasonal splendor of the five islands will be featured, revealing the mesmerizing character of each. Highlights will include San Miguel’s shipwrecks, the spectacular Caliche Forest, and the captivating Point Bennett (the “Woodstock of pinnipeds”); Santa Rosa, the discovery site of North America’s most ancient human remains and fossils of prehistoric mammoths; the rugged beauty of Santa Cruz’s sea caves, waterfalls, snug anchorages and world renowned dive sites; Anacapa with its lighthouse amongst brilliant golden blooms of coreopsis and the shimmering lights that dance beneath the sea; and Santa Barbara Island, a windswept paradise with its myriad of breeding birds and sea lions in the bay below.

Join us in this unparalleled journey, a harmonious painting of canvas, footage, place and words. A painted journey of discovery of this treasured natural resource.

*David C. Gallup Copyright 2007 for the collection:
"Nature's Masterpieces: The Pacific Channel Islands"

Lionfish Invasive Species Education & Outreach

 

Imagine a predator on the loose. A bold creature; a voracious eater. With a mantle of venomous spines, prey to no-one else. Imagine a lion on the loose: a Lion of the Deep.

LIONS OF THE DEEP

‘Lionfish’. ‘Scorpion Volitans’. ‘Firefish’.

Even its name reveals the fiery character of the Indo-Pacific red lionfish, scientifically know as Pterois volitans/miles. With bold maroon and white zebra stripes, and a plume of feathery spines, the lionfish is a stunning specimen. Elegant. Graceful. Deadly to its prey.

The red lionfish’s profuse dorsal, anal and pelvic spines deliver a venomous sting that is fatal to potential predators; painful and dangerous to humans.

Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, red lionfish have been introduced to the Atlantic Ocean within the past several years, and gained a foothold in the coral and rocky reefs along the Gulf Stream.



Without any natural predators in these waters, the lionfish are thriving – putting indigenous marine species at risk, as well as recreational and commercial divers and anglers who come in contact with the fish.

The Essential Image Source Foundation (EISF) joins forces with NOAA/NOS Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR) to explore the invasive red lionfish – its expanding grip on the Coastal Atlantic, behavior, and impact.

With funding provided by NOAA’s Sea Grant and the Aquatic Invasive Species Program, EISF has gathered high definition footage for documentary and cutting-edge web-based usage, plus informational products targeted at medical responders; aquarium hobbyists and industry; and public outreach to warn SCUBA divers and anglers of the dangers of Indo-Pacific red lionfish.

EISF Founder and President Susan Sember is joined in this endeavor by Scientific Advisor Dr. Ford “Bud” Cross, and Paula E. Whitfield, Research Biologist at the NOAA Laboratory on Pivers Island, as Co-Principal Investigators. The production and creation of numerous high definition educational and outreach products will be ongoing through 2007 and 2008.

Go to our "Behind the Scenes" Blogs for reportage on the Lions of the Deep and mission logs of the R/V Nancy Foster lionfish film production.

Photography by Doug Kesling

Lionfish Outreach for Divers and Anglers

Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, red lionfish are often kept in both public and private aquariums. Since 2000, however, the red lionfish has been observed in coral and rocky reefs along the southeast coast of the U.S., from Florida to North Carolina and including the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cuba. There is concern among fishery scientists that the red lionfish, having no natural enemies, may adversely impact natural fish populations. In addition, this fish has venomous spines that pose a danger to divers and anglers.

In 2006, NOAA’s Invasive Species Program and Sea Grant Program provided funding to the Essential Image Source Foundation and the NOAA/NOS Coastal Center for Fisheries and Habitat Research to develop an outreach and education project to inform the primary users of coastal waters of the presence of the red lionfish, the risks involved with handling them, and to encourage the reporting of sightings and captures.

Although lionfish are being observed regularly along the southeast coast of the U.S., there is increasing concern that its geographic range will continue to expand throughout the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys.

The links below contain down-loadable flyers (in color) that contain information on how to identify red lionfish and report sightings. One flyer has been developed for divers and the other for anglers. Please use and distribute these flyers liberally, and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same.

 

Numerous organizations have also posted these flyers on their web sites, as well. As such, we invite you to do the same encouraging your professional association, club, or any other diving or fishing group to post these flyers on their web sites, joining our outreach campaign. It is through this kind of active participation, that we can inform the public of this unwanted invasive species and encourage appropriate action.

Please continue to visit our web site for future outreach products and videos and register at our web site to receive further updates.

Treatment of Lionfish Stings

Stings from lionfish can be serious, and should not be taken lightly. Any broken spines should be removed, if possible, and the affected area soaked in non-scalding hot water (100-110 degrees F. or 38-43 degrees C.) for 15-20 minutes. Lionfish venom contains proteins that are denatured by heat, thus, preventing them from spreading in the bloodstream.

If hot water is not available, aspirin, or aspirin with codeine can be taken. (Do not use hot water and aspirin together.) Because possible adverse reactions or secondary infections can occur from lionfish stings, a medical professional should be seen as soon as possible.

Due to the presence of lionfish in deeper offshore waters, envenomations may occur far from land during diving or fishing operations. These situations present a special circumstance that require some advance planning, because medical attention cannot, necessarily, be obtained immediately. Therefore, the presence of a hot pack on board is helpful and can then be utilized if hot water is not readily available. In addition, it is recommended that you call the Aquatic Toxins Hotline at the Florida Poison Information Center in Miami, where medical experts will advise you about the treatment, including in Spanish. This Hotline is available 24/7, and the number is 888-232-8635.

(This medical advice was approved by the Florida Poison Information Center – Miami)

Navigating an Uncharted Course

Dr. Nancy Foster was a pioneer and visionary in science-based conservation of aquatic life. Former Vice President Al Gore cited her work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as having “a quality and strength unequaled in its history” and further described Dr. Foster as one who had “pioneered an impressive national strategy for environmental management and served as an outstanding role model for women scientists across America.” It is her work, service and life that has served to inspire and influence many women marine scientists and oceanographers, amongst others. However, historically, the experience of women and their study of the ocean has been very different from that of men. “Navigating an Uncharted Course” celebrates the life, achievements and success of Dr. Nancy Foster as well as the contributions and challenges of the many women, featured in this high definition documentary, who are participating in significant endeavors related to our oceans.

Preservation & Progress: The Ava Gardner Museum High Definition Partnership

The “Preservation & Progress: The Ava Gardner Museum High Definition Partnership” project will propel one of North Carolina most unique museums into becoming a significant and “cutting-edge” east coast educational, cultural and historical resource for visitors, tourists, educators, authors, film makers, historians, and others.



The Essential Image Source Foundation and the Ava Gardner Museum have joined together to preserve the museum’s vast collections, utilizing high definition and electronic asset management technology, and to produce additional high definition cultural and educational interactive products, as well as producing new high definition videos for its theater.

Numerous regional community partners, such as the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, have also joined in their support, recognizing the cultural, tourism, educational and economic benefits to the surrounding regional communities.



The “Preservation & Progress” project will further fulfill the recommendations made by David Goist, Conservator, who evaluated the museum in 2001, thereby attaining the much needed preservation and conservation of the museum’s film and video footage, audio recordings and print media.

The museum’s vast collections of Ava Gardner’s footage, photographs, publications, posters, costumes and more, along with its wide-encompassing sources pertaining to filmmaking under the 1940’s Hollywood studio system, has made this a destination for researchers and tourists, alike. In the past twelve months, as an example, the museum has worked with six major publications and five book authors doing research. Yet, many other research requests and offers, unfortunately, had to be turned down due to a lack of cataloging, inventory, archiving and search capabilities of their collections. Collections stored in boxes and aging, deteriorating media has limited access, not only to the public and researchers, but also threatens the collections’ continued existence and conservation.

Ava Gardner, one of North Carolina’s own from the tobacco country of Johnston County, and the museum’s collections are an invaluable part of North Carolina and Hollywood history. “Ava Gardner was passionate about the arts and her affection for her North Carolina heritage is well-known,” said Angela Lawson, Executive Director of the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina, Johnston County.

The current, permanent home for the museum opened in October 2000, in a renovated building in downtown Smithfield and its collections are beautifully presented in a manner as fascinating as Ms. Gardner, herself. Ava Gardner’s film career spanned 44 years and more than 60 movies. Remaining loyal to her North Carolina roots, Ms. Gardner visited her native home continuously throughout the years, however.

Born on Christmas Eve, 1922, in Brogden, a rural community seven miles east of Smithfield, Ava was the youngest of seven children. Discovered through the suggestion of a Lowes/MGM employee who recommended that her photographs be sent to MGM, Ms. Gardner was asked to do a screen test that led to a studio contract with the movie studio in 1941 at the young age of 19.

Ms. Gardner was subsequently married to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra. At age 33, Ms. Gardner moved to Spain where she remained for 10 years before moving to London, England, which was her home for 23 years prior to her death. Ms. Gardner, nevertheless, returned to the U.S. often to continue her film career and to visit her family and friends in Smithfield, North Carolina. Ms. Gardner died of pneumonia on January 25, 1990 and is buried, along side her parents and siblings at Sunset Memorial Park, in Smithfield.



The films, “Whistle Stop”, “Showboat”, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”, “Mogambo”, “The Barefoot Contessa”, “The Sun Also Rises”, “On the Beach” and “Night of the Iguana” (Golden Globe nomination for best actress) are only a few of Ms. Gardner’s fans’ favorites.

The Ava Gardner Museum, through its partnership with The Essential Image Source Foundation, will, through this sophisticated yet user friendly EISF high definition and electronic technology, be able to more readily rotate its collections, create and update exhibitions and programming, feature additional educational interactive plasma displays and host a variety of high definition screenings in-house, as well as throughout its regional partnerships, statewide throughout North Carolina, nationally and internationally.

Internships, local employment opportunities, and an Ava Gardner High Definition grant program for women in the regional and underserved communities will be integrated into the project, as well. Several universities and film schools will participate in related education, training and support. Significant film industry and regional community sponsors have been recruited for this project, in addition.

For updates on this progress of this project, continue to visit our web site and visit the Ava Gardner Museum’s web site at www.avagardner.org.

The Legacy of the California Vaquero

The origins of the California vaquero date back to the 1770’s. Yet, those roots continue today in the dedicated pursuit of this unique style’s working cowboys. The culture grew from a time when the cowboy lived his life mainly from the back of a horse while caring for thousands of cattle and the rugged terrain necessitated lightning quick responses from both the man and the horse, meaning the difference of life and death. Every maneuver was designed to do a job and the well trained horses responded to the most imperceptible cues. The horses were trained from the hackamore through two rein and finally into the spade bit producing a perfectly balanced “straight up in the bridle” partner.

^{"Riata Man" by artist Joelle Smith*}

The extreme realities associated with the land and the livestock, however, were also refined into a graceful and engaging art. Roping with the greatest of beauty and skill, the vaquero coupled this expertise with a riding style that complimented the natural movements of the horse and his gear was a mirror of his pride and talents. As a result, the vaquero, past and present, has captured the attention of preeminent western artists over the last several hundreds of years.

Generational secrets of “natural horsemanship”, long before that phrase became part of contemporary equine culture, were passed onto those of the present- the masters and artisans- that continue these timeless traditions today.

“The Legacy of the California Vaquero” began production of its stunning and immersive high definition feature length documentary in October 2007 with further production shoots occurring in 2008.

EISF is honored to preserve the legacy of these living legends, the working cowboys and vaqueros of today, along with those who blazed the trails in the past of these rich Californian traditions.

^{*Photo of painting (copyright protected) generously provided by Sally Smith, mother of Joelle.}

^{Please see www.JoelleSmith.com for more information about Joelle and her art.}

Collaboration with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

More information coming soon!

The Essential Image Source Foundation, in conjunction with its high definition production of the docu-feature film "Jewels of the Pacific: The Channel Islands" announces a further collaboration with Deep Flight Submersibles and The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum In the search and exploration of the lost shipwrecks of the Channel Islands with the Deep Flight Aviator.

Journey of Promise

Every twenty minutes a person is maimed, injured or killed from a land mine. Every day champions, however, along with the more visible heads of state, celebrities and international advocates, are working to rid the world of the devastating impact and human, economic and environmental damage resulting from land mines, while also raising global awareness of the need for education. It is their personal stories, the faces behind this significant campaign of compassion, that prompt, provoke and call to action our international viewers to join in this "Journey of Promise."