Dr. Ford “Bud” Cross describes his coming to work with the Channel Islands film project and The Essential Image Source Foundation as an amazing journey of “serendipity.” When Dr. Cross met The Essential Image Source Foundation’s President and Founder, Susan Sember, he had recently retired from his 33 year career with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and was enjoying fishing, participating in field trials with his dog Scout, and spending summers with his wife, Pat, at their cottage in northern Michigan.
During his time with NOAA, Bud was never one to rest, though. He was an employee of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and National Ocean Service, and was associated with the NOAA Fisheries and Habitat Laboratory in Beaufort North Carolina for his entire career. He also spent 10 years as Chief of the Ecological Research Division, 15 years as Laboratory Director, authored or co-authored approximately 50 scientific papers and symposia proceedings and presented invited papers at both national and international scientific meetings. As yet, even in retirement, Bud was and is, as always, open to new opportunities to study ocean habitats.
In 1999, Susan was discussing the newly formed non-profit documentary film foundation with a former client and friend she knew from her previous law practice and that she wished to see her organization make films about the marine environment, particularly those involving marine protected areas and sanctuaries. In turn, this former friend and client referred her to Dr. Bud Cross. As a result, Susan and Bud became fast and steady collaborators. Dr. Cross came on board as an advisor to the foundation in its marine projects and most recently, has taken on the role of Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for The Essential Image Source Foundation.
Since the initial meeting 4 years ago, Dr. Cross has traveled from his home in North Carolina several times to help develop the Channel Islands film project and share his knowledge on the productivity and conservation of marine habitats. He believes that this cutting edge high definition docu-feature and accompanying image library will be used years from now to help track changes in the ocean, coastal habitats and land formation in the Park and Sanctuary.
On a recent trip to Anacapa Island with the Foundation’s film team, Bud was reminded of a Native American saying: “The world is a spider web and humans are just one thread of that web.” As such, Dr. Cross is confident that efforts such as those being championed by The Essential Image Source Foundation along with the “Jewels of the Pacific” film project will increase public awareness to preserve our natural habitats.
Dr. Cross is also excited to be involved in the new high definition (HD) technology. He states, *“It’s just like being underwater with the fish. You can see footage of a shark swimming by and there is so much detail and clarity you can actually see into the shark’s eye. There’s a connection with high definition and the audience that is unmatched in any other educational or outreach format.”*
Dr. Cross considers the “Jewels of the Pacific: The Channel Islands” HD project not only as a means for education and awareness but also “an exciting virtual visit to a remote ecosystem that most people will never get a chance to experience first hand. Even those previously unaware of the islands’ resources, will leave the theater valuing that the Channel Islands exist and feeling a desire to preserve and protect them.”
Thanks to Dr. Bud Cross a new level of experience and expertise is being contributed to the scientific research behind the Channel Islands High Definition film project, its accompanying media library and the many other ocean related projects of the Foundation
Article by Diana Bacon