Dive into an ocean photographer's world | Thomas Peschak

譯者: Regina Chu 審譯者: Marssi Draw

As a kid, I used to dream about the ocean.

小時候我常常幻想大海的樣子。

It was this wild place full of color and life,

想像中那是充滿 各種顏色及生物的狂野之處，

home to these alien-looking, fantastical creatures.

許多奇妙異形生物的家。

I pictured big sharks ruling the food chain

我想像鯊魚統治著海底的食物鏈，

and saw graceful sea turtles dancing across coral reefs.

還有海龜在珊瑚礁間優雅地跳舞。

As a marine biologist turned photographer,

我從海洋生物學家變成攝影師，

I've spent most of my career looking for places

職業生涯大部分時間

都在尋找小時候夢想的魔幻之處。

as magical as those I used to dream about when I was little.

As you can see,

你可以看到

I began exploring bodies of water at a fairly young age.

我很小的時候 就開始探索各式水體。

But the first time I truly went underwater,

但是我第一次真的潛到水下

I was about 10 years old.

是在 10 歲時。

And I can still vividly remember furiously finning

我還記憶猶新， 當時用力的踢水下潛，

to reach this old, encrusted cannon on a shallow coral reef.

去觸碰在淺珊瑚礁裡 陳舊且生鏽的大砲。

And when I finally managed to grab hold of it,

當我終於能抓住它時，

I looked up, and I was instantly surrounded by fish

我向上看，發現自己立刻

被五顏六色 像彩虹一樣的魚群包圍。

in all colors of the rainbow.

That was the day I fell in love with the ocean.

那天，我愛上了大海。

Thomas Peschak

【湯瑪士·沛思查克】

Conservation Photographer

【保育攝影師】

In my 40 years on this planet,

我在有生之年的 40 年裡，

I've had the great privilege to explore

很榮幸可以探索

some of its most incredible seascapes

一些不可思議的海景，

for National Geographic Magazine

為國家地理雜誌

and the Save Our Seas Foundation.

和救救我們的海洋基金會攝影。

I've photographed everything from really, really big sharks

我拍攝過很多東西， 從很大很大的大鯊魚

to dainty ones that fit in the palm of your hand.

到手掌般的小魚都有。

I've smelled the fishy, fishy breath of humpback whales

我聞過座頭鯨的腥味口氣，

feeding just feet away from me

就在咫尺之前進食，

in the cold seas off Canada's Great Bear Rainforest.

在加拿大大熊雨林沿岸的 冰冷海水裡。

And I've been privy to the mating rituals of green sea turtles

我見過綠蠵龜的求偶儀式，

in the Mozambique Channel.

在莫三比克海峽。

Everyone on this planet affects and is affected by the ocean.

我們和海洋密不可分。

And the pristine seas I used to dream of as a child

我童年時常幻想的原始海洋

are becoming harder and harder to find.

已經愈來愈難找到。

They are becoming more compressed

它們愈來愈小，

and more threatened.

愈來愈受威脅。

As we humans continue to maintain our role

就在人類繼續保持

as the leading predator on earth,

世界上主要捕食者角色的同時，

I've witnessed and photographed many of these ripple effects firsthand.

我早已目睹並拍攝 人類造成的連鎖反應。

For a long time, I thought I had to shock my audience

有很長一段時間，我認為 我一定要震撼我的觀眾，

out of their indifference with disturbing images.

用令人不安的圖像 驅走他們的冷漠。

And while this approach has merits,

雖然這種方法有優點，

I have come full circle.

但我兜了一圈，又回到原點。

I believe that the best way for me to effect change

我相信要造成改變最好的賣點，

is to sell love.

就是「愛」。

I guess I'm a matchmaker of sorts

我想我就像媒人一樣，

and as a photographer,

身為攝影師，

I have the rare opportunity

我有極難得的機會

to reveal animals and entire ecosystems

揭示躲在海平面下的 動物和整個生態系統。

that lie hidden beneath the ocean's surface.

You can't love something and become a champion for it

你不可能為你不愛的事物而戰，

if you don't know it exists.

如果你根本不知道它的存在。

Uncovering this -- that is the power of conservation photography.

揭開它！這就是保育攝影的力量。

(Music)

（音樂）

I've visited hundreds of marine locations,

我去過幾百個海域，

but there are a handful of seascapes

但有少數海景

that have touched me incredibly deeply.

深深地打動我。

The first time I experienced that kind of high

我第一次經歷那種興奮，

was about 10 years ago,

大約是在 10 年前，

off South Africa's rugged, wild coast.

在南非崎嶇原始的海岸外。

And every June and July,

每逢六月和七月，

enormous shoals of sardines travel northwards

數量龐大的沙丁魚群向北游，

in a mass migration we call the Sardine Run.

我們稱這種大規模的遷移 為「沙丁魚大遷徙」。

And boy, do those fish have good reason to run.

噢！難怪那些魚會逃跑，

In hot pursuit are hoards of hungry and agile predators.

因為又餓又快的掠食者 在後面緊追不捨！

Common dolphins hunt together

海豚聯手打獵，

and they can separate some of the sardines from the main shoal

牠們從主魚群中趕出一些沙丁魚，

and they create bait balls.

而且還形成餌球。

They drive and trap the fish upward against the ocean surface

牠們朝海面驅趕並困住沙丁魚，

and then they rush in to dine

然後衝進去飽餐一頓，

on this pulsating and movable feast.

大饗這場律動盛宴。

Close behind are sharks.

緊隨其後的是鯊魚。

Now, most people believe

大多數人認為

that sharks and dolphins are these mortal enemies,

鯊魚和海豚是不共戴天的敵人，

but during the Sardine Run, they actually coexist.

但在沙丁魚遷徙期間， 其實牠們能共存。

In fact, dolphins actually help sharks feed more effectively.

事實上，海豚其實 能幫助鯊魚更有效捕食。

Without dolphins, the bait balls are more dispersed

如果沒有海豚幫助， 餌球會比較不集中，

and sharks often end up with what I call a sardine donut,

鯊魚最終會鑽到 我戲稱為沙丁魚甜甜圈，

or a mouth full of water.

或吞下一大口的水。

Now, while I've had a few spicy moments with sharks on the sardine run,

儘管我在沙丁魚大遷徙期間 與鯊魚有些火爆場面，

I know they don't see me as prey.

我知道牠們沒有視我為獵物。

However, I get bumped and tail-slapped just like any other guest

然而，我還是被撞、被尾巴掃過，

就像這場喧鬧宴會上的 其他客人一樣。

at this rowdy, rowdy banquet.

From the shores of Africa we travel east,

我們從非洲沿岸往東走，

across the vastness that is the Indian Ocean

橫過無邊無際的印度洋，

to the Maldives, an archipelago of coral islands.

到達馬爾地夫 這片由珊瑚礁形成的群島。

And during the stormy southwest monsoon,

在多風暴的西南季風期，

manta rays from all across the archipelago

從所有群島來的蝠魟

travel to a tiny speck in Baa Atoll called Hanifaru.

會游到芭環礁一個 小小的地方叫哈尼法魯。

Armies of crustaceans,

甲殼動物大軍，

most no bigger than the size of your pupils,

大多數都比你的瞳孔還小，

are the mainstay of the manta ray's diet.

是蝠魟的主要食物。

When plankton concentrations become patchy,

浮游生物集中成一片片的時候，

manta rays feed alone

蝠魟會獨自進食，

and they somersault themselves backwards again and again,

而且會向後一直翻筋斗，

very much like a puppy chasing its own tail.

就像小狗追著自己的尾巴一樣。

(Music)

（音樂）

However, when plankton densities increase,

然而，浮游生物的密度增加時，

the mantas line up head-to-tail to form these long feeding chains,

蝠魟就頭尾相接 形成這條長長的進食鏈，

and any tasty morsel that escapes the first or second manta in line

美味的小點心就算逃得了 第一或第二條蝠魟，

is surely to be gobbled up by the next or the one after.

也絕對逃不了 下一條或之後幾尾的口。

As plankton levels peak in the bay,

隨著海灣內 浮游生物的濃度達到高峰，

the mantas swim closer and closer together

蝠魟會愈游愈近，

in a unique behavior we call cyclone feeding.

這種獨特的行為 我們稱為旋風式進食。

And as they swirl in tight formation,

當牠們以密集編隊的方式旋轉，

this multi-step column of mantas

這個由蝠魟形成的多層圓柱體

creates its own vortex, sucking in and delivering the plankton

會產生漩渦， 把浮游生物吸進去，

right into the mantas' cavernous mouths.

並一氣送入蝠魟的血盆大口。

The experience of diving amongst such masses of hundreds of rays

與數百條魟大軍一同潛水的經驗

is truly unforgettable.

真是令人難忘。

(Music)

（音樂）

When I first photographed Hanifaru,

我第一次在哈尼法魯攝影時，

the site enjoyed no protection

那裡還享有非保護區的自由，

and was threatened by development.

並受到開發的威脅。

And working with NGOs like the Manta Trust,

與魟魚基金會等民間團體合作，

my images eventually helped Hanifaru

我的影片最終幫助了哈尼法魯

become a marine-protected area.

變成一個海洋保護區。

Now, fisherman from neighboring islands,

附近島嶼的漁民

they once hunted these manta rays

過去捕捉這些蝠魟，

to make traditional drums from their skins.

剝皮來做傳統的鼓。

Today, they are the most ardent conservation champions

今天，他們是最熱心的保育鬥士，

and manta rays earn the Maldivian economy

蝠魟替馬爾地夫的經濟

in excess of 8 million dollars every single year.

每年賺超過八百萬元。

I have always wanted to travel back in time

我總是想穿越時空回到過去，

to an era where maps were mostly blank

到地圖上大部分還是空白

or they read, "There be dragons."

或是標示：「這裡有龍！」的時代。

And today, the closest I've come is visiting remote atolls

今天，我去過最能代表 那個時代的地方，

in the western Indian Ocean.

就是西印度洋的偏遠環礁。

Far, far away from shipping lanes and fishing fleets,

潛進離公定航道及捕魚船 很遠很遠的水域

diving into these waters is a poignant reminder

深切地提醒著我們

of what our oceans once looked like.

海洋曾經是什麼樣子。

Very few people have heard of Bassas da India,

很少人聽過印度礁這個地方，

a tiny speck of coral in the Mozambique Channel.

這是個小小的珊瑚環礁， 位於莫三比克海峽。

Its reef forms a protective outer barrier

它的珊瑚礁形成一圈外部保護屏障，

and the inner lagoon is a nursery ground

內圈的潟湖則成為

加拉巴哥鯊魚的孕育之地。

for Galapagos sharks.

These sharks are anything but shy, even during the day.

這種鯊魚一點都不害羞， 即使是大白天。

I had a bit of a hunch that they'd be even bolder

直覺告訴我牠們夜裡會更大膽、

and more abundant at night.

數量更多。

(Music)

（音樂）

Never before have I encountered

以前我從來沒有

so many sharks on a single coral outcrop.

在單一珊瑚礁露頭裡 遇過這麼多鯊魚。

Capturing and sharing moments like this --

捕捉並分享像這樣的時刻

that reminds me why I chose my path.

提醒我為什麼自己選擇了這條路。

Earlier this year, I was on assignment for National Geographic Magazine

今年早些時候，我在為 國家地理雜誌出任務，

in Baja California.

到墨西哥的下加利福尼亞州。

And about halfway down the peninsula on the Pacific side

大概在那座半島中間的地方， 太平洋這一邊，

lies San Ignacio Lagoon,

有個聖伊格納西奧瀉湖，

a critical calving ground for gray whales.

是重要的灰鯨產犢區。

For 100 years, this coast was the scene of a wholesale slaughter,

一百年來，這片海岸 是大規模屠宰現場，

where more than 20,000 gray whales were killed,

超過二萬隻灰鯨被殺，

leaving only a few hundred survivors.

只剩下幾百隻倖存。

Today the descendents of these same whales

今天這些倖存灰鯨的後裔

nudge their youngsters to the surface

推著牠們的小孩到海面

to play and even interact with us.

與我們玩耍，甚至互動。

(Music)

（音樂）

This species truly has made a remarkable comeback.

這物種真的明顯又興盛起來！

Now, on the other side of the peninsula lies Cabo Pulmo,

半島的另一邊是普爾莫角，

a sleepy fishing village.

一座慵懶的漁村。

Decades of overfishing had brought them close to collapse.

數十年濫捕讓他們幾乎瓦解。

In 1995, local fisherman convinced the authorities

1995 年，當地漁民說服當局

to proclaim their waters a marine reserve.

宣布這片水域為海洋保護區。

But what happened next was nothing short of miraculous.

但是緊接著發生的事 簡直就是奇蹟。

In 2005, after only a single decade of protection,

2005 年，僅僅在十年的保護之下，

scientists measured the largest recovery of fish ever recorded.

科學家測出有史以來 最大的魚群復育。

But don't take my word for it -- come with me.

但是不要只聽我說， 跟我一起來。

On a single breath, swim with me in deep,

吸一口氣，跟我一起游入深處，

into one of the largest and densest schools of fish

到我所見過

I have ever encountered.

最大、最密集的魚群中。

(Music)

（音樂）

We all have the ability to be creators of hope.

我們都是有能力成為創造希望的人。

And through my photography,

透過我的攝影，

I want to pass on the message that it is not too late for our oceans.

我想傳達一個訊息， 就是現在救海洋還不遲！

And particularly, I want to focus on nature's resilience

我特別要聚焦在大自然的恢復力，

in the face of 7.3 billion people.

儘管我們有 73 億人口。

My hope is that in the future,

我的希望是在未來，

I will have to search much, much harder

我得要非常努力搜尋，

to make photographs like this,

才能拍攝到像這樣的影片，

while creating images that showcase

並創造影像，向大家展示

our respectful coexistence with the ocean.

我們以尊重的心與海洋共存。

Those will hopefully become an everyday occurrence for me.

希望這些能成為 我每天都看得到的事。

To thrive and survive in my profession,

在我這行要成功及生存，

you really have to be a hopeless optimist.

你真的得無藥可救的樂觀。

And I always operate on the assumption

我總是假設

that the next great picture that will effect change

下一張會帶來改變的偉大圖片，

is right around the corner,

就在不遠的轉角處，

behind the next coral head,

就在下一個珊瑚丘背後，

inside the next lagoon

就在下一個潟湖裡，

or possibly, in the one after it.

或者也許，就在這之後。

(Music)

（音樂）