Sunday afternoon in November in Bermuda at Eastern Blue Cut on the northern edge of the Bermuda platform where the water is still around 70 feet or less deep some five miles north of Dockyard in Somerset. The water is mirror-calm, warm enough to swim in without a wet suit and the top of the beacon provides a bird’s eye view of the surrounding coral reefs in crystal clear waters.
A mother and her calf take refuge in shallow water but then the calf makes a turn into a cull de sac of coral heads and the two whales must exit in shallow water over the coral
Every once in a while I have a close encounter with humpbacks. These encounters are always on the whales’ terms. They come to the boat, the engine is off, and I am completely passive. Over time they can become increasingly curious. This encounter was the better part of three hours and by the end they were literally sticking their noses in my face. The camera shake is because I was so cold! Most of my footage is taken with a heavy Gates housing and the rig weighs around 60 pounds which is like having a tripod. This lightweight Sony camera isn’t so stable in the hands of a shivering cameraman. On the other hand, I might not have been able to swim for three hours with a heavy Gates in my hands. – Andrew Stevenson
The story of how The Turtle who ate a Balloon, is rescued by a baby humpback whale, and helped by Spike the Barracuda, Darth Vader the Grouper and the aquarists at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. Even Mr BUTT the Bermuda Underwater Terrifying Troll gets involved when he calls for a Big Thing under his bridge at Flatts to discuss the problem. There’s excitement as the turtle is blown out to sea from the Aquarium after a hurricane. Disaster strikes again when the turtle is tangled in discarded fishing line. Only Umbriago El Dragon from Castle Island can rescue the turtle!
A cautionary tale about the dangers posed to marine creatures, this children’s book based in Bermuda has an accompanying audio book read aloud by the author and the illustrator.
The Turtle Who Ate a Balloon – Hardcover @Amazon January 1, 2007
Interview with author Andrew Stevenson & artist Peter Woolcock
Video by Cup Match Productions – cupmatch.com
An unidentified giant whale swallows a camerman while another cameraman watches helplessly!!!
In 2010 the documentary film Where the Whales Sing by Andrew Stevenson premiered at the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) and since then it has screened at numerous film festivals and won several awards.
Steve has granted BermudaStream an exclusive interview and a fascinating look into his world of musical composition.
A female humpback is curious and keeps coming back to take a look at Andrew Stevenson but her escort is jealous and keeps cutting between the two of them. The male humpback can then be seen turning within the length of his body. He even does a bubble stream to curtain the female off. Half way through this display Andrew is back-peddling as fast as he can …
Andrew Stevenson is the producer of the remarkable film/documentary “Where the Whales Sing”; winner of the 2011 Charman Prize and ‘Best Emerging Underwater Filmmaker’ at the Blue Ocean Film Festival.
In loving memory of Pat Steinoff.
Music by Annabel Carter 
“Relax and Meditate – Session 1”
In 2010 the documentary film Where the Whales Sing, by Andrew Stevenson premiered at the Bermuda International Film Festival. The film is a result of three years of Andrew’s researching, photographing, filming and cataloging of the humpback whales that migrate past Bermuda each spring. Bermuda’s unique mid-ocean platform provides a natural port of call for the humpbacks during their seasonal migratory voyage to the cold northern feeding grounds. For viewers it is a visually stunning journey of discovery into the life of these majestic marine mammals and a call in the plight for protection against man’s ever increasing and often devastating impact on the oceans and its inhabitants. The film is accompanied by the voice of wonder and innocence of his 6-year old daughter.
Where the Whales Sing” was an award winner for best emerging underwater filmmaker at BLUE Ocean Film Festival, a high honours winner at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival, was selected as a finalist at the Nations Capital Environmental Film Festival, won an award as the best environmental film at a film festival in Croatia where it also won the audience choice award. It has been translated with Spanish subtitles for the Environmental Film Festival in Dominican Republic. Recently it won the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art 2011 Chairman Prize – A. Stevenson
Slideshow of photographs taken by Andrew in the Spring of 2007 and exhibited at The Elliot Gallery from Feb 19th to March 3rd 2008.
Where the Whales Sing Awards
The musical score for the film was composed by Steve Gallant who has granted BermudaStream an exclusive interview and fascinating look into his world of musical composition – Steve Gallant Interview
“Where the Whales Sing” one hour documentary on the humpbacks.
Three years ago Bermuda-based Producer/Director Andrew Stevenson embarked on what seemed like an interesting and challenging project to film the North Atlantic humpback whales underwater in the middle of their mid-ocean migratory crossings.
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Email:spout@logic.bmOffice: Phone: 77SPOUT (777-7688) |
