Modern Ocean Culture Beyond Von Wong Bali-Indonesia
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| Image Source and Courtesy Photographer Ben Von Wong - modern ocean culture takes form in new era patterns. |
The latest work of the photography Ben Von Wong shot
underwater in Bali-Indonesia attracts the attention of international press. The
extreme photographic session required a considered amount of risk taking and lots
of team work, however, it is probably the incipient “modern-ocean-culture”
which acts like a magnet attracting viewers from around the World.
Yahoo News described on June 25th the photo
session as “risky taking”. Photographer Von Wong chained two models to
underwater Bali-Indonesia shipwrecks in his new attempt of taking his work to
an extreme.
Von Wong –Chinese Canadian living in Montreal Canada,
former mining engineer and now obsessed by extreme visuals assures to thrive in
vertigo, adrenaline and danger. Von Wong says that his point of view is based
on “seeing things from a different angle”. While creative and artistic as he
may be the work behind two images which circle the globe through international
media and the effort made by the photographer are admirable.
Von Wong had to take on an epic journey since the idea
of underwater-fashion shooting session hit him. What it took to get the work
done? Seven divers, two expert
free-diver/stunning models, one shipwreck, lots of preparations, assistance
from local ASIAN DIVE EXPO and local instructors, gear lending from BBC
Wild-Life Photographer Mike Veitch, underwater make up and assistance divers, and
underwater security divers.
Von Wong had to face harsh environment -the ocean
conditions of Bali are not always sunny. The location for his session was a 50
year old shipwreck 25 meters below surface. “One mistake could have been a
tragedy,” the photographer admits.
Behind the effort of his work a pattern of “modern-ocean-culture”
begins to form in this time and age. Ocean culture has been present in the subconscious
of human culture since the early days. Mediterranean ocean myths, Asian
mysterious but efficient mappings, strange rituals for fishing and embarking on
journeys, original community legends and more modern Saints of the ocean can
all be considered part of the human heritage of ocean culture.
It is interesting to observe how ocean culture has
mutated to adapt to this day, which elements have been modified and updated and
which elements remain untouched, pristine. Culture as a way to share knowledge
gains mystical depths when the central issue of the communication is composed
of many unknown elements.
Simply said the ocean continues to be a mystery,
something alien for humans, a foreign environment somewhat dangerous which
inspires awe and respect. Modern ocean culture today is being driven by latest advancements
in photographic technology, new frontiers of diving, and creative edge artists
which continue in search for inspiration. In modern ocean culture
manifestations the mysteries of the ocean are still a cornerstone.
