Page 2 November 15 , 2018
By Roz Templin, Library Assistant,
El Segundo Public Library
The Photo Ark is a 25-year documentary
project to save species and habitat. National
Geographic Fellow and contributor Joel Sartore
is the founder and photographer of these
beautiful animals in both The Photo Ark and
Birds of the Photo Ark, prime examples of
his talent. This ambitious project endeavors to
document every species in captivity. When that
process is completed, the project will become a
record of the animals’ existence and hopefully
will encourage humans to act to preserve our
endangered world.
Actor Harrison Ford provides a foreword to
The Photo Ark. Why, you ask? Well, I didn’t
know that he was the Vice Chair of the Board
of Directors for Conservation International
either. He writes of his love of nature and also
points out that when species disappear, such as
pollinators, our crops decline. Predators that are
gone disrupt the food chain. The trees of our
diminishing rain forests will not provide clean
air and fresh water, which causes the imbalance
in our climate. We are all joined and need to
recognize our “sacred duty” (as ecologist E.O.
Wilson is quoted) to preserve life.
Douglas H. Chadwick is a wildlife biologist
and journalist for National Geographic. He is
also a founding board member of the Vital
Ground Foundation, which protects wildlife
habitat in the western US and Canada. He writes
in his introduction that the world’s population
doubled between the years of 1970 and 2012,
but the total population of large wildlife declined
by half. Extinctions are taking place at a rate a
thousand times higher than the average in the
past. If this continues, one of every three species
could vanish at the end of this century. He also
gives us a brief background on photographer
Joel Sartore who has created this amazing
portfolio of the earth’s animals in vivid detail.
There are only 12 pages of text because
the main draw of these books are the photos.
Pages and pages of beautiful portraits of insects,
birds, reptiles and mammals… every kind of
creature you can think of. You can drink in
these pictures for days and then return again
to them and find something new. You can
definitely relate to these animals. They tug at
your heart and gain your respect.
Following the photos are extras that describe
how the photographs were made and a helpful
index of the animals and where they were
photographed.
Birds of the Photo Ark is self-explanatory:
its focus is on birds rather than all the animals
of the world. Again, there are Joel’s exquisite
photographs with helpful little essays and bits
of information. Bird aficionados will enjoy this
book for sure.
The Annenberg Space for Photography in Los
Angeles is hosting a special event spotlighting
The Photo Ark now through Jan. 13, 2019. A
selection of large format prints of Joel’s portraits
of the animal world are presented along with
a documentary film, interactive games and a
studio where guests can be photographed with
their favorite animal as a backdrop!You can find
more information at this website: https://www.
annenbergphotospace.org/exhibits/photo-ark/ •
Entertainment
Check It Out
The Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals
by Joel Sartore.
Roz Templin
Film Review
Queen and Mercury Reign Supreme
in Bohemian Rhapsody
By Morgan Rojas
for www.cinemacy.com
I wasn’t born when Queen performed at the
legendary Live Aid Benefit show in July of
1985. I was barely three years old when front
man Freddie Mercury died from AIDS-related
symptoms in 1991. But man, did I feel like
I was experiencing the mesmerizing talent of
the iconic glam rock superstar in person, with
a front row seat to one of the greatest moments
in musical history. No, I wasn’t alive when
Queen reigned supreme, but seeing Bohemian
Rhapsody in theaters was the next best thing.
Bryan Singer’s musical biopic about the
enigmatic Farrokh Bulsara, aka Freddie Mercury,
is a colorful and whimsical dive into the
life of a societal outcast who found confidence
and compassion within his chosen family of
musicians. As an Indian immigrant who suffered
from physical and sexual insecurities,
Mercury consciously suppressed his negativity
by putting his undeniable talent front and
center, and it didn’t take long for people to
notice. His vocal capabilities were a way to
override his anxiety, as he quickly bonded with
his Queen bandmates Brian May (Gwilym
Lee), Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and John
Deacon (Joe Mazzello). He became engaged
to the lovely Mary (Lucy Boynton) and went
on to have international acclaim with number
one hits, and too much money to know what
to do with. Talk about Killer Queen...
The band’s musical style evolved from anthem
rock to opera soliloquies to disco-inspired dance
beats to emotional ballads and beyond. Mixing
these genres was intentional, as Queen always
wrote and performed their songs with the audience
in mind. They wanted to create music
that made the audience feel like it belonged to
them too. They wanted the audience to feel a
part of the band. And the audience loved it.
But despite seemingly having it all, Mercury
was selfish, self-admittedly “hideous,” and often
alone. While his outward confidence continued
to grow with the band’s success, behind the
curtain his off-stage persona was still an isolated
immigrant teenager who longed for authentic,
personal connections. It’s poignantly ironic that
the film’s beginning montage is “Somebody
to Love” -- which, like every other song, left
me with chills.
Singer, who is best known for the X-Men
series, portrays Freddie as a flawed but lovable
man who may have been blinded by fame. Yet
throughout his journey of self-discovery, he
ultimately comes to a place of self-acceptance.
Singer keeps the story moving along quite
swiftly (my only criticism is at times, the
journey seems a little too easy), but the most
impressive feat is how mind-blowing the performances
are -- especially the concert footage in
the last scene. From small stages at local bars
to London’s Wembley Stadium, Singer recreates
the crowd’s uncontrollable energy and transforms
the audience’s theater seats to stadium risers.
It’s quite audacious to take on the role of
such a well-known individual, and it’s another
feat to completely become him. Rami Malik
nails Mercury’s nuanced mannerisms with his
flamboyant stage prancing and exaggerated
overbite (due to having four extra incisors that
made his mouth much larger than most), while
also respecting his internal emotional struggle.
Malik is magnetic on screen and gives a performance
that makes Bohemian Rhapsody what
it is: bold, in your face and unforgettable.
Queen was a band of misfits and they
were universally embraced because of their
authenticity. It was their creative spirits and
steadfast dedication to musical exploration and
inventive storytelling -- fronted by an enigmatic
lead singer -- that landed them on the top of
the charts. Freddie Mercury left absolutely
everything he had on the stage and fought until
the end. A bittersweet account of a man who
dared to be different, Bohemian Rhapsody is
a film for the optimists, the music lovers and
the champions of the world.
P.S. While this film should definitely be
experienced in a theater with surround sound,
I also recommend watching it again in the
comfort of your own home so you can rock
out with no judgment.
Bohemian Rhapsody is rated PG-13 for
thematic elements, suggestive material, drug
content, and language. 134 minutes. Now
playing in theaters. •
Bohemian Rhapsody, Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Morgan Rojas.
The Photo Ark and
Birds of The Photo Ark
Birds of the Photo Ark by Noah Strycker and photographs by
Joel Sartore.
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