“ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE” Season Two - Press Release

[Martin]

It seems Art Wolfe is going to be back on your TVs in the States, with a second series of his "ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE" shows. A person from the company marketing the show kindly forwarded the below press release to us last night, so I thought I'd share it here. I'd love to be able to see these shows too, but they unfortunately don't air here in Japan. I'll probably pick up the DVDs mentioned below though when available.


"Art Wolfe's photographs are a superb evocation of some of the most breathtaking spectacles in the world." - Sir David Attenborough

“ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE” CAPTURES STUNNING IMAGES AND WILDLIFE, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES FROM 12 EXOTIC LOCATIONS


Oregon Public Broadcasting presents ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE

Season Two Premieres October 4, 2008 on Public Television Stations Nationwide


Seattle, Wash. – August 1, 2008 – For more than 30 years, Seattle-based photographer Art Wolfe worked on every continent, in hundreds of locations, produced millions of photographic images. He’s published over 60 acclaimed books. In the high-definition television program, ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE, Wolfe transports the audience as he captures the nature and wildlife in remote destinations through his camera lens. The program will begin premiering on public television stations October 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM EST (check local listings).

This season Wolfe and his crew travel to Hokkaido, Japan to view iconic red-crested cranes; the untamed wilderness of Australia’s Northern Territory; Mali by way of the Niger River; the infamous Drake Passage to explore the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic coast; Brazil to the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland; Togo and Benin in West Africa – the birthplace of Voodoo; New Zealand to meet the indigenous Maori people who see themselves as guardians of the land; Nepal and India, beyond the crowded cities to the remnants of wild Asia; the Baja Peninsula, home to a surprising variety of plant and animal life; the Kingdom of Bhutan also known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon; Mongolia for the annual Naadam Festival which feels like a trip back in time; and Iceland, for glacier rivers and back country trekking.
Viewers will experience Art’s adventures first hand through high-definition, while watching Art and his photography techniques they will also learn about the cultures, wildlife and environmental struggles of these distant yet awe-inspiring lands. This 13-part series is currently in production and will premiere on public television stations in October. Last year in its debut season, the series was honored by American Public Television with a “Programming Excellence” Award. This year the producers are extending the theme of ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE by putting together a special behind-the-scenes episode with specific insight into the making of this series. The program will highlight the unique character of shooting in remote locations and what it takes to produce a high-definition series of this caliber.

“We're thrilled with the success of the first season and are eager to bring viewers to more destinations through Art Wolfe's lens,” said David Davis, Executive Producer for OPB. “ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE is one of the most beautifully produced series ever to come to public television. Our goal with this series is to share some truly unique and remote regions of the world with viewers and inspire them to want to preserve the incredible wildlife and nature that Art captures and shares with them through his camera.”
Produced by Edge of the Earth Productions, LLC in association with Blue Moon Productions, Inc. and Oregon Public Broadcasting, ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE gives viewers an over-the-shoulder and through-the-lens look at Art’s breathtaking adventures in the field. Wolfe’s stunning pictures interpret and record the world’s wildlife, landscapes and native cultures, inspiring people to celebrate and protect these precious assets. For travel, photography and outdoor lovers alike, Art offers unique insights on nature, cultures, environmental issues and the new realm of digital photography.

“Last year when we premiered our show on public television we had no idea how well people would respond to our program; the response was far beyond our expectations,” says Art Wolfe. “Our goal with this special travel and nature show is to capture and record the world’s wildlife, landscapes and native cultures and inspire people to get out and explore and more importantly for people to think about ways they can help to protect these amazing places. What better place than on public television to help educate people on ways they can step up and take on the challenge of conservation to save the places that need saving.”

ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE is produced by Edge of the Earth Productions, LLC in association with Blue Moon Productions, Inc. and Oregon Public Broadcasting. It is distributed nationwide by American Public Television (APT). Funding for ART WOLFE’S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE is provided by Canon U.S.A., Inc., the Microsoft Corporation and Conservation International. For more information, visit http://www.artwolfe.com.
Television Host: Art Wolfe
Series Producer: Valerie Griffith
Executive Producers: Christine Eckhoff and Jeffrey Davis
Technical Producer: Simon Griffith
Editors: Dan Larson, James Disch and Steve Cammarano
Executive Producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting: David Davis
Original Score: Jeffrey Beecher

DVDs will be available for purchase at http://www.shop.opb.org
Photos are available for download at http://pressroom.opb.org



About Oregon Public Broadcasting
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is a major provider of programs for the PBS national primetime schedule and American Public Television (APT), producing a variety of freestanding documentary specials and series. OPB is also a statewide network of community-supported learning resources, including OPB Television, an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and OPB Radio, presenting local news coverage and the programs of National Public Radio (NPR), American Public Media (APM) and Public Radio International (PRI). The OPB Web site is opb.org.

About Edge of the Earth Productions:
Edge of the Earth Productions (EEP) is a Seattle-based production company devoted to advocacy and awareness for key environmental and conservation issues through innovative media projects that utilize television, the Internet, and other distribution channels to reach a global audience. The current focus for the company is the design, production, and broadcast of Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge series on public television. Edge of the Earth Productions works with a range of technology, media, conservation and government partners, among others. Art Wolfe is the founder and director of Edge of the Earth Productions.

About American Public Television
For 45 years, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation’s public television stations. APT distributes more than 300 new program titles per year and has 10,000 hours of programming in its library. It is responsible for many public television milestones including the first HD series and the 2006 launch of the Create channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. APT is known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming. It has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as JFK: Breaking the News, Battlefield Britain, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves' Europe, Great Museums, Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way, America's Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Broadway: The Golden Age, Lidia's Family Table, California Dreamin’ – The Songs of The Mamas & the Papas, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, The Big Comfy Couch, Monarchy With David Starkey, and other prominent documentaries, dramatic series, how-to programs and classic movies. For more information about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

ART WOLFE'S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS
Japan: Hokkaido and Honshu (Oct. 4)
The image many of us have of Japan is congested and kinetic. But Japan has a wild side. In winter, beyond its crowded cities, the country delivers quiet, unexpected natural beauty. In the second season opener, Art Wolfe ventures north to the remote region of Hokkaido to view iconic red-crested cranes; south to the mountains to take a dip in Nagano's hot springs with mischievous macaque snow monkeys; and journeys on to the sacred temples of Mt. Fuji and Koyosan on a photographic pilgrimage.

Australia: Arnhemland and the Kimberley

Australia's Northern Territory is an immense, untamed wilderness as brutal as it is beautiful. For the Aboriginal people, it's the place of the "Dreamtime", where land and story meet. In episode two, Art Wolfe captures images of rock art intricately painted over thousands of years ago; discovers canyons carved by wind and water; and witnesses an ancient aboriginal dance as he chronicles the connection between the region's first people and the natural world.

Mali: Sahel to the Sahara
It is a fabled land of sand, salt and nomads. But Mali is more than the Sahara; it is a place where the Niger River flows past some of Africa's most unique tribal and architectural wonders. In episode three, Art Wolfe follows the river road to the camouflaged villages of the cliff-dwelling Dogon people; floats downriver to Djenne's fantastic mud mosque; heads into the desert with nomadic Tuaregs; and finally travels on to Timbuktu where he meets up with a camel caravan.

Antarctica and The Falkland Islands
It is spring on the Antarctic Peninsula and the frozen wilderness is a veritable nursery for penguins, shore birds and seal pups. In episode four Art Wolfe crosses the infamous Drake Passage-the treacherous body of water south of Cape Horn-to explore the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic coast in search of wildlife and landscapes inherent to this pristine and unforgiving land.

Brazil: The Pantanal
Located in the heart of South America, the Pantanal is the world's largest wetland and home to one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on the planet. It's a unique place where human activity and wildlife coexist. Here Brazilian cowboys ride herd alongside toothy caimans, giant otters, capybaras, macaws and toucans. In episode five, Art Wolfe arrives just as the seasonal floods have receded and discovers both an ecological paradise and a vibrant cowboy culture.

West Africa: Togo and Benin
West Africa is the birthplace of Voodoo; in Togo and Benin ancestors commingle with the living. Whether its vulture heads for sale at a fetish market or sacred bloodstained altars, Voodoo is always front and center. In episode six, Art Wolfe visits villages known for their vibrant inhabitants and intense rituals and discovers frenzied trances, powerful masked dances and an extraordinary fire-eating ceremony - all part of everyday life.

New Zealand
New Zealand's extreme beauty is central to its identity. Here indigenous Maori people see themselves as guardians of the land. In episode seven, Art Wolfe captures portraits of contemporary Maori artists who wear their stories on their faces in the form of sacred tattoos, and convey their sense of stewardship through their art. Then he heads off to the wild South Island to explore the natural history of this pristine and beautifully preserved island nation.

Wild Asia: Nepal and India
Beyond India and Nepal's crowded cities lie precious remnants of wild Asia where tigers, rhino and bear still roam. In episode eight, Art Wolfe travels by elephant deep into Kipling country in search of the last of the planet's Bengal tigers. Here, through the lens of his camera, he captures images of mahouts-handlers bound to the elephants they've cared for from childhood-as they bathe and tend to their animals. In Nepal, Art encounters exotic wildlife including rare Asian rhinos, elusive sloth bears and primeval Gharial crocodiles.

Mexico: Baja
Both an ocean oasis and isolated desert, the northern part of the narrow Baja peninsula is home to a surprising variety of plant and animal life. In episode nine, after a voyage on the Sea of Cortez in search of migrating gray whales, Art Wolfe ventures inland through the unforgiving Cataviña desert and discovers a photographer's playground of light and magical landscapes.

The Kingdom of Bhutan
Known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan has survived in isolation for more than a thousand years. As this enlightened Buddhist kingdom greets the 21st century, its greatest challenge is to preserve its soul. In episode ten, Art Wolfe finds a photographer's nirvana of mountainside monasteries, sacred festivals and chanting monks in an environmentally and spiritually progressive nation.

The Making of Travels to the Edge
Ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world with a renowned photographer? In episode eleven, take a behind-the-scenes peek and go along on one of Art Wolfe's adventures. Meet the small, intrepid Travels crew as they venture through the remote kingdom of Bhutan and Nepal's lowland wilderness. Follow along on their perilous drive over a high mountain pass; track unpredictable sloth bears; and keep pace with Art at a frenetic Buddhist festival. It is all in a day's work as the crew works to capture Art's quest for the perfect shots.

Mongolia: Mountain to Steppe
Known for its arid steppes, skilled nomadic horsemen and Genghis Khan, a visit to Mongolia feels like a trip back in time. At the annual Naadam Festival, contestants vie to be the victor in the centuries-old pursuits of wrestling, archery and horseracing. In episode twelve, Art Wolfe pursues prehistoric wild horses as they roam the steppe; rides in the mountains with a Kazakh tribesman who hunts with golden eagles; and catches up with nomadic reindeer herders at their summer camp near the Siberian border.

Iceland: Earth, Air, Fire and Water
A land of geysers, glaciers, volcanoes and rough-hewn coastlines: Nowhere else on Earth do the four elements collide in such dramatic fashion as in Iceland. Art captures dramatic expressions of the planet's geomorphology using composition, pattern and light to create a striking portrait of a volatile and dynamic landscape.

[JustABigGeek]

Thanks for the info. I've used TiVo(DVR) to get all the shows and was wondering if there were any more or if I should remove it from my list as I hadn't seen any new ones for a while. It's a great show and some of the locations are really fantastic.

Jim

[Heimdall]

I found the first series on DVD:
http://www.artwolfe.com/store/store_15.html

Sadly, they don't ship outside the US. Oh, well. There are ways around that.

[RecoilGesture]

Whoa! I've been living on season 1 for a while now (I get it on HD cable, haha! be jealous!) Can't wait for season 2!

I have learned a few things by watching him work (like a 1.4x and 2x extenders stacked onto a 70-200??). Just awesome!

Cheers!

[Heimdall]

Serge?! Damn, they let anyone in these days!

My favorite was when he put a 1.4x extender and a 25 mm extender on the 24-70. Instant macro-lens. Clever. Not sure what image quality is like. Although, that doesn't seem to bother him that much, from what I've seen.

[RecoilGesture]

Yeah, I know... Just managed to have (take) a bit of free time

That's what I really like about watching him do his thing, he just does whatever is required to get the shot. Makes me think all of a sudden that I'm still happy with some of the shots I once got by taping an inverted 50mm lens to the end of my now dead Sony F717. The keeper rate wasn't there but I had a whole lot of fun, and got a few great shots.

[Heimdall]

No kidding. I also see he seems to prioritize traveling light, so those extenders get used quite a bit. Makes one re-examine one's priorities.

[Martin]

That's a good point. Not one for traveling light myself, as you will have noticed in January. When I do want to travel light though, I often drop a few extension tubes in my bag, as they can give you instant macro with some combinations. The 85mm with the 25mm extension tube is a pretty nice combination that comes to mind. The 70-200mm F2.8 with the tube is nice too.

[Heimdall]

Ah, yes. You were traveling light, were you? 2 bodies, 24-105, 70-200/2.8L IS, 300/2.8L IS and 600/4L IS plus accessories and whatnot. Yup. That's light.

[davidinjp]

Art has aged well! The photographer Bob Runyon http://stores.ebay.com/sofiecat-inc who taught me everything 20 years ago would occasionally do some dark room work and go out shooting with Art. I got to see his studio and assisted in the the dark room, well actually outside the dark room cutting mattes and frames...

I can tell you that Art was always a smart business man and nothing and nobody would get in his way. Great to see his empire stills lives!

I would like to see the 2008 Hokkaido episode if anyone gets a hold of it.

[davidinjp]

Speaking of Art, this 1 on 1 interview with him is a fantastically interesting 1/2 hour watch. http://on10.net/blogs/nic/ShutterSpeed-Episode-03-Art-Wolfe/

[Martin]

That's pretty cool. Thanks for sharing David!

[AndyM1981]

Just so everyone is aware, downloadable HD episodes of Travels to the Edge are now available to sale at the Luminous Landscape in case you can't get the DVDs shipped to your region.

[bksecret]

Sneak preview:
http://www.travelstotheedge.com/videos-season2/

So odd to see someone rarely use a lens hood.

-Landon