February 21st - 09:04

Title: February 21st - 09:04 Medium: Super-8 film Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Resolution: 2880 x 2160 File Type: H.264 Codec / MP4. Comments: The canopy of the jungle was dripping wet. Every step through the forest was damp and squishy. As we walked through on our morning hike it felt like the rain forest was cleansing my body and mind. I welcomed the droplets of water all over my skin. Equipped in a soccer jersey and big muddy boots I felt alive and refreshed. Hydrated by the atmospheric breeze. We climbed trees to knock down more cacao for the walk. The sweet jungle treat. There was a swamp building from the rainfall. The light was pouring through so I asked the guide if we could make his portrait there. He said, “in there?” And I said “yes why not?!” He laughed, and said “okay and be careful.” Be careful of what? I thought. The caiman are always prowling in the water when you least expect it. Perhaps that’s what he meant. We dredged into the swampy lagoon and started rolling. I felt something was off when we finished. And then I felt something crash against my leg under the water! Holy fuck, it seemed to be a giant snake. Was this the anaconda he was telling us about earlier?! I jetted out of the water and he was laughing. I felt a snake brush up against my leg, traverse the underworld. A brief encounter with the slithering DNA strands of mother Earths lungs. We quickly made our way to a canoe that was waiting for us. Flipped it over and hopped in. The jungle was flooded and we were riding the waves, literally. We paddled and paddled for a while. Saw a few caimans eyes blinking as we passed them by. Man they are silent and slow. But really they are motionless and waiting, their trick is to be so still you forget they are even there. So when you least expect it, or forget it. They strike with their lunging force and sharp teeth. We canoed along and found a good rhythm in the flow of the river. We popped out into a nesting ground. This was the most beautiful moment I’ve ever witnessed in nature. There were thousands of blue herons feeding their newborn birds that had just hatched. It was quite marvelous. I was brought to tears. You can see blue wings flapping amongst the greenery. Squawking and chirping by the adult and baby cranes. Birds flying past your head every few minutes. It was glorious. We circled the nest a few times just to catch a glimpse of their beautiful existence. All felt so pure until you realize what lurks beneath the trees. The caiman wait for baby birds to fall into the water because they don’t know how to fly yet. Ready to catch a meal. Always waiting, always patient. The cycle of life begins and ends in the nesting grounds that become the feeding grounds. Yet it is all in perfect harmony as nature intended. All forms of life serves its purpose here in the jungle, even in death, breeds more life. The Amazon jungle is the source of abundance. Fresh air for the entire planet, food for all the critters and creatures that roam the trees freely, and water to restore and regenerate the Earth and its inhabitants. Two sets of emotions set in on this day, extreme fear and extreme bliss. Oh, how the forces push and pull us closer to our home; The ground below and the sky above.