The Green Dossier

My Scholarship entry - Destined to Drift

Canada | Monday, November 24, 2014 | 5 photos

After years of disillusion, I’ve finally come to understand; Real life is far more interesting.

For the better part of a decade I’ve been working as a visual effects artist for films; replacing greenscreens with cityscapes and CGI monsters. Countless hours locked in a dark room and sitting in front of a glowing computer had left me uninspired and lacking meaning in my life. That was before a proper quarter life crisis led me to volunteer at Salmon Coast Field Station; a wildlife research center deep in the Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia. Sitting behind the lens, I began capturing life on the coast; freezing in time a feeling of harmony and adventure that is rarely found in textbooks and classrooms. Out there among the waves and the trees I fell in love with the power of images and embraced my desire for a comprehensive intimacy with the natural world. The little boy inside me who grew up playing in the woods of Ontario had awakened.

I’ve always been a natural storyteller; the adrenaline rush I would get from making an entire room laugh, cheer and/or cry is what initially led me to the film industry. Scientists and researchers across the world sacrifice themselves so that we can better understand our place on this planet. My time working with these courageous individuals gave me the strength I needed to make this hard turn in my life, I decided I needed to share their story. In truth, I'm nothing more than a slave to those who inspire me. It’s a grandiose dream, but I want children and young adults to pick up my work and be inspired by these real life Superheros just as I have.

Here is a small taste of my time at Salmon Coast.

I hope you enjoy,
Jordan