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“Reefs Illuminated” is a novel short movie about reef bioluminescence and biofluorescence directed by Brennan Vance and shot by the science-art team Luminescent Labs. The film is now showing at the American Museum of Natural History (New York City) until May 3, 2013. This is the first ever film to be concentrated entirely on reefs.
Tropical bioluminescence and biofluorescence is known to create some of nature’s most stunning light shows. Filming these innate phenomenons is progressively more popular because they bestride the line between art and science creating visuals that are dynamic and also interesting to learn about in thearena of science. Public media featuring reef bioluminescence and biofluorensce have already found their way into such places like the Miami International Airport to the Sundance Film Festival thanks to Coral Morphologic.
A new film by another art-science-exploration team, Luminescent Labs, aspires to depiction of a wider audience to the manifestation of bioluminescence and biofluorescence.
According to Luminescent Labs: Reefs Illuminated takes viewers on an underwater journey to the remote and pristine South Pacific coral reefs of the Solomon Islands, a biodiversity hotspot, where they accompany American Museum of Natural History scientists on nighttime biofluorescent scuba divers.
The project blends cutting-edge cinematography and science to create an immersive experience showcasing a mysterious biological phenomenon where blue light is absorbed by certain marine creatures and transformed into vivid shades of green, yellow, orange and red. Outfitted with special custom-designed underwater cameras and lights, scientists John Sparks, David Gruber and Vincent Pieribone evoke and capture the mysterious and hidden world of biofluorescence in blue ocean waters.
Here is a short trailer of the movie:
http://vimeo.com/62282146#t=31
The footage includes some of the first recordings of biofluorescent species of both cartilaginous (sharks and rays) and bony fishes (eels, anglerfishes, and seahorses) along with biofluorescent corals, anemones, crinoids and numerous other glowing invertebrates.
Reefs Illuminated is an art/science fusion directed by Brennan Vance with an original soundtrack by Freezepop’s Sean Drinkwater. Cinematography by Ken Corben, David Gruber, Vincent Pieribone, John Sparks and Brennan Vance shot during a National Geographic/Waitt expedition as well as nighttime shoots at the Mystic Aquarium.
For further details and updates you can visit Luminescent Lab’s website and learn more about bioluminescence and biofluorescence. Their website is excellent and features lots of stupendous information, photography, and a very cool interactive exploration display. And if you happen to be in the New York area, you must definitely visit the American Museum of Natural History to watch the full 14 minute film in their GeoDome Theater. If the trailer is a hint, you’re in for an outstanding experience.
