Wade Davis is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and one of the world’s most respected advocates for life’s diversity in all its forms. We are excited to announce that we will be presenting an evening featuring Dr Davis on Tuesday 4 December 2012! Join us for a fascinating evening of weird and wonderful tales from his many experiences travelling and living with Indigenous tribes in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Don’t miss out, purchase your tickets online now!
Inspired by Wade Davis’ upcoming visit, we invited State Library staff to share photographs showing the diversity of life on earth. We are really excited to share some of these photographs with you below. If you enjoy this post, please leave a comment below.
Photograph by Urszula Wiejowski. ”Here comes the King of the Brotherhood of the Rooster with his entourage, proudly carrying a silver rooster. This Polish shooting society was founded in 13th century for the representatives of all guilds to help defending the country against numerous invaders. Members of the Brotherhood wear traditional Polish costumes to this day and add flair to major historical and religious events”.
Photograph by Urszula Wiejowski. ”I didn’t travel far to take this photo. King’s Park this spring was full of colour and amazing plants. This is a close-up and all of the sudden an ordinarily looking plant displays all its beauty”.
Photograph by Frances Hammond. “King Penguins and me, Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island, Australia Day 1997″.
Photograph by Gemma Lyon. “This picture was taken in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, just a little way out of Wingellina where the WA border meets the South Australian and Northern Territory borders”.
Photograph by David Kilroy. This pic was taken at the Rainbow Serpent Festival in Victoria in 2011. I’ve been lucky to have access to all areas as a Stage Manager and this allows me to get some great photos. Dance Culture is about fun and being involved. There is often spontaneous performance art which just adds to the party atmosphere. I can’t remember who these guys are, but I just loved their outfits.
Photograph by Jocelyne Gaudet. “This photo was taken on my University trip to Thailand. As part of the tour we got to visit many schools and teach the local children (which was really interesting, given the language barrier). We also visited a local orphanage near Pataya (if memory serves). It was amazing to see children so excited and happy to see visitors despite their personal hardships”.
Photograph by Damien Webb. ” The Incredible Hulk Crocodile @ Wyndham. Hulkodile? Crocodulk?”
Photograph by Alanna Kusin. “This image was taken in Viterbo, Italy. It was so interesting seeing the streets of this usually bustling town completely silent as a lot of businesses had closed their doors for siesta. This was the only person we saw during siesta time there was this man”.
Photograph by Catherine Mulroney. “I was privileged to visit the Maldives in 2010, it was definitely a lesson in the diversity of life. As I was heading back to our boat after an incredible snorkeling trip on the edge of our atoll I was joined by this giant sea turtle. It was definitely one of the most incredible experiences of my life”.
Photograph by Cathy Kelso. “This is a photo from my trip to Iceland in March this year. We’d just been up looking at Solheimajokull (a glacier) and were trundling back to the tour bus with our guide when I saw this little plant growing in the ash and gravel. Such a surprising sight in all the ice”.
Photograph by Shelli Johnston. “Ubud: January 2011. A lady sweeping. This was outdoors at a monkey forest. I may have taken a lot of photos of sweeping and straw brooms. It fascinated me”.
Photograph by Sandra Papenfus. “Jasper in Canada”.
Photograph by Molly Tebo. “Dinner buddies. This lorikeet wanted to share the red panda’s dinner. I got this shot at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo some years ago”.
Photograph by Molly Tebo. “Stromatolites, formed by cyanobacteria, are one of the oldest records of life on earth. We are lucky to have some excellent examples at Hamelin pool, Shark bay. Learn more about them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolite“.
Photograph by Pam Phelan. “This is the kelp farmer’s dog – King Island Bass Strait “.
Photograph by Karen de San Miguel. “Here’s a pic I took in Singapore a few years ago. I remember being amazing by the vivid colours I saw in Little India; incredible fabrics, saris, shop-fronts. Inspired me to cut loose with colour a bit more in my own life”.
Photograph by Liz Birkett. “This cheeky chap is a candle banksia (banksia attenuate). Candle banksias love the sandy coastal bushland around Perth. Noongar people made a sweet drink by soaking the flower spikes in water”.
Photograph by Mary Doyle. “Mrs Violet Hartnett, b1912″.
Photograph by Mary Doyle. “Tail end of a grasshopper”.
Photograph by Kate Akerman. “The temple was built in 1070 and was the Vietnam’s first university, (and probably library!) where scholars studied to pass exams to become administrators. The serene atmosphere of the temple and its gardens is a sharp contrast to the bustle of Hanoi’s street life. This was a favourite retreat of my father’s when he was living in Hanoi (1994 -2000) and was a (slightly surreal) dream come true to see his grandaughters walking the same pathways in 2012. The girls ready adaption to, and enjoyment of, the very different culture of Vietnam was a highlight of our journey”.
Photograph by John Geisjman. “A jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium”.
Photograph by John Geijsman. “A very odd looking Sea Lion at Pier 39 in San Francisco. Crazy party trick!”
“There is, indeed, a fire burning over the earth, taking with it plants and animals, cultures, languages, ancient skills and visionary wisdom. Quelling this flame, and re-inventing the poetry of diversity is perhaps the most important challenge of our times.” – Wade Davis
