Black and Blue

Coal or Coral

Fine Art Photography Book

The nature of Crowdfunding is such that "You" the public will decide whether this story gets told in this form or is destined to remain silent.....

Why Crowdfunding?

It was clear very early on that this project was much bigger than The Light Collective. By putting the success and launch of this important project in the hands of as many passionate people as possible we feel we have the greatest chance to make the most steps towards a positive outcome.

If we all contribute a little, together we can make a huge difference!

Unite with us as we stand up for the future we all believe in.

The list of Contribution Rewards are found here:

Mobile - Top of page under the "Rewards" tab

Desktop - In the right-hand Rewards Column

The Project

The first chapter “Red” in the greater RGB project by The Light Collective presented a refreshing interpretation of one of the great natural wonders of the Australian interior – Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre. It presents us with an immense and powerful visual landscape, but its delicate ecosystems are under threat from our demand for resources.

With the second chapter ‘Blue’ we initially set out to capture the immense beauty and grandeur of the largest living structure on earth and one of the great natural wonders of the world – the Great Barrier Reef.

A global icon of the purest blue.

However, the reef has suffered a catastrophic loss in recent years from recurring bleaching events caused by rising sea temperatures, and after deeper discussion, it seemed almost socially irresponsible not to address this.

So we present to you –

Black and Blue - Fine Art Book

COAL OR CORAL

An artistic and symbolic exploration of the modern relationship between the extraction and consumption of old world resources (fossil fuels) and the well-being of one of our world’s great natural ecosystems.

We have chosen the Great Barrier Reef and adjacent coal mining industry as symbols for this larger global conversation in order to ask an important question. Can we find a sustainable balance between these highly valued resources? 

Can they co-exist?

Two opposing natural resources with a common link - one of the causes and one of the effects of Climate Change.

The degradation of the reef presents us with one of the most tangible, topical and undeniable illustrations in the world today of the kind of impacts global warming holds for us.

We are on the knife's edge as a civilisation of maintaining a sustainable relationship with the earth's natural ecosystems. The destruction or conservation of the world as we know it is being determined right now, not years down the track.

We hold the fate of this planet’s well being squarely in our hands. We are its custodians.

And the impending death of over half of the Great Barrier Reef is an unmistakable warning shot over the bow…

Global warming is a complex issue, and we recognise the elements are both multileveled and are still being refined and debated. Regardless of this, we are passionate about the conservation of wild places and are happy to use our artistic abilities to bring awareness, thought and inspire action towards more sustainable management of our energy needs and the protection of our unique natural ecosystems.

Our intention is not to point fingers (as we are artists not experts) but to create meaningful conversation, bring a deeper awareness and motivate responsible action and accountability in an important time in our earth's natural history.

Will we choose the path of hope and empowered, informed decision-making, or one of complacency and potentially ultimate despair? 

Can we find a sustainable balance between our energy and resource needs and the well -being of our earth's great natural ecosystems? What path will we choose?

We have more than our own lives and lifetime to take into account. 

The future generations will reap the benefits or consequences of our actions or inactions. 

And so we pose the topical question to symbolise this...

Coral or Coal...

The Australian Marine Conservation Society

10% of the total sales during this Campaign are donated directly to the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Book Details

Self-published boutique fine art book printed and handcrafted to the highest quality by Momento Photo Books here in Australia.

Exclusively printed on carbon neutral and sustainably sourced paper.

Printed on an Indigo 6 colour printing press for more vibrant, richer colours and deeper blacks (compared to the traditional 4 colour press)

90+ pages of powerful, thought provoking imagery.

The depth and complexity of the book’s narrative and the subtle image relationships will continue to reveal themselves in layers, each time you open its pages.

Display it proudly on your coffee table, at your workplace or gift it meaningfully to strengthen the conversation around the conservation of The Great Barrier Reef!

Mini Project Documentary

We need your help

As is the nature of Crowdfunding "You" the public will decide whether this story gets told in this form or at this time, or is destined to remain silent...

We would like to extend an invitation to you to join us in this incredible project, to help strengthen the conversation to conserve one of the worlds most visible and deeply cherished natural ecosystems - The Great Barrier Reef.

Self-publishing a fine art book of the calibre needed to give this message the strength, impact and voice it deserves, in such a highly competitive market, is both a great challenge and an amazing opportunity. 

Together we can bring this project into reality and work to spread this important message far and wide!

When you contribute to the project:

• You become an important part of a collaborative team seeking to share this very significant, high conservation value project
• 10% of every person's contribution will be donated to one of the most significant NGO's that are funding research and conservation strategies for the Great Barrier Reef (The Australian Marine Conservation Society)

 • Your name will be printed inside the book as part of the official Black and Blue support team.

If the project reaches publication, we will be succeeding in creating a range of methods to inspire conversation and keep in mind this is helping to spread the word far and wide, just by placing the book on your coffee table or on your office desk, sending cards, displaying the immense beauty of the reef in print form, will start conversations and create a higher level of environmental awareness!

Together we can tell this story and strengthen the conversation around conserving our precious wilderness areas for the future!

Click the Social Icons (Top of this Page) and Help us to Spread the Word!

Artist Statements

Adam Williams

For our kids.....

"It scares me to face a future in which I have to write this letter to my boy, this project has now shown me a path and future in which I never need to apologize for my inaction"

Letter to my son (40 years from now)

"Hi little do, 

I am sorry that the struggles you have to deal with today are due to the previous generations misuse of the environment.

I'm am sorry I didn’t do more to help turn the denigration around. I was just so busy trying to survive, stressed just trying to provide for us, trying to put a roof over our heads, trying to lay a financial foundation to make your life a little easier. 

Bullshit, if I’m truthful I was lost competing and comparing myself to everyone else, competing for money, competing for attention.

All the money in the world can not replace what you have lost, and the roof over our head is not much use when we can no longer breath the air around us. I wish I could have done more, I wish I had strived for meaning rather than money, fought to protect our precious environment rather than fighting for my 15 minutes of fame.

The thing I am most ashamed of and most sorry for is that I considered the consequences and the effect further environmental degradation would have on your future, I knew the result and I still did nothing.

I failed you...

Son, there is no one I have ever loved more dearly or cared more about and I never made the effort to invest in your future 

Please forgive me. 

I Love you,

Daddy"

Adam Williams

Ricardo Da Cunha

Long as I recall I have had a deep appreciation for, and a willingness to help protect, our remaining wilderness areas and the fragile life that they support. It's this desire that fuels the choices that I make in my life and it's one of the key reasons that I joined The Light Collective, where as a collaborative, we stand to speak a louder voice for our ailing environment by combining our artistic capabilities.

It's for this reason that I was excited when as a group we decided to use these capabilities to help generate greater awareness of the urgent environmental issue of coral bleaching that is currently disseminating along The Great Barrier Reef at an alarming rate. 

Whilst I don't pretend to have a full understanding of the complex topic that is Climate Change, I am however a strong believer in it and I think we all have a personal obligation to try and minimise our carbon footprint wherever possible. It's my personal goal in the Black & Blue project to inspire greater conversation about the issue, and ultimately, inspire mutual benefiting solutions to humankind and the fragile planet that we're so incredibly dependent on.

The privilege to work alongside a group of fine image makers united in a common environmental awareness goal is something that is very special to me and something I do not take for granted. 

Ricardo Da Cunha

Paul Hoelen

I’ve been blessed with a life full of outdoor adventure. A rich and genuine connection with nature has been an invaluable source of well being in my life. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it. Knowing this I moved into an amazing career in Wilderness Therapy where I’ve had the privilege of guiding and witnessing people gain great perspective, balance and deep healing through their experiences and interaction with the natural world. 

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great natural wonders of the world and that has brought countless joy to millions, but it’s dying before our very eyes. Our actions both as individuals and as a society will determine whether it will be here for the generations to come.

If I can use my skills as an image-maker to ask questions, bring awareness and inspire action to take greater stewardship and responsibility for the world’s wild places, then I see that as both a responsibility and a privilege to give back to what has given so much to me.

Working collaboratively in such a talented and passionate group as The Light Collective - the sum is greater than the whole, our voice louder, reach deeper and capabilities greater than what I could ever hope to achieve on my own. It’s a great privilege to contribute to this voice and I hope it somehow encourages others to find their own, as we all have it within us to come together and make a difference… 

Paul Hoelen

Ignacio Palacios

The Great Barrier Reef was the first natural wonder that I saw when I came to Australia for the first time back in 2007. I was absolutely amazed by its remarkable beauty.

I've been lucky enough to photograph it from a helicopter and also from its pristine waters. The reef and marine life was nothing short of incredible. It was one of the most amazing natural wonders I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. 

Before becoming a full-time photographer, I worked as a renewable energies engineer for over 10 years developing wind farms and solar projects around the world.  

When I first became aware of the demise of the reef I became deeply moved... My environment conservation work as an engineer continues today with The Light Collective where together we aim to use our imagery to create awareness of the negative impacts of Climate Change.

Ignacio Palacios

* We are seeking a minimum of $8000

* Allowing us to Self-Publish this book and take advantage of the printing value of a larger order.

* Resulting in the highest quality product at the best possible price

Where does the money go?

For every $100 contributed

$9 goes to Pozible Campaign and Transaction Fees

$10 is donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. 10% of the Total Campaign Sales

$20 Black and Blue Project Publicity to help spread the word far and wide

$45 Average book production costs

The remaining $16 to be invested into the following priorities

• Extra book stock to continue telling this story after the crowdfunding campaign has finished
• Design fees for the book, cards and the campaign
• Future Projects of high conservation value

Note:

- 10% of the total Crowdfunding Campaign Sales will be donated directly to the Australian Marine Conservation Society for the conservation and protection of The Great Barrier Reef

We opted for 10% of the total Crowdfunding sales, rather than a % of profits, due to the massive expenses incurred already during the photography stage of this project. It is highly likely this project will run at a substantial loss and never make a profit.

By donating 10% of Sales we can guarantee this money goes directly to the cause. Immediately helping to conserve the Great Barrier Reef.

Black and Blue Gallery

Please find a small selection of images from the book below 

Add your voice to this important conversation around conserving the Great Barrier Reef!

The Contribution Rewards can be found in the Right-Hand column (Desktop) or via the Rewards Tab at the top of this page on Mobile

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