Exhibition uses 360-degree images to inspire
Viewers become divers in Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Ever wondered what it would be like to dive below the waves of Bondi, the Great Barrier Reef, witness the corals off Palau or swim next to a manta ray? Dive on a coral-strewn shipwreck in Bali or explore Sydney's seaweed beds as if you were a fish?
Well, no need to pack the tank, mask and flippers, these are some of the sights in Underwater Earth's Out of Sight, Out of Mind, a new, immersive exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Featuring 14 large scale images, using QR codes and your smart device, you are immersed into images that explore unique underwater worlds, which you can navigate to view in 360-degree waterscapes.
Google Maps utilises Underwater Earth's footage to help create Underwater Street View.
'This exhibition reveals what there is to admire, love and protect in the ocean.'
Lorna Parry, Curator
Curated by Lorna Parry, this exhibition premieres a selection of images taken during ten years of expeditions by lead underwater photographer and explorer, Christophe Bailhache. Seascapes reveal dwarf minke whales, manta rays, wobbegongs and wrecks, amidst fascinating, exotic marine environments, filled with fish, seaweeds and corals.
'Such an amazing opportunity to reveal these precious ocean environments in 360-degree and engage the museum audience with its beauty and fragility. We hope the power of these images will create emotion to inspire more ocean protection and conservation, and incite positive action' says photographer Christophe Bailhache.
'You can't really be passionate about something you don't fully understand', says Parry. 'This exhibition puts the viewer literally in the centre of underwater scenes - you don't have to be a diver now to see the wonder that lies beneath the surface. We want people to connect emotionally with the underwater world.'
The exhibition also features Underwater Earth's SVII camera system, used to capture these panoramic images – one of only four in existence, voted by Times Magazine amongst the top 100 new scientific discoveries of 2015.
About Underwater Earth
Co-founded by Lorna Parry and Christophe Bailhache, Underwater Earth is an Australian charity with a global focus - to reveal the ocean to the world using creative storytelling and innovative technology.
