Through Felix Kunze’s Lens: Capturing Science and Stewardship in Shinnecock Bay
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Institute for Ocean Conservation Science welcomed acclaimed photographer Felix Kunze and his team, Magnus Karlsson and Sequoyah Wildwyn-Dechter, to Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus during our 2024 Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot expedition.
Felix recently highlighted our project on his website and showcased some of his incredible photography.
Our project in the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot was an official flag expedition of The Explorers Club and we were honored to carry Flag #132. The flag recognizes the scientific rigor and exploratory spirit of the expedition, and the flag that we carried has been on prior expeditions ranging from Earth’s poles to the deep sea – even to the Titanic!
Felix has a strong affinity for explorers and scientists, and as part of a personal mission, uses his talents to highlight individuals and teams that push science and exploration forward. He has partnered with The Explorers Club to set up a pop-up studio at the club’s annual dinner and shoots portraits of the club’s wide variety of explorers and members.
For the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot project, Felix and his team shot both portraits and candids in a variety of settings.
Left: IOCS’s Dr. Ellen Pikitch, Shinnecock Nation expedition member Sunshine Gumbs, IOCS’s Christine Santora, and volunteer Dr. Jim Browne deploying new eDNA technology into Shinnecock Bay. Right: Open Ocean Robotics’ technician Madie Bouvier-Brown performing maintenance on the eDNA sampler at Stony Brook Southampton.
A very special highlight was a visit from legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Dr. Earle, who created the Hope Spot program through the organization Mission Blue, has championed the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot has used her voice to support our work and impact.
Dr. Sylvia Earle speaking at a press conference during the kickoff to the expedition (left) and aboard a boat in Shinnecock Bay. Credit: Felix Kunze
Felix was also present to document an intimate session between elders of the Shinnecock Nation, and Dr. Earle, herself an Ocean Elder. The knowledge exchange reflected a shared commitment to ocean protection rooted in both ancestral responsibility and scientific discovery. The Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot recognizes the importance of local indigenous knowledge and participation, and the expedition was an important step in integrating cutting edge science with indigenous ecological knowledge.
We are so grateful to Felix for telling our story in such a unique and visual way!
Comments