Optic Words

💥 What is it that makes a photographic image indomitable? Ask the collective of professional and amateur photographers at reFocus. The global platform aims to feature the “most exemplary creatives of the time.” A Thai photographer just won their International Photograph of the Year Contest. He took a series of photos showing the “Mudmen” of a tribe in Papa New Guinea. Check out all the incredible winners! https://mymodernmet.com/refocus-awards-2023/?fbclid=IwAR07oE9RX9Fa5RCIpjv3LffidVZYIQhrg5UKCngXZEzmP0vtZQkjR7VbSuk

😮 Somebody else who spends a lot of time with indigenous tribes is Dr. Paul Cox. I use his sustainable skincare products which contribute partial proceeds to tribal villages. https://www.nuskin.com/us/en/search/epoch Dr. Cox is an elite ethnobotanist. He focuses on discovering new medicines by studying the plants that tribes use. His current research? New therapies for Alzheimers and ALS. Dr. Cox’s international consortium just released a film called “Toxic Puzzle” narrated by Harrison Ford. It looks at possible links between Alzheimers and blue/green algae. https://brainchemistrylabs.org/watch-toxic-puzzle 

💨 From maverick science to an avant garde escape, a Russian helicopter pilot became the first in the war to refocus his allegiance. Capt. Maksim Kuzminov worked with Ukraine’s military to fly his Mi-8 helicopter through a safe corridor to Ukraine. He did so through what’s called a “nap of the earth.” That’s basically low altitude flying that can’t be detected by radar. I mention it in my new book, “Solhubod”, as three refugee kids flee from Africa! (btw, it’s coming in Dec/Jan). https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russian-pilot-describes-defection-to-ukraine-urges-others-to-follow-8574d0f7?st=frl5j1ow2rqw6qy

😆 Sometimes your refocus is surprising! This may be one of my all-time favorite tweets of a bear seeing himself in the mirror for the first time! https://twitter.com/fasc1nate/status/1698053176401039524

Haha! That was at the Six Flags Safari in New Jersey! Yep, one of the largest outside Africa! https://www.sixflags.com/wildsafariadventure 

✍️ Keeping with the theme, your book recommendation for today is, “The Bear and the Dragon” by Tom Clancy. It’s been around since 2000 but is uncannily timely! Enjoy and adjust your lens for new inspirations this week!