Johanna Basford
Johanna Basford is an illustrator and ink evangelist who prefers pens and pencils to pixels. She grew up on a fish farm in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland where with her little sister, she had a very ‘free range’ childhood. In 2005, after graduating from Textile Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, she interned for a while before making the move to set-up her own studio. Initially she made hand printed wallpaper and small collections of home accessories, but the recession hit. Business was tricky and it forced her to realise her heart wasn’t in manufacturing and selling, it was in drawing. She shut the studio, sold all her equipment and set-up as a freelance Illustrator from a little desk in the corner of a 1 bedroom flat. She worked 2 part time jobs to pay the bills and drew the rest of the time. She took the overnight bus to London on her days off to trawl round the offices of Art Directors and Commissioning Editors with her portfolio. She called these her ‘Commission Missions’. She ignored advice to ‘diversify’ her portfolio. Her signature style of hand drawn, black and white artwork paid off and earned her a list of freelance clients ranging from Nike to Absolut Vodka and Smart Car to Chipotle. In late 2011 she was approached by a publisher to make a colouring book for children. She loved the colouring book idea, but wanted to do something a bit different. Her pitch for a sophisticated, grown up colouring book seemed a little odd at that time, but she drew up the first 5 pages, sent them over and got the thumbs up. In spring 2013 Secret Garden was launched. 4 years later, she has sold over 21 million books worldwide in over 40 countries. These days she spends her time in the studio flitting between creating artwork for her books, dreaming up ideas for new products to be emblazoned with her black and white artwork and of course, organising all those pens and pencils!
3 words to describe Nature?
Beautiful. Inspiring. Soothing
3 things Nature taught you?
Weeds are just wildflowers in unexpected places.
Seasons and weather come and go, you just have to dress appropriately!
Delight in imperfections!
3 most treasured Nature spots?
The Forest at the foot of Goatfell on Isle of Arran
Bennachie – our highest peak in Aberdeenshire, surrounded by beautiful woodlands
The Bluebell Woods near my childhood home – their exact location is secret (!) but in the spring time the carpet of blue blooms and the heavenly scent they create is a treasure!
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Overwhelmed. It’s so vast! My husband was a North Atlantic Fisherman when we met 13 years ago and would spend weeks out at sea. When I saw big waves, I knew to be anxious!
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Curious! I grew up puddling about in the woods near our home and found them to be fertile ground for a child with a wild imagination! As a mother, I now take my own kids to the woods to play – we search for treasures, make dens, look out for fairies and build dams in the small burns that run through the trees. A forest is a glorious playground for the imagination!
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Scared! I’m a bit of a wimp and massively risk adverse. I wouldn’t be able to see a volcano without having flashbacks to school lessons about Pompeii! I can’t imagine ever being inclined to see an active one in person…!
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
So, so calm. I love that hour at the start and end of the day when the air is still and quiet. It feels so magical. We live in the countryside and at certain times of the year we get huge groups of starlings swarming over the fields around our house at dusk. It’s truly spectacular.
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Excited! I’ve always loved thunder and lightning, even as a child! I lie in bed counting the seconds between the rumbles and flashes. My Gran told me this tells you how far away the storm is… I’m not sure it’s entirely accurate, but I still do it!
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Fresh! I’m a big fan of the ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing’ line of thought. If I’m outside in a howling gale you can bet I’m well wrapped up, cosy and waterproof! But I love the feeling of being buffeted along by the wind and having it blasting in your face - it makes me feel alive in the very best kind of way.
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
Forest. Without a doubt.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
11. It’s my reset button. When life is chaotic, pausing to be in the garden, walk in the woods, stare up at the moon – these are the ways I recalibrate and recharge. Living in cities has never appealed to me. A country girl through and through, I find my wellbeing and mental health suffers when I spend long periods of time away from green, wild places with natural beautiful and fresh air.
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
I grew up on a fish farm in rural Aberdeenshire and had a very ‘free range’ childhood. My sister and I would spend long summer evenings playing in the woods that surrounded our home whilst our parents worked on the farm.
Those hazy nights, when the air was thick with the coconut scent of gorse flowers were magical. We’d ride our bikes through the trails, then spend hours building imaginary farms, houses and gardens amongst the broom. We didn’t need toys, we built props from the things we found – stones, leaves, twigs, pinecones. I distinctly remember building a chicken shed for my imaginary flock of hens.
That kind of untethered, imaginative play is something I dearly hope my own children are lucky enough to experience as I know it’s the place where so much joy and curiosity in my own life is rooted.
Enric Sala
photo credit Manu San Félix
Dr. Enric Sala is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence dedicated to restoring the health and productivity of the ocean. His more than 120 scientific publications are widely recognized and used for real-world conservation efforts such as the creation of marine reserves. Enric is currently working to help protect the last pristine marine ecosystems worldwide, and to develop new business models for marine conservation. He founded and leads National Geographic’s Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research, and media to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 13 of the largest marine reserves on the planet, covering an area of over 4.5 million square kilometers.
Enric has received many awards including 2008 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, 2013 Research Award from the Spanish Geographical Society, 2013 Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorers Club, and a 2013 Hero Award from the Environmental Media Association. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Enric’s experience and scientific expertise contributes to his service on advisory boards of international organizations and governments.
3 words to describe Nature?
Life. Support. System
3 things Nature taught you?
Magic
Wonder
Purpose
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Millennium Atoll (Kiribati)
Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
Any ancient forest
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Infinite
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Blessed
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Amazed
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Alive
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Humble
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
It depends if I’m on land or at sea! I prefer not to hear that when I’m at sea.
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
All of them, even though my work has been mostly on oceans
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
First time I saw a starfish in the Mediterranean of my childhood while I was doing my first attempts at snorkeling. It was the most beautiful thing I saw, and memory that still lives with me.
Steve Schwartz
Steve Schwartz (along with his wife Paula Mae) are principals of the production company, Chockstone Pictures.
They are producers on THE COUNSELOR (directed by Ridley Scott, starring Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt); THE ROAD (starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron); and KILLING THEM SOFTLY (starring Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini), among other feature films. THE ROAD was nominated for a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and KILLING THEM SOFTLY was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Steve and Paula Mae were co-executive producers of THE TREE OF LIFE (directed by Terrence Malick), which won the Palme d’Or and was nominated for Best Picture, Academy Awards.
They were producers on Deaf West Theatre’s musical revival of SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, which garnered three Tony and four Drama Desk nominations. Their documentary short—HOMELESS: THE SOUNDTRACK—had its world premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, where it received Special Jury Mention.
Among current film projects, Steve is developing a climbing movie—WHITE OUT--based on a story by mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner.
In 1990, Steve and his wife Paula Mae co-founded a technology marketing agency, Schwartz Communications, which was named to the Inc 500 List of the fastest-growing private companies three times, and was acquired by Publicis.
Previously, he had been CEO Jack Welch’s speechwriter at GE.
An avid hiker, climber and kayaker, Steve has served on the boards of the American Alpine Club, the Appalachian Mountain Club and Bowdoin College.
3 words to describe Nature?
Fun. Majestic. Fulfilling.
3 things Nature taught you?
Adventure
Humility
Reverence for all life
3 most treasured Nature spots?
White Mountains of New Hampshire
New England coastal waters
The Alps
Santa Monica Mountains (Southern California). I couldn’t leave those out!!
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel…?
For decades, I’ve been fortunate to live in places where I could look out at either the Atlantic or the Pacific, connecting me to nature, rather than the creations of humanity. I feel good about that.
When you see a forest, it makes you feel…?
Happy, but sometimes wish for a bigger view.
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel…?
When I hiked up Haleakala, I experienced its otherworldly beauty and power.
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel…?
I’m usually happier to see the sunrise—the dawn of a new day—rather than the setting sun. But maybe that’s a function of age.
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel…?
If I’m in the mountains…anxious.
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel…?
Again, depends on where I am. If I’m home in Malibu, high winds create fire concerns. In a kayak, you know you’re in for more exercise. If I’m walking in a city, howling winds are a welcome connection to nature.
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
I’m a split personality: mountains and ocean.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10, for sure.
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
I grew up in a big city and my earliest nature memory was walking alongside Wissahickon Creek in northwest Philadelphia. I had remarkably few encounters with nature until I started hiking and camping with a girlfriend in my twenties and, as “reformed rakes often make the best husbands,” I went on to become a nature freak. Since we started our own companies, and thus had more control over our lives, I spent as much time outdoors as possible. And today, when I’m inside, I want to be outside. When I’m in nature, I’m happy. Even in a cave.
Sven-Olof Lindblad
Sven-Olof Lindblad, founder of Lindblad Expeditions, was born in Switzerland. He traveled extensively with his father, renowned adventure-travel pioneer Lars-Eric Lindblad, who led the first non-scientific groups of travelers to Antarctica (1966). In 1979 he launched Special Expeditions, the adventure travel company that became Lindblad Expeditions. In 2004, Lindblad formed a strategic alliance with National Geographic that combines the strengths of two pioneers in global exploration, with the goal of inspiring people to explore and care about the planet.
Lindblad’s personal experience led to a commitment to environmentally responsible travel, which has resulted in numerous travel and environmental awards. He received international recognition for his innovative and successful model of tourism, receiving the “Commandeur de Notre Ordre de Merite Civil et Militaire d’Adolphe de Nassau” from Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg at the Grand-Ducal Place. He also had a newly discovered endemic species of moth in the Galapagos Islands, Undulambia lindbladi, named in honor of his conservation work.
Sven is an honorary member of the General Assembly of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands. He serves on the Board of The Safina Center, and on the Board of Trustees of Rare; is a founding Ocean Elder of the non-profit organization, Ocean Elders, which brings together global leaders to pursue the protection of the ocean’s habitat and wildlife, and serves on the Board of Advisors for Pristine Seas.
3 words to describe Nature?
Awesome. Remarkable. Essential
3 things Nature taught you?
Reverence
Respect
Joy
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Antarctica
Galapagos
Serengeti
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Serene
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Happy
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Amazed
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Peaceful
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Excited
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Soothed
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
All
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10 and more
Share with us a childhood nature memory.
First encountering a fin whale in a zodiac at very close range. Fear, wonder, awe all colliding as the experience unfolded.
Michael Rosenblum
For more than 30 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital ‘videojournalist’ and Citizen News revolution.
During this time, he's led a drive for video literacy, and the Democratization of Video and Video news. His work includes: the complete transitioning of the BBC's national network (UK) to a Vj-driven model, starting in 2002; the complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State’s Government’s broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the ‘VJ” paradigm (1998-present); the design behind Current TV in partnership with former US VP Al Gore; the construction of a national hyperlocal citizen journalist network with Verizon; and the construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US.
He has partnered with a number of major media companies including The Guardian (UK), USA Today, New York Magazine, The Travel Channel and others to create video ‘Academies’ where anyone can learn to report, shoot, edit and produce video on their own.
In 2009 he co-founded TheVJ.com, along with his wife, Lisa Lambden, an online video training site.
He has also designed, built and implemented VJ-driven news channels around the world, including Time/Warner’s New York 1, Associated Newspapers (UK) London based Channel 1, Young Broadcasting stations in the US, Switzerland’s largest commercial TV broadcaster, TeleZuri, as well as a host of smaller projects such as Eritrea’s ERI-TV and Sri Lanka’s SLBC. His consulting clients include The BBC, McGraw-Hill, TV-24/Germany, TV4/Sweden, Oxygen Media, National Public Radio, Danmarks Radio (DK), TV-3 Sweden, Norway & Denmark, Tokyo Broadcasting, Korea Broadcasting.
As a producer, Rosenblum has produced or overseen production on more than 3000 hours of programming for both network and cable. His shows have included the long-running TRAUMA: LIFE IN THE ER, Paramedics, Police Force, Labor and Delivery, Science Times. These series have aired on TLC, Showtime and National Geographic. He has also produced for ABC, CBS, Oxygen and the BBC. Most recently his groundbreaking 5Takes series for Discovery has completely rewritten the production paradigm. The company currently has more than 350 hours in production for this year alone.
He has conducted his unique VJ training classes and boot camps all over the world, from Thailand to Marrakech, and has lectured extensively both overseas and in the US. He recently entered into a partnership with Discovery Communications to set up the Travel Channel Academy, a national training facility open to anyone. For 8 years he was an adjunct professor of communication at New York University, where he taught “Television and the Information Revolution”, a course of his own design and at The Bauhaus in Germany. Prior to that he taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. His Brussels based Rosenblum Institute trains European journalists to work as vjs. He is the author of Videojournalismus (germany) and iPhone Millionaire (McGraw Hill, 2013).
He and his wife live both in New York and in the UK and teach at Oxford University in Britain.
3 words to describe Nature?
Real. Unmediated. Honest
3 things Nature taught you?
Who I was
Who I am
Who I could be
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Coast of England at Northumbria
Middle of Sahara Desert
Lamu, Kenya
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel…?
Humble
When you see a forest, it makes you feel…?
Connected
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel…?
Terrified
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel…?
Grateful
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel…?
Alive
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel…?
Connected
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
Ocean
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
When I was about 10 years old, my father had a friend named Eddie Durban who had a wood Lightning sailboat - 19 foot. No motor. One day, he took me out for a sail and we turned up into a series of small estuaries that ran in the wetlands that are now almost gone on the East Coast. The boat was silent, but it ghosted along, and as we drifted in the marsh, the whole place around us seemed alive and vibrant.