Скачать или смотреть Mentawai Shamans - Indonesia's real survivalists

Alison asked if I could bring the Red camera to shoot in Indonesia, and I had two requests. One was to dive on scuba with the Manta Rays, thinking the 5k Red footage would look amazing as these gentle giants glide along, and the other was to spend time with the Shamans in the Mentawai Islands. This was actually on the itinerary, I just wanted to confirm we’d be doing this as I packed 120 kgs into my Qantas Gold ‘please don’t break my shit’ airport shuffle smile.

Reaching the village was the start of our overnight paradoxical mission. A three hour panga boat trip up the river in monsoonal rain immediately greeted us with smiling kids filming us on their iPhones and wearing Nike, not exactly the remote start we had imagined, and their thatched huts replaced by government supported houses which were easier to maintain (while slowly but surely removing traditional roots from the village).

The first Shaman we met was the last of his generation, which was disappointing as he was only in his 50’s, we’d learn the generation below weren’t interested in continuing their ways. We walked to the waterfall and spent some time as the sun set, just chatting and slowing ourselves down after the boat ride. On dark we were greeted by two of the last five Shaman elders, who were happy to talk well into the night and confuse us tourists. Wearing watches that didn’t work and bumbags that didn’t close, they were a walking symbolism of western culture encroaching eastern; poison tipped arrows wore nicely next to their Eagle River fanny packs.

Even though our trip was cut short the next day it was humbling to spend time with true jungle men, I’d heard it mentioned before that if the Internet died tomorrow the developed countries would falter while the developing countries would continue as usual; I just hope somewhere along the way the Shaman’s knowledge is being passed down through the generations and not lost with our reliance on technology.

Red Epic MX 5K 90fps / Canon FD Primes

Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Director : Alison Teal
DP : Mark Tipple

Website : www.marktipple.com
Socials : www.instagram.com/marktipple

Mark is a documentary film maker and photographer living in Moana Beach, South Australia, and travels worldwide on assignment.

'A life in the ocean has taught me lessons I couldn’t learn on land, both inspiring and humbling. Drawing on these lessons help bring stories to life in a soft and honest way, giving people my respect and time to let their stories shine.'

Smile and say thanks, often.
The Ocean both scares and comforts me.
Happy people are fun.
Love. Life.

Credentials :
PADI Rescue Diver
CASA ReOC + RePL Drone Certified

Education :
University of Wollongong
Sydney Film School

Clients include : National Geographic, The Australian, The BBC, Discovery Channel, Tourism Australia, Coopers, Jane Goodall Institute, Salvation Army, World Expeditions

Cameras :
Red Epic Dragon 6k
Canon C300 mkii 4k
Lenses :
Sigma Art Zooms
Sigma Art Primes
Helios 35 & 58
Canon CN-E 18-80mm