OUr Team
Shawn Heinrichs is an Emmy Award winning cinematographer, photographer, scuba diver, and marine conservationist. An independent filmmaker and founder of Blue Sphere Media, he has worked with leading film and journalist teams including CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Yann Arthus Bertrand, Dan Rather, and National Geographic and delivered projects for many of the top marine conservation organizations including WildAid, Shark Savers, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy and Pew Environment Group.
As an investigative conservation journalist, Shawn has gone undercover to expose stories in some of the most remote or challenging locations and his work has provided a rare view of the people and some of the more disturbing elements of the endangered species trade. His investigative footage and images have been used as centerpieces for documentaries and campaigns reaching hundreds of millions of people. In his drive to spread the word, Shawn has published numerous conservation articles and given presentations on marine conservation to audiences across the globe.
Key areas of Shawn’s conservation focus include ending the global slaughter of sharks, protecting manta and mobula rays, and establishing marine protected areas. He is a key member of team that has been creating marine protected areas in Raja Ampat, the heart of the Coral Triangle. As part of a special coalition, he is working to establish shark sanctuaries and shark fin legislation across the Pacific, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Recent wins in Raja Ampat, Hawaii, Saipan, Bahamas, and Guam attest to the importance of this endeavor. And as Project Lead for Manta Ray of Hope, the team has launched a global study, campaign, and documentary to address severe and escalating threat to manta and mobula rays. Shawn serves on the International Board of WildAid, on the Board of Shark Savers, is an Associate Director of Manta Trust, and an Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).
In recognition of Shawn’s hands-on approach to marine conservation, he was presented the 2011 Oris Sea Hero of the Year award.
As an investigative conservation journalist, Shawn has gone undercover to expose stories in some of the most remote or challenging locations and his work has provided a rare view of the people and some of the more disturbing elements of the endangered species trade. His investigative footage and images have been used as centerpieces for documentaries and campaigns reaching hundreds of millions of people. In his drive to spread the word, Shawn has published numerous conservation articles and given presentations on marine conservation to audiences across the globe.
Key areas of Shawn’s conservation focus include ending the global slaughter of sharks, protecting manta and mobula rays, and establishing marine protected areas. He is a key member of team that has been creating marine protected areas in Raja Ampat, the heart of the Coral Triangle. As part of a special coalition, he is working to establish shark sanctuaries and shark fin legislation across the Pacific, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Recent wins in Raja Ampat, Hawaii, Saipan, Bahamas, and Guam attest to the importance of this endeavor. And as Project Lead for Manta Ray of Hope, the team has launched a global study, campaign, and documentary to address severe and escalating threat to manta and mobula rays. Shawn serves on the International Board of WildAid, on the Board of Shark Savers, is an Associate Director of Manta Trust, and an Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).
In recognition of Shawn’s hands-on approach to marine conservation, he was presented the 2011 Oris Sea Hero of the Year award.
John Weller is an acclaimed writer and photographer, and works to drive marine conservation around the world. An impassioned observer of nature, he followed a path through the Colorado desert to the waters of the Antarctic. He started The Last Ocean Project with Antarctic ecologist David Ainley in 2004, and began working towards conservation of the Ross Sea, Antarctica as a SeaWeb Fellow in 2005.
After four trips to Antarctica, including three months of diving under the ice as a guest of the United States Antarctic Program, Weller compiled a library of Ross Sea photographs that has been published in many dozens of magazines; used by conservation organizations to publicize the Ross Sea all over the world; and showcased at the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
John's latest book, The Last Ocean, has received top reviews from The New York Times, Scientific American, and other publications. John has worked closely with scientists, policy-makers, and conservation organizations invested in the Ross Sea, and he helped solidify the coalition of NGO’s fighting for Ross Sea protection. He also co-founded The Last Ocean Charitable Trust with David Ainley and New Zealand filmmaker Peter Young in 2007.
Weller was named a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation in 2009. He continues to work in defense of the Ross Sea and for other critically important marine conservation measures alongside a team of close collaborators and his wife Cassandra Brooks. He is currently a fellow of the Safina Center.
AS A TEAM, John and Shawn have worked together for 5 years to deliver media campaigns in support of critical conservation initiatives around the globe.
After four trips to Antarctica, including three months of diving under the ice as a guest of the United States Antarctic Program, Weller compiled a library of Ross Sea photographs that has been published in many dozens of magazines; used by conservation organizations to publicize the Ross Sea all over the world; and showcased at the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
John's latest book, The Last Ocean, has received top reviews from The New York Times, Scientific American, and other publications. John has worked closely with scientists, policy-makers, and conservation organizations invested in the Ross Sea, and he helped solidify the coalition of NGO’s fighting for Ross Sea protection. He also co-founded The Last Ocean Charitable Trust with David Ainley and New Zealand filmmaker Peter Young in 2007.
Weller was named a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation in 2009. He continues to work in defense of the Ross Sea and for other critically important marine conservation measures alongside a team of close collaborators and his wife Cassandra Brooks. He is currently a fellow of the Safina Center.
AS A TEAM, John and Shawn have worked together for 5 years to deliver media campaigns in support of critical conservation initiatives around the globe.
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TEAM MEMBERS
We are honored to work with some of the best people in the business. The Guardians of Raja Ampat Tour would not have been possible without the help of Angela Beer, Mark Erdmann, The CI Team, The Kalabia Team, Hunter Nolan, Ben Newton and Candace Crespi. |
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