If a human sees an estimated 25 million images in an average lifetime, iconic wildlife photographer Frans Lanting has probably seen double that. Lanting, known worldwide, lives quietly just outside of Santa Cruz with his partner in life and work, Chris Eckstrom. They’ve spent decades traversing the globe for National Geographic, and spend much of their “free time” leading expeditions in locations such as Antarctica. But now the couple is pulling focus on what exists in their literal and figurative backyard—the greater Monterey Bay region as revealed in their startlingly beautiful “Bay of Life” project. In “Bay of Life,” they show us what is right in front of our eyes, but mostly unseen. “We’re inspired by the beauty and the diversity of the Monterey Bay. Chris and I have been world travelers for decades, so we look at Monterey Bay, both as local residents—we’ve been here for a long time—but we are also able to look at it from a global perspective. We’ve long known that this place is really unique,” says Lanting. The project includes a breathtaking book, exhibits and educational programs all around the bay.
The Monterey Bay, its bordering mountains, and finger-like valleys are home to such an astounding amount of life—be it winged-creatures, fish, land or marine mammals—that it’s left the dynamic duo stunned. “Monterey Bay is the hottest hot spot for biodiversity in all of North America, and that’s based on science from the Nature Conservancy. We have a diversity of plants and animals that is unparalleled. You can travel all the way from the shores of the Monterey Bay to the East Coast, and not see anything that compares. It’s a combination of the marine resources and the land resources—it’s off the charts,” says Lanting.
Lanting and Eckstrom have been making magic together since 1989 after a friend introduced the staff writer and photographer while both were working for National Geographic. “We actually met in the National Geographic cafeteria where all sorts of interesting people turn up,” Eckstrom says. “We’ve been together ever since.” Lanting is behind the lens, and Eckstrom provides the words and video content for their projects. Lanting uses the word “we” to describe all the work that bears his name. The first book they created together is called “Forgotten Edens,” and the pair feels their “Bay of Life” project brings the concept full circle. “We are wanting to inspire people to treasure this region which we consider to be an Eden, as well,” Eckstrom explains. “Don’t you think a lot of people who are privileged to live here regard it as such?” Lanting adds. “It’s not a place that is pristine, because there’s a million people who live in the larger Monterey Bay Region, but we’ve cultivated a relationship with the natural world that has been very nurturing. I’m not saying there are no big environmental issues, but we’re really on a good path to take care of the place that sustains us.”
To fully appreciate the gravity of Lanting and Eckstrom’s enthusiasm for the greater Monterey Bay, consider where they’ve worked over the last several decades: The Amazon, Africa, Australia, Antarctica. Every continent—several times. Lanting alone has been photographing nature since the 1970s. The resulting images are so poignant, they’ve put formerly little-known locations on the map. Take Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a place teeming with everything from elephants to leopards, but even Lanting’s eye-level shots of humble water lilies will take your breath away. From the scary to the sublime, the dainty to the downright dirty, he’s been close enough to feel its breath. On first glance, people could argue that his photographs are paintings. He’s that good.
The global rovers had just cleared their calendars when the international pandemic struck. They’d decided that beginning in March of 2020, they’d spend the next couple of years documenting what lives, breathes and lurks in our stunning section of the world. Despite COVID-19 they carried on, observing and interacting with life forms un-touched by the pandemic. What they found enhanced their faith in local conservation efforts, including by the Mon-terey Bay Aquarium MBARI, the Big Sur Land Trust, Watsonville Wetlands Watch and many other local environmental nonprofits. “Old-timers remember that 50 years ago, you would hardly see a whale on the bay. And you would never have a chance to see a mountain lion because their populations were far reduced. All of these species have come back in the last 50 years because of legislation and conservation and education, and those are the things we celebrate,” Lanting explains. “In a simple sense, you have Monterey Bay at the edge of ecological collapse after the Gold Rush period, and then it was brought back, not just because nature is resilient, but because people cared and they acted together. It’s the human dimension around Monterey Bay that makes it ultra special.”
Through Lanting and Eckstrom’s photos, we experience the fruits of many collective labors, and get to look into the green eyes of a mountain lion, or see what appears to be a smile on an elephant seal. “To us, animals are ambassadors for ecosystems, and we make them part of a bigger narrative. How the animals are thriving or not tells us about the health of the environment, and that makes Monterey Bay so special because these big animals that were nearly wiped out, from whales to mountain lions and everything in between, they’ve bounced back because we’ve improved the quality of our environment, and there’s a bigger tolerance to let them live right along side us—so that’s how we look at animals,” Lanting says.
The “Bay of Life” shoots had the beauty to rival any of the most exotic locales, but not as much of the risk. Together, Lanting and Eckstrom have been exposed to angry animals, diseases and the occasional stomach churning pests. “The big animals usually will tell you what their intention is before they become aggressive. Usually when that happens, it’s when we’re not paying close enough attention to their moods. It’s the smaller animals that are more problematic, the insects or other things that can transmit diseases. We’ve had malaria a number of times,” Lanting says. “How about 50 leeches or 100 ticks on your body?” Eckstrom adds with a chuckle, explaining she once picked 120 of the sticky pests from her husband’s back.
If danger and discomfort have come with the territory, so have awe and overwhelming pride. Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom are fully embracing their newest baby, planning future exhibits and in-person talks about “Bay of Life,” and knowing they’ve done something special for those who visit or call this magical region home. “It’s educational, it’s activist in nature. It’s designed to inspire engagement. We conceived of this to connect with people within the region. An important part of that is all the visitors who come to the Monterey Bay,” Lanting says, noting that the goal is to elevate the area for those who love it most.
So whether it’s a shot of a rainbow-laden salmon in a local river that resonates with you, or a tiny-looking surfer braving towering waves, there will be something in “Bay of Life” that will touch you. “We like to tell stories, and by doing that we hope that we can add our voices to the other voices that come from scientists, that come from conservationists, that come from politicians,” Lanting says. “People respond to stories better than they do to facts and figures because we are bombarded by information. Stories are what we remember.”
“Bay of Life” events are coming to the Monterey Peninsula this year. The Monterey Museum of Art will open a “Bay of Life” exhibit in early May, as will CSUMB. Lanting and Eckstrom will present a show about “Bay of Life” on May 7 at Carmel’s Sunset Center, introduced by former Congressman Sam Farr. A charitable Bay of Life Fund, set up by Lanting and Eckstrom at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, is providing grants and support to local environmental nonprofits throughout the Monterey Bay region. It’s truly an inclusive undertaking, and a gift to all of us who live in and visit this unique place.
For more information about “Bay of Life,” visit www.bayoflife.net.