Africa Gathering hits DC this weekend

by Elizabeth Seward on

If you have never heard of Africa Gathering, now is as good a time as any to hear of it. I never knew what Africa Gathering was until this past weekend when I stumbled across a post on Tumblr referencing it and proceeded to do some research. Africa Gathering is self-described as “A platform dedicated in featuring Africans, friends of Africa to improve their visibility, make them more credibility and ultimately profitable. We help to boost the visibility of innovative, and creative individuals doing something in Africa”.

Africa Gathering provides a space wherein anyone interested can come together and discuss positive changes that can, already are, and/or should continue to take place in Africa. The event is not only a place to meet like-minded folks interested in the development of this beautiful continent, but the event itself is a way to personally influence the future of Africa. Through a joining of minds, funds, and energy, actual positive change in Africa is the goal of Africa Gathering. For those of you who cherish this great part of our world, Africa Gathering will take place in Washington D.C. this weekend. The event will take place on November 4th & 5th. More information and tickets are available on the Africa Gathering website.

Video of the Day – Paraglider collides with vulture

by Stephen Greenwood on

It’s been a wild month for ‘animals vs. adventurers’ on Gadling. First, there was the antelope that tackled a cyclist harder than any NFL linebacker could, then there was the kayaker that got up close and personal with a blue whale, and finally, the South African motorcyclist that saved a calf from drowning in a canal.

Today’s battle? An incredible video from Russian YouTube user Paravoffka, captured as he was paragliding high above the Indian Himalayas. Midway through his flight, a Himalayan Griffon Vulture became entangled in the slings of the main chute, causing Paravoffka to drop through the air like a rock (with an eagle clawing at it).

Luckily, Paravoffka deployed the emergency chute, which allowed him to regain enough control to crash land in a tree, breaking his fall and eventually allowing him to free the vulture. Incredible footage and a great example of another extreme situation handled well under pressure.

Have you battled any forces of nature recently? We want proof! Submit pictures to our Gadling Flickr Pool and leave video links in the comments section below. It could be our next Photo/Video of the Day!

Video: One girl’s solo hike through Iceland

by Jessica Festa on

In the summer of 2011, Austrian photographer and cinematographer Klara Harden hiked solo through Iceland. During the expedition she worked on a film project, documenting the entire journey and acting as her own film crew. The images are breathtaking as she shows varied scenery of mountains, brooks, terrain, valleys, glaciers, volcanoes, homes, and more during her 25-day expedition.


MADE IN ICELAND from Klara Harden on Vimeo.

Meet Take A View’s Landscape Photographer of The Year: Robert Fulton

by Elizabeth Seward on

Robert Fulton considers himself to be a ‘serious amateur’ photographer, but I think he’s just being modest, which is a perfectly decent way to be. But despite whatever might qualify Fulton as an amateur photographer, his work feels professional to me. Fulton was recently awarded the ‘Landscape Photographer of The Year’ title from www.take-a-view.co.uk. 10,000 British Pounds later, Fulton is only the fifth person to win this accolade.

His imagery is wet. When I sit still and soak in the scenes from his landscape shots in the slideshow on his website, I feel immersed in the respective places, immersed as if in water, with the colors draping over my own skin. And no matter how poetic I think photography is, this sort of arousal in a viewer isn’t an easy one to work up. Fulton’s images make one thing certain: he is a landscape photographer head over heels in love with nature. And isn’t that the way it should be?

For anyone interested in seeing his photography in person, his award-winning landscape series will be on display at The National Theatre in London from December 5th, 2011 until January 28th, 2012. Admission is free and the exhibition will feature over 100 photos taken by Fulton.

Divers can experience coral spawning in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia this November

by Jessica Festa on

In 1981, the first scientific observation of coral spawning took place. Coral spawning can be thought of as a coral orgy or sex on the Great Barrier Reef, with the process beginning six months prior when eggs and sperm begin to form in the coral. Certain factors must be present for the coral spawning to take place, such as water temperatures being 27 degrees Celsius and a full moon (the spawning with occur from the 2nd to 6th night following).

If you want to see coral spawning for yourself first-hand, visit Queensland, Australia, from November 15-17th, 2011 and signup for a night dive. While the dates are not 100% guaranteed, it is predicted that this is when the coral spawning will occur this year. Want to check it out from the comfort of your computer chair? Watch this video: