Each year I spend a week shooting a cruise in the Caribbean. I spend the majority of my time working shooting the Holistic Holiday at Sea which is a vegan/macrobiotic program aboard the ship for that week that involves lectures and classes from the worlds top authorities in health, nutrition, yoga, meditation and lots of other stuff. But for the past two years, I’ve used my free time to focus on the cruise culture outside of the holistic holiday at sea. A cruise ship is a very interesting place to study humans, and that is exactly the purpose of this projects. It is a study of strange human behavior that in general we have come to accept as normal, but in this series, I’m asking you to look again. The structure itself is very strange and says a lot about what many humans value. I also spent time shooting some of the ports which cater to the cruise crowd, which I find just as interesting.
This is not meant to be a criticism of humans, just a curious look at why we do the things we do. Why do we create simulations of an ocean right beside the ocean. Why do we enjoy standing in a line and waving our hands back and forth as directed by a tan Italian dude in white shorts?
I’m including some from last year that I already posted on the blog because I wanted to share the complete series as it stands now.
Great look at a peculiar phenomena. Ultimately, I’m ready to get back on board. Bahama next year?
Great work, I love how you always incorporate at least one person into the shots of the cruise ship. Or better yet, I love it when there’s only one person. Like the photo of the guy floating with the water slides in front of him (cruise prject004). Really nice. Also the single woman reflection shot with the water slides is super nice.
damn, these really rock my world. the first photo is incredible.
amazing, incredilbe, and a little overwhelming. i really dig the first picture.
first and the last image are killer indeed. maybe you should get this job and expand your cruise repertoire: http://www.aljazeerajobs.com/jobs/vacancies/Bahrain/Photographic-Staff-onboard-Cruise-ships-282949.html
All and all I love this set because you’ve spent time on it. Can’t wait to see it develop over the years. It’s going to be so solid.
Great set, Mike. In addition to the first photo, I especially liked the old couple sitting in the chairs and the one before it (#13 and 14), and the next one (with the clown) made me laugh out loud.
Have you ever read the essay by David Foster Wallace where goes on a cruise? In the book “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.” I think you’d relate….
Great pix.
Black and white can be so powerful… Great pics!