Bioluminescent water that glows brilliantly to the human eye, but nearly disappears on camera. Why is something so spectacular so difficult to film?
In this special crossover episode from our sister podcast Green Frequency, environmental filmmaker and researcher Dr. Isabelle Carbonell takes us to Bio Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico, one of the brightest bioluminescent bays on Earth.
Through the science of bioluminescence and the history of underwater cinema, we explore how marine organisms produce light, why cameras struggle to capture it, and what happens when the ocean resists our attempts to make it visible.
But there's more to this story than filmmaking. From the colonial history and military contamination of Vieques to questions of environmental justice, perception, and wonder, Dr. Carbonell challenges us to think about what it really means to see, understand, and protect the ocean.
Episode Guest:Dr. Isabelle Carbonell
Discover more of Dr. Carbonell's work on herwebsite.
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Production Credits
Audio Editing: Clark Marchese
Video Editing: Madelyn Choi Weir
Videography and Set Design:Le Studio Du Passage
Cover Art: Jomiro Eming
Theme Music:Nela Ruiz
Originally produced for Green Frequency, a Pine Forest Media podcast, with support from the American University of Paris.
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Episode Guests: Dr. Isabelle Carbonell
Listen to Pine Forest Media’s NEWEST PODCAST GREEN FREQUENCY
Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website
Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia
Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese
Cover art by Jomiro Eming
Theme music by Nela Ruiz
Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below
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Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
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