Okefenokee Blackwater Swamp

Deep in the South, on the border of Georgia and Florida, lies  the Okefenokee Swamp — the largest blackwater swamp in the United States. Its dark color is the product of years of slow-moving water filtering through vegetation and decay. This bog’s blackwaters are perfectly reflective — as we move through pond cypress stands we see their slim trunks mirrored in the swamp. The occasional alligator floats along the surface, silently waiting. Along the shores lie the rusted metal remnants of the Suwanee Canal Company’s attempts to dredge the swamp in 1891. The bright green of the lily pads is tempered by the darkness of once-charred bald cypress trees, which have been the victims of various forest fires. Eventually, everything fades to black shadows as the sun drops beneath the marsh. The thin lines of trees contrast with the sharp angles of the palmetto leaves.

This is one episode of the television series BIG PICTURE EARTH. Inspired by the Walt Whitman poem "There Was A Child Went Forth," this 20 x 30 minute series takes viewers on a visual exploration of the most majestic spaces on the planet, engaging both the detail and the big picture vistas in these spectacular destinations.  The series is available for domestic and international audiences via on-demand streaming on CuriosityStream, in 4k resolution (twice that of HD television). The editorial style and pacing is slow and relaxed, constantly moving like a child, like a bird, like a bee.  There are no actors, no narration, no music, no spoken words at all.