Feodor Pitcairn

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Feodor Pitcairn
BornJuly 13, 1934
NationalityAmerican
OccupationFine Art Landscape Photographer
Notable workExhibits "Iceland Revealed: Primordial Landscapes," "Ocean Odyssey" Books: Cayman: Underwater Paradise, Hidden Seascapes, Dreaming Wild in the Heart of the Pennypack, Primordial Landscapes: Iceland Revealed
Awards2008 Best of Nature - Jules Verne Film Festival
2008 Best Cinematography - International Wildlife Film Festival
Best of 3D - BLUE Ocean Film Festival

Feodor Pitcairn (July 13, 1934 – May 13, 2021[1] ) was an American photographer, cinematographer, naturalist, environmentalist, and ocean conservation advocate.

Life and work[edit]

Photographing nature since his teens, Pitcairn was deeply influenced by a trip to Africa in 1951.[2] Pitcairn was a pioneer in the use of digital cameras for underwater cinematography.[3] He was the photographer for a series of five documentaries “Ocean Wilds” (2001) which aired on The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).[4] Pitcairn is noted for his HD film Ocean Odyssey, commissioned for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., projected onto eight screens surrounding Sant Ocean Hall from 2008 to 2016.[5] Pitcairn’s photographs from his published work Primordial Landscapes: Iceland Revealed were featured in a major installation at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History lasting two years.[6][7][8][9] This exhibit focusing on Iceland was in connection with the U.S. taking on the role of chair in the Arctic Council, an international effort addressing issues of the region.[10]

In 2013, Pitcairn established the Landscapes for Life & Healing initiative, which aims to install nature images into medical facilities in order to soothe the patients and employees within the high-stress environment.[11][12][13] Landscapes for Life & Healing installations have been completed in Abington Hospital–Jefferson Health, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Philadelphia, and Asplundh Cancer Pavilion.[11]

Exhibitions[edit]

  • "Galapagos: Born of the Sea", Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History before touring for four years as a Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit 1981[14]
  • Ocean Odyssey, a high definition film projected onto eight screens surrounding Sant Ocean Hall, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History 2008[15]
  • Photographic displays in three locations at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Portola Hotel, Monterey, California, 2012
  • Fine art prints (140 prints) from Feo Pitcairn Fine Art, commissioned by Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, Pennsylvania, 2013
  • “Polaris: Northern Explorations in Contemporary Art”, James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, January 14, 2017 – April 23, 2017[16]
  • “Iceland Revealed: Primordial Landscapes” (featuring 43 of Feodor Pitcairn’s images with poetic and geological texts written by Ari Trausti Guðmundsson), Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., July 2, 2015 – April 2017[17]

Television and film[edit]

  • 2001 Ocean Wilds by Feodor Pitcairn Productions (5-part mini-series on television)[18]
  • 2007 Ocean Voyagers, narrated by Meryl Streep[19]
  • 2008 Ocean Odyssey, HD film from the installation at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
  • 2010 Ocean Voyagers re-released in 3D with PassmoreLab

Photography books[edit]

  • Cayman: Underwater Paradise (Reef Dwellers Press, 1979, ISBN 0960253009; ISBN 978-0960253005)
  • Primordial Landscapes: Iceland Revealed (powerHouse Books, 2015, ISBN 9781576877807)

Awards[edit]

Environmental work[edit]

  • Director Emeritus, Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust[3]

Family[edit]

Feodor Pitcairn is one of nine children born to Theodore Pitcairn and Maryke Pitcairn. He is the grandson of PPG Industries founder John Pitcairn and his wife Gertrude. Concert violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn is his niece. Feodor Pitcairn married Kirstin Odhner (July 12, 1935 - October 3, 2008) and together they had four children.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Feodor Pitcairn
  2. ^ van Schagen, Sarah (August 25, 2012). "5 Questions With Underwater Photographer Feo Pitcairn". www.oceanconservancy.org. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Board & Staff". pennypacktrust.org. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  4. ^ Jacques, Peter and; Smith, Zachary A. (2003). Ocean Politics and Policy: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, Inc. p. 251.
  5. ^ "The Ocean Comes to the Mall". www.noaa.gov. September 25, 2008. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  6. ^ Donnelly-Smith, Laura (June 30, 2015). "Primordial Landscapes: Iceland Revealed". nmnh.typepad.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "The Smithsonian Unveils its Exhibition "Primordial Landscapes: Iceland Revealed". www.icelandnaturally.com. July 2, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  8. ^ Crowder, Nicole (July 3, 2015). "Fire, ice and the raw beauty of Iceland's otherworldly landscape". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  9. ^ Skirble, Rosanne (August 5, 2015). "'Primordial Landscapes' Echo Nature's Power". www.voanews.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  10. ^ Reut, Jennifer (July 7, 2015). "Songs of Ice and Fire". Landscape Architecture Magazine: 146–153.
  11. ^ a b "Feodor Pitcairn - Fine Art Photographer, Cinematographer, Conservationist". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "Feo Pitcairn — Blazing Editions". www.blazing.com. July 24, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "Landscapes for Life & Healing - Feo Pitcairn Fine Art Photography". www.feopitcairnfineart.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Ostrow, Joanne (July 24, 1981). "Focusing on Photo Shows". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  15. ^ Schmid, Randolph E. (September 25, 2008). "New Smithsonian Ocean Hall opens Saturday". nbcnews.com. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  16. ^ "Polaris: Northern Explorations in Contemporary Art". www.michenerartmuseum.org. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  17. ^ "Exhibitions". naturalhistory.si.edu. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "Ocean Wilds: The Journeys of Feodor Pitcairn". IMDb. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  19. ^ "Ocean Voyagers". IMDb. Retrieved March 2, 2017.

External links[edit]