The Mermaid Myth | Nat Geo Live

while working on a story about manatees

while working on a story about manatees a few years ago I was actually in

a few years ago I was actually in

a few years ago I was actually in Florida shooting in freshwater rivers

Florida shooting in freshwater rivers

Florida shooting in freshwater rivers and springs like Crystal River that we

and springs like Crystal River that we

and springs like Crystal River that we see here this is a place that actually

see here this is a place that actually

see here this is a place that actually attracts thousands of people every year

attracts thousands of people every year

attracts thousands of people every year with kayaks and snorkelers even some

with kayaks and snorkelers even some

with kayaks and snorkelers even some divers I guess because the manatees come

divers I guess because the manatees come

divers I guess because the manatees come to these freshwater springs in the

to these freshwater springs in the

to these freshwater springs in the wintertime because the water is warmer

wintertime because the water is warmer

wintertime because the water is warmer and they need warm water to survive this

and they need warm water to survive this

and they need warm water to survive this is an aerial photo that shows that

is an aerial photo that shows that

is an aerial photo that shows that aggregation of manatees and people and

aggregation of manatees and people and

aggregation of manatees and people and you know getting that behavior the

you know getting that behavior the

you know getting that behavior the interaction between people and manatees

interaction between people and manatees

interaction between people and manatees was an important part of the story that

was an important part of the story that

was an important part of the story that I wanted to tell because this is a big

I wanted to tell because this is a big

I wanted to tell because this is a big ecotourism business and these animals

ecotourism business and these animals

ecotourism business and these animals have learned to adapt to humans but my

have learned to adapt to humans but my

have learned to adapt to humans but my most special experiences as often is the

most special experiences as often is the

most special experiences as often is the case happened late in the day when

case happened late in the day when

case happened late in the day when everyone else had left and I was just

everyone else had left and I was just

everyone else had left and I was just alone with the manatees I found that

alone with the manatees I found that

alone with the manatees I found that they would often swim down these narrow

they would often swim down these narrow

they would often swim down these narrow channels into these sort of primordial

channels into these sort of primordial

channels into these sort of primordial springs and I would sort of just drift

springs and I would sort of just drift

springs and I would sort of just drift down there behind them and be very

down there behind them and be very

down there behind them and be very patient and wait until they allowed me

patient and wait until they allowed me

patient and wait until they allowed me into their world photographically I was

into their world photographically I was

into their world photographically I was shooting at very very high speeds this

shooting at very very high speeds this

shooting at very very high speeds this is right around sunset so there’s very

is right around sunset so there’s very

is right around sunset so there’s very little ambient light I’m shooting it

little ambient light I’m shooting it

little ambient light I’m shooting it maybe 1,600 or 2,000 ISO but being able

maybe 1,600 or 2,000 ISO but being able

maybe 1,600 or 2,000 ISO but being able to do that with digital cameras today

to do that with digital cameras today

to do that with digital cameras today allows you to see much more of the

allows you to see much more of the

allows you to see much more of the habitat instead of just the animal

habitat instead of just the animal

habitat instead of just the animal incidentally as you may know manatees

incidentally as you may know manatees

incidentally as you may know manatees were the animals that were told inspired

were the animals that were told inspired

were the animals that were told inspired mermaid legends and early explorers that

mermaid legends and early explorers that

mermaid legends and early explorers that came over to the new world like Columbus

came over to the new world like Columbus

came over to the new world like Columbus wrote in their log books about seeing

wrote in their log books about seeing

wrote in their log books about seeing mermaids it’s hard to believe that they

mermaids it’s hard to believe that they

mermaids it’s hard to believe that they ever mistaken that face for that of a

ever mistaken that face for that of a

ever mistaken that face for that of a mermaid but evidently those boys had

mermaid but evidently those boys had

mermaid but evidently those boys had been on the boat a little too long but

been on the boat a little too long but

been on the boat a little too long but nonetheless these experiences for me

nonetheless these experiences for me

nonetheless these experiences for me were very special you know being alone

were very special you know being alone

were very special you know being alone out there is a chance to see interesting

out there is a chance to see interesting

out there is a chance to see interesting social interactions and behaviors things

social interactions and behaviors things

social interactions and behaviors things I hadn’t necessarily read about like

I hadn’t necessarily read about like

I hadn’t necessarily read about like this little social gathering I’d read

this little social gathering I’d read

this little social gathering I’d read that manatees aren’t typically all that

that manatees aren’t typically all that

that manatees aren’t typically all that social but yet here I could see this

social but yet here I could see this

social but yet here I could see this kind of thing happening and you know

kind of thing happening and you know

kind of thing happening and you know getting a brief glimpse into a otherwise

getting a brief glimpse into a otherwise

getting a brief glimpse into a otherwise mysterious world