Herman Yung Herman Yung

The effect of single-use plastics on the Sargasso Sea

I just came back from the Bahamas and one of the things I remember seeing were tiny bits of plastic bottles and toys on otherwise pristine beaches. It was jarring because the environment was so beautiful and yet there was plastic trash occasionally found on the shores. It made me sad.

National Geographic and director Justin Lewis made this short film about plastic on a speciifc body of water known as the Sargasso Sea.

Read More
Photography Herman Yung Photography Herman Yung

David Guttenfelder talks about the importance of social media and photography in North Korea

I love David Guttenfelder's work. I came to know him initially from his images from within North Korea at a time when hardly any other Western news agency was given access to the country in such a way. For several years, Guttenfelder captured not only the parts of what North Korea wanted him to see, but also some parts that were meant to be shielded from media completely. Guttenfelder talks about his process and how social media, particularly Instagram, played a huge part in telling the story of North Koreans through his photos.

Read More
Herman Yung Herman Yung

National Geographic: Before The Flood with Leonardo DiCaprio

How can you tell that I just came off of a long-haul flight? I have many movies to write about!

Here's one more: Before The Flood, a National Geographic film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of world leaders trying to come to terms with the idiots in the world who still to this very day deny that climate change is a real thing.

In some ways, this is the new, modern version of An Inconvenient Truth (which came out in 2006!!!!!) with a better looking narrator and more importantly, an even harsher reality. We are, in many ways, past the point of no return according to this movie but all is not lost -- yet. The saddest part of this documentary is knowing that we are no longer leading the world in setting an example for renewable energy. Pretty soon, we'll be following in China's footsteps.

Read More