Eldorado’s “Seanomads” Seatrekking Video
Exploring the island of Tenerife almost entirely by water
The term “seatrekking” can be explained through its very name. Developed by Bernhard Wache and Martina Schlüter, seatrekking translates to exploring an island predominantly through an underwater adventure—stepping ashore only to eat and rest. And this is exactly what’s highlighted in this stunning new “Seanomads” video by the Barcelona-based art collective Eldorado. The troupe focused their efforts on Tenerife, a central spot in Spain’s Canary Islands, situated off the coast of off West Africa. Through their lenses, they’ve captured a submerged, nomadic life. Snorkeling and free-diving factor heavily into the visuals, but there’s more here: expansive beauty pertaining to both an internal identity and the external power of nature.
There’s a profound lack of hierarchy under the water’s surface, whereas landscapes and fires above it rise with a fierceness. And while the visuals may contribute to the video’s most dramatic impact, one cannot ignore sound design here. Land-sounds tend toward the chaotic, while the drone-like underwater living oscillates between serenity and foreboding. It’s the unknown. Altogether, photographer and director Martina Schlüter, cinematographer Cedric Schanze and editor Arturo Bastón craft a narrative travel video unlike any other. And much like with other projects the Eldorado team has been involved with, the journey and the way its told—not the destination—are most important.
Video and stills courtesy of Eldorado
