A Collection by Chelsea Mealo and Brayden Hall

1000 Miles Out is a collection of 37 1/1 images based on the shared experience of getting stuck abroad on the tiny island of Mauritius for 6 months by these two artists. A job had brought them to Mauritius early March 2020. Despite expressing concern about traveling in light of developing travel restrictions, the client urged them to go. It took three days to travel around the world from New York to the middle of the Indian Ocean. The day after arriving, they were informed that the island would be closing its airport, the only way on and off the island, for 10 days. Periodically, this 10 days turned to a month, two months and so on resulting in an unexpected six-month stay. Initially, the island was incredibly strict with a police-enforced lockdown. Trapped abroad tested the two both financially and mentally. However, the life-changing experience had a bittersweet ending as the two developed deep friendships and love for the island.

1000 Miles Out

While out on an adventure in the lagoon close to our home we visited the iconic shipwreck of Le Morne. It’s an old fishing boat that got destroyed in a cyclone many years ago, but has now become home to an abundance of sea creatures. The site is teaming with life; corals, sea urchins and schools of colourful fish can all be spotted when peering down into the wreck. We had our camera enclosed in our trusty underwater housing as we snapped some photos in the crystal clear water of the Indian Ocean. While we were shooting Brayden went, “OUCH!” and realized the little striped fish were actually biting him. Our boat captain started laughing and said it’s because Brayden looks like bread to them… He also said the fish don't bite him because he looks like steak. So we took that for what it was worth and continued shooting in the water as Chelsea elegantly swam amongst the fish… And Brayden continued to be fish food until we got back in the boat.

Edition: 1/1

#33: Shipwreck

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