Silke and Dusty are cuddling each other on the landing of Doolin Pier
Dusty and Jan at Doolin Pier
First swim since last year July
Dusty and friends
Fun and games at Doolin Pier
Blowing bubblettes
Through a dialysis tube I blow bubblettes for Dusty, showing here on YouTube
'Janimal, part 3
Part 3 of my video portfolio
'Janimal, part 2
Part 2 of my video portfolio
VIDEO
Skating away
Tull: Skating away
Postcard Day
Ian Anderson, I don't own this video
'Janimal, part 1
Part 1 of my video portfolio.
Gulls surfing
If you....
Powerboat races pregnant dolphin
In order to get herself on film a woman, commonly known as ME, races a pregnant solitary dolphin, Dusty, against her powerboat. Her following boats is known as compulsive. You can express your discontent with such malpractice on the woman's website, www.dolphinuniverse.com
Tiny tide-falls
Over the ages tiny rivers of retreating tidal water erode their bedding through the shell encrusted rock bottom.
Patterns
Leftover tidalwater from rockpools seeks its way down.
Sparrows feeding
A soft spot on the rocks
Dusty, Jane and Friends
Dusty assigns tasks to the people that regularly swim with her. Jane belongs to the chosen ones Dusty allows to rub her belly.
Dusty, Jan and Jane
Dusty's over for a stroll while I try to keep up with her in Kevin's flippers. Jane joins to give Dusty a belly rub. Camera: Kevin Byrne.
Dusty Solo
Dusty is waiting for us to get in
Early birds in shades of green
For something different: a concert resounding in spring green.
''Animan', Dusty and Jan 1'
'Animan'. This is a clip from the documentary 'Animan', about the friendship between animals and man. This dolphin is generally known as 'Dusty' and we have been swimming together since 2002 at the Clare coast in Ireland. A huge lot of info you can find on my website, 'Dolphin Address, www.janploeg.nl The sound you hear is Dusty's sonar, intermingled with sociable whistles. The broadcast is scheduled soon on France 2 and hopefully other TV stations will follow. Updates you can find on the 'Nieuws' department on my website. The cameraman is long-time friend Jean-Pierre Rivalain. Clips by courtesy of Mona Lisa.
''Animan', Dusty and Jan 2'
This is another clip from 'Animan', the documentary about the friendship between animals and man. More info you can find on 'Dolphin Address', www.janploeg.nl. 'Animan' will soon be broadcast on France 2 and hopefully other TV stations will follow. Updates in the 'Nieuws dept. on my website.
In my hands I hold a 'waterwing', made after the profile of a pectoral fin of a Humpback whale, the only large whale that frequently breaches. By tilting, pushing and heaving it assists the propulsion, and also provides a balance for the push-offs between fin and wing. For more info on the waterwing go to 'The Waterwing Museum' on the home page of my website. The movements my hand makes along the bumps of the wing produce a rumbling sound that catches the attention of Dusty. Cameraman - Jean-Pierre Rivalain, clip by courtesy of Mona Lisa.
'Kate and Dusty'
Dusty is back in Fanore! Here she swims at her last years (2005) spot at Pollenawatch together with Kate.
'Dusty and Joshua'
Kate takes Joshua along to say hello to Dusty.
'Dusty with String Weed 1'
Dusty opens the season with a string weed.
'Dusty with String Weed 2'
Some more string play in a rapid
'Pursuit'
The dolphin surfaces with her head high as if in pursuit. Just a little later, but unfortunately off camera, she swam away very fast from the 'Sperm Whale Rock' with a large fish, probably a sea bass, across in her mouth.
'Hi there, I'm Dusty'
Dusty says Hello.
'I'm forever blowing bubbles'
Dusty goes bubble-istic.
'See, weed!'
Dusty brings a bunch of seaweed for me to rub her. I do not accept it. She pushes it closer. I still do not react. Then she decides circle me. 'Maybe then he gets it'. The camera follows her. Next she pushes the seaweed nearly into the lens. You see my hand taking it and by the weed that I lift it. What you don't see, is that I lay it on my head. She shakes hers: 'That is not going to happen today' and swims away.
'Way Down Yonder'
Dusty watches me going down and doing a pirouette. Then she comes in for a cuddle and shows off before the camera.
'Drum Roll'
Dusty is listens closely when I do a finger drum solo on the waterwing.
'The shadow of your smile'
Dusty swims like a shadow of herself under water and surfaces with her ever generous smile.
'I am your Sunshine'
Dusty, in a lazy loop, brings on the sunshine.
'On a string'
Dusty follows a strand of seaweed I'm twirling around my finger.
'Forget ME not'
Dusty disappears around the corner and when the camera arrives Dusty has disappeared. Then better film the fishes. Suddenly Dusty appears, demanding back the attention.
'Mixed Waves'
Purple Haze/Incoming Waves/Point Splash
'Doolin Up'
A very strong swell and a relentless offshore wind make these waters a wipe-out for surfers
'Doolin Down'
There was quite a swell in Fanore and an off shore wind that howled like steam hammer. So I figured in Doolin the waves would by giga. I did not figure enough, they were tetra.
'Arkeen Storm'
Instead of storm we had a major chill-out this winter. This one will have to do for now.
'Swell, Big Time'
No wave is the same, they all have their personalities.
'Splash 1'
Watch the energy building and wallop up the rock face, jetting up the white spirit, leaving a rainbow in its demise.
'Splash 2'
After a powerful splash the van appears amidst the rockscape. From there the eye travels along Cape Cowskull.
'Off Shore Wind 1'
Giga wave, running against the wind.
'Off Shore Wind 2 & 3'
A foam scribe followed by an Emerald topping
'Off Shore Wind 4 & 5'
Slide view and the meeting with Clare.
'My Speedboat'
'The sea has given and the sea has taken away.' This contraption I built from a washed up plastic barrel, a tub, a road cone, a meadow pole (inside the cone), plywood 'wings', 5 litre water bottles with air as stabilisers, an axe handle for a lever, a broomstick for a vertical axis and a monofin for under the boat. And a whole lot of enthusiasm. It was supposed to go faster than the speed of white water. It didn't. This is its maiden trip. After this I improved it in several ways, but it never quite lived up to my expectations. It ended it's life moored as a meeting point with Dusty, who was truly mesmerised. A few weeks later a storm smashed it on the rocks.
'Kè Gaghell'
For a detailed account of 'Kè-Gaghell' go to 'Dolphin Address' edition. 8, 2010, http://www.janploeg.nl/english/da_2010_en.php?da_id=8
'Running Rocks'
For lack of Olympics I have customised my own, tailored to the Rockyièra of Fanore. For the fourth year now and never along the same path.
'Rock Walk'
Rolling Bottom, The Gutter, Pin Point-Van View, Point Pin-Bay, Arkeen-Top Views, The Channel, The Craig Crack, Me and my Apple, Mussel Scribe
'Liquid Sunset'
Where the waves meet the rocks, golden splashes jubilate in the setting sun.
'Cubical Rock'
This formation of grooved coast sentinels originates from a slab that is neatly cracked into cubicles.