Mirai in the Wild: Crater Lake

Ancient monumental Whitebark pines line the rim of the great basin known as Crater Lake. An imperfect circle outlined by jagged cliff-sides marks the presence of what once was a volcano nested within a volcano- now filled with serene sapphire water, the deepest lake in the USA.
Stories of circular wind, exposure, and strife are revealed by trees, the greatest communicators of the environment. As relics of a time before us, the Whitebark pines beckon an understanding of preservation and our role within the natural world.
Mirai in the wild is an original series that follows bonsai professional Ryan Neil as he journeys to the native landscapes of endangered and significant trees. Embedded in the environment, he processes and understands the elements of nature in the way that the tree does- interpreting and expressing the aesthetic of nature through the art of bonsai.
With a yamadori limber pine, spools of copper wire, and an array of tools in hand, Neil takes the styling of a tree into the environment. The sensations of smell, textures of the earth, blasting winds, and glaring sun completely influence the styling experience. The immersion of the artist into the place of inspiration awakens profound revelations; humans and trees become equal organisms in the vast grandeur of Crater Lake.
The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation plays a key role in supporting the preservation of these ancient communicators. To find out more about their work, visit whitebarkfound...
To see more of what we do at Mirai, check out bonsaimirai.com or our KZbin channel / bonsaimirai
Grow your understanding of bonsai as a communicator of ecology and as an art form with a seven day free trial to Mirai Live at live.bonsaimir...
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[@Kwood10]

What a cool place seeing those gnarly trees was amazing .

[@Alex-ip1dn]

"The tree bridges the human to the environment" a phrase I will never forget.

[@BonsaiMirai]

Something that we have in our minds with each of these projects. Hope to only build upon it. Happy to have made an impact for you, Alex.

[@sueb1317]

This movie sums up exactly what my soul could not express. Something in our genome necessitates us to respect the effects and esthetics of elemental forces - forces that threatened the very survival of our ancestors. These forces - wind, rain, glaciation, fire - they are recorded in the bedrock, the shorelines, the flatlands... and trees. Thank you!

[@snox7320]

The most important film you have put out. Very thought provoking .

[@Shackattack85]

Books can only teach you so much…working in the streets and learning the streets teaches you more

[@veziovignanelli2926]

Buongiorno e bellissimo le parole non sono sufficienti ad esaltare la bellezza del posto complimenti

[@CascadianFyn]

Crater Lake

[@Matt6644]

This is how you take an art to another level.

[@HansKaramottoBonsai]

So true!!! 🙏👍 Hans van Meer.

[@dereksaunders4462]

Bonsai is definitely more than just an art. The way I look at nature and trees especially since I began studying bonsai has changed entirely.

[@vividlightwellness]

Oh my god. This is so beautifully done and so poignant, that it brought me to tears. My biggest desire is that we, as a conscious species, return to what's important and focus on preserving the beauty of this planet. Thank you for the question and the answer. 💜

[@PhoenixBook1898]

This video almost made me cry. Thank you so much for making it. When we look at those pines, we see past, present, and future at the same time. It calls to our deepest inner self.

[@BahanBonsaiChannelBBC99]

Oke, mantap indah sekali!

[@ArfanD]

Bonsai is a work of art that never ends and is priceless.. I really like bonsai when I am tired from work, I come home to see bonsai. My mind is instantly refreshed.. regards one hobby

[@jonathanaristone2468]

This speaks to the emotion we have for our Bonsai, it transcends beyond our garden. Thanks You Ryan !

[@HEWfunkingKNEWit]

Your reverence of nature is why you are so good at what you do, and this video proves it.

[@ShaillajaKKapilaas]

Beautiful documentation and the relationship between Nature and us becoming closer and closer by our Bonsai art and learning the power of the environment on Nature.

[@savvaspapaloizou2600]

Great... Inspiring... Poetry.... Thank you Mirai team....🙏🙏

[@bgullsgarden7849]

Well done Ryan and crew! This is some of your best work! Ryan your vision, understanding and your ability to communicate ideas is such a treasure to me! Thank you so much for what you do and who you are! Sincerely thank you!!! ♥️🌲🍁🇺🇸🖖

[@arnoldmmbb]

I just cant believe I can see this visual masterpiece for free, its unreal the quality

[@BonsaiMirai]

If you'd like to support these projects (and these trees) take a look at our available prints! goods.bonsaimirai.com/collections/photography-prints/products/limited-edition-crater-lake-prints

[@danielkosta3134]

I know I must watch this and listen again to grasp all of the meanings in this video. The message is so poignant and important and the way it was shot and edited is so beautiful. I have been doing bonsai for many years and it has increased my appreciation and reverence for the trees and Nature in general. Thank you Ryan and Miria.

[@t3dwards13]

Beautiful! Thank you for bringing us with you.

[@paulmesi3958]

Fantastic production and vivid descriptions and tales that Ryan leads us on. More content like this please.

[@SmoothBear]

Watched twice already. Fantastic. 5 stars

[@whitewolfIOM]

Excellent! This captures the essence of being in tune with nature ! As a kite surfer and tree lover I have learnt over the years to love nature and this film discribes that feeling !

[@GMAR8]

Thanks for putting this up. Very inspiring!

[@ayushkawalgaonkar2318]

I go into an another world while watching and listening to this types of your videos. Thanks for these videos.

Not only bonsai I learn from you guys, i learn deep meaning of nature and life... love you guys

[@FrediOlson]

I've visited Crater Lake several times as a younger person, but I never paid much attention to the trees; just the lake. That was an absolutely spectacular video and your narrative was so picturesque. I love the shot at 11:54. Wish I could have a picture of that. It just melted me. Thank you so much!

[@MauricioVarelaE]

Thank you for generate consciousness. I will preserve natives species around me.

[@abstract200]

Beautiful footage, thank you

[@mikegrayleeds]

Heart, soul, and embodiment 🌳🌱👏 fab!

[@simonbremner2707]

Awesome thanks for sharing Team Mirai👍cheers from Aus✌

[@BonsaiMirai]

Hopefully we make it over to Australia with this series. Where would you suggest?

[@bleumoom]

Thank you Mirai team! This was a fantastic video, one of my favorites.

[@johncmathews5729]

Powerful. Deserves more traction, and is effective Witt way. Thank you Ryan!

[@KaeruEn]

Sublime!

[@kurtkampmeier]

Wow this is very beautiful. Love the cinematography!

[@JesusChrist4ever]

So beautiful 😍 thank God for all the beautiful things his made for us to enjoy this is better then any city any restaurant any amusement parks this tops all of it for me

[@benbseattle]

Enlightening thanks Ryan

[@rmcc42]

Thank you so very much for a beautifully done video on the beauty of Crater lake; and also for reminding me (us) the rareness of what exists there, and the importance of maintaining not just the plant life that exists there' but plant life everywhere! And on a personal level, thank you for bringing back memories of the beauty, the trees and other plant life, the lake, the island(s) and the shear magnitude of the beauty that exists there. I have not been back to Crater lake since I was a horticulture grad student at Oregon State back in the very early 70's. There were several spots in your video that have been etched into my life's memories for 50 years, and seeing them again was priceless to me. I have always been drawn to the old trees that show the results of fighting nature for survival, and thus the reason for my interest and love of bonsai for almost 60 years! Again, thank you!

[@garretttrang7998]

The music, views, and words are simply beautiful. You've inspired me to make it up to Crater Lake in the near future

[@mikemccolm8311]

What an absolutely stunning piece of film....

[@begannamusafir9447]

Deep philosophical message in this superbly done presentation! being pessimist about our future and how we treat nature at present, i felt melancholic while watching!! Beautiful video! Thank you

[@woodroww.2233]

Unutterable. Fabulous

[@VTownGregory]

This was fantastic, beautiful, deeply spiritual. Here I go, off to see it again...

[@guillaumecossais6566]

Hi from France , You make my day!! ... it's so good to hear you talking about nature and connection between human being. I always take in consideration my trees before and during I work on them, I feel responsible for their well being, always act in entire respect. Nature (and of course bonsai) is not our, we are just passing through but we must take care of it (them). Thanks again

[@multipletanksyndrome]

Thank you for the beautiful footage.

[@RussellTLittle]

Great video

[@mikepalm2882]

Hits the heart, remarkable, meaningful and inspirational isn't it

[@jackwalters283]

That pulled on the ol’ heart strings

[@mcbabs7495]

Fabuleux !!! Merci pour la vidéo!

[@gavinlagrange6322]

Gorgeous, thankyou.

[@PNWBonsai]

Another outstanding short film. You guys freakin kill it every time!

[@marcelomachado5682]

Woww amanzing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻

[@jimedmunds5989]

When I watch this I am reminded why I was drawn into Bonsai in the first place. Such a beautiful piece, and if I dare say “Spiritual”

[@workshoptelescope]

I’ve been so desperately excited for this video. You guys really are doing something profoundly important.

[@mame6508]

wow The music and your words make me feel that I'm somewhere in the wild and mountains. thanks

[@BonsaiMirai]

Happy to have taken you with us. Get ready for the next trip.

[@Erikito00]

Correct, I felt the same.

[@gavins.6109]

Stellar editing!

[@bonsaibob8253]

This video reminds me of the American Shokun video where you reach inside yourself and let us come along for the trip. Thank You for all you do for your followers. Your family is awesome. Enjoy your time with them.

[@imluisnunes]

Just amazing!

[@iapmadteamlead1486]

This video takes it to such a higher level. I have been blessed enough by having the opportunity of living in many countries in both hemispheres and now live in Georgia. I'm already planning a trip to the mountains in northern part of the state thanks to this inspiring video.

[@tuclance]

wow such a magical place absolutelt stunning!

[@Erikito00]

This was the most impactful video, the most introspective in relation to the biome ever seen. Thanks for the masterpiece.

[@arnopienaar8111]

Bravo

[@DarthMasiah]

that was really nice. thanks for sharing.

[@DavesBonsai]

Thanks for sharing the beauty!

[@benhuygen9699]

Thank you Ryan for being such a sensitive being and being able translating the things you feel into those poetic words. Very very very inspiring...!

[@ralfish2008]

Theres bonsai; then theres Mirai. Thanks for the calm , impactful, work of art. I appreciate your words and willingness to share your exploration of what bonsai means to you and by extension to all of us. Exciting times on so very many levels. Normally, at this time of year, I'm up North, chasing steelhead on the dry fly. For the first time in nearly 25 years I didn't go because of extremely low returning numbers that won't even make the minimum spawning recruitment for the system. I've been at a total loss for the last month: a state of mourning. This isn't the first fishery that I have witnessed die either. Its the last of the ones I used to participate in. Everyone that I know who goes to this place, feels that is some sort of Mecca, or Holly place. Theres so much more than just the a wild steelhead swim out of your hands. And it was. Every year I brought back pics of rocks and a lot of trees. Always individual trees growing out of a crack in a rock or some old tree snapped off on the ridge of a wind blasted bluff and so on...communing with nature is what we all need; more people need to bring this into focus and make it an integral part of their lives. Only then will we see life's value isn't in converting hours of our finite lives into dollar bills..

[@JO-ny2yr]

Ryan, I want to thank you for helping me keep my sanity over the last year or so. I watch your Mirai videos regularly and they do a wonderful job of keeping me calm in the face of all the rubbish going on in the world right now. But this latest video tops them all. It's pure magic - the land, the night skies, your thoughtful comments. It's things like this that keep my heart beating. Many, many thanks. And when this is all over, I'm going to drive down to Mirai from Vancouver Island, I swear!

[@brucetharp7610]

This is a very enjoyable video and very informative!!!

[@kvg8133]

This was a great production all the way through. Fantastic job guys, and such an important message.

[@anilkumarn6091]

Most probably God's nest somewhere here. Thanks for taking tour us also. Big salute from India 🇮🇳

[@copy2106]

Hey guys thanks for always uploading your videos in 4k. You are one of the few channels where I can really enjoy my screen. The video quality is great as always. 👍

[@alberthughes4957]

Just when I think I have seen your best, you come up with this stunningly beautiful piece. Well Done Mirai!

[@BonsaiMirai]

Thanks, Albert. Always aiming to level up our game.

[@Serentropic]

Mirai straight up giving me the chills

[@robertamurphy1124]

You are truly blessed.

[@MF-fc5vk]

Amazing piece of work Ryan. Loved this.! 😊 Very beautifully done!

[@pabloguirao]

Que hermosa reflexión, gracias Ryan

[@lluisasastre]

I have seen the video after a yoga class, what more can I ask for😘

[@wbbonsai7267]

Wow bonsai 👍👍👍

[@raulalapizco3044]

Amazing video... Thank you.

[@bildahome]

Perfect!

[@joejohanesen1]

Amazing views of Crater Lake National Park!

[@uwefriedrichs4511]

impressive pictures

[@chrisbanner7551]

Spectacular

[@hiby8767]

One word beautiful 💚🥰

[@boburrides]

how can I like this twice damnit! Beautiful

[@jg00000]

Sime lovely shots. Yours sincerely, An organism.

[@Moicc]

Lovely, wish it was longer

[@juancarlosg9379]

Uffffff wonderful 😍😍😍

[@joshuah604]

really great video, please do more of these, I would love to see a yamadori collecting video also.

[@HansKaramottoBonsai]

Wow Ryan, this video really hit the spot on so many levels! 🙏 I am seriously moved by these amazing and beautiful images of this unique place and your sincere wake-up call for us of the demise of it! The scene of you styling your pine and its silhouette with that stunning scenery in the background....brought a lump in my throat and a tear to my eye...BRAVO man!!!! And thanks for amazing us time after time with your work, vision and character!!! 🙏👏👌👍 Cheers from Holland! Hans van Meer. Karamotto Bonsai.

[@Maunkwew]

Wow super 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@claudioestrada1671]

This video. Such a small word for this. The combination of the music, the environment, the trees and the words are amazing. And above all this, the message, the respect for the tree and the environment. The love for the nature you have comes through the screen. This is such a wonderful and beautiful crafted video, a lesson of why it's so important to take care of the environment the whole time, even when doing bonsai. And it gives me hope for the future, reflected in the small little trees that grows alongside the caldera and your kids in the video. Ryan and staff, thank you for this work of art.

[@gpaul8564]

Amazing.

[@iamearthbeing]

: May 2024. My inspiriration to continue my bonsai art ( in my way ), is by watching Mirai vedios...❤ Not the practical ones where a potted plant is kept on the table and then explained, its kinda boring for me? 😅 Sorry. But, its these travel vedios.... The outdoor ones... I LOVE THEM. When I see trees with alien looking exposed twisted barks, nebari... Oh, its goosebumps down my spine.🔥 One of the reasons, to why I love the art...

[@chrishavlin349]

Ryan ur a beast dude i wish i had just a piece of ur knowledge keep up the amazing work an thank u ...

[@frenchinnorway]

just wow

[@MrBonsaibeginner]

Thank you

[@chrisrigoni]

beautiful

[@sobatmasq]

my teacher is my nature 👍👍👍