Where Silence Reigns | Gordon Hempton

“I was a bodysurfer long before I became a nature-sound recorder,” says acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton in TSJ 25.3. “And I didn’t really put the two together initially. But looking back at my life, I can see how surfing certainly contributed to what I do now professionally. We cannot see the sonic world, but when we watch a swell develop it behaves exactly how sound behaves in our environment. Seeing how waves refract and work with each other helps me do my job. It shows me how if I sit in different positions, maybe just ten feet apart, I can put myself in a place to experience exactly the sound I’m looking for.
“My work as a nature-sound recorder and my other life as a bodysurfer provide very much the same feeling-I’m happy to be alive and I feel like I’ve connected with an energy that is much greater than I am. I’m not as important in the greater scheme of the world as I seemed before, and I like that. It’s very calming.”
In this video, we tag along with Hempton for a recording session in Washington’s Hoh rainforest, and a bodysurf at nearby environs.
Film and photography by Shawn Parkin.
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[@seangomez5755]

I first met Hempy 15 years ago when he did a sound presentation at my college. He magnified the sounds of crickets and insects from deep crevices of the Earth! Then I read his book which changed the way I hear the world. He gave my sense of noise pollution. Then I started seeing him in the lineup at my local breaks. He was always so friendly and courteous - the man is amazing.

[@robertkerner4833]

Excellent. I don't surf but saw Gordon's name and came here to watch. I first heard of him 20 years ago, have some of his recordings and went down the rabbit hole of learning about sound recording. He's the best. Glad to see he's still getting after it in the VW bus.

[@inhousefilms_]

The absolute sweet spot of KZbin

[@drewkellerman4409]

I, too, bodysurf the cold waves of Washington year round, with La Push being a favorite. I'm digging his old-school hand-boards. Respect.

[@skysteppes]

Some things are best kept silent

[@GodNGangsters]

Beautiful

[@user-ir9zc4dk6o]

I just keep rewinding the video to watch the van come up the road.

[@eduardotirado839]

Beautiful. That place probably has Great Whites bigger than that VW van.

[@riverbankfisher]

Spectacular scenery of nature at its most pristine. I'd be leery of swimming alone off remote Northern California beaches, especially where seals abound.

[@dukehen78]

love that van!

[@KatrenaS]

❤incredible .. thank you

[@austindandridge]

So rad, thank you TSJ

[@neils8443]

Love the forest scene where he is standing recording sound

[@conorash]

Beautiful grounding story thanks 🙂

[@danmoreno425]

Amen brother 🤙🏽

[@maggiehablous9141]

Beautiful!

[@esarempee]

Just great!

[@scooter2163]

nice. birds are the closest thing we have to angels.

[@Unemployedrobots]

Thank you!

[@HpBeck_Fieldrecordings]

True words✌

[@JujuBerry]

Man this is so beautiful! It's filmed in my home state 👏

[@wendellfugate4225]

An admirable effort. Salutations from The Island of Thieves; Oahu.

[@MrMike4369]

damn that moved me

[@prescriptivegrammarian8721]

This was beautiful.

[@RobCummings]

Way to be.

[@johnsononey]

Can you please upload the George Greenough full episode??

[@user-kv7qm5gm7o]

that forest is "church"

[@Balonishell]

Rad.

[@michaeldill7620]

Curious to hear the present sounds of the elwah.. post damn removal.

[@andrewwood4013]

Killer