Learning to See is a thought-provoking documentary that follows the journey of a young man named Robert Oelman. At the age of 60, Oelman leaves behind his successful advertising career in New York City to pursue his lifelong passion for photography in the remote Colombian Amazon rainforest. The movie begins in the late 60s, where Oelman, as a teenager, started taking pictures with his father's Rolleiflex camera. Photography quickly became an obsession, which he pursued as a means of escape from his troubled home life. After years of living in the fast-paced world of advertising, Oelman decides to leave everything behind and live in the rainforest, photographing its beauty, indigenous people, and the disappearing wildlife.
During the film, we witness Oelman's growth as a person and a photographer. We see the effect that his immersion in the wilds has on him - how he grows humbler, more patient, and more attuned to nature's beauty. He begins to see the rainforest with new eyes, learning to appreciate its enigmatic beauty, and understand the interconnected web of biodiverse life that depends on it.
As Oelman deepens his connection with the forest, he also gains an insight into the threats it faces. The pristine rainforest is under threat from deforestation, mining, and oil drilling. Oelman realizes that he must do something to preserve this fragile ecosystem for future generations.
Director Jake Oelman delivers the narrative, and he shares that the peculiarities and eccentricities of his family are, in fact, part of his dad's immense humanity. The footage of Oelman's home movies from the 1960s, coupled with some of his photographs, display a keen eye, somewhat beyond his years, and a sensitivity that would serve him well during his Amazonian journey.
Oelman then starts using his unique perspective and voice to raise awareness about the importance of conserving the rainforest. In collaboration with indigenous tribes, he begins working on a photo book that captures the fragile beauty of the rainforest and raises awareness about its importance.
One of the most captivating parts of Learning to See is that it asks the audience to question their relationship with nature. Oelman's experience dispels the common notion that wilderness photography is about domination, where humans capture wildlife for their own entertainment or profit. Learning to See is more about embracing the wild, celebrating its beauty, and remembering our place in the world.
In conclusion, Learning to See is a powerful and profoundly moving documentary that reveals our inextricable link with nature. It inspires us to see the world through new eyes - to see that which we may have overlooked before. In an age where climate change and environmental destruction hit all-time highs, Oelman's story and work remind us that the rainforest is not just a place of beauty but an irreplaceable, fundamental part of life on earth. We hope it creates awareness and sparks conversation and provides the much-needed change we need for our futures.
Learning to See is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes.
