Q&A: Morgan Cardiff, a Takeover Exploring the World by Foot
Environmental scientist turned freelance photographer and videographer, Morgan Cardiff recently took over Storyhunter’s Instagram. Freelancing has taken him from from his native Australia to Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Morgan now works at the intersection of what he enjoys most: research, science and conservation, photography, and film.
Storyhunter: What is your project about?
Morgan: The current project is called the Hug Run. It’s really a personal project between myself and Dave Chamberlain. He is basically running solo and unassisted 90,000km over the next eight to nine years around the world. He is currently in the US, and eventually will head south towards Central and South America, before continuing through New Zealand and around Australia. I spent the first three months with him in Europe, and we are periodically filming sections as he goes. This is the third project we have done together, the first being a short film called ‘The Penguin Runner,’ and a second called ‘West to the Sea.’
S: What is your favorite image from the Takeover?
M: They all have a special place for me, as they all remind me of the experiences I have been able to have since starting this type of work. The image of Dave resting under the tree stands out, it was a 118 degrees day, and it was the only tree we passed in 50km. I was very early into my time in Namibia and I was still settling in and dealing with the conditions. It was also 2012 and quite early in my journey in photography and film.
S: What draws you to the freelance life?
M: I love the range of work and varying experiences I get to have doing freelance work. 2016 has been the perfect example. March started out in South Africa shooting with a variety of social and environmental entrepreneurs on their own journeys into starting businesses they hoped could make an impact in their respective communities. From May to July, I headed up to the far north of Norway to start the expedition-style project with Dave, while during September, I spent time in the UK working on a healthcare project for a design company. It’s the variation and the fact I get to meet incredible people in amazing places that I love.
S: What is the most challenging part about being a freelancer?
M: For me, I think the most challenging aspects of freelance work are dealing with uncertainty and working solo on projects at times. I didn’t go to film school, so I don’t have a huge network of fellow creatives to lean on.
S: What was the most memorable part of this project?
M: There have been so many memorable moments, they’ve been what keeps me going. Spending five months living on a conservation project in Northeastern Montana, sleeping throughout southern Namibia, coming face to face with a hyena while cooking a BBQ just outside Kruger National Park. Seeing the passion and drive of people working incredibly hard to reach their goals in all the fields I have worked. Its truly inspiring, and makes me want to keep telling their stories.
By Jindalae Suh, Writer at Storyhunter
