“A Sealed Fate?” Not if Nigel Barker has anything to do with it.
Barker, a former model, accomplished photographer, and judge on the hit TV show, “America’s Next Top Model”, is accustomed to finding himself amongst beautiful things . . . and now he is using his photography skills to save a few of them.
Recently, the multi-talented Barker teamed-up with The Humane Society of the United States in an effort to raise awareness of the biggest slaying of marine mammals on the planet, the slaughter of defenseless baby harp seals during the annual Canadian commercial seal hunt.
Barker and his crew traveled to Canada during the hunting season, to document, both through photos and film, the precious and, in many cases, tragically short life of these lovable, docile creatures.
Barker states, “This exhibit is a celebration of the seals’ lives, what they are, and their transformation during their short life. I want to bring a spotlight to show people what they look like, right up until they die, so people realize what we are losing.”
Christian Siriano, the winner of the 4th season of Project Runway, was looking “fierce” as he sauntered through the crowd sipping on one of many “icy” beverages the event had available, while the likes of American’s Next Top Model Season 10 winner Whitney Thompson, Season 4 Project Runway contestant Kevin Christiana, and Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen from ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ and Lori Majewski grooved to the “cool” beats of DJ Josh Madden.
All in all, it was a good gathering for a GREAT cause, and one can only hope that the rest of the crowd came away from the event with more than just a few business cards (residents of NYC never miss an opportunity to network), and actually follow Mr. Barker’s lead to take action to protect those who can not protect themselves.
As Barker exclaimed, “We live in a beautiful world that is all too often treated with contempt. I believe we owe it to ourselves, and certainly to the next generation, to do all we can to protect, preserve and respect our planet. And it is our planet. In my opinion, no one nation, state, nor individual should have the right to brutalize the fauna or exploit the flora. Most countries are guilty of such indiscretions. However, we as individuals have the power to stand up and do the right thing.”
Mr. Barker, I couldn’t agree more…
