ADVENTURE QUEST | Adventure Seeker Commercial Realtor Chris Fischer’s Films Resonate Exciting Close Encounters with Wildlife

Commercial Realtor Chris Fischer is a man who embraces adventure travel whenever he can shed his suit and tie, which is often. But HAUTEOC TRAVELER was able to catch up with him in between run-ins with bears, swimming with barracudas and ziplining in Belize.

HAUTEOC Traveler: Do you travel mostly for business or pleasure?
Chris Fischer: For pleasure mostly.  Our family does own a rental condo at Belizean Cove on Ambergris Caye, so the trips tend to be a mix of business and pleasure while we are there.  There is always a little work to be done. If you can classify that as work.

What do you do for a living? I am a Commercial Real Estate Broker for Associated Properties out of Salem, Oregon.  I work mostly in investment real estate, be it user decision analysis or strictly investing. We help clients make solid long-term real estate investing decisions.

What can you absolutely “not live without” when you travel? That’s a tough one.  I can do without most things, so I tend to be a minimalist when I travel, packing light and only taking enough to get by.  It all depends on the destination, climate and conditions, but I will always have a camera. Always. Either a digital still, or a video camcorder. Catching candid moments is a passion of mine, either through film or still, and having a camera ready is a must. Doesn’t matter if it’s Alaska, backcountry snowboarding or the tropics, a camera is essential, as are lenses, tape, extra batteries and cleaning supplies. Beyond that, a good pair of shoes, a hat, and someone who is ready to get out, explore off the beaten path a little . . . and if we have to, get into just a little bit of trouble.

What camera or video did you use to film your Belize Ziplining Tour and the Mayan Ruins? Both of those video’s were filmed using the Canon HV20, and a wide angle lens for almost every shot.  It was small and light weight, making it easy to haul around. I don’t think I could have handled a bigger camcorder for the ziplining trip at the time.  The platforms we were standing on were only 10 feet in diameter, and each time I would zip, I had to put my camera into a cargo pant pocket and cross my fingers it didn’t slip out while in route.  The compact nature of the camera has also been useful in underwater filming, and quick travel shots.

What do you like most about your travel adventures? That is not an easy question.  I have traveled quite a bit, and have been afforded the opportunity to see and do a number of amazing things that always leave what I can only describe as an echo, a resonating feeling. I have been to Alaska over 13 time, the US and British Virgin Islands, Mexico, Belize and all over the US.  But I think my favorite part of any adventure is the feeling you get after witnessing something that few people really ever get to. Capturing it and sharing it with everyone is always an amazing experience too. But just the experiences themselves leave such a lasting impression.  I have been in the middle of a super pod of killer whales in Alaska and been able to film them the whole time, as close as 15 feet from the boat.  I have caught humpback whale feedings no further than 30 feet from our boat. I have been 15 feet from a brown bear, and been so close to wild sea lions I could pet them.  I have been snorkeling and found myself in the middle of hundreds of thousands of sardines, when out of the corner of my eye I see barracuda feeding on the edge of this massive bait ball, darting in and out with amazing precision and speed.  And even though these are all on film, there is no way to describe the rush, the pure excitement, or even the fear that is caused by these experiences. Film is no substitute for the real life experience, the feeling of freedom, unpredictability and sheer chaos.