If you have lived long enough, you recall times in our lives, shared moments of profound history, when you remember where you were and what you were doing in those moments. With this blog post, I recall where I was on 9/11; enjoying my first trip to Denali National Park & Preserve.
The Bristol Bay watershed in southwest Alaska produces nearly half of all the world’s Sockeye salmon supply, supporting 14,000 jobs and a $1.5 billion annual industry. It is also the cultural, spiritual and nutritional heart of the 8,000 residents of the region. It is also the home to a massive copper and gold deposit, which could someday boast the largest open pit mine in North America – at the headwaters of the most productive salmon streams in the region. In 2014, the EPA determined that it would impose severe restrictions on any mine, if built, in order to protect the valuable habitat. But on July 11, 2017, the new EPA took the first step to rescind those protections. Read more to learn the full story and what you can do to speak up for this incredible ecosystem.
Quite frequently, we see articles or statements on social media that suggest that the use of Photoshop is cheating. These statements reflect a deep misunderstanding and ignorance of the creative process in photography. The origins of how and why we use Photoshop can be traced back to Ansel Adams.
So many artists, so many media, so many points of inspiration. For me, as a nature photographer, my key inspiration is wilderness. Here is a little glimpse as to why.
A hundred years ago, as our national leaders were struggling to get the public behind the notion of setting aside large tracts of land to protect them from exploitation and development, artists stepped forward to help to capture the land and our imagination. Now, as we celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service, it is the parks that are helping artists to grow.
A young Finnish photographer named Konsta Punkka, self-proclaimed to be the “Squirrel Whisperer,” has been in the news a bit lately, celebrated for his stunning up close images of wildlife. Regardless of his striking images, he should not be celebrated, he should be condemned. And he’s not the only one.
If you grew up in the United States, most likely a national park was part of that upbringing. During National Parks Week in 2016, and to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our parks, I contemplate how our parks shaped my own personal story.
We are often told that nature photography is limited to landscapes, plant life and animals in their natural environment. But aren’t we part of that environment, too? Time to rethink what the words “nature photography” mean.