Spectacles of Nature: A Photographic Journey 2/24/12

I am VERY excited about my upcoming presentation at the North Branch Nature Center as part of their Naturalist Journeys Slide Show and Lecture Series!  For months I have been re-organizing my image files and my presentation will include many images that have never been shown before!

While I will be discussing my journey in nature photography, my deepest passion is birds.  Catch a glimpse of behind-the-scenes of bird photography, and enjoy a "virtual tour" for destinations like Churchill, Manitoba, The Pribiolfs, Alaska, The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, and more!

Coming up at 7:00pm this Friday, February 24, 2012 in Montpelier, Vermont.  For more information please visit http://www.northbranchnaturecenter.org/naturalistjourneys.html. 

American Avocet, Texas Gulf Coast

"Art for Irene" Show Going on Now! December 2011

Sale items help to benefit the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund and include paintings, photographs, jewelry, cards, calendars, bags, and fabric and paper art by four local Vermont artists.  Each is donating an art work to be raffled off at the end of the show; 100% of all raffle proceeds go directly to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund (checks for the raffle may be made directly out to them).

This is a wonderful opportunity to find unique gifts by Vermont artists while also helping fellow Vermonters still recovering from the ravages of Irene.

Going on now!!!  First two weekends of December (3/4, 10/11), Saturdays 10am to 5pm, Sundays 11am to 4pm.  Show located at the former Footprints Daycare, 3038 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vermont.

The Artists

Heather Forcier

http://www.heatherforcier.com/

Celeste Forcier

http://www.cessyscreations.com/

Lynn Ann Powers

http://alderbrookstudio.zenfolio.com/

Bob Vogel

Vermont State Duck Stamp 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010

Vermont’s Migratory Waterfowl Fund

In late 2006 I was awarded the Vermont State Duck Stamp for the four years from 2007 to 2010.  The final year, 2010, is the final year of the artistic stamp for the state of Vermont.  Limited edition prints are sold numbered, signed by the artist, and with one mint stamp plus a signed stamp. 

In 1985 the Vermont Legislature, recognizing the importance of wetlands to Vermont's wildlife, created the Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Program. Under this program, hunters wishing to harvest ducks, geese, and other migratory waterfowl are required to purchase a special state migratory waterfowl stamp.

These stamps, designed by various artists over the years, have become popular with both hunters and collectors alike. Each year, a new stamp is designed and a limited number of prints created.

The Migratory Waterfowl Fund was established with the receipts from the sale of the stamps and prints. Interest earned from the Waterfowl Fund is earmarked for wetland acquisition and enhancement projects. So far, monies generated by the fund have:

• funded 51 projects in 34 locations
• purchased 4,439 acres of wetland and adjacent uplands
• protected 921 acres of important habitat through conservation easements
• enhanced 1,412 acres of habitat

So, whether you are an avid waterfowl enthusiast, a stamp collector, or someone who just appreciates fine wildlife art, you can't lose when you purchase a waterfowl stamp. Not only will you satisfy your interest but you'll also help in the efforts to conserve our important wetland resources.



2007 Vermont State Duck Stamp: Ring-necked Duck



2008 Vermont State Duck Stamp: Gadwall

2009 Vermont State Duck Stamp: Harlequin Duck

2010 Vermont State Duck Stamp (final year of the artistic stamp): Wood Duck

"Art for Irene" Show Coming Up Soon!

Since announcing our “Art for Irene” art show and sale to benefit the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund there has been a wonderful response! 

The show takes place the first two weekends of December in on Route 7 in Shelburne, at the house that was formerly Footprints Child Care (next to the Lighting House). 

Four local artists will have a variety of offerings, such as note card sets, jewelry, bags, unframed paintings and photographs as well as some framed paintings and photographs.  There will be plenty of unique gift ideas for people on your holiday gift list in any price range.  A very large selection of items falls in the $10-$50 range.

I have a variety of my photographs on Flashbags - a Vermont company that manufactures the bags with recycled materials right in downtown Burlington, Vermont.

Each artist is offering an item up for raffle; 100% of all raffle proceeds go directly to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund (checks may be made directly out to them).

Find unique Vermont gifts and help support the victims of tropical storm Irene at the same time.  For more information visit my website at http://heatherforcier.photoshelter.com/page1 or the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/#!/events/310787648947132/  Hope to see you there!

"Art for Irene" Benefit Art Show!

Since the devastation of Irene I have hoped to be able to do something with my photography to help benefit those impacted.  I was thrilled to be invited as an artist to exhibit at “Art for Irene,” an art show of four artists to support Vermont Disaster Relief.

While I will be exhibiting a great deal of my work in Vermont, I have also been scouring my image files for some interesting, previously unpublished/printed photos as well.

Bald Eagle silhouette at sunrise, Homer, Alaska

The Other Artists

Celeste Forcier

http://www.cessyscreations.com

Lynn Ann Powers

http://alderbrookstudio.zenfolio.com/

Bob Vogel

The Show

Sale items include paintings, photographs, jewelry, cards, calendars, and fabric and paper art.  Each artist is donating an art work to be raffled off at the end of the show. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to find unique gifts by Vermont artists while also helping fellow Vermonters still recovering from the ravages of Irene.

First two weekends of December (3/4, 10/11), Saturdays 10am to 5pm, Sundays 11am to 4pm.  Show located at the former Footprints Daycare, 3038 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vermont.

Hope you are able to make it!

Art for Irene Show in Shelburne, Vermont
First two weekends of December 2011

Vermont’s colors this autumn have been spectacular in many areas!  My hectic schedule hasn’t allowed me as much time as I would like to be out there with a camera, but I still have had a little time to have some fun.

Maple sugaring shack, Richmond, Vermont

I initially saw this maple sugaring shack one evening but the setting sun was behind the building to the left of the frame.  Light streaming through the trees washed out any colors I wanted to capture.  A quick visit the next morning, brightly overcast, allowed me to capture the scene I wanted to.

Red barn, autumn in Vermont

This barn is really beautiful with the stonework, aged red barn board siding, surrounding trees and mountains in the background.  As with the sugaring shack, it took several visits and this photo captured much of what I wanted but the light never worked in my favor.  It took some adjustments in post-processing to bring out the scenery while preserving the light sky.

Chasing Vermont Waterfalls

Since prominent news coverage of the devastation in Vermont from Irene, our fall foliage tourism had been much lower than usual.  I became moved to get out and capture some of Vermont’s beauty.  Granted, it’s been a little while since I’ve done much behind the camera for landscapes and it’s been a learning process (again), but I have already greatly enjoyed seeing some places I’ve never been to.

The Old Red Mill

Jericho, Vermont

An easy find for anyone traveling through Jericho on Route 15, while headed north it’s just before a giant left curve on the road that passes Joe’s Snack Bar.  I can’t believe how many times I’ve passed it myself and never noticed! 

The mill is beautiful and I have heard nothing but fantastic things about the shop at the mill – I plan a return visit very soon just to shop the gift store.

As of October 6, 2011 the surrounding trees are turning colors and with the frost again last night it is likely to have advanced.  Should be great for photos this holiday weekend!

For more information visit:

http://www.jerichohistoricalsociety.org/mill.htm

Huntington Gorge

Richmond, Vermont

The water makes many twists, turns and falls down this rocky gorge, providing many more photo opportunities than I could take advantage of on one foggy morning.  Visitors should heed the many warning signs and be extremely cautious around this gorge.

Pass the beautiful (and photogenic!) Round Church in Richmond, Vermont and continue on Huntington Road up the hill about three miles.  Take a left onto Dugway Road and parking can be found about a mile and a half down the road on the right.

As of October 6, 2011 the surrounding trees seem to have just started turning, but there are also a lot of evergreens present.  Regardless of foliage colors, the gorge holds many possibilities for photography not to be overlooked. 

For more information visit:

http://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php?name=Huntington%20Gorge