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About a year ago, I began thinking about how much I love to photograph the rocky mountain elk. That lead to me begin wondering how I could best convey my love for photographing these beautiful animals to you. Maybe, I could do a special blog post, or maybe just pick a few of my best photographs and speak about them. Or... How about all of the above!
This week is all about the elk. First, there will be a post every day on social media highlighting one of my elk images with a long description to go with each image. Secondly, a video will be posted and sent via email showing this years small trip to Cataloochee, NC and also highlight a few images from this years trip. Finally, I will have a special email this week talking about the behavior of the elk. I hope this all meets with your approval. If so, let's kick this off with the image below that started it all for me!
In 2016, I began to photograph the elk of Cataloochee Valley. This elk, only a young bull, that was pushed around and ran off, would one day take over a large herd. So it is with the elk. The strongest bulls become the king of the harem and rule, even if it is only for a season or two. It is his time in the sun.
You have read in the past about special encounters I have had with a particular animal. It is a time where everything seems to be blessed by God and there is nothing to stop it from happening. On this day, in an undisclosed location, I was walking a trail along a wooded area when to my front, I see a huge bird break from a perch and fly deeper into the woods.
Last year was a real challenge for me as I have finally realized that there is almost no market for my images in the consumer space. I spent about three years selling actively and marketing actively. I am not going to lie, it caused me a lot of frustration and in the end a bit of depression. From December of 2021 to almost March 2022, I have remained silent. No images posted, no marketing and no photography adventures. In that time, only one person asked where I was and shew wasn't even a follower of my work. I think, deep down, I wanted this to be more of a career and it just never happened.
This period of time has been a great period of reflection. Were the last several years of my life a waste of time? Do I continue doing something I love to do, without a solid market to sell my images so I can afford doing the work? Does anyone really care about my work? As one person said, "I just want to look at pretty pictures." That was the painful reality. That really is what most want to do. Buying imagery is just not what they want to do!
Looking back over 2021, however, did have some amazing moments (especially early on). It is hard to not see my trip to Saint Augustine as a vey memorable and great time! Being around great birds and great people. What else can I ask for? Anyway, without further mourning, here is my top 10 of 2021. I hope you enjoy looking at pretty pictures, because that is all I have :)
#1 - Roseate Spoonbill Takeoff
I like this image first, because of the great pink and blue contrast between the bird and the background. Secondly, I like it because of the great wing position and general position of the bird.
#2 - Mother Egret and Chick
There is nothing more sweet than a mother and her child. Here a mother great egret is preparing to feed the chick.
#3 - Hummingbird with Beebalm
Beebalm is a flower that hummingbirds can't resist and here we see a male hummingbird coming in to check it out. I went with a little different style in 2021 with stronger flash and a black background.
#4 - Great Egret Flyover
There are times where I just capture something unusual and that makes for an interesting photograph. Here, a great egret is flying over my position. I love the backlighting through his wings and the juxtaposition of the tree as a diagonal from him.
#5 - Red-winged Blackbird Singing
A day excursion to Merritt Island in the spring, I came across this beautifully lit and perched female red-winged blackbird. A common subject in uncommon lighting.
#6 - Great Egret with Chick
Sometimes an image actually tells a lie and that is one of the beauties of still photography. In this image, the female is performing a wing stretch, but it looks like she is trying to shade her chick from the hot sun.
#8 - Male Great Egret Displaying
This is a ubiquitous shot that I have never captured, so it pretty much had to make the top 10. Here I have photographed a great egret displaying for a female about 8 feet away.
#9 - Tri-colored Heron Portrait
I love the detail in this portrait.
#10 - Pine Warbler in Snow
Warblers in the snow. What is not to like?
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You keep looking at your empty walls, and you wonder when you are going to actually do something about it. We have all had that thought, but how do you proceed? Maybe you put some filler art on a wall just to keep it from being stark. Again, I have done that.
What you really need is something that describes you! Something that tells others what you care about. You love nature and you love animals, but how do you work that into your decor? How can you find something to match all your decor? That really is a tough question, and only you can answer that fully, but I have outlined several ideas that I use and experts recommend for your living space.
What Describes You the Most
First, I want you to think about what you love the most about the natural world, and what defines you as a lover of nature. This is the first step in realizing what will fit your needs. I see this as the most important. For me, it is being face to face with animals that really gets my creative juices flowing. That is where I choose to live. I want the impact, and I want people to see that impact in my living space and my art. The image below, describes me the most as a image maker, and this seems effective in my living area. The face to face engagement of this bear really fits my style.
View Full Size Image: https://matt-cuda.pixels.com/featured/portrait-of-a-black-bear-bw-matt-cuda.htmlWhat Reinforces Your Living Areas Colors
Notice, I did not say what matches your colors. Matching color for color is not the most important aspect to consider. Does it compliment your living area? Nate Burkus, a professional designer, has this to say, "I prefer mixing and matching in order to achieve a coherent result." (www.mydomaine.com, 2019). For example, maybe you stick to similar wooden frames or modern frames to complement each other, your walls and your furniture.
View Full Size Image: https://matt-cuda.pixels.com/featured/morning-glow-matt-cuda.html?product=framed-print
Did you Forget the Bathroom and Kitchen?
I can't drive this point home enough. The bathroom is the place where many visitors will need to retreat to at some point during their visit. Personally, I like to see upbeat colors in both the bathroom and kitchen. For the nature lovers, I think bird photographs make a great compliment to these rooms. Every room in your home should be decorated with artwork. Each room can be themed and I think should.
Metal print of a cardinal on a plum branch |
Lastly, when you can't figure out what single piece can make or break a room, consider a photo wall. This is where you take several smaller pieces built around a theme to make a cohesive arrangement. These can take a bit for thought, but what a way to express yourself with many images.
I hope you can see where adding nature images to your home decor can make a difference. So often, I visit nature and animals lover's homes and yet the decor does not show such an important aspect of their lives. Use the online tools that are available in the above links to visualize what it will look like in your home! You can even use the cell phone tools to show the art on YOUR wall. https://matt-cuda.pixels.com/featured/pine-forest-matt-cuda.html?product=framed-print
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?
BECOME A VIP BELOW AND GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER WITH MATT CUDA NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY.
I hesitate to write a top 10 list as many perceive these as click bait. Hopefully, those that follow me, will know me better than that. At...