Your Daily Photograph Feature

Pyrotechnic #151, Copyright Jim Nickelson

My photography, Pyrotechnic #151, is featured at YourDailyPhotography.com for 24 hours, ending at 9 am Pacific tomorrow morning (Nov. 4th). I’m excited to have it featured, and check it out if you are interested!

Upcoming Camden Conference Talk

Svínafellsjökull #1, Iceland, Copyright Jim Nickelson. All Rights Reserved.

I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be presenting at an upcoming Camden Conference free community event on November 5th, 2020, from 6:30-8 pm (Eastern). If you are interested, follow the instructions at that link to sign up and get the Zoom link.

The theme of the upcoming Camden Conference in 2021 is the Arctic, and I’ll be discussing my 2018 artist residency in Iceland for the presentation. I’ll also discuss how pivotal this trip was in my own artistic development and resulted in a more activist stance in my own photography.

I hope you can join in!

Zest Maine Magazine & Other Online Features

“Pyrotechnic #35”, Copyright Jim Nickelson

The most recent Zest Maine online magazine featured an interview with me about my photography as well as a selection of my work. It was great fun to take part in this article, and I encourage you to check it out and see some of the other great content on the magazine, too!

Embedded in the article is a Youtube video of my presentation at Pecha Kucha in Rockport, Maine back in January, which I think we can all agree feels like a lifetime ago. In this short presentation I talked about my recent project focused on climate change.

And last but not least, my work has been included in two of the features of the online blog What Will You Remember - way back in May in a post called “Into the White”, and “Splash” in August.

Finding Our Voices

Mourning Moon I, 2016, Copyright Jim Nickelson. All Rights Reserved.

I’m proud to note that one of my photographs is included in the current fundraiser for Finding Our Voices, a non-profit focused on sharing the voices and stories of survivors of domestic abuse. Mourning Moon I and about 50 other pieces of art are available via auction through the end of October to raise money for Finding Our Voices.

You can see and bid on the artwork online here, and see it in person in the windows of 50 businesses in downtown Rockland, Maine during the month of October.

MMPA Antidote & Interview

Cosmographia #13, Copyright Jim Nickelson

I had a delightful surprise last week with the most recent Maine Museum of Photographic Arts newsletter, the MMPA Antidote. The newsletter includes (amongst other excellent content) a short interview with Ella Hudson about the purchase of one of my photographs in her collection.

Thank you Ella (and Knapp) for becoming a collector, and thank you to the MMPA for providing this sort of content during the global pandemic! I definitely recommend checking all the great content in the newsletter.

Earth Day 2020

Aspens, San Juan Mountains, #5

Today is the 50th (!) anniversary of Earth Day and the birth of the modern environmental movement. I’ve been wrestling with what to say about this, especially during the times of a global pandemic. Since the first Earth Day there have been incredible successes of the environmental movement — here in the US, the passing of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the creation of the EPA, and so on (more details here). But all of these successes are at risk from the current administration as well as the increasingly conservative courts — I have little doubt that many of these environmental protections will be in shreds in the next decade.

Discussion of the impact of the environmental movement over the last 50 years cannot ignore the larger problem looming over us of climate change. I wish I had a more positive and uplifting message for today, but the problems facing us are immense and the fight will be long and hard — but fight we must, in hopes of making a better world for future generations.

Pecha Kucha and Other Things to Keep You Busy

Back on January 31st (which seems like forever ago), I was one of the speakers at the Pecha Kucha night for Midcoast Maine at the Rockport Opera House. If you are looking for an entertaining hour, you can find the video online here (I’m the last presenter, FYI):

If you are an artist and want to use this time to work on the business or marketing side of things, I highly recommend this collection of resources from the CMCA.

Another link worth checking out is this compilation of free art and art history courses from Don’t Take Pictures magazine.

The artist/photographer Amy Parrish has compiled a list of free calls for entries and such here.

Enjoy!

Back in Maine...

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

I am done with my long journey out to the northern Rockies and am now back in Maine. I'm slowly catching up on things as I get back up to speed (losing power for two days didn't help!), so if you are still waiting on a response for me, let me know!

It will take a long time to go through all of my photographs, but it was a wonderful trip. 9000 miles of driving, nine national parks (5 in the U.S., 4 in Canada), about 15 snowstorms of various intensities, and approximately 5500 photographs.

Heading West...

Glacier National Park, Montana, 2003

On Friday morning (Sept. 20th) I’m heading west to Montana (as well as Alberta, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and points in between) on a long photography trip. I haven’t been able to make it on a real photography trip this year so I’m excited to hit the road again. I’m not sure when I’ll be back but it should be in mid-October.

My last trip to Glacier National Park in Montana was in 2003, and that is where I am heading as a starting point. I wasn’t particularly serious about photography back then and I look forward to photographing in one of my favorite places in the world with a (hopefully!) more developed aesthetic and with modern gear.

Alas, my main reason for going there now is to try and photograph the glaciers before they are gone, as that day is coming very soon. On this trip I will photograph the northern Rockies for my Annals of the Former World project, recording the state of these landscapes before they are inexorably changed by the changing climate.

I’ll end with a famous quote from John Muir:

“The mountains are calling & I must go & I will work on while I can, studying incessantly.”

Usually you see just the first half of this quote, but I find the full quote (from an 1873 letter to his sister) more illuminating. Instead of just a call to experience nature, the full quote reveals his desire to study and protect the natural world, responsibility in addition to pleasure. I will certainly enjoy immersing myself in the western parks again, but I go with serious purpose.

Off to Santa Fe

Copyright 2015 Jim Nickelson. White Sands, New Mexico

Next week I’ll be in Santa Fe for the juried portfolio reviews at Review Santa Fe. I’m very much looking forward to this — this one has been a challenge for my work to resonate with the jury in past years, but apparently the eighth time is the charm! I look forward to getting comments on my work and to seeing the work of all of the other photographers that were selected.

I’m going for a little extra time, too, to photograph some of that gorgeous New Mexico scenery.

If you are in the Santa Fe area and want to check out all of the work, there is a portfolio walk featuring all of the photographers on Friday night, October 19th, from 6-8 pm. Those events are always a great chance to see a wide variety of work up close and personal. Hope to see you there!

Iceland Residency in July

Rock Study #1, Garrapata State Park, California

I'm heading to Iceland in July! I'm ecstatic to have been awarded an artist residency at the Baer Art Center in July, and I'll be in Iceland (and out of my studio) from July 9th through the 26th. I know Iceland has become incredibly popular with photographers of late, but I can't wait to see it (and photograph it) for myself for the first time.

Spring Break

Cosmographia #10

I'll be away from my studio the week of April 16th on a family trip. I'll still have email access so feel free to contact me with any questions.

Fotofest 2018

Untitled #30, East of the Sun, West of the Moon project (part of Terra Incognita)

I'll be in downtown Houston next week (the week of March 19th, 2018) for this year's version of Fotofest. I always enjoy portfolio reviews like this one and love seeing all the wonderful work from other photographers, too.

On Thursday night (7:30-9 pm) there is a Portfolio Walk, open to the public, where every artist has a table to show their work. This is a great chance for anyone to come by and see lots of amazing prints!

Environmental Fundraiser Results

Chaste Moon I

The results are in from my environmental fundraiser, and thanks for all who participated or considered doing so! Together we raised $850 (17 prints) for the cause of the protecting the environment in these challenging times.

I've done quite a bit of research in deciding how best to distribute the money, and below I'll list each organization I chose and why. I'll of course include a link, too, if you'd like to check them out yourself or support them directly, too. All of these charities are very highly rated and 94% or more of contributions go to their efforts rather than marketing and administrative costs.

First up is Earthjustice ($250) -- which I somehow had never heard of before. They had me at their slogan - Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer - and they serve to support other environmental organizations by providing free legal services from their 100+ lawyers. Lawsuits are such an important tool in the environmental fight, and Earthjustice is fighting the good fight.

Two of the best general purpose environmental advocacy organizations are the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund ($200 each). The NRDC works internationally to help combat climate change and providing clear air, clean water, and preserved lands. The EDF works in similar areas with a science focus, and both of these organizations are heavily engaged with partnerships with other organizations and local forces.

The Sierra Club Foundation ($100) provides funding for other environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club. As a public charitable organization they can efficiently raise funds for other organizations.

Last but not least, I chose The Conservation Fund ($100) for its focus on emphasizing mutually beneficial and collaborate solutions with local governments and corporate interests, such as their big project with Apple and the state of Maine (and many others) to help protect over 32,000 acres of working forests in northern Maine.

Thank you again to all who participated, and I encourage you to learn more about these organizations by following the links if you are interested.

Fundraiser Sale for Environmental Causes

The Tarn, Copyright Jim Nickelson. All Rights Reserved.

I've decided to offer a selection of my prints as a fundraiser for environmental organizations that will be helping to fend off the coming assaults on the environment. Here's how it works: each print is offered for $50 (domestic shipping included) as a signed open edition, and I'll donate 100% of the proceeds to a variety of environmental organizations.

You can find and order the photographs (and find more information) here. Thank you for considering this, and please let me know if you have any questions.