Georgia On My Mind Exhibit and Chattahoochee Nature Center Happenings
Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) and the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) have partnered together on the current photography gallery at the Nature Center. Coinciding with the reopening of the CNC boardwalk on the Chattahoochee River, the theme of the gallery is “Georgia on My Mind”. The gallery celebrates the beauty of nature that can be found in Georgia. The 24 macro, wildlife and landscape photos capture the beauty and diversity of Georgia’s natural environment. Visit the CNC and view the gallery in the Discovery Center and while you are take a stroll out to the new CNC boardwalk along the river and made even more accessible with the pedestrian bridge.
The CNC will hold their 23rd annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival on June 4-5. During that time there will be butterfly releases, pollinator experts to answer your questions, and the Butterfly Encounter in which you can photograph these winged wonders. The Butterfly Encounter will remain open for several weeks so you can visit during different hours of the day.
It is also time to start to prepare for the 7th annual partnership exhibition between Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) and the Roswell Fine Arts Association (RFAA) at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. This event is to be included as part of the fall Atlanta Celebrates Photography event and the theme is titled Double Vision. Twenty-four (24) images will be selected in the contest to be exhibited in the CNC River Resource Gallery in Roswell, Georgia. These same images will be interpreted by artists from the RFAA. When brought to the CNC for hanging, the photographic image and the artist’s interpretation will be hung side-by-side…thus the theme name Double Vision. Additional information on Double Vision coming soon.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a private, non-profit environmental education facility in Roswell, Georgia. The Chattahoochee Nature Center has as its mission to connect people with nature. It does this by focusing on educational outreach through the use of live flora and fauna. The Chattahoochee Nature Center also conducts educational programs and activities to inform its visitors about the natural environment.
Photo by Dale Aspy, GNPA
Get involved!
Georgia Nature Photographers support CNC’s mission by donating photographs of activities at a few specific events at the Chattahoochee Nature Center when requested by them. This provides volunteer photographers a controlled environment with a specific shot list for each occasion to photograph guests
For more information about CNC, including the types of events we provide, how to submit photos or videos, and photo submission guidelines contact GNPA’s partner rep Dale Aspy at cons_cnc@gnpa.org.
How many of you have visited a Georgia State Park this year? Based on our Facebook and Instagram pages, quite a few of you have! Please consider donating the use of some of your state park photos to GNPA’s conservation partner group, Friends of GA State Parks and Historic Sites.
Your images may be used on social media, brochures, pamphlets, membership mailers, etc. – and always with full photo credit to you! Photos may have been taken at any time.
Friends is a non-profit group whose mission is to partner with, promote and preserve Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.
Please contact Jenny Burdette at cons_friends@gnpa.org for directions on how to submit your photos. It’s a fast and easy upload. You retain full ownership of your images.
If you have a favorite state park that you would like to work with on an on-going basis, please contact Jenny Burdette at cons_friends@gnpa.org to get more information about how you can help your favorite park.
Help Build the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Photo Library
All GNPA members are invited once again to help the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division fill out their photo library. Photos are shared on Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s social media outlets, website, and other publications. They want to feature us a Georgia nature photographer! You will retain copyright to your photos but grant the Wildlife Resources Division a non-exclusive right to use them. The photographer will always be credited when a photo is used. Submission guidelines are included at the bottom of this post.
Georgia DNR has also offered something really amazing this time around. They are always welcome to take folks out in the field with their biologists and have us capture field work. If there is interest, they can email our DNR rep Aubrey Pawlikowski and she will connect them with the appropriate field staff. This is a wonderful opportunity to photograph some amazing places and also get to see how WRD staff are doing fabulous things for our wildlife and habitat in the State of Georgia.
GNPA contributed more than 1000 photos to Georgia DNR last year and they are wanting more. There is no such thing as “too many” photos! The more we can contribute, the more Georgia DNR can rotate them in and out. Submissions have really slowed since the pandemic started, so Georgia DNR is looking for some fresh images. Attached are submission instructions for the GNPA members.
Go through your photo archives or take this opportunity to visit some of Georgia’s wonderful wildlife management and public fishing areas. Photos may have been taken at any time in Georgia or a habitat that is the same as Georgia’s. Plants, animals, birds, insects, landscapes, and even recreation are all subjects the Wildlife Resources Division needs. Here is the WRD Priority Image List that can be used to get an idea of the plants and animals of interest to the Wildlife Resources Division.
In addition to the priority image list linked above, outlined below are a number of immediate photo needs that Georgia DNR has:
Habitat types – Especially conservation priority habitats. Here is the State Wildlife Action Plan breakout that can help you determine where these areas may be. If there are any questions regarding conservation priority habitats, please feel free to contact Aubrey Pawlikowski at aubrey.pawlikowski@dnr.ga.gov and she will be able to direct you to a biologist who will be able to help you.
Hunting – Hunters in hunting situations, but not necessarily with game (at check stations, setup ready to hunt (i.e. such as for turkey) using their calls, headed to hunt locations (i.e. in the woods, in their camo, etc.)’
Fishing – Anglers fishing from banks, piers, docks, grouping of family members such as adults with their parents or kids with grandparents.
Wildlife photos – Especially deer, bear, fox, coyote, and turkey
Bears – bears with cubs, near homes, eating out dumpsters/trash cans, on porches, and in their natural habitat
Deer – in backyards, in roadways
Young wildlife
Coyotes and foxes especially in urban environments
Wildlife viewing both in the woods and in their backyard (i.e., people feeding birds, birding, looking at wildflowers, photographing native animals and plants (butterflies, bees, etc.), peering from viewing platforms). Here’s a list of some great places across the state to get these types of photos: https://georgiawildlife.com/wildlife-viewing-grants-recipients.
Wildlife Management Areas or Public Fishing Areas – Scenic/Landscape photos
