A Life Behind the Lens
Chris Dekle was a dedicated nature photographer whose passion for the natural world was matched only by his generosity of spirit and commitment to community. His eye for beauty — whether in a bird caught mid-flight, the quiet drama of a smoky mountain dawn, or the subtle textures of a coastal landscape — inspired everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Beyond his artistry, Chris distinguished himself as a builder of community. He brought photographers together, freely shared his technical expertise, and mentored countless members of Georgia’s nature photography scene with patience and warmth. He had a particular gift for demystifying technology, earning a reputation as the person you turned to whenever you had a web or technical question.
Chris’s greatest organizational legacy is the Georgia Nature Photographers Association, which he helped found and lead from its very first days. His vision, energy, and countless hours of service formed the foundation upon which GNPA has grown into a thriving, award-winning community. He will be deeply missed — and long remembered through every photograph taken, every contest judged, and every new member welcomed by the organization he helped build.
How It All Began
Chris Dekle was a member of the Carolina Nature Photographers Association (CNPA) and started thinking: we should have one of their chapters in Atlanta. Originally, he asked the CNPA if they wanted to open a chapter in Atlanta, but they declined. Chris ran an ad on a local blog site asking who would be interested in forming an Atlanta nature photographer club.
Don Stewart, who was working with the Chattahoochee Nature Photographer’s Association (CNC) at the time, saw that ad and called Chris saying, “I’d been talking the idea over with the CNC for a while and saw your ad.” That led to a meeting where they realized this was a great idea. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Don Stewart, the CNC threw their support behind forming a club.
On January 23, 2009, the Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) was birthed and registered as a domestic non-profit corporation with the State of Georgia Corporations Division. Chris Dekle was its first President.
In Their Own Words
