Click to Read all about it here. Excited and Honored to be the photography virtual artist in residence for this most worthy organization. 

You can view the online gallery here. Proceeds from all sales support the Center for Great Apes.

Honored that the images above were accepted into these special venues. 
* Bonnet House Museum & Gardens through March 8th, both 12 x 12 inches on metal:
... "Loxahatchee Sunset" Perhaps the most beautiful sunset I've ever witnessed. Also available as large framed print on metallic paper.
​... "Totality" I spent most of the evening in awe standing at the beach photographing the Super Moon two years ago to the day.
* Fort Lauderdale, City Hall Gallery - "Celebrating Fort Lauderdale's 110th Anniversary, 1911-2021" Exhibit, through January 28th
... "Bonnet House Brazilian Spider Monkey" Felt very fortunate to see him jumping through the trees tops way over head.

Recently back from incredible Artist-in-Residence experience at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There were so many new experiences for me here... from autumn's splendor to winter's interruptions, to close encounters with elk, deer and bear to the drama of the Milky Way, to bone chilling winds at the top of the park's 6,600' highest peak to hiking to magnificent waterfalls oftentimes scrambling over rocks and boulders.

Please check out my photography gallery of the "best of the best" of my favorite moments in the park here. 
 
And, gratefully, I was pleasantly surprised that four of the images have sold already along with numerous greeting card sets. If interested in any, just drop me a note and I'll custom create size and material of your choice....aluminized metals, matted prints, canvas, sets of greeting cards. 
 
I must admit, after being away for over five weeks, there was a little bit of an adjustment returning to the "real world". And, it's show time again. The biggest art shows in South Florida began with Art Basel and Art Miami. I'm grateful to have been juried into the ENDANGERED Exhibit for the seventh year. Also, I was asked to speak on "How I Got That Shot". ​
 
Wishing you continued, abundant blessings and a most joyous New Year. Thanks for viewing and being in my life.
 
Follow the Light!
~Phoenix

Pictured Above, L to R: White Out, Buck at Cades Cove, Sunrise at Maloney Point; Middle: Yosemite Daybreak

You may ask why I'm leading off this post about heading off to the Smokies with the "Moon Over the Marsh" image photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida. Thanks to this image and the five others below (along with the rest of the application package) for making all the difference in my being selected by the Artist in Residence selection panel.

"The Artist in Residence selection panel really loved your work and appreciated the strong images shared. You were the super scorer on our panel," said Sheridan Roberts, Great Smoky Mountains National Parkwide Volunteer Coordinator when she notified me of my being awarded this prestigious opportunity. 

In two weeks I'm driving up to America's most visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains. I'll have the opportunity be there for five weeks enjoying the total mystery and wonder of mid- to late-fall, perhaps even an early winter, in this land that stirs my heart and spirit. Hopefully, I'll arrive in time to photograph the Milky Way. Rising to a peak of over 6000 feet, the Smokies encompass over 500,000 acres and 800 miles of hiking trails. Majestic sunrises and sunsets, gurgling mountain streams and waterfalls, stillness of the open forest, morning mist and autumn colors ...I can't wait to see what I capture through my lens. 

Also, I will be presenting three public service programs. One will be for park visitors. Another, I'll be working with students on a day hike and, the last, I'll be presenting to art students and faculty.

I hope you will follow my travels during this special time via Facebook and Instagram.  

Below are the other images that helped make this dream come true. P.S. If you haven't yet, you may want to read the blog from June 7 for more on this lifetime dream.

Thanks for reading!
Follow the Light!
~Phoenix

Pictured: Top - Moon Over the Marsh; Above, L to R, Top to Bottomw - Light in the Forest, Tree & Stream, Milky Way Over the Rockies; Row 2, L to R -Yosemite Daybreak, Early Morning Fog 

It seems way too long since I shared about my journey in the magical place called Listowel and Co Kerry. You all inspire me to do so with your kind words about my writings and photographs. I have continued my magical tours with Damian Stack and valued time at Olive Stack Gallery and with Olive. I can't speak personally about the "luck of the Irish", however, I can attest to the magic that I have personally experienced. Perhaps equally or more so than the lush green landscapes, icy blue waters that at times appear turquoise and moody gray skies, the magic is in the people (like the images below).

​Take today for example. Actually, it all really started yesterday morning when I finally made the commitment to have a solo exhibit a week from today. For those in Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland that is Friday, October 28, 5 - 7 pm at Olive Stack Gallery. I had been on the proverbial fence for a day or so about doing the exhibit. It's a wonderful opportunity that Olive Stack makes available to artists in residence. I'm the first photographer she's had and finding professional photography labs is something she had little experience with. It seems that Ireland has very few of them. If I couldn't find a good professional lab there was no point in doing an exhibit. Many folks use pharmacies to develop their family prints. As professional photogs here say, they are for the "domestics". I did my own testing and felt the same. From what I've discerned from speaking with a couple of photographers, most develop their own prints, some send to Dublin and a wedding photographer sends all her work to Portugal. To date I've held 10 solo exhibits back home, each one taking a minimum of three months to organize. It takes time to select, prepare, print, mount and frame the works to be exhibited and, of course, time to hang a show. And, perhaps the most important part is marketing. What's the fun in going through the time and expense of organizing such a special event that reveals your heart's special moments captured through your camera's lens if no one shows up to share it with.

​And, then Dillon Boyer walked into the gallery on Tuesday. Something told me he was a special person so I invited him to join me in a cup of tea. Thanks to Mary O' Flaherty of Chic Boutique who recommended that he stop by. He's a retired supermarket manager who is a passionate photographer. Years ago he helped organize the local photography club, lead competitions and has won just about everything he's ever entered. More importantly, he's a gentle loving soul, loves to help people, especially photographers, and loves nature. He shared his preferred photo lab in Guernsey. Tuesday night was part 1 of my photography workshop (see photo below) so I didn't give it more thought, other than where do I get the matting, until the next day.

​Next day, Rena Blake, one of Olive's friends from near-by, picturesque Ballybunion, called with suggestions of a photographer who prints for others. I'm sure he is "brilliant" as they say on this side of the pond; however, his pricing was over the top for me. I could perhaps have four prints done for the price of 35 plus shipping in England. Of course, there was the matter of getting the prints here in time for me to mat and ready for show time next Friday.

​I felt that help was here, just not quite sure from where. So Wednesday night I sat down to do final edits on photos I had taken to date, make my selections and start preparing them for printing. Of course, sizing them right without knowing the inside dimensions of the mats was still a question. Well in retrospect it's good thing the WiFi service was mostly not working that night. Turns out that when I finally discovered the best mat provider the next day his mats were cut to a different inner size than we generally use in America. Of course, I didn't know that until Dillon magically appeared at the gallery door yesterday morning. When I asked him who he used, it too was a company out of England. He went back to his car to show me some of his works with the mats. Dillon said to call Steve at Cotswold Mounts and he would custom cut what I needed and deliver very fast. So yesterday was a busy day getting 35 prints ready to upload to the printer and order. After three emails to the printer I felt assured that they would arrive in time for me to have ready for the exhibit. Then it was time to order the mats. I figured out the website, ordered my products and was just about to click the order button to pay via PayPal and that inner voice said to check on the delivery again. "Oh, no" it said something to the effect of ships five working days after placing order. That wouldn't work. And, now it's after the end of their day. So I emailed Steve with my situation and order. Too make this too long story shorter, I called him this morning. He said everything was custom cut and best he thought he could do was ship on Monday, although, he would see if his guys could get done today. Seven hours later both the printing and mat mounts companies emailed that the orders have shipped. So it appears that the impossible is possible and everything will be here for me to have a very busy Thursday and Friday putting all the pieces together before show time at 5 pm. 

​Oh, and back to today's magic. . . what really prompted this blog post. I was up late last night creating the invitations. Typical me, I couldn't decide which images to include so I created two different versions. Then I went to the stationary store, purchased card stock and brought my flash drive with PDF to AllRegions, the local computer service and print shop before the gallery opened. While Bill was copying my file I realized that I didn't have enough cash on me to pay for the service. So I asked if he minded if I came back in a few minutes while he finished the job. Just as I approached the gallery Beatrice Kelly was outside the front door. Over the last week or so I have been helping her with the framing of one of Olive's much loved prints, The Square Listowel, that she bought for her sister. Today she said she wanted to do something for herself. She wanted to purchase one of my photographs as her early Christmas present to herself, the Burrowing Owl. And, so the cash I needed at that moment and more was instantly presented. More than that, it seemed a sign from the Universe that I made the right decision to go a head with the exhibit. All is well. Everything is being delivered on time. And, it will be a brilliant reception.

​Oh, and I have to go now. I have delightful work to do thanks to Caroline Rigney of Rigney's Farms.  She came by after the market day closed in The Square Listowel to see photographs I brought with me from America. She immediately asked if I contact the media and proceeded to give me a couple of names and numbers. I contact them and they were all positive and asked for follow-up emails and photos. 

​And, so it goes in magical, Lovely Listowel. Open hearts are simply blessed everyday with whatever you need to keep giving your best.

Enjoy photos below, including a few from this quarter's horse fair held on Market Street.
With, Love From My Heart!
​~Phoenix

Today marks two weeks that I have been in lovely Listowel. My journey here is half over or is it half full, like the proverbial glass of water. As I reflect back on this too short time the image above from Glateenassig Forest in the Slieve Mish mountains may say it all. Simply golden, shimmering with love and life, peace and joy. Regardless of the weather - it must have changed at least as many times as the 12 hours Damian Stack and I were out touring the Dingle Peninsular this day, the constant is the gentle beauty in the land and it's people. Yes, even the rugged cliffs and worn ruins seem this way from my perspective.

​Beyond the green landscapes, what strikes me most is the kindness and generosity of the people in Listowel and vicinity. It's sort of like the theme song from the "Cheers" television show, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name". Starting with my second day arriving here one lovely person after another has dropped by the Olive Stack Gallery to greet me. I walk into Allo's to get a cup of cappuccino and Sarah, our server on my first night here, greets me by name and asks how my home back in Florida weathered the hurricane threat. Other merchants come by with spelt bread and jam because they heard I like it. Another friend comes with a sweet fruit pie reflecting the pure sweetness emanating from her crystal blue Irish eyes and warm heart. The window washer takes time from his day to share one of his favorites walks outside of town. Mary of Chic Boutique, located diagonally across from Olive's gallery offers to take me to Ballybunion to capture the sunset. Even today, two weeks since I've arrived, I was welcomed with a delicious looking cream and strawberry tart. And, the list goes on. Yesterday I saw one of Olive's customers on the sidewalk who was sharing with a friend about my photography. He actually knew the image I took of the "River Feale" and said he's seen many versions and he liked my perspective best so far. I caught a draft in my eye early on and John the chemist, as they call pharmacists here, took time to recommend the perfect remedy. Then there was Pat who just dropped-in the gallery because she was drawn to the beauty of Olive's works in the window. When she heard of my upcoming photography workshop she asked if I had posted flyers at a particular church. Then she said she would. And, friends of new friends who I've meant come by to share more time getting to know me.  People seem interested. Like all folks they have their priorities and yet they take those moment to be interests and personal. Yes, Listowel's a small town of only 4,500 compared to my much bigger city background from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And, perhaps what I am experiencing mostly has to do with Olive, who founded this amazing opportunity for artist. I am grateful for it all.

Whether it's a soft day, like today, or a blue-sky day, that seems to show up for a few moments during the days since I've been here, it's always golden time here. You just have to see the forest through the trees.

​There is no sunset here tonight so it's time to be with some new friends, the 6 - 9 Club, that meets at John B. Keane's. Although, tonight it may be a Baileys with coffee rather than Guinness. some like it sweet. 

​Enjoy below some more photos from Listowel. 

Yeah! Last night was the first time since I've been in lovely Listowel that I was able to capture a "wow" sunset. Thanks to Mary of Chic Boutique, whose shop is diagonally across from Olive Stack Gallery, I got this brilliant moment. Her intuition must have been in high gear yesterday. She popped in yesterday morning and again mid-afternoon offering to take me where ever I wanted to go after the gallery closed. How could I resist. Mary is representative of one of my favorite things about Listowel, it's people. Friendly, compassionate, warm, direct, helpful. For me it was a sense of oneness. More on the lovely folks of Listowel in another post. It's almost that time, Photo Edit O'clock, and want to send out this post.

​My choice was Ballybunion. It's a beach town hugging the Atlantic Ocean that's known for the famous golf course and, of course, it's beaches. There are three main ones - Nuns Beach, Ladies Beach and Men's Beach. In parts where the cliffs meet the beach there are caves. There are others as well and I intend to visit them all from varying vantage points. It's also known for seaweed bath, which unfortunately for me are closed for the season, and the ruins of a castle. That photo is coming in a future post.

​Mary had perfect timing. At the gallery door promptly at 6pm, we drove off to Ballybunion, a 15-minute drive. Knowing that timing was of the essence, she must have been led. We found the perfect place to park as close as you could get to the perfect location for this photo session. With sunset pretty much over within 20 minutes of our arrival, it was meant to be.

​Pictured above is a view from the "cliff walk" at Ballybunion looking out over Nuns Beach and across to Co Claire in distance. Below are two more views of the spectacular sunset over Ballybunion.