Dreams do come true...

Dreams do come true... ever since I visited Yosemite National Park when 13 I wanted to "work" in a national park. This fall I will be, well sort of. Just received the call that has me on a big natural high. "The artist in residence selection panel really loved your work and appreciated the strong images shared," is how the conversation started. "You were one of the super scorers." Thank you to America's most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You've also fulfilled another dream, being an artist in residence at a United States National Park. 

I'll be there photographing end of fall and early winter in all their glory starting later this year.
While immersing myself in this wonderment there is the added bonus of supporting my personal mission which I believe directly relates to and support the mission of the National Park Service: using the power of photography to raise awareness and inspire conservation of the fragile beauty of nature, especially those threatened and endangered, for the enjoyment of generations to come.

As part of the residency it will be my honor to share my insights, experiences and photography taken during the residency with park visitors and people of the local communities. I'll be facilitating three interactive public programs. Subjects may include: outdoor photography hiking workshop stopping to photograph landscapes and subjects along the path, outdoor sunrise and/or sunset photography program, and outreach Artist Talk featuring the stories behind the photographs of my artist-in-residence experience to share with classrooms and/or community groups. 

Can't wait to share it all with you. 

Pictured, one of those "strong images" in the application: "Light in the Forest," 24"x36" on metal taken at Yosemite National Park.