Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : Umeå2014

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Highlighs of 2013

Awards, Events and Photos

The highlights of my photography adventures for 2013 began with a late start in May. Most of my time through January to May was spent in physical therapy twice a week to regain the use of my left arm from an accident that shattered the shoulder joint. Fortunately with excellent medical treatment and hours of exercise, I am back in full stride carrying my camera, lens and tripod.

One of my high points during the spring was a presentation in April to students from West Tech High School, Las Vegas, Nevada about Walker Lake. What an impressive group and did they ever have some interesting questions about the biology and geology of Nevada's unique natural desert lake.

A big surprise in May was having my photography featured by Francesco Russo in Chair Mazagine, "La natura incantata di Bonnie Rannald". http://chairmag.it/2013/05/la-natura-incantata-di-bonnie-rannald/

June turned out to be a busy month, starting on the 2nd with 95th. Annual Photo Fair in Bièvres, France, where I was again honored to have a selection of photographs on exhibit and for purchase.

On the 19th, I enjoyed the closing reception following our preview exhibit for Reno Open Studios at the Truckee Meadows Community College Main Art Gallery. Furthermore, during the last week of the month on the 23rd, I was out chasing the Supermoon as it appeared over Walker Lake.

July in Reno is an exciting time for celebrating the arts with the event, Artown. This year, I was thrilled to participate on the 20th. through the Arts in Bloom Art and Wine Festival held at Victorian Square.

July brought some of the hottest, longest record breaking temperatures to Nevada and with the heat were also noticeable changes to the ecosystems at Walker Lake. A walk along the shore finds the sandy areas covered in damselfly bodies that after emerging from the water were caught in numerous orb weaver spider webs.

The month concluded with one of my photos, "Quiet Retreat" taking third place in the international competition project “Together IN Harmony”, developed by Ambassador Lyza Sahertian for the European Capitol of Culture--Umeå2014,. The winners, including my photograph in the mediums of Photography, Painting, Illustration and Sculpture exhibited from July 22nd through August 3rd at the Galerie du Columbier, Paris, France.

August turned out to be a strange and trying month with the Rim Fire at Yosemite National Park which brought poor air and smoke to most of Reno, including Walker Lake.

Any hope for a return visit via Tioga Pass was extinguished due in part to our government shut down, so I spent a day enjoying the scenery at Sand Mountain.

September began with Art Touring from the 6th. through 8th. at Reno Open Studios where I shared studio space with sculptor Mike Smith.

Toward the month's end, I explored a volcanic rim at Fallon's Soda Lake.

In the early part of December with temperatures unseasonably mild, I took a journey back in to Nevada's geological past exploring ancient lava flows and strange rock outcroppings at Garfield Flats, near Hawthorne, Nevada. More blog posts will follow from these interesting outings!

As I wish you a very happy and safe New Year, I also want to thank everyone for their support and patronage over the Holiday Season. For a 2014 New Year's promotion, I will be offering a discount coupon of 10% off toward purchases on my website, excluding shipping and taxes. A printable PDF coupon with the promo code is available as a download at http://www.bonnierannald.com/coupon.htm

The coupon is yours to keep or give as a gift.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

Visit our website at: http://www.bonnierannald.com/

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Together IN Harmony, An Artistic Event

Going Out on a Limb brings Photography Awards

Once in a while photography takes you out of your comfort zone and off the beaten path to a road less traveled when the weather conditions are so unique that the landscape has been totally transformed in to a frozen mix of fog and ice.

Thus were the conditions on an early January morning when I ventured out to the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge near Fallon, Nevada. Occasionally during a cold winter, the Great Basin Desert experiences a weather phenomenon known as Pogonip or freezing fog. The ice particles from the fog adhere to any rough surface and though very beautiful, it can also be dangerous to breathe the ice crystals for a prolonged time. It is easy to become disoriented in the fog and people have been known to die from the exposure.

Being aware of my environment, I tried to go for scenes that were in close proximity to my warm truck. However through the fog, I noticed a stream up ahead and what appeared to be ducks swimming through the unfrozen water. This was one of those moments when your instincts take control and you are in a "got to have that photo mode". As I was carefully walking through the muddy frozen dirt carrying my camera on the tripod, a pair of red-tailed hawks took flight from the left side of the bank. In a manner of micro-seconds, I composed the scene and snapped the shutter, hoping that I had caught the fleeting birds.

It always seems that when I am out in the moment and being one with nature, the photograph comes to me. And on these rare occasions I am blessed with an image that will reach out and touch the viewer as was the case with my hawks in the fog that became titled "Quiet Retreat".

On June 11, 2013, I received a call for artists in the mixed medium competition: Together IN Harmony, which was a project by Ambassador Lyza Sahertian for the European Capitol of Culture--Umeå2014. The winners in the mediums of Photography, Painting, Illustration and Sculpture would exhibit in the Galerie du Columbier, Paris, France from July 22nd through August 3rd.

As luck would have it, my "Quiet Retreat" was awarded third place from a field of 60 photographers from across the globe.

Distinguished members of jury

Artists represented at Galerie du Columbier in Together IN Harmony

When I am out competing with the whims of nature to get a scene, I am always mindful of a favorite quote from actress and author Shirley MacLaine, "Don't be afraid to go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is". Whether it is the challenge or just living on the edge, these are the moments when I do get my best shots.