Berkeley Springs photographer chosen for worldwide nature picture exhibition

Photographer Mark Schwenk of Berkeley Springs has had three of his pictures chosen to be included within the inaugural Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition this fall at Arcadian Gallery in Cumberland.

“Mark Schwenk has an eye for conservation and forest restoration close to home,” stated gallery director Christopher Sloan in saying the exhibition.

Three of Schwenk’s pictures — “Carpet of the Forest,” “Piney Grove,” and “Piney Grove Cypress” — together with a forest-restoration picture, are amongst 80 photographs chosen for the autumn exhibition from greater than 800 entries worldwide.

The entries have been juried by National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Brian Skerry.

Schwenk wasn’t the one regional photographer chosen. Daniel Garrett of Rockville, Md., had 4 photographs accepted — greater than another regional entrant. Others chosen embrace Frederick Doerfler of Sarver, Pa.; John Dubicki of Hanover, Pa.; Marta Fiscus of Cumberland, Md.; Paul Grecian of Millville, Pa.; Brandon Hirt of Ebensburg, Pa.; Shannon Murphy of Wolf Creek, W.Va.; Thomas Porett of Ardmore, Pa.; Craig Spielman of Maple Glen, Pa.; Joe Allen of Harrison City, Pa.; and Peter West of Annapolis, Md.

Christopher Sloan’s targets for the present are to “bring world-class, conservation-minded photography to Western Maryland” whereas giving regional photographers added publicity within the images world.

“Brian Skerry and I wanted to bring photography of the highest caliber — representing a wide range of subjects and photographers from around the world — to Western Maryland and the Appalachian region,” stated Sloan. “I selected Brian not only because he’s one of the world’s leading underwater photographers, but because he’s a passionate ocean conservation advocate. We wanted to bring the story of ocean conservation to people who live far from the coast.”

Schwenk’s forest picture and Fiscus’s pollinator picture counsel that message already has roots right here, stated Sloan.

Skerry narrowed the sector to 80 pictures by 48 photographers. The work spans wildlife, panorama, macro, botanical, aquatic, and conservation images. The photographers embrace wildlife biologists, physicians, veterinarians, and conservation advocates, alongside skilled photographers. Some are internationally acknowledged. Others are exhibiting nationally for the primary time.

“I was especially pleased to see local and regional photographers hold their own in such a competitive field,” Sloan stated.

The exhibition opens on the Arcadian Gallery, 47 Baltimore Street in Cumberland, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, September 5, from 6 to eight p.m. The exhibition continues via November 14.

For extra info, go to www.arcadiangallery.com.