Photographer Mark Schwenk of Berkeley Springs has had three of his photographs selected to be included in 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,” said gallery director Christopher Sloan in announcing the exhibition.
Three of Schwenk’s photographs — “Carpet of the Forest,” “Piney Grove,” and “Piney Grove Cypress” — including a forest-restoration image, are among 80 images selected for the fall exhibition from more than 800 entries worldwide.
The entries were juried by National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Brian Skerry.
Schwenk wasn’t the only regional photographer selected. Daniel Garrett of Rockville, Md., had four images accepted — more than any other regional entrant. Others chosen include 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 goals for the show are to “bring world-class, conservation-minded photography to Western Maryland” while giving regional photographers added exposure in the photography 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,” said 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 photo and Fiscus’s pollinator image suggest that message already has roots here, said Sloan.
Skerry narrowed the field to 80 photographs by 48 photographers. The work spans wildlife, landscape, macro, botanical, aquatic, and conservation photography. The photographers include wildlife biologists, physicians, veterinarians, and conservation advocates, alongside professional photographers. Some are internationally recognized. Others are showing nationally for the first time.
“I was especially pleased to see local and regional photographers hold their own in such a competitive field,” Sloan said.
The exhibition opens at the Arcadian Gallery, 47 Baltimore Street in Cumberland, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, September 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition continues through November 14.
For more information, visit www.arcadiangallery.com.
