The Springfield New-Leader posted a nice story about my exhibit and program (9/16) at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.
River Hills Traveler readers voted me as “Favorite Outdoor Artist or Photographer” of the year.
Based in Piedmont, Missouri, the River Hills Traveler is a monthly newsletter that mostly covers the eastern Ozarks. It focuses on Missouri’s beautiful outdoors through various activities, including fishing, canoeing, hunting and wildlife-watching.
They wrote a nice story about me.
“Noppadol Paothong captures the essence of whatever he photographs.
Actually, that is an understatement. “Nop” is an outdoor photographer for the Missouri Department of Conservation, whose sharp images of even the tiniest parts of creatures make a person see how intricate nature can be, for nature’s own sake.
“My photos appear on a monthly magazine, Missouri Conservationist,” he writes. “They are a showcase of Missouri wildlife and natural resources.” Another place you can find his images is online at www.nopnatureimages.com.
It’s easy to see from the images why our readers would pick this 15-year veteran wildlife photographer. In addition to images that are technically excellent, Nop tries to capture the personality, or the essence, of whatever he photographs. The quizzical attitude of a fox. The grace of a soaring bird. The majesty and changeable weather of the prairie.
“I specialize in rare and endangered species,” he said. “For the past 10 years I’ve been working on a photo book titled “Save the Last Dance: a story of North American Grassland Grouse.” On his website, Nop tells of being mesmerized while taking pictures of prairie
chickens, and how he hopes his book will help save them.
More recently, he conducted a Facebook auction of some of his prints, as well as a chance to spend a day in the field learning photography from him – with the proceeds benefiting the Joplin tornado victims.
He’s a winner in more ways than one.”
Joplin was my hometown for several years when I went to school (Missouri Southern State University) and worked for the newspaper (the Joplin Globe).
I was very saddened by the destruction of such a warm and wonderful community and I wanted to help it rebuild.
I set up a facebook page (“Auction to help Joplin“) and auctioned off some of my photographs and a half-day workshop.
I’m happy to share the news that I raised $3,500, and Shelter Insurance Foundation generously matched the amount, which made it to $7,000.
I’m happy I could give something back to the community that has been so warm and generous.
I hosted a photography workshop on the Prairie Garden Trust in New Bloomfield, Missouri yesterday.
Henry Domke manages this beautiful prairie, and he kindly allowed me to use this place. (Please contact Henry if you’re interested in visiting this place.
This workshop was for people who made the highest bid in the auction I set up to help Joplin tornado victims. (For more details, visit the Facebook page here.)
The workshop included discussion on photography techniques such as how to look for good background, what exposure to use, effects of f-stop and shutter speed, white balance, and differences between auto-focus vs manual-focus, etc. followed by photo-shooting in the field.
We had a great time photographing butterflies and flowers on the prairie.
(Click here to read Henry’s blog on this workshop.)
Follow me on Facebook (Click the Facebook image here).
While I keep my blog to post more technical aspect of my job or longer post (although I haven’t updated my blog for a while…), I’ll update my Facebook page as frequent as possible with my current projects or events.
My dogs, Jasper & Lulu
This spring/summer has been one of the busiest time in my career. Between my hectic traveling schedule and photo shooting, I rarely had my own fun time (well, don’t get me wrong – I do enjoy what I do). And before I know it, my summer is almost gone.
Beside my regular nature subjects, my favorite subject to photograph is my two Golden Retrievers, Jasper and LuLu. But because of my busy schedule, it’s been some time since I took them on a road trip. They are water dogs, and there is no a better place than Current River in the heart of the Ozark.
Photographing my dogs and having fun doing that helped me realize one of my own beliefs about photography – when a photographer really cares about the subject, it shows, and That is what makes a great image. In this case, it was my dogs that I love and deeply care about.
Many times people search for the biggest and greatest things to photograph. However, we often fail to recognize that the great thing might be right in front of us.
I was on the cover of December edition of the Joplin Globe’s magazine, Profiles.
The Joplin Globe in Joplin is the fourth largest daily newspaper in Missouri.
Runge Nature Center (Jefferson City, Missouri)
I’ve been displaying some of my favorite images in a number of Nature Centers throughout Missouri.
My hope is to help deliver the conservation message and make people understand the need to preserve precious natural resources and dwindling wildlife.
The photo exhibit will go around a number of nature centers throughout Missouri as below.
Missouri Department of Conservation released 2008 Nature Events Calendar.
It features 10 of my images, including the cover image of Gray-headed Coneflowers.
