Chimney Swifts - Lincoln Journal Star Article
Margaret Reist from the Lincoln Journal Star wrote an article highlighting Irving Middle School's Chimney Swift Club and Michael's work with these neo-tropical migrating birds that spend summers nesting in chimneys in the central and eastern part of the United States, Lincoln included.
Read the full article here.
Platte Basin Timelapse Relocates
The Platte Basin Timelapse project has found a new home at the Center for Great Plains Studies through a collaboration between the center and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Under the direction of Michael Farrell and Michael Forsberg, the team is now located on the fifth floor of the center at 1155 Q St. It was formerly housed in the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Center on East Campus.
Read the full article here: Platte Basin Timelapse Relocates
Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography
We are delighted to announce that Mike has received the 2017 Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography. This award, given by the Sierra Club, honors an individual who has made a superlative use of still photography to further a conservation cause. Mike's work focuses heavily on photographing the Great Plains of North America, one of the most endangered ecosystems on Earth. Through his photography, he hopes to shine a light on the often over looked or forgotten species that call this region home.
Mike will be accepting this award in Washington DC on September 15, 2017.
American Grasslands Conference 2017
America's Grasslands Conference - National Wildlife Federation
The fourth biennial America’s Grasslands Conference brings together researchers, natural resource professionals, farmers and ranchers, policy experts, and conservationists to discuss relevant issues related to the conservation of North America’s grasslands. The next conference will take place November 14-16, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas.
WiLDSPEAK 2017
Photo by Jürgen Freund
WiLDSPEAK is a conservation communications symposium organized by the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). The symposium will be held November 14 & 15 at the Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P ST, NW in Washington, DC.
If you are interested in learning about science, conservation, photography, and storytelling, then consider attending this conference to meet professionals in the conservation industry, watch presentations and learn about current conservation projects happening around the world.
Click the link below for more information on tickets and registration; we hope to see you there!
https://conservationphotographers.org/wildspeak/register-here/
Our Vanishing Future: Photographs and Illustrations
Lesser Prairie Chicken, New Mexico, ©Michael Forsberg
Capturing the rare and vanishing species of the United States: Wildlife photography by professionals and illustrations by student artists.
Location: Gage Academy of Art, Steele Gallery, 1501 10th Ave E #101, Seattle WA
Opening: Friday, August 18th, 5-8pm
Photographers featured include: Michael Forsberg, David Moskowitz, Tom Mangelsen, April Bencze, Paul Bannick, Kerri Farley, David Showalter, Steven Gnam, Ken Bohn.
Sponsored by the Endangered Species Coalition & the Gage Academy for Art
Collecting Nebraska - First Friday Event
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Nebraska, the Great Plains Art Museum's upcoming exhibition will feature artworks from the permanent collection that depict Nebraska or were created by Nebraska artists. The exhibition runs August 4 - December 16, 2017. Mike's photograph, October in the tallgrass will be included. The First Friday event is on August 4 from 5-7 p.m. as part of the celebration. We hope to see you there.
Nebraska Forever Stamp - Framed Collector's Editions are now in!
Available now. Mike's image "Evening Passage - Sandhill Cranes" was selected by the United States Postal Service as a Forever Stamp in celebration of Nebraska Statehood 150th Birthday. We are very honored to be part of the celebration.
SUMMIT WORKSHOPS - Great Bear Rainforest
GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST - SUMMIT WORKSHOPS
JUNE 22-27, 2017
Photo by Melissa Groo
Join Michael Forsberg and Melissa Groo as they lead a small, select group of intrepid travelers into the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. This is a tour for photographers who are looking for a new way of approaching nature photography, both in an aesthetic and storytelling way. Photography has the power to tell a story and to affect conservation. Although we may see and photograph bears (black bears and grizzly bears), this tour is not about getting frame-filling shots of bears; it’s about engaging with and documenting the countless things that make up this ecosystem, from the large, luminous jellyfish, to the fin of a humpback whale scything the water, to the salmon skeletons found deep in the forest, picked clean. We’ll photograph sweeping vistas of valleys carved by glaciers, and gigantic hemlock trees dripping with “old man’s beard.” We will venture deep into old-growth rainforest, guided by expect trackers who will point out to us the plants and animals that make this ecosystem so special, and we’ll trek into valleys marked by meadows of wildflowers and meandering streams. Back at the lodge we’ll spend time with the First Nations people that are working hard to conserve this area, discovering what the threats are what they’re doing to combat them. Throughout all of this, we’ll talk and think about making pictures that touch on conservation principles applicable to any situation.
Participants will be expected to know the basics about their camera gear. The instructors will always be available to answer any and all questions, and will work as time permits one on one with people in the field or lodge, but there will not be formal group instruction on camera use or photo processing.
Participants need to be in good physical condition. This means that they are able to walk up to 3 or 4 miles carrying their chosen equipment, snacks, water. They should be able to clamber in and out of boats on their own, and cope with maneuvering often slippery rocks at the shoreline. They should be able to handle being on small boats sometimes on choppy water for up to two hours at a time.
Click here to learn more: https://www.photographyatthesummit.com/greatbearrainforest/
This Photographer Never Left His Backyard
This interview with Michael was conducted by Co-Founder of PhotoShelter, Allen Murabayashi. In the interview they discuss Michael's work on the Great Plains, Sandhill Cranes, and Watersheds. Listen above or read the full article below.
https://blog.photoshelter.com/2017/03/conservation-photographer-never-left-backyard/
PREDATOR-FRIENDLY PRAIRIE LANDLORDS
Michael's images were featured in a blog post written by Jill O'Brien from Wild Idea Buffalo Co.
This post discusses the roles of predators and their importance in a prairie ecosystem.
"Our love of nature includes a native habitat that is (or could be) home for prey and predators alike - including the great predators that have been extirpated or that have taken refuge in the mountains away from the pressing force of the greatest predator of all, humans."
Click the link below to read the full article: https://wildideabuffalo.com/blogs/blog/predator-friendly
Evening Passage stamp released today
Nebraska Statehood Forever Stamp featuring Mike's image of Sandhill Cranes flying over the Platte River is released today. Released at this ceremony with Governor Pete Ricketts, First Lady Susanne Shore, Jeffrey C. Johnson of the USPS this morning at the State Capitol. It was a beautiful morning that started early in front of the Lincoln sculpture outside the capitol. Happy Birthday Nebraska!
http://www.1011now.com/content/news/First-News-Nebraska-takes-the-show-live-to-the-Nebraska-State-Capitol-415102713.html
#nebraskastamp #nebraskastatehood
Nebraska Statehood Ceremony Video
LINCOLN, NE — The U.S. Postal Service celebrated the 150th anniversary of Nebraska statehood today by issuing a Forever stamp depicting a photograph taken on the banks of the Platte River as sandhill cranes flew low overhead at sunset. Nicknamed the Cornhusker State, the 37th state admitted to the union also ranks 37th in population with almost 1.9 million residents.
Michael's speech starts at 30:00.
USPS Nebraska History 150 'forever' stamp
Michael's photograph of Sandhill Cranes flying over the Platte River will be used for a U.S. postage stamp to celebrate Nebraska's 15oth birthday.
Click here to read the full article.
Mike Forsberg - a notable Nebraskan.
Michael has been noted as one of the 150 most Notable Nebraskans.
The Lincoln Journal Star chose people whose influence went beyond state's boarders, gaining them recognition in their fields.
To read more about the 150 Notable Nebraskans visit the Lincoln Journal Star website.
NANPA Environmental Impact Award
Michael is a recipient of the 2016 NANPA Environmental Impact Award for his work on Platte Basin Timelapse. He will be speaking at the Nature Photography Summit on the evening of March 3rd in Jacksonville Florida. For more information about the award and the event click here.
NANPA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AWARD
This award honors a photographic project undertaken by an individual or a team that addresses an important and urgent regional or global environmental problem. The project should be concerned with one or more species or ecosystems and illustrate perils facing the species or ecosystems and/or sustainable management solutions to help preserve them. The project will be judged on its success in raising public awareness for the need to protect our natural world and in stimulating further study of the issue(s) addressed. The individual or team directing the project may be offered a Summit Keynote presentation position. The award is open only to NANPA members or, in the case of a team project, a team headed by a NANPA member.
BRAIDED JOURNEY
After 55 days and 1000 miles by foot, bike and canoe, Mike and Pete finally made it to the Missouri River Platte River confluence on August 24, 2016. The two men travelled the length of the Platte River by foot, canoe, kayak and bike. Learn the how's and why's of this journey and a few of the people who assisted and they met along the way.
Many local news agencies reported on their journey. Click one of the articles below to read more.
NET Nebraska's NPR & PBS Stations
Kearney Hub
Lincoln Journal Star
Omaha World Herald
North Platte Telegraph
The Grand Island Independent
Columbus Telegram
Fremont Tribune
Commendation by Nebraska Legislature
Michael and photographer Joel Sartore were recognized by the Nebraska State Legislature on Wednesday April 20th, 2016.
