Photograph

Southeastern Bat (Myotis Austroriparius)

Found only in the deep Southeast and a small area reaching through Memphis and into Illinois, the Southeastern Bat is an arial tactician, whose widespread wings reach a foot across. They tend to live near water, hunting for insect dinners through the night and sleeping during the day.

The Southeastern Bat serves as an essential link in the food chain, providing the vital elimination of millions of insects as well as a much needed food source for the Barred Owl. Studies have shown that in a single month, Barred Owls can consume dozens of these bats, which make up a large portion of their diet when other food sources are scarce.

Location

Memphis, TN

I’ve always had a special affinity for Memphis, my hometown. Although a city, Memphis offers many opportunities to learn and to love nature and wildlife. Growing up, the Memphis Zoo was pivotal in turning me into an animal lover as a child. My family and I also frequently visited the Memphis Botanic Gardens and Shelby Farms.

As a photographer, the zoo, and all of its vast array of remarkable creatures, was key to helping me learn photography. I was able to take many photos over a short period of time with multiple types of cameras and lenses, and with different styles in mind.

One wild place I got to immerse myself in nature is the nearby hidden gem, Wapanocca Wildlife Refuge.

FRAME

Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni)

Cuban Mahogany is one of three species of Mahogany and it was originally the most widely used of the three. Nowadays, Honduran Mahogany is the much more prevalent wood and what most people would recognize as Mahogany. Native to the Carribbean, Cuban Mahogany’s northernmost range does include the far south of Florida, including the Keys. I happen to get all of my Cuban mahogany from a salvager in the Keys who removes the trees from construction sites before cutting it into slabs and drying it.

THE ELEMENTS

Fire, Water, Earth, and Air

In the display case in the bottom of the frame, four items are preserved glass vials. The items represent the elements: fire (wood charcoal), water (mineral oil), earth (soil), and air (a milkweed seed). I include these items in my work as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all life on earth, and as a reminder that humans must do better.

The Plaque

I engrave a wooden information plaque for each work. The plaque includes what the photograph is of, the location of the photograph, what type of wood the frame is made of and where I got the wood from. The plaques also explain what the vials are in each display case, and even state the meaning of my logo. The plaques are attached magnetically and can be removed to read or to store on the back of each frame if you prefer not to have it displayed on the front.

The Plaque

I engrave a wooden information plaque for each work. The plaque includes what the photograph is of, the location of the photograph, what type of wood the frame is made of and where I got the wood from. The plaques also explain what the vials are in each display case, and even state the meaning of my logo. The plaques are attached magnetically and can be removed to read or to store on the back of each frame if you prefer not to have it displayed on the front.