at Maurice K. Goddard State Park, recently won the People’s Choice Runner Up Award through the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Structure’s yearly image contest. Fran Bires SANDY LAKE– For Fran Bires, the outdoors have been a long-lasting interest– something he can now reveal through photography, a pastime that took off for him about 5 or six years ago.And because the Sandy Lake citizen and his better half Nancy live near the Maurice K. Goddard State Park, the couple frequently spend a lot of time hiking, cycling or taking pictures there– including an image Fran took in 2015 of an otter. The otter, perched on a rock and recalling at Fran, is an unusual example of an animal “working together” during an image shoot, and one that recently won Fran individuals’s Option Runner Up Award from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Structure’s Yearly Picture Contest. “It was cool, however it was also extremely unexpected,” Fran stated of the award.Fran’s photo was one of about 600 submissions to the contest in 2022, according to a press release.The quality and volume of the images is proof of the passion people have for their state parks and forests, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation President Marci Mowery stated in the release.”Photography is one of many ways that people delight in these unique locations,” Mowery said.Despite the recognition, Fran said he didn’t set out to be an award-winning professional photographer; his real passion has actually always been the outdoors and wildlife.To that end, Fran’s career included a 33-year stint at the previous McKeever Environmental Learning Center, along with a long time operating at state parks including Raccoon Creek State Park and McConnells Mill State Park.Fran likewise continues to serve on the board of the Buddies of Maurice K. Goddard State Park. Sandy Lake resident Fran Bires, imagined here throughout a 2019 trip to Glacier National forest, recently received the People’s Option Runner Up Award from the Pennsylvania
Parks and Forests Structure’s yearly photo contest. Contributed When he retired in 2016, Fran continued hanging out outdoors. And now, Fran could invest more time studying photography, which had actually formerly been an”on-and-off again”hobby
“It was type of a natural fit, “Fran stated. “I understand a lot of professional photographers that do wedding events and things like that, however being a nature and outdoors enthusiast, that’s what I wanted to shoot
.”Nevertheless, Fran said photography still took a great deal of experimentation, as he found out various aspects such as equipment, composition and lighting.He also found out how much patience enters into photography, particularly wildlife photography, given that the shots are dictated by the whims of nature and the animals. “Something I’ve gained from professional photographers is
that, when people go out in the field, a great deal of people up too quick, “Fran stated. “I have actually done that where you give up, and as quickly as you do, that’s usually when something cool happens.
“Throughout among numerous journeys to Goddard 3 or 4 years back, Fran stated he saw his very first river otter. Although he snapped a couple of photos at the time, Fran later on went back to the very same area and as soon as again saw otters there.By the time he
took his acclaimed picture, Fran said the otters appeared to get used to his presence instead of scattering, although Fran continued to keep his distance.Despite the distinct chance provided when one of the otters took a look at him enough time to snap an image, Fran stated it was important to be respectful of animals when shooting them.That’s why Fran said professional photographers must not just be mindful of their own safety, but also the safety of the animals by not getting too loud or too close.Some bird species will desert a nest if somebody gets too close or disrupts a nest, while foxes might take their young from the den and try to find a new den if they feel the puppies are threatened.” Ethics is a big part of this. You have actually got to be considerate of wildlife, “Fran said.Aside from receiving his very first photography award, Fran also had an image of an eastern bluebird published in Pennsylvania Magazine, and a landscape photograph of Goddard’s Falling Run Waterfall in Inside Pennsylvania Publication, both in 2022. Fran stressed though that while it was “cool “having his work recognized
last year, and he might send towards the contest in the future, he does not take photos for the awards.Since there’s no chance to prepare ahead the situations that can make for a fantastic image, it assists to enjoy the outdoors no matter the image opportunities.”You can invest hours a day outdoors and not see something. That’s what makes these sort of photos special, “he said.Like David L. Dye
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