"I chose nature photography as a way of capturing and sharing the beauty, power, and fragility of wild places and the life that inhabits them, so that those who have become mired in the man-made chaos may open their eyes to the real world."

--Guy Tal, American naturalist and landscape photographer

A request: Help us decorate and celebrate! In honor of Earth Day (week-month-year) we’ll be tapping into the incredible talent pool that is our readership. Please peruse your own photo collections and DO share your most beautiful, eye-popping nature photos so we can decorate our site. Honestly, we’d be tickled fuchsia.

Y’see, other than babies, food and LOLcats, the Earth is probably THE most popular subject for photographers. We humanoids are rightfully astounded by Her beauty and awestruck by her powers. Whether it’s
the Disney-delight of workaholic honey bee or the harsh frozen tundra of Antarctica, the lens can’t get enough, which is why we never stop photographing Her like some omnipresent immortal supermodel that won’t get out of bed for less than 30 rainbows a day.

So, send us your best seashells, blossoms, prairie fields and icicles. We’ll even take manure and mud cakes, if the lighting is right …

Meanwhile, check out these gorgeous images compliments of the U.S. government. (Finally, our tax dollars doing something we can be proud of …) The folks at NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) took a break in their studious planetary observations to make art for art’s sake. Behold, “a collection of Landsat 7 scenes created for aesthetic purposes rather than scientific interpretation.” (Love it – even their goofing off sounds serious.)

Ever humble, those adorable NASA/USGS humans refuse to even take credit, insisting that the “artists of this collection come from three sensors aboard satellites orbiting the Earth - Landsat 7, ASTER, and MODIS.” I so love nerdy space/rock folk. The images are astoundingly beautiful and inspired me to murmur, “Jesus”, “Wow” and “Man” over and over again – there’s a haiku in there somewhere.

Some lovely gals who are celebrating Mother Earth via the lens:

Natalie Prikhodko from Everyday-wonders.

Natalie spends her days as a computer scientist but in her spare time, shares her natural skill at capturing the fragile essence of the natural world. For example, I’m completely smitten with the ‘flora’ section in her gallery. The bright-yet-see-through colors are powerfully soothing and make me want to be nice to everyone. Hmmm, perhaps this should be my new home page …

“Photography gives me the opportunity to explore the world that surrounds us, notice and record things which possibly would have gone unnoticed, as well as share those findings with an audience. I love sharing my work with different viewers and learn how they perceive the images through the prism of their experiences. It's probably the second most exhilarating moment in the whole photographic process; the first, of course, being the discovery of the image through the viewfinder.”

--Natalie Prkhodko

Meet Australian Leisa Hennessy, a mother of three currently living in Ontario, Canada. The bio on her site, NaturesPixel says she is relatively new to photography but I’m not buying it. Her
nature shots are whimsical and fun, belying an appreciation for fuzzy dandelions, adorable birds and at least one caterpillar with a crazy-ass hairdo. It’s hard to put my finger on it but her photos make me feel like we just might be okay after all.

Also, check out this effort gather and celebrate us women behind the lens, Women in Contemporary Photography. The site launched earlier this month and here’s what I know: Women in Photography is co-curated by Amy Elkins and Cara Phillips and sponsored by Humble Arts Foundation. Also, they are taking submissions and selected photographers will each get a one-week exhibition. Furthermore, all featured artists will be listed in the archive with a link to her personal website, representation or gallery.

“There are more women working in the contemporary photo world then ever before. Their methods, choice of subject matter, visual language, and processes run the gamut of artistic possibility. What unites them is their passion and the effort they devote to creating extraordinary bodies of work. Women in Photography is a showcase for this work. It is also a resource for photographers, editors, curators, gallery owners, and viewers alike to discover and enjoy the work of female artists. By mixing the work of emerging photographers with artists that have achieved high levels of success within fine art and commercial worlds, the project is designed to open a visual dialogue and create a venue to share work, support, and ideas.”

--Women in Photography