Orlando Museum of Art

Big Cypress Swamp:

The Western Everglades

March 20 - July 26

Orlando Museum of Art

Clyde with the Executive Director of

Orlando Museum of Art, Marena

Grant-Morrisey, and Elam Stoltzfus

The museum did such a wonderful

job of hanging the art that I asked

if I could come in before the exhibit

opened and photograph it. They said

yes. I was having so much fun with it

that Elam started taking photos of

Clyde and I taking photos...so

naturally, I had to take a photo of

him taking photos!

Clyde looking over my shoulder

while I photograph the exhibit

Clyde just couldn't stand it...he

HAD to take a picture of the

exhibit even if it was using a

small camera! Here I am pointing

out the size of the camera...HA!

Clyde with entry panel

Clyde in main room

Clyde with Elam Stoltzfus

They have worked together

on various environmental

projects about Florida for

many years. This project

on Big Cypress was Clyde's favorite.

As the exhibit opened, the people

started to come and enjoy

the images

Clyde and Elam gave a talk

and then Elam showed his film:

Big Cypress Swamp -

The Western Everglades

Clyde & Elam at the signing table

Clyde and Elam signing

...and signing...

...and signing....

We thoroughly enjoyed the Earth Day

event at the Orlando Museum. The

exhibit was a great success and the folks

who run the museum were wonderful!

Thanks for doing such a great job!

On our way...

FUN PHOTO...

When I saw this giant "post card"

I couldn't resist taking a photo

of Clyde & Elam welcoming

folks to Florida!

Solar Panels

We have had solar panels installed in

our home by SureTemp. They did a great

job and immediately

responded when we had questions.

We purchased 4000 watts of solar

panels, and a solar hot

water heater system.

The electricity it generates does NOT go into

a battery. It goes into the grid, so

Lee County Co Op Electric put in

a special meter. When we produce

electricity it calculates what we

make and subtracts that from what

we use, then bills us.

In May our electric bill was $20!!

The panels cost $34,000

We received $10,000 rebate from

the Federal government. We are

suppose to receive another

$14,000 from the state. However,

I understand that we are being

held hostage to our elected

officials...if we allow for drilling

off shore of Florida, they'll release

the money...mmmmm...wish

someone would verify that for me.

Anyway, thus far the panels have

cost us $24,000. If we get our

state rebate, they will have

cost us $10,000.

However, beyond all of the financial

aspect, just knowing that I'm

cutting back on the use of oil

makes me feel good. I'm not

supporting the Muslim oil world,

I'm not damaging the environment,

and I still have electricity.

FEELS GOOD!

If you'd like to put up solar panels,

or even just solar hot water

(hot water consumes a lot of electricity)

we had such a good relationship with

SureTemp that we have no

problem recommending them.

They are based in Ft. Myers,

but work all over the state.

They now have a program of

leasing the panels...check it out:

SURE TEMP

800 535-6800

BHopper@suretempmanufacturing.com

Putting solar hot water

heater panel onto roof

Getting solar panels up onto roof

Solar Panels on roof

2011 Calendar

It's hard to believe another year is rolling

around, and it's time for us to print our

2011 Calendar!

Clyde checking out one of the

calendar sheets at the printer

To order check out Clyde's website:

$20.00 + shipping

www.clydebutcher.com

or call Venice Gallery

(941) 486-0811

Spring time and Santa?

Richard Cervi, a tour bus driver, dropped by

our gallery. When everyone said he looked

like Santa Claus, he dashed out

to his vehicle and put on his Santa Claus

outfit, because he IS Santa!

You just never know who will drop by

the gallery!

PHOTOSHOP MADE SIMPLE - new DVD by Clyde

If you are using digital equipment in your

photography, learning the tools of

PhotoShop will help make a better

photograph. However, the real secret

to a great photograph is you. Making your

photograph a reflection of your own creative

vision is accomplished by your personal

utilization of the tools you will learn

in this DVD:

PhotoShop Made Simple

This is not an Adobe PhotoShop workflow

workshop, nor is this workshop highly technical.

I have an analog mind in a digital world so it

took me quite a while of playing around on my

computer before I found an easy way to

create techniques that resemble the same

thing I do in my darkroom.

The creative process is a series of decisions of

how to use the tools. In this DVD I will explain

the tools I use and how they work. You will

also see some of the creative decision I make while

utilizing the tools and some of the creative

decisions to change my mind

and try something else!

Elam filming Clyde for the DVD

Clyde getting ready to scan one of his negatives

Clyde working on one of his negatives

Clyde explaining his techniques to

workshop students

You can order the DVD through my website

for $95 + shipping

www.clydebutcher.com

Workshop: Clyde & Jeff Ripple

Award-winning large-format photographers,

Clyde Butcher & Jeff Ripple, gave four two-day

workshops.

On the first day of the workshop

Jeff led the students into the wilds of Florida

to capture images. On their second day, the

students brought their images into Clyde's

studio where he shared some of the secrets

he employs using PhotoShop on the digital

versions of his black & white images.

If you're interested in joining in future workshops,

make sure you are on our email list by going onto

our website: www.ClydeButcher.com

You can also keep track of Clyde

and his events on his FaceBook Fan page.

You can also check out Jeff Ripples

website: www.JeffRipple.com

We met Jeff at Port of the Islands at

"dark O'clock", as Jeff puts it...

and then headed off to the Look Out

Tower at the Ten Thousand Islands

National Wildlife Refuge.

I, Niki, joined Jeff with his first group

so I could record their experience. If

you should decide to join us on one of

these excursions, you'll have an idea of

what both Jeff and Clyde does.

Enjoy the photos...

Lookout Tower with full moon

setting into the wetlands

Ten Thousand Islands

National Wildlife Refuge

Capturing an image of the full moon

setting over the wetlands

Jeff discussing photography with student

Jeff working with student

Catching the sun coming up

over the horizon

Jeff helping a student

Heading down the road to see what

else there is to photograph

Jeff leads everyone out into the wetlands

He lost his sole in the Everglades...

Photographing birds

Photographing butterflies

After we finished photographing

the Refuge, everyone adjourned

for a short break to have breakfast,

and then we met at the Port of

the Islands Marina for the trip

out into the Ten Thousand Islands.

Heading out into the mangroves

with Captain Richard

Unloading students and equipment.

After the boat unloaded everyone, it left the

area so that it wouldn't be in any one's photo.

Just to let you know, I worked at getting

people into the photographs. I also took

plenty of photos for myself with no one

in the image...just don't want you to think

there are so many people that they get in

the way...plenty of opportunity to take

photos without people in them!

Jeff working with student

Just for fun...a different angle of view

Meandering through the backwater and mangroves

Stopping on an island for lunch

before we head out to explore

the island with our cameras

Photographing wildlife...well, kind of wild...

Horseshoe Crabs mating

Photographing seed pods

Seed Pod

Photographing flowers

Photographing textures

The end of a fun day photographing...

We had dinner with each group at the

Havana Cafe on Chokoloskee. The

owners, Carlos & Dulce, fed us well

with very good food!

Jeff and his "meager" portion of food...HA!

I have never seen so much food on one plate,

and it didn't matter who ordered what, the

servings were giant and the food was great!

Clyde giving introduction to his techniques

Clyde helping student

Clyde helping students

Lunch time

Getting ready to print a students image

Unfortunately, we only photographed

one group from all the folks that

attended the workshops...we were

so wrapped up in the art, that we

forgot to do the others!

Packing up finished photographs

to take home

Clyde, Jeff and I had a great time with

everyone and are looking forward to

the next workshop...keep an eye out on

our website and facebook fan page

for the next one...see you there!