Jamie Ellin Forbes Environmental Artist Statement

My pictures of Creatures that fly are endangered or rescued. Animals and insects become subjects with in the portrait snapped. I celebrate my experience time spent them. When shooting I seek my subjects quite response, permission to capture. When possible I make eye contact to lock in to the now of the moment ‘s energy to capture the life force, the beauty of the Zen now.

The butterflies were shot in late summer s 2011, when hundreds swarmed on my front yard tree. This summer I possibly saw 50 during the migration season. Honey Bee’s were plentiful on all long Island. Now they are very scarce, hard to find, difficult to shoot. Wild Mustang, pictured here was rescued, up for adoption at the Hampton Classic. Horses are hunted by helicopter driven, rounded up by the U.S. Government in to holding pens for sale or slaughter. This Goat was for display at the Hamptons Classic. She is an ASPCA rescue animal; I have no idea what was her abuse. She loved the camera and came up to the lens. Seagulls are plentiful; this one was over my house and hovered to watch me in a very cold winter sky. A flock came in for cat food.

I was the kid who brought home every damaged/ wounded small homeless creature left on the roadside much to my mother’s dismay. I hope my love of animals is evident in my photographs. With Each creature that goes extinct we will loose the unheard sound of his or her beauty. Hopefully my pictures will bring to mid the fact most of us love nature, and find the diversity food for our souls. …Jamie Ellin Forbes