The Reception for the 2014 - 49th Annual Cody Art Show, at the Cody County Art League Gallery, in their Chamber of Commerce complex was held last night; the event was very well attended as always, and was lots of fun.  The Cody Country Art League (CCAL) is a very well run organization that exists for the creative artist in all of us; art classes are also taught on a wide variety of subjects, and they promote art throughout Cody and Wyoming.  The Cody Art Show is a prestigious event for artists from around the area, and I'm proud to be a member of this fine organization.  

     Okay, now for the rub of this week's blog; I (me) won a 1st Place Award in the Professional Photography Category for the second year in a row at the Cody Art Show!  It's still a little hard to believe, but another of my magical Hummingbirds won First Place again.  This year's 1st place Black-chinned Hummingbird, female, Wind River Canyon, Wyoming-1st Place 2014 Cody Art ShowBlack-chinned Hummingbird, Wind River Canyon, Wyoming-Winner of 1st Place Award 2014 Cody Art Show! Hummingbird photo winner was a Black-chinned Hummingbird female, which was a first in and of itself; let me explain.

     Black-chinned Hummingbirds had never visited or nested in the Wind River Canyon....ever.  This part of the country was too far northeast of their historical range, that is up until the fires in southern Colorado last year, when the Black-chinned Hummers had no place to nest! and some of them came north in a need to find available and appropriate nesting areas.  I'd heard reports from around northwest Wyoming last summer; folks telling me they'd seen Black-chinned Hummingbirds for the very first time on their feeders, too.  But I've read in more than one book that they're successful in nesting only thirty percent of the time, but I'd had proof this was a good nesting area for them; I had photographs of baby Black-chins!  I'd hoped that this mating Black-chinned Hummingbird, immature, Wind River Canyon, WyomingThe First Ever; Baby Black-chinned Hummingbird Born in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. success would encourage them to return....and they have, as we have two nesting pair this year.  

     The winning Black-chinned Hummingbird photograph was a huge labor of love; I'd shot thousands of pictures to get the one photo that thrilled me to the bone.  After I'd printed a larger photograph of this Hummingbird my wife insisted I frame it, she even helped in suggesting the framing style.  I used a high-end cherry wood frame with no mat, something I'd never done on a Hummingbird picture that was twelve inches square; the final framed picture looked wonderful.  The framed photograph ended up being displayed in Dr. Hayes' waiting room last winter, and this spring my wife insisted it go to Cody for their annual show....and she was right in her choice, it won First Place!  

     All this goes to show a number of important issues when it comes to my Conservation Wildlife Photography; it's still all about my Hummingbirds that I love so very much, and my wife Debra is very smart.  It's been a year since my website HogbatsPhotography.com and my Blog have been up, and I'm thrilled beyond a smile at the number of people that have seen the amazing animals that live in the Wind River Canyon.  Thank you goes to everyone that have taken the time to see my magical birds and animals; I fervently hope that it has helped in some small way in the preservation of Wild Places like the Wind River Canyon.