OUR MISSION

We believe that the natural world has the power to stir the human spirit like nothing else. The colors of nature are the hues of our souls, and when we surround ourselves with the natural, we are invigorated, refreshed, and inspired to be our best. Our Earth is a precious gift, one that gives us all we need not just to survive, but to thrive – to live as we were meant to: swathed in joy. Photographing the world of color has opened my eyes to miracles of all sizes, from the immense, deep blue of the ocean to the stunning stripes of the little swallowtail caterpillar. It is our hope that these photographs will help many people to re-focus their own minds and lives, to spend more time enjoying our beautiful natural world, and to see themselves, too, as splashes of their own color on the infinite palette of this glorious, gorgeous planet.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Dorothy Clifford Birch is an avid naturalist, environmentalist, and award winning photographer. Dorothy received a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Virginia Tech and a Master's Degree in Environmental Education from Nova Southeastern University. She spends much of her free time educating children and adults alike about the role each one of us plays in supporting and restoring our beautiful environment. Her goal in creating these beautiful photographs is to spread the beauty of nature to as many as possible. Dorothy was raised in Virginia, which she still believes to be the very most beautiful state in the Union, but she now travels the country as the wife of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pilot.

She loves her work as an environmental educator, joining in the delight of natural discovery with children and adults alike, encouraging the critical thinking and action that help people to appreciate the wonderful web of life in which they are enveloped. As for these pictures and their role in Birch's environmental education efforts. . . if one picture is worth a thousand words, then these, she hopes, might just begin to describe the beauty of this small and precious, blue and green planet on which we are blessed to live.

Visit Dorothy's Blog to read more!

ARTIST AWARDS

• 2008 North American Association for Environmental Education Photography Contest, River Rock
• 2008 Power of Photography, Rain on Morning Star
• 2008 First City Quayside Art Show, Nonna's Hydrangea III
• 2009 Pensacola Visitors Bureau Calender Photography Competition, Sunset over Pond Creek
• 2007 First City Quayside Art Show, Phalaenopsis
• 2007 Pensacola Interstate Fair,

  • Daylily Showoff
  • Gemini
  • Clematis Center
  • Nonna's Hydrangea III
  • Grandma's Yellow Dahlia
  • Mum in Orange
• 2007 Power of Photography,
  • Phalaenopsis Moondian
  • Dianthus
  • Papaver
• Master of Science, Environmental Education, Nova Southeastern University, May, 2006
• Air Quality Coordinator, Alamo Area Council of Governments, San Antonio, TX. 2000 - 2005
• Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, May, 1999

STORY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

All at once, it was there, laid out in front of me plain, simple, and perfect - the red dirt road. Running next to the old railroad track turned bicycle trail was this red clay icon of life in the south, and what struck me most was not how it wandered into a deep green wood, but how rich and intense the color stayed as the path wandered away. Immediately I tried to liken the deep rusty red of that southern clay soil to something else in my mind. As red as. . .as red as. . .but it was exactly as red as itself. I realized then that it's the human-made things in life that we struggle to liken to nature's palette of true colors. This red clay was simply as red as red clay. Perfect in and of itself. And in that moment of realization, the rest of the world opened up to me - or, rather, my eyes opened up to it. All around, the prism of summer light sparkled in a thousand greens in the leaves of trees and blades of grass, infinite shades of brown in the blackwater streams, the dimpled skin of the juicy sweet orange I'd brought for a snack, the glistening petals of tiny wildflowers in purple and white and yellow. Rich, saturated, intense, and so full of life that they will not be denied, these pieces of nature have jumped right into my digital camera, and now I offer them to you. Enjoy.

DECORATING WITH NATURE'S COLORS

The ideas for using these photographs in combination are infinite. We have assembled a few of our favorite photos to demonstrate just a few possibilities on our Decorating Ideas page. You also find examples of several of our other products there. We also look forward to your feedback on how you have enjoyed decorating with these photographs via our Contact Us weblink.

Remember, we add new photographs frequently, so check back often or subscribe to our email list to receive automatic emails when new photographs are added.