tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440433009062343402024-03-05T15:29:04.566-08:00little piece of the wilda blog by Matt Clysdale, exploring the little pieces of wilderness in and around the city of KalamazooMatt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-3211866004551663112015-05-14T09:45:00.000-07:002015-05-14T09:45:04.389-07:00Workshopping with a Wolfe<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Me and Art Wolfe at his gallery in Seattle (photo by Karen Lanzendorfer)</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #7d7d7d; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Last year I had the distinct pleasure of meeting one of my favorite nature photographers, </span><a href="http://artwolfe.com/" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Art Wolfe</a><span style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #7d7d7d; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, while visiting his gallery in Seattle. He was gracious enough to stop and talk with me and my relatives, and more than willing to accommodate a photo. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, one year later I have the distinct pleasure of attending one of Art's <a href="http://events.artwolfe.com/event/olympic-peninsula-workshop-2015/" style="color: #222222; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">photo workshops</a> in the Olympic Peninsula. Art grew up in Seattle and has always considered the Peninsula his backyard and will be taking us to some of his favorite spots in Olympic National Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Considering photography has always been a solo sport for me, working with Art and another 20 people should be a lot of fun. I also hope to learn a thing or two from a world renowned master photographer. </span></div>
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Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-82821064479295344742015-04-28T14:20:00.002-07:002015-04-28T14:21:58.163-07:00I'm Opening My Doors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Since moving to a larger studio on the 4th floor of the <a href="http://www.parktradescenter.com/" target="_blank">Park Trades Center</a> last year, I'm finally opening my doors to the public. On display will be some new works printed really large, including the portrait above. So if you're in Kalamazoo this Friday, hopping around for the <a href="http://www.kalamazooarts.org/sites/kalamazooarts.org/file/Art%20Hop/Brochure/2015/Art%20Hop%20May%20Brochure_2015.pdf" target="_blank">biggest Art Hop of the year</a>, stop on by and pay me a visit. The art and I would love to see you!</i></span></span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-82217580120611517722015-04-13T11:06:00.001-07:002015-04-13T11:10:26.722-07:00The Colony Farm Orchard - Back in the News<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not only has it been a while since I last posted, it's been a really, really long while since I last posted about the controversy surrounding development of the Colony Farm Orchard in Kalamazoo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This is an issue that became centrally important to me 5 years ago because I was spending a ton of hours photographing wildlife in the Orchard and was concerned that WMU and legislators were looking to absolve the deed restrictions that were protecting the Orchard from any significant development or public disturbance. It was one of Kalamazoo's most unique wild spaces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well, the Orchard is back in the news again because WMU is very close to actually breaking ground on the property and beginning their expansion of the BTR Park. But their developments have not gone unnoticed. Protestors, organized in large part by the Kalamazoo Peace Center, marched outside the gates of the Orchard on April 3rd, 2015 to voice their opposition to any future development. You can read the Mlive article by clicking <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2015/04/more_than_50_people_gather_to.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My response to the controversy five years ago was the creation of a 20 minute documentary about the Orchard and WMU's plans to develop it. I recommend it as an educational primer for the issue. Given where the video leaves off, it comes as no surprise that we're now facing WMU's subsequent plans to finally move ahead with expansion. They're pretty much right on schedule. The question is what happens next?</span><br />
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Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-84077727870522252212015-01-09T08:56:00.000-08:002015-01-09T09:06:07.313-08:00Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/id" target="_blank">Northern Harriers</a> doing their aerial acrobatics over the wetlands at <a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuge/shiawassee/" target="_blank">Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge</a>.</span><br />
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<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-38494774171791328422014-12-25T09:46:00.003-08:002014-12-25T09:48:05.054-08:00Merry Christmas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Otter at Salt Creek with a starry flounder. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas from the Olympic Peninsula. May the world always bring you the gifts you need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There are many themes circulating around Christmas, including the idea of peace and hope in the birth of Christ, but the theme of gift-giving is by far the strongest and brightest in America - and we all know how that's exploded into a banquet of excess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once again, the natural world reminds us to keep in touch with the necessities in life, and how the Earth can provide for us all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What truly matters most? Food, shelter, warmth, love, family, friends, and of course a few indulgences like chocolate or wine. But if we have more than we need, perhaps it's a good idea to just stop, or perhaps share what we have with those who lack. Generosity can be a beautiful thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There is enough to go around, and around, and around...</span><br />
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<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-46671510830590729072014-12-09T17:08:00.003-08:002014-12-09T17:08:54.054-08:00My First Drop-tine Buck<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rutger in 2012 </td></tr>
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<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-16361545294715546382014-12-01T17:43:00.001-08:002014-12-01T17:43:24.812-08:00Black Friday for WildlifeWhile hordes of shoppers stormed the shopping malls along Westnedge Avenue in Portage, Michigan this past weekend, I was literally a block away walking along the Portage Bicentennial Trail in search of wildlife. And I might as well have been in a parallel universe given the contrast.<br />
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While the rest of humanity was possessed by their material wants (and perhaps some justifiable needs) I was able to capture a couple of fellow creatures completely caught up in their diligent pursuit of some life essentials: A red squirrel packing up on protein for the winter and a pileated woodpecker either hammering away at grub, or chiseling away at a future nest-hole.<br />
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That's one of the great gifts of wildlife photography and observation: reminding ourselves of the core essentials of survival and how so much of the material accumulation of life is really just clutter and distraction.<br />
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<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-58133017607212048992014-11-20T11:11:00.002-08:002014-11-20T11:15:24.583-08:00Jessica Clark - Life in the Trees<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1416509940735_23448" style="background-color: white; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Many moons ago, when I first started my portrait series, <span style="color: #111111; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><a data-cke-saved-href="http://mattclysdale.com/myanimalandi/" href="http://mattclysdale.com/myanimalandi/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">M</a><a data-cke-saved-href="#" href="https://matt-clysdale-b58k.squarespace.com/config/#" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">Y ANIMAL AND I</a><b>, </b></span>I was describing the concept of the work to a curious barista at a local coffee house, and before I could even ask her what animal, she said with a quiet assuredness, "my animal is a flying squirrel". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I was thrilled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">First, by the fact she loved <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/flying-squirrels.aspx" href="http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/flying-squirrels.aspx" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">flying squirrels</a>, which are downright amazing, and actually quite common but rarely seen and almost never, ever discussed in everyday conversation. Secondly, I have a fondness myself for flying squirrels because one became an instant hit in my urban wildlife documentary, <a href="http://mattclysdale.com/aau/" target="_blank">ANIMALS AMONG US</a>, because of a shot I captured of it flying right towards the camera at night. Thirdly, by the fact she knew precisely what animal she identified with, and it wasn't the all-too-familiar top predators, like wolves, hawks, eagles, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I knew immediately that I wanted to do her portrait, and only after I began work on the collage did I come to realize how thoroughly she was like a <a data-cke-saved-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel" style="color: #2777ae; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">southern </a><a data-cke-saved-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel" style="color: #2777ae; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">flying squirrel</a><a data-cke-saved-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">. </a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Jessica Flying Squirrel" Southern flying squirrel photo by Joe McDonald</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Many years passed between that first encounter and the creation of the portrait, and during that time Jessica was doing some significant work in environmental activism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In response to the disastrous 2010 <a data-cke-saved-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalamazoo_River_oil_spill" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalamazoo_River_oil_spill" style="color: #2777ae; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">Enbridge oil spill</a> into the Kalamazoo River, Jessica joined <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.michigancats.org/" href="http://www.michigancats.org/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">MICATS</a> and began actively working to stop further expansion of the Enbridge pipeline that was the source of what is now known as the worst inland oil spill in U.S. history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How did Jessica decide to fight one of the largest energy companies in North America? By doing a tree-sit to halt construction of Enbridge's Line 6B tar sands pipeline in LaPorte Indiana. She tree-sat not once, but twice! On the second sit, her wooden platform was held up by a rope that was tied to a bulldozer, thereby incapacitating any progress on the pipeline<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> (learn more about it <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.michigancats.org/breaking-tree-sitter-to-spend-26-days-in-jail-for-enbridge-protest/" href="http://www.michigancats.org/breaking-tree-sitter-to-spend-26-days-in-jail-for-enbridge-protest/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">HERE</a> and <a data-cke-saved-href="http://ecowatch.com/2014/04/17/tree-sitter-jail-time-highlight-injustice-tar-sands/" href="http://ecowatch.com/2014/04/17/tree-sitter-jail-time-highlight-injustice-tar-sands/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">HERE</a>)</em>.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jessica tree-sitting in protest of Enbridge tar sands pipeline expansion in 2013. Photo credit: MI CATS</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Eventually deceived by the police into coming down from her tree, Jessica was arrested and eventually appeared before a judge in a La Porte County courthouse where she made a brave and compelling <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.michigancats.org/breaking-tree-sitter-to-spend-26-days-in-jail-for-enbridge-protest/" href="http://www.michigancats.org/breaking-tree-sitter-to-spend-26-days-in-jail-for-enbridge-protest/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">statement</a> explaining her non-violent protest. In the end, Jessica was sentenced to 26 days in jail for two counts of trespassing and one count of theft, all for what she believes was a necessary defense of the environment and everything within it, including ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All this corroborates Jessica's connection to flying squirrels in a beautiful and profound way. I'll add as well that she's small in stature like flying squirrels, but when she fans out her spirit and persona she's able to glide through life with a tremendous amount of grace and agility. If you meet her, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.</span></div>
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<i>Great video by National Geographic - although I'll argue they're not weird at all, and let's not assume that's a "he" up there!</i></div>
Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-36192220514602675542014-11-06T16:18:00.000-08:002014-11-06T16:32:21.458-08:00Pale Male Lives On<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://hereandnow.wbur.org/" target="_blank">Here and Now</a>, the NPR program hosted by Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson, just broadcast <a href="http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/06/pale-male-central-park" target="_blank">a nice piece on Pale Male</a>, the famed red-tailed hawk of Central Park in New York City. The ultimate urban animal, Pale Male continues to reign over the Park at the unusually old age of 24. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I bring this up not only because of my love of the urban animal, especially through my documentary <a href="http://mattclysdale.com/aau/" target="_blank">ANIMALS AMONG US</a>, but because my ongoing body of animal portraits includes a picture of Pale Male, representing the spirit animal of a dear friend and teacher, Jorge Arenivar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The photo was taken by Pale Male's most inspired and devoted chronicler, <a href="http://www.palemale.com/" target="_blank">Lincoln Karim</a>, who's documented the hawk almost every single day for the past 12 years. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GKlWzd_X457f7Lzv0-jH7Zjochsj350-w4EJlL08yexS-XV5q1jHXblkJKDY1rhQprpeuBJ1HjZr2eSg6PSvfKT8hLHn5zcElJTDoYWtCh-izxUyORGIf8yeuhQMrF-ZPJ9VWjKwwZQ/s1600/JorgeHawk(350k)DARKER(w%3Anamestamp).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GKlWzd_X457f7Lzv0-jH7Zjochsj350-w4EJlL08yexS-XV5q1jHXblkJKDY1rhQprpeuBJ1HjZr2eSg6PSvfKT8hLHn5zcElJTDoYWtCh-izxUyORGIf8yeuhQMrF-ZPJ9VWjKwwZQ/s1600/JorgeHawk(350k)DARKER(w%3Anamestamp).jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
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<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-16924707290836924702014-08-07T17:44:00.001-07:002014-08-07T17:44:36.626-07:00Update on WHEN HOPE HATCHES<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For those of you following my documentary on the King Highway Osprey, I had to make a very difficult decision recently to scrap the project. With all the time, energy, and effort I put into the film, the decision was not easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more information on my decision, please visit my blog for the documentary: <a href="http://whenhopehatches.blogspot.com/2014/08/when-hope-hatches-will-not-be-hatching.html" target="_blank">WHEN HOPE HATCHES</a>.</span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-78603456331892241452014-08-04T05:49:00.002-07:002014-08-04T06:39:53.572-07:00A Vibrant Immigrant<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtpouHQQ7gJM-HdLMLF2f8glgUAUhqmVU42ISOLKXXYXbztCQr9cqmyZdRXREFetMYUpzCtHaXKQe_3MH4UX8ZOE7XNEgueLxNezIQK2z9Ta3oJRUhyphenhyphenGWYyxGWCtPqZm0cslSOLgM8Q0/s1600/GrossbeakMale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtpouHQQ7gJM-HdLMLF2f8glgUAUhqmVU42ISOLKXXYXbztCQr9cqmyZdRXREFetMYUpzCtHaXKQe_3MH4UX8ZOE7XNEgueLxNezIQK2z9Ta3oJRUhyphenhyphenGWYyxGWCtPqZm0cslSOLgM8Q0/s1600/GrossbeakMale.jpg" height="275" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Blue Grossbeak </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKURnPVXIPma5LEHQ1MibBIexngi2HP0trFJzn-Vde-ctBa16sP_9Cy6nCz_O_2cmWER81TCIRbIpAY_dvPmuElXuxTN0TjDEnW9cqM2w9UyX_MELH2B8bcC7n463rEuBnXyMjfnKVc64/s1600/Swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKURnPVXIPma5LEHQ1MibBIexngi2HP0trFJzn-Vde-ctBa16sP_9Cy6nCz_O_2cmWER81TCIRbIpAY_dvPmuElXuxTN0TjDEnW9cqM2w9UyX_MELH2B8bcC7n463rEuBnXyMjfnKVc64/s1600/Swallowtail.jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Black Swallowtail </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF7aj8aHKlwSfJCgKLTblMopkntR-aRhxeKv2cHrf_LhFqrqHOE7Kdf75eqUeqfIgQ-vjgy7sL4UMP-n_hYmBMJ9pX5-AF1kkj-4I8ijVrfCJ7x9acNDEb-ffKhxxG7yL8SxVRhQoVlA/s1600/Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF7aj8aHKlwSfJCgKLTblMopkntR-aRhxeKv2cHrf_LhFqrqHOE7Kdf75eqUeqfIgQ-vjgy7sL4UMP-n_hYmBMJ9pX5-AF1kkj-4I8ijVrfCJ7x9acNDEb-ffKhxxG7yL8SxVRhQoVlA/s1600/Waxwing.jpg" height="640" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar Waxwing</td></tr>
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<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1407156119404_2219" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #7d7d7d; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 1.6em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A breeding pair of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/blue_grosbeak/id" style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Blue Grossbeaks</a> on the Kalamazoo River lit up the social networks of Southwest Michigan, and drew throngs of people from all around to see this rare and pretty bird. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Normally more southern, the species is expanding it's range and may soon go from exotic and new to just another one of the gang - albeit a vibrant standout. With our constantly evolving and dynamic landscapes, it's hard to say whether global warming is at hand or some other driving force.</span></div>
Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-35222598665787351002014-07-15T20:42:00.000-07:002014-07-16T07:21:19.301-07:00The Ubiquitous Rabbit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWchU7cFWidft62FJ_M6tM_41ijMiZf3X98F7ZIylnUcrrCY-9EMwS-UBxVTVqYmcvVXf1j4cAAQlowwR3PN5iysvQfNnT2-12rxo4fXwCPG8Sw1rzD9alfZ11ch1GtxG9outQ5LEERw/s1600/BunnyTrailADJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWchU7cFWidft62FJ_M6tM_41ijMiZf3X98F7ZIylnUcrrCY-9EMwS-UBxVTVqYmcvVXf1j4cAAQlowwR3PN5iysvQfNnT2-12rxo4fXwCPG8Sw1rzD9alfZ11ch1GtxG9outQ5LEERw/s1600/BunnyTrailADJ.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Cottontail Rabbit - Kalamazoo Nature Center, Bluebird Trail<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-9794344175004918432014-06-26T15:11:00.001-07:002014-06-26T15:14:58.533-07:00Fledging Peregrines<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZPK5Xfx3YQ3TIrkfZd8DjVRrNElRbozgz9R0G-vfAsRPJVvNnfqk4uB-VA6nz7eZ0OrG2ePDzXZdZEj_UHHJuTDzmS1PuvesOx-DqeeY8WNAY7RWnzQ1snP2VcueO_TBucH0eLRK0I/s1600/FledlingCryGilmore(1200).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZPK5Xfx3YQ3TIrkfZd8DjVRrNElRbozgz9R0G-vfAsRPJVvNnfqk4uB-VA6nz7eZ0OrG2ePDzXZdZEj_UHHJuTDzmS1PuvesOx-DqeeY8WNAY7RWnzQ1snP2VcueO_TBucH0eLRK0I/s1600/FledlingCryGilmore(1200).jpg" height="296" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An alarmist fledgling cries out as one of the parents cruises by the falcon's favorite perch: the big "G" tower.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you love birds, and live in Kalamazoo, chances are you've heard about our downtown falcons four (yes, four!) chicks this year. This was their first successful brood, and they've gone airborne! The Gazette has been following their <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/06/kalamazoos_peregrine_falcon_ch_1.html" target="_blank">every move</a>, as well as flocks of Audubonites. It's an historic year for Kalamazoo and Peregrine Falcons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've been following the drama from afar (meaning online) but finally made it down to the parking ramp to watch the early antics of fledging, and snap a few shots.</span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-15369978748343385672014-06-23T16:16:00.000-07:002014-06-23T16:17:31.827-07:00Check out my other sites...<span style="font-size: large;">I've been gradually migrating more and more of my photographs over to my website blog and Facebook page. If you're not familiar with these two other sites of mine, definitely check them out. You'll see plenty of wildlife (including urban wildlife) as well as photographs featuring two-leggeds, or more commonly known at humans.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mattclysdale.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>www.mattclysdale.com</i></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/horsepowerpictures"><span style="font-size: large;">www.facebook.com/horsepowerpictures</span></a></i>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-82578115447305001822014-06-06T18:31:00.004-07:002014-06-06T18:31:55.432-07:00Jewels from the Northwest<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'IM Fell English'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Just returned from a photo tour around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, and I'm essentially speechless. Here's a sneak-preview jewel from that golden part of the country.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX8X0Hp2ly2vmk-yN-_Pb3_eHCdybeRxrKiXWKY5nRN58ck5-WRh2P1mdMJk8GEnMG8Y0Xtf7FkhIj-vHIRlw0YWunJuIhf0QtBHf7FTDqovBhjj7mQRJfVqa5kEySayQovm_CoD7J0Y/s1600/AC3T3718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX8X0Hp2ly2vmk-yN-_Pb3_eHCdybeRxrKiXWKY5nRN58ck5-WRh2P1mdMJk8GEnMG8Y0Xtf7FkhIj-vHIRlw0YWunJuIhf0QtBHf7FTDqovBhjj7mQRJfVqa5kEySayQovm_CoD7J0Y/s1600/AC3T3718.jpg" height="640" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous Hummingbird - Kalaloch Creek, Olympic National Park, Washington<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'IM Fell English'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-54248219409587860552014-05-20T10:07:00.005-07:002014-05-20T10:07:49.654-07:00The Radiant Turkey<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By far one of the planet's strangest creatures. How can you not love the turkey?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8ZsBsSaEr4LbMnZuGMLDQitnnt-EV0gFGIvN12WtqBHoBT4sumWaI-3bDqmqBauWgyWLGlD4-L7Jf06Tg1PnEIotIiz_5sMaEuuTN64RtMCsPS3aruNeTeUA4eh0C8mt3Q7mKiJ9kG8/s1600/AC3T0836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8ZsBsSaEr4LbMnZuGMLDQitnnt-EV0gFGIvN12WtqBHoBT4sumWaI-3bDqmqBauWgyWLGlD4-L7Jf06Tg1PnEIotIiz_5sMaEuuTN64RtMCsPS3aruNeTeUA4eh0C8mt3Q7mKiJ9kG8/s1600/AC3T0836.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-34672545181935715372014-05-07T08:11:00.003-07:002014-05-07T08:11:37.816-07:00The Suburban Merganser<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Directly behind the Home Depot in Portage, Michigan - where all the Hooded Mergansers go to shop.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D7sWhI50FFa2uMU0jAf4wp6D2yJX1ZYmGgv6TQOn_nERr8gvsEi4qEIktTiVKTv2axNlUIZcq0954-3bl6R2pMwW_XmmCZmmTJB9q2cZjnpOoFpvnqnKYAzuQreAdjIxkrbtxWqsRHY/s1600/HoodedMerganser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D7sWhI50FFa2uMU0jAf4wp6D2yJX1ZYmGgv6TQOn_nERr8gvsEi4qEIktTiVKTv2axNlUIZcq0954-3bl6R2pMwW_XmmCZmmTJB9q2cZjnpOoFpvnqnKYAzuQreAdjIxkrbtxWqsRHY/s1600/HoodedMerganser.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-32741833419834946482014-04-29T11:31:00.003-07:002014-04-29T11:31:39.487-07:00Opening this Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXJBsr_fzesYCzReiYCHRL8DueX0QJP6PRETdg2La2K1bR5AHLcvx5pN2VnaFCi-CUNoUHDi4nhUoVwm6nwicxxxNUG_rjfwClWiG6fLGuOKj_yiuvndA_O1TlhFNTRCnBW801relzXg/s1600/TempoVinoOpening2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXJBsr_fzesYCzReiYCHRL8DueX0QJP6PRETdg2La2K1bR5AHLcvx5pN2VnaFCi-CUNoUHDi4nhUoVwm6nwicxxxNUG_rjfwClWiG6fLGuOKj_yiuvndA_O1TlhFNTRCnBW801relzXg/s1600/TempoVinoOpening2.jpg" height="602" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-43246943533709813352014-04-24T06:25:00.000-07:002014-04-25T06:25:24.424-07:00The "NO KILL" Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoWVLUKjENv-OIjiL5MkK5JuzIIwNagRDTlR9rzR9jo2M2pmBAb3B13Bcv0SRPrknxt_o1II6l_gFzgjUaU2satrrl7PrWorxcWcANtj5ewvtaW1CJjyDwnNq_C4h7qDv5dGk4F1L9mI/s1600/SPCA_Hound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoWVLUKjENv-OIjiL5MkK5JuzIIwNagRDTlR9rzR9jo2M2pmBAb3B13Bcv0SRPrknxt_o1II6l_gFzgjUaU2satrrl7PrWorxcWcANtj5ewvtaW1CJjyDwnNq_C4h7qDv5dGk4F1L9mI/s1600/SPCA_Hound.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've been photographing cats and dogs for the <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.spcaswmich.org/" href="http://www.spcaswmich.org/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SPCA of Southwest Michigan</a> for their "NO KILL" Campaign to increase awareness about the plight of pets in SW Michigan. The campaign was started by SPCA Director, Katie Timber, with the ultimate goal of reducing euthanasia in SW Michigan and increasing the number of adoptions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's been hugely rewarding and terribly fun working with the animals, even though it's often saddening to think about the fate of so many cats and dogs at the <a href="http://www.kalcounty.com/ac/" target="_blank">Kalamazoo County Animal shelter</a> <i>(SPCA does not euthanize as a matter of policy)</i>. As you may know, there is a ticking clock for those animals not adopted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The resulting photographs will be on display for a fundraiser at <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.tempovinowinery.com/" href="http://www.tempovinowinery.com/" style="color: #2777ae; margin-top: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Tempo Vino</a> in downtown Kalamazoo for the May <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.kalamazooarts.org/event/detail/441811001/Art_Hop" href="http://www.kalamazooarts.org/event/detail/441811001/Art_Hop" style="color: #2777ae; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Art Hop</a>. The winery will also be dedicating a red and white wine to the cause with photos of a dog on the red and a cat on the white. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Please join me, the SPCA, and Tempo Vino for the event. There may even be a four legged friend in attendance!</span></div>
Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-7761989783039787052014-04-11T18:15:00.003-07:002014-04-11T18:15:21.887-07:00Fishing at Dusk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEbxr9jdmhwdNyeqwaJknLtI3kOActP161wn-JoU76T6r8fS5FvAIx6Hg2CS7yaWAzSBuEWOW8N6jX53Gpkmwpi0PJnt2YCuSXgdVOQ-nOEuzXeE7mxIJD-KX_phC4qE9IvcBtYD79Xo/s1600/CatchFishDusk(BLOG).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEbxr9jdmhwdNyeqwaJknLtI3kOActP161wn-JoU76T6r8fS5FvAIx6Hg2CS7yaWAzSBuEWOW8N6jX53Gpkmwpi0PJnt2YCuSXgdVOQ-nOEuzXeE7mxIJD-KX_phC4qE9IvcBtYD79Xo/s1600/CatchFishDusk(BLOG).jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-54843050379185356242014-04-07T07:10:00.003-07:002014-04-07T12:25:40.935-07:00Wildlife Photography 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever wondered how I (or other wildlife photographers) get the shot? Well, if you live in SW Michigan, here's your chance to find out! I'm teaching </span><a href="http://www.kiarts.org/page.php?page_id=745" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Basic Wildlife Photography</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) in a four week course that starts April 16th - which is coming right up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can register as late as April 15th. Click <a href="http://www.kiarts.org/page.php?page_id=745" target="_blank">HERE</a> to learn more about the class and how to register.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This class--and a <a href="http://www.kiarts.org/page.php?page_id=761" target="_blank">summer class</a> I'm teaching that focuses on photography from a kayak or canoe--are the last two classes I'll be teaching for an indefinite period of time. I'm shifting towards full time production and exhibition. So, we'd love to have you join us for this great intro into the world of wildlife photography. Now's the time.</span><br />
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Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-66468791412003898572014-03-30T19:03:00.001-07:002014-03-30T19:03:18.667-07:00Peregrine Missle<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMUHEdLJ0tdHXu0PkV7OoUDi0C9XFwB4qPFsLqgIUQSiI0em-lA4GcjDTt-3zJp3dpmw42GPh-FWW48uhVsnNabLjJ_UWIZM90-6aI7hG9S0q5Mwg4nJE0UyQGS1UuQjW6bxHJAuRy_k/s1600/FalconLeanArrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMUHEdLJ0tdHXu0PkV7OoUDi0C9XFwB4qPFsLqgIUQSiI0em-lA4GcjDTt-3zJp3dpmw42GPh-FWW48uhVsnNabLjJ_UWIZM90-6aI7hG9S0q5Mwg4nJE0UyQGS1UuQjW6bxHJAuRy_k/s1600/FalconLeanArrow.jpg" height="640" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peregrine Missle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Peregrine Falcons residing on the 5/3rd bank building in downtown Kalamazoo have taken to the <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/03/kalamazoos_peregrine_falcons_t.html" target="_blank">nest box</a> the DNR installed last year, garnering a great deal of local press. All this means the falcons are right on target for perhaps their first successful clutch! </span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-5686158886319967662014-03-21T11:40:00.006-07:002014-03-21T11:40:55.033-07:00ANIMALS AMONG US Screening at Kalamazoo State Theater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you haven't seen ANIMALS AMONG US yet <i>(or even if you have)</i>, you've got a chance to see it on the big screen at the <a href="http://www.peoplesfoodco-op.org/events/2014/3/23/annual-owner-meeting.html" target="_blank">People's Food Co-op Annual Meeting</a> this Sunday, March 23rd. They'll be screening it at noon at the <a href="http://www.kazoostate.com/" target="_blank">State Theater</a> in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Click <a href="http://www.peoplesfoodco-op.org/events/2014/3/23/annual-owner-meeting.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to learn more about the event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to the Co-op Board of Directors for inviting me and the doc to be a part of this great event! Interestingly enough, the documentary, and my pursuit and passion for wildlife, began in large part because of a fundamental food choice I made about a decade ago: my decision to not eat industrial meat. If you come to the event, I'll briefly share the story behind this life changing choice in my life. </span>Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-58250130184088551352014-01-23T12:03:00.000-08:002014-01-23T12:12:40.521-08:00The Origins of my Art<br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you’re familiar with me and my work, there’s a good chance you know me as the guy who did the documentary on wildlife in Kalamazoo, <a href="http://mattclysdale.com/aau/" target="_blank">ANIMALS AMONG US</a>. And if you know me personally, you may very well attribute my love of nature in that film to my late dad, Gene Clysdale, an avid birdwatcher and card-carrying Audubonite. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">However, very few people realize it was my mom who not only helped fund ANIMALS, but was the root inspiration for my journey into video and documentary. It all springs from mom and her super-8 camera, and her own exploration into the craft of home movies.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAIj5mhHwUn9pOwOWuCrTFS_KAJ5QhP6PBvkXmVQAGeMl3EqQHXbG1SVGrXRuYIaMnec88LSBXKKzxCTd8kDBk9Z2AAMbqUM658SkeIheY7RWqDhBUACOAVpHZe9QF8j6_VdWwLI5O2A/s1600/MomChair2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAIj5mhHwUn9pOwOWuCrTFS_KAJ5QhP6PBvkXmVQAGeMl3EqQHXbG1SVGrXRuYIaMnec88LSBXKKzxCTd8kDBk9Z2AAMbqUM658SkeIheY7RWqDhBUACOAVpHZe9QF8j6_VdWwLI5O2A/s1600/MomChair2013.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">An english teacher by profession, mom left teaching early on in her career to devote herself to raising me and my brother. And for a smart, bold, talented woman, coming of age in the era of women’s liberation, she may have sacrificed some her own simmering ambitions. It's hard to know. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Having said all that, she loved being a mom and managed to keep her intellect, politics and creativity alive through volunteering and a number of activities, including the art of home movies. Mom loved capturing our early lives with her hand-held Kodak super-8. In fact, the home-movie footage in ANIMALS AMONG US comes straight from mom’s film reels. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But mom went a little further than most with home movies. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The early 70’s in America was a period of tremendous racial upheaval, and my brother and I were the first generation to experience busing, a grand experiment designed to integrate the country after years of racial segregation and inequality. My mom, a political animal by nature, was very interested in that effort.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Channeling her political passions and moral compass, mom decided to craft a simple, home-made documentary on the implementation of busing in Kalamazoo. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, on the first day of school in 1971, mom not only escorted us to the bus stop for that historic day, she brought along her super-8 camera and filmed the entire event. She focused on the kids, the parents, the teachers, and the picketing protestors who opposed the whole idea. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The film was low-tech, with credits crafted out of those old plastic letters used on felt boards in schools, and lots of great jump-cuts. In fact, I think the sound-track had to be played on a separate tape recorder. But there was a directness and innocence to the film that matched the smiling children getting off the buses. We were sweet kids of 6 or 7 and pretty innocent to the big picture. Kids both black and white stepped down off those buses and into the sunny day, and mom contrasted that image with the anger of the protesters. There was no narration, just the images and music. And if I remember correctly, she showed the film at school board meetings and/or other community forums as a document of the event and it’s success. It was a simple, cinematic, political tool, all born out of mom's passion for home-movies, politics, and her pursuit of fairness.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, some of the specifics of mom's film remain unclear, and </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the precious luxury of calling her up and asking is forever lost: my m</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">om, <a href="http://www.langelands.com/obituary/Barbara-Arlene-Clysdale/Kalamazoo-MI/1328749" target="_blank">Barb Clysdale</a>, passed on December 19th of 2013, the exact same day my dad passed two years prior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I’m forever indebted to "Barb" for her exploration into film, as well as her prowess with the english language, her political savvy and instinct, her kindness, her toughness, her love of cinema, her ability to critique a film like no other, and all the other parts of her being that help make me who I am as an artist and person.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thank you mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Mom's passing is why I haven't posted for so long. I'm glad to be back on my blog and look forward to posting again soon.)</i></span></div>
Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344043300906234340.post-8273413664241483442013-11-30T02:39:00.000-08:002013-11-30T11:54:56.573-08:00Life after death, and the return of Rutger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I recently discovered a few doe groups that feed daily at the <a href="http://www.kpl.gov/local-history/cemeteries/riverside.aspx" target="_blank">Riverside Cemetery</a>, and particularly love the fact that they're nourished by the grass growing over the dead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I personally don't believe in an afterlife or heaven or hell, but firmly believe in the beauty and miracle of the food chain, and find solace knowing our bodies can enrich the soil and life surrounding our grave. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The unfortunate truth is our modern burial custom sequesters the body in a concrete box, separating it from the rest of the food chain; a form of spiritual blasphemy in its own right. Or, considering the junk that goes into some of our bodies, perhaps that's a good thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I don't think the deer really care.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11AbeaoOntJpaWkczRdk4_ByBroeMsU8e-tVzAV11lulUFniioZEDe5xPMSL_fz8L-B5fXe3-dzw6n96pf3zmWsglOmj0Q17Tn9KWI9qiBeWI3wzhEGO5FWDlW-U3ArEV8qWZVpV6bO0/s1600/IMG_8499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11AbeaoOntJpaWkczRdk4_ByBroeMsU8e-tVzAV11lulUFniioZEDe5xPMSL_fz8L-B5fXe3-dzw6n96pf3zmWsglOmj0Q17Tn9KWI9qiBeWI3wzhEGO5FWDlW-U3ArEV8qWZVpV6bO0/s640/IMG_8499.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__mhg2GsMAjU7CL89u6OkpJ_EBMQsJrWn4wMuJsVbU6JnqDVBuaLyheGsOjYU_bKilxFOCqUmUztHBgOUltXbtEzuPjs9Gd57LUXEurw1GqIWSIBTGiKg-gVsK_IMHNoyJda7uU2TOc4/s1600/IMG_8570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__mhg2GsMAjU7CL89u6OkpJ_EBMQsJrWn4wMuJsVbU6JnqDVBuaLyheGsOjYU_bKilxFOCqUmUztHBgOUltXbtEzuPjs9Gd57LUXEurw1GqIWSIBTGiKg-gVsK_IMHNoyJda7uU2TOc4/s640/IMG_8570.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I haven't seen a whole lot of buck action this year, and haven't been able to devote as much time to the pursuit as I normally do, but I sat a blind I have situated in a friend's backyard in Portage and was thrilled to see the return of an old buck I simply love, Rutger. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I met Rutger two years ago and was astonished by the size of his typical 8. I was concerned that he might have been poached last year, but he made his way into my friend's backyard and still had a grand rack, albeit a tad shorter than last year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReyfj3GwWbzfnEjghLtQ4ToUIAVpNnaFLOduO6RnreEVt6FIDw4hqoPpiTMeURHXWG2cHUbGQlYJ-fAi5Lrq-1L3aIpF7UdCUXQ2as0vxEejTx2yLG_T570GIO6fA-Z0vMg85Bdv9n4w/s1600/IMG_8888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReyfj3GwWbzfnEjghLtQ4ToUIAVpNnaFLOduO6RnreEVt6FIDw4hqoPpiTMeURHXWG2cHUbGQlYJ-fAi5Lrq-1L3aIpF7UdCUXQ2as0vxEejTx2yLG_T570GIO6fA-Z0vMg85Bdv9n4w/s640/IMG_8888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Below is Rutger on Thanksgiving day, 2012, in what turned out to be my favorite buck shot of the year. You can see the huge spread and height of his rack. You can also see that he's a monarch of <a href="http://www.portagemi.gov/departments/parksrecreation/parksamenitieslisting/portagecreekbicentennialpark.aspx" target="_blank">Portage Creek Bicentennial Trail</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'll post a few more shots of Rutger in the future, and explain how he got his name. </span></div>
Matt Clysdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734723586730641600noreply@blogger.com0