The National Association of State Foresters’ (NASF) Foundation sponsors  photography fellowships to help tell compelling visual stories about state and private forestry in the United States. Grace Mirzeler, CWSF Member Services Associate, is participating in this fellowship and had the opportunity to participate in two photo trips on behalf of NASF and recently concluded her participation in the photography fellowship with a photo trip to Salida, CO.

The Salida itinerary was organized with the guidance and partnership of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). This final photo trip heavily emphasized on family landowners and capturing interactions with the CSFS and these landowners. Each landowner visited had a unique forest ecology that they discussed with CSFS staff. The landowners were able to receive guidance on maintaining healthy forests on their properties and provided insight into the complex and intentional steps needed to ensure resilient forest land.

This was an incredible opportunity for Grace to learn more about what state foresters do and why they do it along with strengthening partnerships and relationships between forestry counterparts.

Colorado Forester Kathryn Hardgrave and CSFS Staff Lisa Mason visit landowner Frank Nickle’s property.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

Colorado Forester Kathryn Hardgrave shows a family of tree farmers how to identify western spruce budworm patterns on their property.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

Colorado Forester Kathryn Hardgrave shows a landowner signs of dwarf mistletoe on his property.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

Sunset in Salida, CO.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

Colorado Forester Kathryn Hardgrave examines experimental trees planted by the town of Buena Vista and the Tree Board. 
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

A shot of the Arkansas River on the F Street bridge in Salida, CO.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

Mountain shot next to Turquoise Lake in Leadville, CO.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

A worker sorting wood at a sawmill in Salida, CO.
Photo credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

A shot of Turquoise Lake with a mountain backdrop in Leadville, CO. 
Photo Credit: Grace Mirzeler, Council of Western State Foresters

Please contact Amanda Cooke at NASF for more information about the NASF Photography fellowship or to receive access to a sampling of photographs from past NASF Foundation photography fellowships from the following Western states: MT, SD, KS, OR, CA.