On May 5 and 6, the 2012 St Johns River Festival of the Arts was launched for its inaugural show, and I was honored to be a part of its beginnings this weekend.  You would think the festival had been around for 30+ years.  The layout was spacious and classy, the advertising was everywhere, and the artists were nicely treated to food and drinks.  The bricked roads were a nice change from dirt or hot asphalt from other past shows. Live...

The Melbourne Arts Festival, located in the historic downtown district of Melbourne, Florida, had an enthusiastic crowd and great weather.  After a nice winter and spring, you could feel that summer was coming.  After getting rained on the past several weekends, I was happy to trade in for clear skies. I was delighted to win 2nd Place in my entered category, ‘Other Media’, with a cash prize of $850, judged by Brenda...

This past weekend, April 21-22, 2012, I exhibited at the Mainsail Art Festival located in St. Petersburg, Florida, at Venoy Park.  The location was absolutely beautiful, with an unobstructed eastward view of Tampa Bay.  This was my first year here, and I wasn’t expecting perhaps the nicest venue I’ve ever seen.  I was honored to win an Award of Merit, competing against all categories. Florida Nature: Spreading the Word I have...

After a long string of art festivals in late February 2012, I decided to take a break and scout several areas in the Ocala National Forest, carrying a water bottle, my Mamiy 7ii, and a couple rolls of film.  One of my stops was at Silver Glen, located in Marion County, which has one of my favorite springs to stop for a relaxing swim.  Juniper Springs has always been my favorite splace in Ocala to photograph and kayak, with its majestic...

My new years resolution was to become more prolific this year and photographic in-between art festivals.  Last year, I spend too much time printing and matting and not enough time shooting.  When I photograph something new and create a print, I can display the first edition immediately watch reactions from judges and the general public alike, which has been a big help progressing as an artist and finding my audience. The Florida Keys were...

Florida Noir Silver Series Launched I’ve been working on introducing panoramic film images since January 2012, and they’ve been a big hit at the art festivals this year.  Titled Florida Noir: Silver Series, the collection complements my existing Florida 67 series, with more of a focus on concept, structure, shape, and movement. You can purchase them by clicking the photos below or visit the new Silver Series Webstore. You can...

Running all over the state this summer and fall, I sometimes forget to appreciate the hidden treasures of my local Orlando area.  After becoming exhausted from traveling all over the state, I moved Rocks Springs Run up my list of places to shoot. While it is true that many of the pristine open areas are gone, the rivers and swamps make you think your traveling through Florida 200 years ago, or maybe a Tarzan movie 60 years ago.  The run...

  Scoping the Tamiami Trail After visiting Sanibel Island in Captiva and Lover’s Key in Estero, Florida, I drove down the Tamiami trail for a day trip to visit the , as well as making a few spontaneous stops along back-country roads as I drove through the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve and the Big Cypress National Preserve. My goal here was scope out the area for a kayak trip I’m planning in January, but I did take a few...

Please like my new facebook fanpage, ‘Richard Auger Photography‘ The new fanpage will focus on my efforts Florida nature conservationism, my travels and blogposts, as well as my adventures at art festivals.  As I’ve had great success in my fine-art photography and conservation efforts in 2011, I will be splitting off and scaling back my portrait and wedding photography business during 2012.  This new fanpage will give a...

Artworks Eau Gallie, located in the historic district in Melbourne, Florida, was my last show of 2011, and quite unique from the other festivals I exhibited at this fall. I was enthusiastic to receive the Award of Distinction (2nd in 2D Art), with a cash prize of $1,250.