Swooping owls, cheeky Kingfishers, snacking otters, and sparring bears - these are some of the subjects nature photographer Deborah Freeman vividly brings to life in her spectacular Island images.
Freeman's fascination with the natural world blossomed when she moved to the Island in 1990 and began learning about plants and their healing qualities from herbalists. Her keen observations led to photographic documentation of local plant life and "the entwined" natural world of animal and bird life. She collaborated on a two volume publication Nettles and More...: Holistic Healing Plants of the Pacific Northwest (with Diana Mongeau), and wrote a book called A Song of the Sparrow, featuring photos of Island kayaking and hiking trips.
As she honed her considerable skills, Freeman began volunteering as a photographer at the request of Island research and preservation groups, including Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society, Mitlenatch Island Stewardship Team, a French Creek Estuary Nature Preserve group with Denise Foster, and Royann Petrell's Unprotected Central Walbran team 'Old Growth Birders and BioBlitzers'.
Freeman's interest in nature connected her to an entire community dedicated to monitoring, collecting valuable data and protecting Island wildlife and habitats. She says, “by submitting images and data to relevant government agencies we provide significant information for them to make responsible decisions.”
Freeman shared her experiences in the Walbran while photographing and audio recording deep in the natural forest.
“Standing under majestic old-growth trees listening to the wind in the trees and the call of the screech owl, made my heart sing,” she said.
She observed reclusive and threatened Marbled Murrelets that bravely fly from old-growth nests sometimes 30 kilometres to the ocean for fish and back, to feed a lone chick.
“Our aim is to save these trees for future generations for not only owls but the many species that live there," she said.
Recently she participated in documenting the at-risk French Creek Great Blue Heron rookery.
Freeman's captivating photography has been recognized in two collaborative exhibitions at the McMillan Arts Centre Gallery in Parksville: Tale of one urban creek, and Xpey - for the love of our wetlands. This summer for the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region 25th anniversary, she will install large-scale transparencies of her photographs in the 86-inch tall MAC windows where natural light will bring them to life.
Deborah likes to "freeze a moment in nature and then share those meaningful images we might never ordinarily get to see."
It's part of "trying to inspire, preserve, and educate" about the importance of nature. She fears that the impacts of climate change, habitat encroachment and human consumption put both the natural world and the future for her grandchildren at risk. She hopes her photographs will inspire others to value and protect our special Island flora and fauna and get involved in local stewardship organizations.
To explore Freeman's photography, visit www.flickr.com/people/island_deborah/.
To acknowledge Freeman's contribution to preserving our beautiful locale, the Lions Club will donate $50 to The Friends of French Creek Conservation Society on her behalf.
