ARTIST STATEMENT I’m drawn to all forms of nature photography — quiet landscapes, fleeting light, and the small details most people pass by without noticing. But birds have always held me the longest. They’re endlessly expressive, beautiful, unpredictable, and deeply tied to the health of the wild places we share. I spend much of the year observing and photographing them, especially during breeding season when behavior, color, and movement become especially dynamic. The more time I spend with them, the more I’m reminded that photography can do more than document a moment — it can create connection. In a world where so much wildness is disappearing, I hope my work encourages people to slow down, look closer, and care more deeply about the natural world around them. Every image begins with real wildlife behaving naturally in its environment. From there, I use creative processing and artful backgrounds to shape the emotional feel of the final piece while still honoring the authenticity of the moment. My goal is to create artwork that feels both expressive and grounded in nature’s truth. ARTIST BIO Jackie Schletter is a wildlife and nature photographer whose work blends observational photography with creative artistry. Best known for her expressive bird imagery, her photographs have been recognized in juried exhibitions and competitions throughout the United States and internationally, including honors from the American Photographic Artists, the American Society of Media Photographers, the International Photography Awards, the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers, and the NANPA Showcase Top 250. Her work has also been exhibited at the Soho Gallery in New York City. After nearly two decades working in veterinary medicine, Jackie returned to photography with a renewed sense of purpose — creating fine art rooted in the natural world while helping raise awareness for the fragile ecosystems and species that inspire her work. In 2022, she completed the Lowcountry Master Naturalist program to deepen her understanding of the coastal environments she photographs most often, a perspective that continues to shape both her creative vision and conservation-minded approach. Today, Jackie leads small-group photography workshops around the world and mentors photographers looking to strengthen both their technical skills and creative voice.