{"id":18,"date":"2017-02-11T15:59:12","date_gmt":"2017-02-11T15:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/donaldquintana.com\/DQNWP\/?page_id=18"},"modified":"2025-01-28T20:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T20:43:21","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/donaldquintana.com\/DQNWP\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>As a nature and wildlife photographer previously based in Los Osos, California, and now residing in Cedar Rapids Iowa, my passion for nature and love of art fuel my photographic vision. I find comfort and renewal by spending time amidst the wonders of the natural world. My greatest enjoyment comes from capturing those fleeting moments in nature that are often missed by the casual observer and sharing them with others. I am a self-taught photographer. My formal education in art and design help me to see and compose pleasing images of the natural world.<\/p>\n

I became serious about my photography in 2007 when, at the encouragement of friends and family, I entered my first photography contest. Taking first place in the Flora category gave me the drive necessary to pursue nature and wildlife photography full time. Several years later, I entered the same contest and took first place in the Animal category. I most recently received the honor of being a tier II and tier \u00a0III winner for the prestigious 2014 NANPA Expressions annual. This has been my third time as a Tier III winner. The first time was in 2010 second in 2012 and most recently in 2013. It is a publication that highlights the top 250 photographs from the\u00a0NANPA<\/em>\u00a0(North American Nature Photography Association) Showcase competition held each year. It displays the very best photographs selected from thousands of submissions by a jury panel of industry professionals.\u00a0As well as being a member of the North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA) I also sit on the Environmental Committee for NANPA as well. I belong to the San Luis Obispo Camera Club, The Photo Morro Bay Yahoo Group, and the program committee for the 2012 Morro Photo Expo. In addition to these groups, I\u00a0am also a mentor for the Advanced Photography Class at Morro Bay High School. Most recently I have completed the\u00a0California Naturalist certification program sponsored by the University of California.
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Articles:<\/h3>\n

Ranger Rick: Big Wins for Wildlife\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Outdoor Writers Association of California: Defining Ethical Wildlife Photography & Viewing<\/a><\/p>\n

Santa Maria Sun-Times: Coyote Central Coast: Coyotes have a long and colorful local history, which still thrives today<\/a><\/p>\n

Mother Nature Network:\u00a0How to be a wildlife photographer while on a family vacation<\/a><\/p>\n

Mother Nature Network:\u00a0Endangered Island Fox is Back from the brink after record Breaking Recovery<\/a><\/p>\n

Mother Nature Network:\u00a0One glimpse of these baby Kit foxes and you\u2019ll be hooked on their story<\/a><\/p>\n

Mother Nature Network:\u00a0How to take great bird photos in your backyard<\/a><\/p>\n

TreeHugger.com:\u00a0Photographing Wildlife in your own backyard, Q&A with Donald Quintana<\/a><\/p>\n

The Slo Coast Journal; Shutterbugs February 2013:\u00a0Photography Hobby or Obsession with Donald Quintana<\/a><\/p>\n

Santa Maria Sun-Times:\u00a0Local Photographer shows off wildlife at the Nipomo Dunes Center<\/a>
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Awards:<\/h3>\n

Natures Best Backyards 2020 Professional Category Winner: Red Fox Family<\/a><\/p>\n

National Audubon Photography awards 2018 Profesional Honorable Mention: Red-winged Blackbird<\/a><\/p>\n

New Times Winning Images 2007 1st place Category: Flora<\/p>\n

New Times Winning Images 2010 1st Place Category; Animal<\/p>\n

New Times Winning Images 2013 1st Place Category: Animals<\/p>\n

New Times Winning Images 2013 2nd Place Category: Animals<\/p>\n

New Times Winning Images 2013 Honorable Mention Category: Travel<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association Tier III winner 2010<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association Tier III winner 2012<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association Tier III winner 2014<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association Tier II winner 2014<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association Tier III winner 2015<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association Tier III winner 2016<\/p>\n

National Wildlife Federation Photo of the Day; \u00a0January 2nd, 2013\u00a0Sea Otter Mother with Pup<\/a><\/p>\n

National Wildlife Federation Photo of the Day; June 6th, 2013\u00a0Long-tailed Weasel Peek-a-boo<\/a><\/p>\n

TreeHugger.com Photo of the day: October 25th, 2013:\u00a0Barn Owl<\/a><\/p>\n

TreeHugger.com Photo of the day: October 18th, 2013\u00a0Lazuli Bunting with Spider<\/a><\/p>\n

TreeHugger.com Top 10 images for October 2013, #9:\u00a0Lazuli Bunting with Spider<\/a><\/p>\n

California Watchable Wildlife Photo of the year contest Sett\/October\u00a02016, Honorable Mention:\u00a0Sandhills At Sunrise<\/a>
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Publications and exhibits:<\/h3>\n

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Conservation Easement Photography project at the Avenales Ranch.<\/p>\n

Tha Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo Direct Mail campaign for the \u00a0preservation of land alongside Hwy 46<\/p>\n

Kings Canyon National Park, Wayside board,\u00a0Big Stump Picnic\u00a0area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

High Country News, Dec. 22, 2014 Vol. 46 No. 22\u00a0Hunting for Scorpions: Image page 27<\/a><\/p>\n

National Audubon Society 2014 17-month Calendar cover image:<\/p>\n

New Times Slo\/Santa Maria Sun Winning Images cover 2013:\u00a0Image<\/a><\/p>\n

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge interactive display<\/p>\n

Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove Display signage<\/p>\n

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center Exhibit: The dunes are alive<\/p>\n

Bio Science Magazine<\/p>\n

Merced County Times front page Image<\/p>\n

San Luis Obispo Information Press Cover image<\/p>\n

NANPA Currents Magazine Expressions image<\/p>\n

USGS Circular 1395 Mercury in the Nation\u2019s streams- Levels, Trends, and Implications
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Associations and Memberships:<\/h3>\n

Outdoor Writers Association of California<\/p>\n

National Audubon Society<\/p>\n

North American Nature Photography Association<\/p>\n

CPS Canon Professional Services<\/p>\n

National Park Services VIP (Volunteers In the Park) Program<\/p>\n

Certified California Naturalist<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

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