The Nature Conservancy is one of the most effective environmental organizations in the world with chapters in 79 countries across six continents. The Conservancy made its first land purchase in New York in 1955 and has since grown to more than 815,000 acres across the state including several locations on Long Island.

My mission as a nature photographer is to “advocate for preservation by using the power of the visual image to create greater awareness of the natural beauty that surrounds us and to stimulate increased involvement in the protection of our fragile environment”. This led me to the idea for a project to provide a photographic collection of the Conservancy’s preserves on Long Island not as a scientific pursuit but rather and artistic one that endeavored to capture the unique energy and personality of these serene Long Island landscapes. My hope was that the viewer would “experience” these places and connect to our local environment on a deeper level.

As you journey through this book, please page slowly, linger awhile, breathe deeply, step into these images, let your mind wander and enjoy.