Posts tagged ‘conservation photography’
“Imagine: Where the City Meets the Stars”
Reflections from the 60th Space Coast Art Festival
This past weekend at the 60th Space Coast Art Festival, I experienced one of those moments that fill your heart with gratitude and reaffirm why you create in the first place. My photograph “Imagine” — a Chicago cityscape crowned by the Milky Way — was selected by the jury for final judging, and on Sunday morning, I learned it had received an Award of Merit.
Zsuzsanna Luciano smiles while holding her “Award of Merit” ribbon toward the camera, standing in front of her artwork “Imagine” — a striking photograph of Chicago’s Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) beneath the Milky Way. The reflection of the sky and city buildings shimmers across the glossy surface, symbolizing the harmony between urban light and the star-filled night.
To say I was overjoyed would be an understatement. But beyond the recognition, what truly moved me was the reaction of people who stopped in front of the piece. Many stood in silence. Some whispered “Is that real?” Others smiled and said, “I’ve never seen stars like that.”
And that — right there — is why I created Imagine.
A Dialogue Between Earth and Sky
I have always believed that the night sky speaks a language of connection. Every star, every faint wisp of cosmic light, is a reminder of how small we are and how magnificent the universe is. It humbles us, inspires us, and invites us to look beyond the boundaries of our everyday lives.
Photographing the Milky Way over a city like Chicago is not an easy task — it’s both a technical challenge and a metaphorical one. Cities pulse with energy, noise, and light, while the Milky Way thrives in silence and darkness. To bring them together is to imagine balance — harmony between human creation and the timeless expanse of the cosmos.
That’s what Imagine represents to me: a bridge between the modern world and the eternal sky.
The Vanishing Darkness
Sadly, true darkness is disappearing. Over 80% of people in the world live under light-polluted skies. Many children grow up never seeing the Milky Way at all — never experiencing that quiet awe that has guided dreamers, artists, and explorers since the dawn of time.
Light pollution doesn’t just steal our stars. It disrupts ecosystems, confuses migratory birds, affects nocturnal animals, and even impacts our own circadian rhythms. The glow of artificial light has slowly dimmed one of the oldest forms of human connection — our relationship with the night sky.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. With awareness and simple changes — shielding outdoor lights, using warmer tones, turning off unnecessary illumination — we can preserve our right to starlight.
Why I Keep Looking Up
Every time I photograph the night, whether in Yellowstone, the Tetons, or along the shores of Lake Michigan, I feel the same childlike wonder I felt the first time I saw the Milky Way. It’s not just about the photograph — it’s about the experience. Standing in the dark, hearing the whisper of the wind, feeling the rhythm of the earth beneath your feet — it reminds you that you belong to something infinite.
That feeling is what I hope to share through my work. When someone looks at Imagine, I want them to feel that connection — to remember that we are all part of the same universe, stitched together by light that has traveled thousands of years to reach us.
Gratitude and Hope
I am deeply grateful to the Space Coast Art Festival jury for recognizing Imagine with an Award of Merit, and to every person who stopped to look up — both at my photograph and, hopefully, at the real night sky when they went home.
May we continue to protect the beauty of darkness, celebrate the light of the stars, and never stop imagining a world where both can coexist.
✨
— Zsuzsanna Luciano
Zsuzsanna Luciano stands smiling in front of her art display at the 60th Space Coast Art Festival, proudly holding her Award of Merit ribbon. Behind her hangs her large photographic artwork titled “Imagine,” depicting Chicago’s Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) under a stunning Milky Way sky, symbolizing the union of city lights and starlight. Additional night-sky and waterfall photographs are displayed below, all printed on glossy aluminum panels within her booth.
Florida’s Black Bears in October: A Season of Urgency and Abundance
“The golden light of fall catches the sheen of a bear’s coat — a reminder that even in Florida’s warmth, nature prepares for change.”
October in Florida is a month of transition—not only for people trading swimsuits for light jackets, but for the state’s black bears, who enter a season of intense preparation. As the air turns slightly cooler and the daylight shortens, these wild residents of Florida’s forests, hammocks, and swamps shift their focus entirely to one thing: food.
Feeding for the Future
Unlike their northern relatives, Florida black bears don’t face months of deep snow or a long, frozen winter. Still, they instinctively prepare for leaner times by entering a phase called hyperphagia—a biological frenzy of eating. During October, a bear’s day is ruled by its stomach. They spend up to 20 hours foraging, searching tirelessly for high-calorie foods to build fat reserves that will sustain them through the cooler months when natural food becomes scarce.
In Florida’s oak and palmetto forests, acorns become the prized treasure. Bears crunch through the underbrush searching for patches of fallen nuts, sometimes traveling miles between feeding spots. They also feast on saw palmetto berries, wild grapes, beautyberries, and the last persimmons of the season. Opportunistic and highly adaptable, a bear will also dig for grubs, raid anthills, or peel bark for beetle larvae. Every calorie counts.
Solitary Wanderers with Overlapping Paths
Florida black bears are mostly solitary by nature, but during this time, their paths cross more often than usual. When food is abundant, multiple bears may feed in the same area with a quiet tolerance for each other. You can almost sense an unspoken truce—a mutual understanding that October’s bounty won’t last forever.
Mothers with cubs often stay close to reliable feeding zones, teaching their young where to find seasonal foods and how to prepare for the coming months. Young males, on the other hand, begin wandering farther—sometimes covering dozens of miles—to establish their own ranges. This seasonal wandering often brings bears closer to human communities, especially in suburban areas where trash cans and fruit trees mimic easy natural meals.
“Florida’s bears are excellent climbers — they’ll scale trees to escape danger, nap in the canopy, or scout for ripe fruit.”
The Conservation Challenge
For wildlife biologists and conservationists, October is a reminder of how crucial natural food sources are to the bears’ survival. When forests produce good mast crops—especially acorns and palmetto berries—bears stay deep in the woods. But in poor crop years, they’re more likely to follow their noses into neighborhoods. This is when education and coexistence matter most.
Securing garbage, removing bird feeders, and harvesting fruit from backyard trees may seem small, but they’re acts of conservation. Every human choice that keeps bears wild and wary helps preserve not only their safety but also the delicate balance of Florida’s wild spaces.
A Quiet Pause Before Winter
By late October, as the bear’s body grows heavier and their fur thickens, the pace begins to slow. In some northern parts of the state, they’ll retreat to sheltered dens—under fallen logs, in dense thickets, or beneath the roots of old trees. In the subtropics, where winter is mild, many remain active year-round, emerging on warm days to forage or explore. But even there, a calm descends over the forests—a sense that the rush of the season has passed.
Florida’s black bears remind us that even in the heat of the South, the rhythms of nature endure. Their October dance of hunger and preparation is as old as the land itself—a story of resilience, adaptation, and the quiet intelligence of wild creatures who still find a way to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
“A Florida black bear on the move — October’s mission: eat, explore, repeat.”
🌌 When the Sky Dances: How the Aurora Borealis Affects the Human Body and Mind
By Zsuzsanna Luciano, Fine Art Conservation Photographer
Last Year, I Lost My Direction Beneath the Northern Lights
Last fall, I found myself deep in the Wisconsin woods, bundled in wool and fleece, standing under a sky that shimmered like a celestial ocean. The aurora borealis was directly overhead for several hours – green flames twisting into violet ribbons, pulsing and expanding like some living cosmic entity.
I was there to photograph it. But something strange happened.
I lost my sense of direction. Not poetically. Literally. My inner compass—normally sharp from years of navigating wilderness—just shut off. I walked in the wrong direction for nearly an hour one night, convinced I was heading back to our camper.
I felt euphoric, mesmerized, and oddly disconnected from time. And it turns out, I’m not alone.
What Exactly Is the Aurora Borealis?
The aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. These interactions generate breathtaking light displays—commonly green, but also pink, purple, red, and even blue.
It’s more than just pretty lights. The aurora is an electromagnetic phenomenon, affecting Earth’s magnetic field—and possibly us humans, too.
The Surprising Effects on the Human Body
🧭 1. Magnetic Confusion: Your Internal GPS May Malfunction
Did you know your brain contains tiny magnetic particles called magnetite? Like migratory birds, humans may use Earth’s magnetic field for orientation.
When auroral activity is strong, that magnetic field fluctuates—and that might throw off your sense of direction.
When I was under the aurora for multiple nights, I completely lost my bearings. GPS helped, but something inside me wasn’t working the same. It’s both fascinating and a little spooky.
😵💫 2. Dreamy, Euphoric, and a Bit Foggy
Many aurora-watchers report experiencing:
A dreamlike or timeless state Deep emotional surges—tears, awe, peace Cognitive fog, forgetfulness, or mild confusion
Scientists suggest this could be due to:
Melatonin disruption (the light confuses your sleep-wake cycle) Electromagnetic brainwave interaction, which may influence emotion or perception Sleep deprivation and overstimulation from the experience itself
Personally, I felt like I was floating through a lucid dream I didn’t want to wake from. My camera kept me tethered to reality, but barely.
📸 3. The Photographer’s Experience: Art, Exhaustion, and Ecstasy
Photographing the aurora is a unique blend of technical patience and emotional overwhelm. You wait for hours in the dark, monitor cloud cover, adjust your camera with freezing fingers… and then—boom—the sky explodes.
But it takes a toll:
Extreme cold (I’ve shot in -22°F with a camera battery tucked in my bra!) Sleep deprivation (auroras peak between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.) Isolation and mental strain, especially during multi-night shoots
During one shoot in Iceland, I lived off trail mix and instant coffee for four days, barely sleeping between bursts of light and wonder. I wasn’t tired at the time—but I crashed hard afterward.
Are There Healing Effects of the Aurora?
Some believe auroras have healing properties, particularly in the realm of energy and bioelectromagnetism. While research is still emerging, anecdotal experiences include:
Vivid dreams and increased intuition Enhanced meditative or spiritual states A sense of deep reconnection with nature and the cosmos
📘 Curious? Explore Bioelectromagnetics Journal
Fascinating Aurora Facts
🌍 Other planets have auroras—Jupiter’s are enormous 👂 Some people hear them—a faint crackling or hissing sound 🐾 Animals, including whales and reindeer, react to auroral shifts 📸 You can photograph auroras in real-time with high ISO and a tripod 📱 Use apps like My Aurora Forecast to plan your night
Final Thoughts: When the Lights Find You
The aurora borealis isn’t just something to see—it’s something that happens to you. It changes your rhythm, your senses, even your perception of time and direction.
As a photographer, I live for these moments. But as a human being, I leave changed each time.
So if you ever find yourself under a sky that glows like a living flame, don’t be surprised if you forget where you are—or even who you are—for just a little while. That’s part of the magic.
About Me
I’m a fine art conservation photographer traveling across North America with my husband and son. When I’m not exhibiting at juried art festivals, I chase storms, wildlife, and the mysteries of the natural world. Follow along on IG or join my newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories and new limited edition art drops.
Zsuzsanna Luciano Photographer Named Silver Medalist at International Photographic Competition
Zsuzsanna Luciano of Luciano Photography is honored by peers and jurors for high-quality photography
Matawan, New Jersey – Zsuzsanna Luciano of Luciano Photography in Matawan, NJ was named a Silver Medalist during Professional Photographers of America’s 2022 International Photographic Competition.
Luciano’s work will be on display at the upcoming Imaging USA, held January 22-24, 2023 in Nashville, TN. Imaging USA is one of the largest annual conventions and expos for professional photographers.
A panel of 36 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from over 5,000 total submitted entries at PPA headquarters in Atlanta. Judged against a standard of excellence, 1,926 images were selected for the Merit Collection and 1,225 (roughly 24 percent) were selected for the esteemed Imaging Excellence Collection—the best of the best. The Imaging Excellence Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated ” Excellence Collection” book by Marathon Press.
The level of the award is determined by how many of those four images receive the highest possible honor—acceptance into the PPA Loan Collection, which is displayed at photographic exhibitions, conventions, and other photography events. Luciano was named a Silver Medalist, meaning that one of their four merited images entered the PPA Loan Collection. In 2022, they were one of only 81 Silver Medalists.
About PPA:
Founded in 1868, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest and longest-standing nonprofit photography trade association. It currently helps 30,000 professionals elevate their craft and grow their business with resources, protection, and education, all under PPA’s core guiding principle of bridging the gap between photographers and consumers.
Contact:
Zsuzsanna Luciano
1-732-858-3414
photographyluciano@gmail.com
Pirate of the Treasure Coast
March 19th Treasure Coast of Florida
What happens when you take one of the best photographers in America and put her with one of the best actors/impersonators from the east coast and put them both on one of the best beaches in America with the most beautiful sunrises this writer has seen in a long long long time………..what do you get???? You get the most amazing photoshoot that only the best of the best can achieve…….the perfect combination, the most perfect conditions and the best artists I have seen in a very long time work together in perfect harmony.
The pictures speak for themselves, I don’t need to say much about them but what is important to elaborate on is how two perfect artists can come together under the florida sunrise to create magical images that will live forever.
On the morning of March 19th Zsuzsanna Luciano and Matt Kay met with myself and my son on an undisclosed beach on the East Coast of Florida or as some call it the Treasure Coast of Florida…..and what a perfect name for such a photoshoot. Ever hear of Johnny Depp? Ever hear of Pirates of The Caribbean…..well certainly, almost everyone has………..A true friend, who I have know for many years Matt Kay is the best ever Johnny Depp impersonator I have ever seen…..mannerism, language, facial expressions and personally, Matt Kay has it mastered to a fine science……he becomes the part he plays, he lives it, it is inside of him…..he is not only an actor but a true artist…..I don’t say this because he is a true friend, I say it because it is the truth…..Florida is lucky to have him, he should be in Hollywood…..NOW put such an individual on a beach in Florida and you have a movie in the making….NOW put him on the beach with the sunrise in front of an artist such an accomplished artist as Zsuzsanna Luciano, who by definition is a conservation photographer, and you have images that are not only breath taking but are true artistic works, works that not one person would not look at and say WOW, OMG, who shot that and who is that???!?!?!?!
Zsuzsanna Luciano doesn’t take the shot she makes the shot and anyone who has worked with her can testify to this fact….her eye, her vision and her ability to see light in her pieces separates her from all the rest. As a conservation photographer Zsuzsanna is very used to using light, lenses and filters to capture a three dimensional images that needs no post processing. Zsuzsanna Luciano is the real deal, not an “ill take it now and fix it later in photoshop”……..her images are captured so perfectly that many times the use of enhancements only hurt her original images…..and so was the situation on this past March 19th……
I was privileged to be there that day to help out and be able to record the events as they happened…..I knew it would be great I never knew it would be unforgettable and one of the best creative experiences of my life. Matt Kay with Zsuzsanna Luciano arrived on site at roughly 6:45 just about 20 minutes before the sun broke through. Both ready to go but not really knowing how it would be to work with each other. Matt Kay has been in front of the camera more times than is possible to count and Zsuzsanna has been on more assignments then can be recorded in a full volume of encyclopedias. Well within seconds it was clear that this was a win win situation…….Zsuzsanna had an actor that jumped right up on the most dangerous coral with his back to the rolling waves and dangerous ocean and Matt had his perfect photographer that braves the elements no matter how challenging to get that perfect image……..both fully understanding each others art, both fully appreciating how hard the others job was and both knowing what to do even before it was asked!!
It is common knowledge not to put your back to the ocean and don’t climb on jagged coral in the crashing waves….well don’t tell that to Matt Kay……and don’t take your equipment in salt water, and don’t shoot into the sun and always safety first……well don’t tell that to Zsuzsanna…….to be there was to understand, for me to attempt to tell you about it is ok at best…..but to see the images……………it was never more true that a picture is worth a thousand words…….they are awesome, magical and awe inspiring…..capturing a day of times gone by, the times of the brave pirate, the romance of the sea and the power of mother nature……..all in one image, all in one day and all created by two of the most talented artists I have the honor of knowing!!!
By Michael John Luciano
Invitation from the Big Cypress Gallery.
There are milestones in ones life and in ones career and it is a tremendously wonderful feeling when you are present in the moment enough to realize this. Today is one of those days. The art of Zsuzsanna Luciano will now grace the walls of the Clyde Butcher Gallery in the middle of the Florida Everglades. A man compared to the great Ansel Adams, a man whose goal is conservation and a man who truly understands the importance of family!!! It should go without saying that to have ones art next to the internationally respected Clyde Butcher is an honor to say the very least.
Zsuzsannas goal as well as her husband Mike Luciano, and son Michael Luciano has always been preservation through the use of Conservation Photography for the past decade. Her carear has spaned much of the globe and Zsuzsanna Luciano has had her works featured on the Disney Cruise Ship, is on display at the Blue Gallery in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Las Olas Florida and is now proud to be welcomed into the Clyde Butcher Gallery, a true milestone in ones carear! We look foward to a wonderful relationship with a truly wonderful group of individuals. Thank you to the Butcher family and all the gifted and beautiful people who work there everyday to promote and educate the many visitors from all over the world in regards to saving this amazing planet we call home! Thank you from Zsuzsanna Luciano and the entire Luciano Family….May we save what God has created…..
Luciano Photography 