TITLE: Secret Garden

Each Spring, many nesting pairs of Great Egrets gather at Kraft Azalea Garden in Central Florida to begin their nesting rituals. I was inspired to share with the world the beauty of the Great Egrets. I made countless trips to the location to capture the most beautiful moments. Their true beauty is best reflected in their natural living environment. I wanted to fully utilize their enchanting surroundings to obtain unique compositions. I carefully chose the camera positions and patiently waited for the best opportunities. During post-processing for some of these photos, .I selected the sky to make it darker before painting the light, using the digital brush to create a more dreamy and artistic impression. Throughout two spring seasons, I finally finished the series to display the beauty of wildlife in natural Florida.

AUTHOR: Fenqiang Liu (United States)

Fenqiang Liu is a nature and fine art photographer based in Orlando, Florida, who specializes in capturing breathtaking moments of natural beauty and transforming them into captivating art pieces. With a deep passion for visual art that dates to his early years interested in drawing and painting in middle school, Fenqiang's artistic journey took a turn when he discovered photography in college.

Following completing his BA, Fenqiang's passion for photography led him to work as a cameraman for educational videos on geography. He refined his skills and developed an eye for capturing stunning landscapes and natural wonders. Fenqiang later earned his MFA in Cinema and Photography at Southern Illinois University. After graduation, he worked as a motion graphic designer before starting a business with his wife, providing behavior analysis services for children with autism.

Despite his diverse professional background, Fenqiang has always remained dedicated to his passion for photography. In recent years, he has focused on nature and wildlife photography. His works showcase his unique ability to transform the natural beauty of Florida into a mystical paradise that captures the imagination and leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Many of his photographs have won multiple international photo awards. His photography reflects his passion, creativity, and dedication to the art form.

MAIN AWARDS:

The Independent Photographer 2023 Black & White Award – Finalist.

reFocus 2022 Black & White Photo Contest - Wildlife – Category and Gold Winner.

Annual Photography Awards 2022 - Nature: Wildlife & Animals - 2nd Place Winner.

Monochrome Awards 2022 - Wildlife - 2nd Place Winner.

Siena Creative Photo Awards 2022 - Nature & Landscape - Category Winner.

MonoVisions Photography Awards 2022 - Black & White Nature and Wildlife Series of the Year.

All About Photo Awards 2022 - Merit Award Winner

Fine Art Photography Awards 2022 - Wildlife & Animals - 1st Prize Winner.

PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS 2022 - Special-Special Effects - Gold Winner.

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2022 - Fine Art-Other - Gold Winner

reFocus 2022 One Shot Photo Contest - Nature - Category and Gold Winner.

2022 Open Call: CARTE BLANCHE, B/W Category by Lucie Foundation – Finalist.

FMoPA International Photography Competition 2022 – "Best in Competition."

Dodho Magazine published the "Secret Garden" series in issue #21.

Dodho Magazine 2022 Monochromatic Awards – Top 25 Best Photographers of the Year 2022.

Chelsea International Photography Competition 2022 - Selected Artist.

The Independent Photographer 2022 Black & White Award and Open Call Award - Editor's Picks.

IPA 2021 and 2022 - Nature-Other - 2nd Place.

Chromatic Awards 2021 - Wildlife & Animals - 1st Prize Winner.

Monochrome Awards 2021 - Nature - 1st Prize Winner and Nature Discovery of the Year.

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2021 - Nature-Wildlife - Silver Winner.