My Entries for the Pollinator Photo Contest at University of Michigan, July 2020 Update

Hello everyone,

I hope you are staying safe, sane, and healthy during these trying times. It’s been a roller coaster here, that’s for sure. Unfortunately I’m still at reduced hours for my what was full-time job, but we’re trying to tread water and pivot to stay afloat through this nightmare of a year that is dominated by COVID-19.

I am managing to keep busy, though. I’m working on finalizing the final paperback book for Lon Strickler, I may do photographs with the Willy Street Co-Op soon, I’m second-shooting an outdoor socially-distant wedding next month, I may help our friends over at Strange Uncles podcast with a logo, and of course I’m spending a lot of time with plants and pollinator friends—especially the monarchs.

I have probably between 40-50 monarch lives from egg to chrysalis in my care right now. I mean, I’m home and working reduced hours so why not take more on and help their numbers?

Oh, and you’re probably noticing that this website looks a lot different. Tobias and I weren’t really using it, but I wanted to put all my projects somewhere so I asked to switch the site back over to my solo namesake. He will of course collaborate with me whenever possible, and of course we’re keeping super busy over at The Singular Fortean Society. I figured my plant and pollinator projects also inspire my creative work, so there is a place for them here as well.

I am behind on editing videos for my channel, but I have footage ready to go and I know I’m long overdue for at least a Monarch update on there. I don’t know about you, but finding any motivation beyond the daily exhaustion from the existential dread because of the state of the world right now is outright difficult. I try to keep moving and keep going, and ultimately I’m happier crawling myself out of a state of depression. But let’s be real—life is hard right now, and it’s okay not to feel okay sometimes. We all have to do our best to practice self-care and surround ourselves by all that is positive and lovely.

Something I decided to do was enter a Pollinator Photo Contest being held by the Environmental Interpretive Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. You can enter up to five photographs within the following categories: Pollinators Up-Close, Pollinator and Flower Interactions, and Pollinator Landscapes. The first-place winner gets a jar of honey from the center and a shirt, which is the cutest prize ever, in my opinion. They’ll notify winners before October 1st this year.

As far as other future plans go, there are always a lot of ideas at the back of my mind. I am focusing a lot of my energy towards selling more art and creative projects online—I would especially love to offer products such as enamel pins and patches that are easy to order and ship. I will continue to add new photography and artistic pieces to RedBubble, of course. I’m considering offering a newsletter and Patreon, but have not decided if I am going to act on those. Most of all, I’d love to continue educating and spreading awareness for Monarch butterflies and other pollinators. If you have any thoughts and ideas, I of course welcome them!

Thank you always for the support,

~Emily