I was fortunate enough to have all three photographs accepted for the Orange County Fair this year.  And I was very surprised to learn that all three had won awards.  To today I finally made it out to the fair and sure enough they all had ribbons.

Death Valley Reflections had an Honorable Mention ribbon.

Bristlecone Moon also had an Honorable Mention ribbon.

And Virgin River and the Watchman had a 2nd Place ribbon.

You can see more of my work at http://RalphNordstromPhotography.com

Here’s a quick status of the tragic loss of the Schulman Grove Visitor Center in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a beautiful section of the Inyo National Forest.

Beginning in late August a rash of vandalism started in the Eastern Sierra with the area around Big Pine being ‘ground zero.’  http://www.inyoregister.com/content/view/115766/27/

Thursday morning, September 4th, the Schulman Grove Visitor Center burned to the ground.  This was amidst a rash of vandalism events occurring at the same time in the area.  Arson is suspected.  http://www.inyoregister.com/content/view/115529/1/

On Saturday, Sept 6th John Thomas Christiana of San Francisco was arrested in Lone Pine in connection with the vandalism.  He had articles in his car that had been removed from a vandalized cabin.  http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/site/content/view/1274/48/

Christiana was arraigned in Inyo County Court on Tuesday, Sept 9th.  http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/site/content/view/1285/48/

Here’s the link to the latest article in the Inyo Register – http://www.inyoregister.com/content/view/116554/

Here’s what it looked like.  It was a truly beautiful structure.  http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2727239740033719756fZLuqQ

The visitor center will be rebuilt and efforts are underway to raise the expected $700,000 through private donations and matching funds.  More information will be posted on this blog regardging the fundraising as it becomes available.

Here are a few more posts…

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=440245

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/news/2008/09/shulman.shtml

http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/site/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=1268

http://www.sierravisionsstock.com/sierravisions/bristlecone-pine-visitor-center-lost-to-fire/