This bluebird in flight was captured by award-winning Lampasas County photographer Howard Cheek at his local ranch. Please see related photo on page 12. PHOTO BY HOWARD CHEEK Lampasas County resident Howard Cheek keeps his eyes to the skies, and that has provided opportunities for him to take award-winning photographs that have appeared in numerous publications.

Cheek, primarily a nature photographer, picked up his first camera nine years ago.

“My interest began around the same time digital photography was in its infancy,” he said.

Starting with a 3MP Fuji digital point-and-shoot camera, Cheek said he still remembers the excitement he experienced with his first macro when viewed on a large screen.

“It opened my eyes to the natural world, and I’ve never been the same,” he said.

Learning the necessary skills from the Internet, photo-sharing sites and daily shooting, Cheek’s appreciation of art and nature grew quickly.

Nature photographer Howard Cheek has won numerous awards for his work. He and his wife live on six acres of Central Texas Hill Country in its natural state where he does much of his photography.

Cheek said he also lives on the “Central Flyway,” a major migratory route for countless numbers of birds.

He has been published in Nature’s Best Photography, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Better Homes & Gardens, Nature’s Garden, Birds & Blooms, Astronomy Magazine and others.

His first major national publication was a winning image in National Wildlife’s Photo Contest in 2006.

In addition, Cheek was an Editor’s Pick Award winner in 2009 at Nature Photographers Network, a winner in the 2009 Best Backyards Contest, and the grand-prize winner in the 2010 Nature Conservancy’s calendar cover shot.

Howard Cheek’s photo “Orchard Oriole” took the top prize in the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine’s 2011 photo contest in the plant/animal category. Cheek also was the grand-prize winner in Birds & Blooms 2011 photography contest.

The photographer took top prize in the plant/animal category of the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine’s 2011 photo contest with his shot “Orchard Oriole.”

His entry will be on exhibit in the Lampasas Art Gallery on East Third Street.

Judges called the shot a perfect example of simplicity and elegance created by the combination of basic composition and beautiful lighting. They also noted that technically, the subject was in perfect focus – a must for animal photos.

More than 700 submissions by 287 photographers were judged.

Other honors include a PBS interview in 2009 which aired later that year.

Cheek also contributes images regularly to the National Wildlife Federation for use in its publications, and he supports the Nature Conservancy’s work around the globe.

Most recently, Cheek’s photo of a cardinal was selected for the cover design of “Love Never Ends,” a book by Connie Martin and Barry Dundas.

Cheek and two other photographers will be featured in “Candid Shots,” an article in the March/April issue of National Wildlife magazine.

Photos he snapped of butterflies in his yard will highlight the two-page spread.