A BIRTHDAY NIKON FOR FILIP & ARC

Have you missed my photos over the past year?

I have too.

In March of 2022 my trusty old friend Nikon broke.

Typically, when my March 2nd birthday approaches, I ask friends to donate to my nonprofit ARC, because its mission is far more important than me. This year, those interests happen to converge, because by helping me replace my Nikon, you can help ARC in a much more impactful and sustainable way.

In February of 2022, the photos I had taken in the preceding two years helped me raise almost $1,500 for my nonprofit, the Arlee Rehabilitation Center. I was increasingly relying on the Nikon to help the nonprofit both with auction photography and with routine pictures of our animals and communities. Having founded ARC in 2019 to serve the Flathead Reservation by providing a sanctuary where animals heal people and people heal animals, I've poured my love and passion into the mission, the people, and the Reservation dogs. The camera played an important role in that relationship.

On a personal level, the Nikon had been an important part of my life. It was a source of inspiration and togetherness for my daughter Lucy and me throughout the pandemic. It got us out almost daily. Since it broke, Lucy and I have largely ceased to explore, and she has been less happy as a result. The camera also helped me carve out a bit of time for myself and rejuvenate. Sometimes I feel I'm getting close to burn-out mode with ARC and the level of ceaseless commitment, stress, and work it requires from me. In the past year, without the camera, I've lost much of my motivation to get out and search for birds, because a major part of that motivation had been the opportunity to share my encounters with others through my photography. I've since thrown almost all of my time and energy into the budding nonprofit, but my energy is waning.

Some of you have told me that my photography had gotten better and better, and some of you were saddened when it suddenly ceased. It made no sense for me to invest in fixing a beat-up Nikon that was barely able to keep up with the type of photography I was doing. I've now saved some funds and I've set up this GoFundMe to get me over the top. If you can chip in a few $$$ to help me buy a Nikon, I will be deeply grateful. It will serve much, much more than just me.

By doing so, you are helping ARC in a more sustained way than if I had asked you to donate to the nonprofit for my birthday. You're also serving your selfish interest: I promise you will finally get to see more extraordinary photos of birds shared with you on my wall.

Thank you, friends!