Parts of the Earth

A Story of Longing and Wild Beauty

Parts of the Earth

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“Parts of the Earth” is more than photos—it’s my longing for nature’s wild heart, gratitude for God’s creatures, and a belief we’re all wonderfully made. Each frame echoes a journey of struggle, awe, and purpose—a glimpse of something greater.
Erika Masterson

Shooting with a 4x5 Graflex was grueling: loading film holders, later developing over 150 sheets of film,  wrangling heavy taxidermy, and coaxing models into harmony. The Miami shoot, surrounded by hundreds of creatures in late summer, nearly broke me—until shade and support carried me through.

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What began as a spark—beautiful girls with sticks and moss—evolved into "Parts of the Earth" a Fine Art Photography Collection featuring taxidermy wild animals. Over a year, I poured myself into this project, driven by a message I felt compelled to share. It was a roller coaster: early wins with award-winning portraits like "Refuge" gave way to dry spells where animals were nowhere to be found.

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The capstone came months later when "Foundation", one of my images, won Best in Show at the AE Backus Museum’s competition—the same contest my late father, a gifted photographer, had once triumphed in. He’d passed two years earlier, lost to Alzheimer’s, and this victory felt like a whisper from him, a shared legacy etched in film.
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"In Erika's work, Love transcends Species"
Vero Beach Magazine