Heather Mattera. Serenity.

Greater Flamingo, Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Africa (2023).

The Greater Flamingo is the largest and most widespread species of the flamingo family.

Though highly social, this flamingo was spotted meandering from the group. At this specific location, flamingos may be seen in the hundreds, if not thousands. Inspiration for the image was in the beauty of the light pink feathering and the clear reflection in the water.

Heather Mattera has spent much of her life helping people who have been marginalized feel more seen, heard and understood in our society. In addition to having devoted herself to raising her two sons, she is an award winning photographer who has exhibited frequently: most recently -“The Weight of it All”- in Minneapolis in 2023, and at Open Walls at the Rencontres d’Arles photography photo festival in 2020. Through her photography, she works with NGOs and non-profits to help a variety of people- at risk kids, unhoused teens, foster care families, woman with eating disorders, families with terminally ill children - create new narratives for themselves and ways they can fit into our world.

Follow on Instagram @heathermattera.