FIRST FRIDAY - Jon Klein’s new image, Chickadee in Flight is a 25 x 32 inch photograph on canvas with a custom hand-built burnt wood frame. Display debut and gallery opening May 1st, 2026, 5-8pm at the Mendocino Coast Photographers Gallery, Fort Bragg, CA. www.MCPGG.com
| Title |
Chickadee in Flight |
| Photographer | Jon Klein |
| Location | Northeast of Fort Bragg, CA |
| Technique | High-speed remote controlled flash photography |
| Details | Gallery wrapped, varnished and custom framed print on canvas, 25 x 32" (W x H) |
ABOUT THIS IMAGE – This May’s Photo of the Month image was taken by Jon Klein, just Northeast of Fort Bragg, CA. It depicts a Chestnut-backed Chickadee, common in the redwood forests of the Mendocino Coast.
To get this amazing action shot of a wild bird, Klein first had to defeat the neighborhood squirrels. He put a birdfeeder on top of a tall post made from PVC pipe, which is difficult for the squirrels to climb, then he filled the feeder with black oil sunflower seeds. Chickadees are very fond of sunflower seeds, and they tried their best to carry them all off to hide for later.
Using an infrared motion detector, Klein set up his camera to take a photo every time a bird flew to the feeder.
To light this outdoor scene Jon used several high speed studio flashes, with orange filters, to mimic the look of late afternoon sunlight.
Klein’s image titled Chickadee in Flight, will be shown as a 25 x 32 inch canvas photographic print and includes a custom hand-made burnt-wood frame. Jon Klein prints his own images on the large format printer at the Mendocino Coast Photographers Gallery. He designed and created the frame for this picture at his home and studio workshop, just outside of Fort Bragg.
Jon Klein
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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER – Jon grew up in the hills near Willits, CA, with hippie parents, who never sent him to school. When he was nine years old, he switched from hunting animals with a bow and arrow to stalking them with a camera. He found wildlife photography engaging and enjoyable. Forty years later Klein still loves studying and photographing the natural world. As an adult he moved to the Northern California coast, first living near Mendocino village and now outside of Fort Bragg with his partner Molly, an artist and ceramicist, and their six-year-old son, David, along with Dobby, the house-elf, who does a stellar imitation of being a dog. Jon Klein in his own words: Moving closer to the ocean, years ago, inspired me to take up seascape and landscape photography, and living in an area popular with visitors has allowed me to make a living selling prints of my photographs. |
WHAT IS OUR NEW BLOG, PHOTO OF THE MONTH? AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
After a long silence, we are now committed to sending out one email a month with a new photograph from one of he gallery's photographers. As you can see this Blog format will include a new image, something about how it was taken and something historical or otherwise engaging about the location, local history, and perhaps personal anecdotes of the photographer. We'd love to get your feedback about this series, and any comment or suggestions would be welcome. You can write to the Blog Editor Jonathan Pazer at manager@mcpgg.com. If you are feeling really retro you can also leave us a voicemail any time on the gallery's cordless mobile telephone attached to our landline.
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ABOUT THE MENDOCINO COAST PHOTOGRAPHERS GALLERY
The Mendocino Coast Photographers Gallery The Mendocino Coast Photographers Gallery at 357 N. Franklin in Fort Bragg, CA is a cooperative of five local artists, showing landscape and wildlife photography printed on paper, canvas, and metal, and an innovative ceramicist showing both functional and decorative work. The gallery continues to draw local residents and visitors alike to see our vibrant and dramatic images. We have been in business for over twenty years.
The gallery is located at at: 357 N. Franklin in Fort Bragg, CA is open Friday through Monday from 10am - 5pm, and by appointment.
PHOTOGRAPHERS AT THE GALLERY
John Birchard - John considers landscape and nature photography to be his true artistic calling; his work features vibrant flowers and exceptional skies as bookends for the beautiful landscapes of the Mendocino Coast. Though primarily shooting his own landscape photography, he is available for commercial work upon request.
Scott Chieffo - Scott’s images capture the subtle beauty of the Mendocino’s coastal headlands and forest landscapes with a highly unique, painterly style that emphasizes the quiet solitude Northern California is known for.
Jon Klein - Jon grew up in the hills near Willits, CA, with hippie parents, who never sent him to school. When he was nine years old, he switched from hunting animals with a bow and arrow to stalking them with a camera. He found wildlife photography engaging and enjoyable. Forty years later Klein still loves studying and photographing the natural world. As an adult he moved out to the Northern California coast, first living near Mendocino village and now outside of Fort Bragg with his partner Molly, an artist and ceramicist, and their six-year-old son, David, along with Dobby, the house-elf, who does a stellar imitation of being a dog.
Jon Klein in his own words: Moving closer to the ocean, years ago, inspired me to take up seascape and landscape photography, and living in an area popular with visitors has allowed me to make a living selling prints of my photographs.
Jonathan Pazer - Jonathan is both a published photographer and poet, who likes to blend and cross-fertilize his work between these two mediums. His images seek to portray the hidden surface of emotion and memory that lies beyond photography’s precision.
Jonathan says: The truth of both photography and poetry is that while they are each capable of portraying a journalistic representation of the facts, their value to me is as art. Because only as art can they have any hope to contain and convey the mystery and wonder of our own experience.
CERAMICS AT THE GALLERY
Molly Boynoff Klein - Molly Boynoff Klein - Molly is known for her geologic functional pottery with colorful swirled and inlaid marbled clays, as well as her whimsical decorative pieces.
NEXT MONTH'S BLOG AND FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER
A new image by Scott Chieffo will debut on First Friday, June 5, 2026.
News Letter Editor - Jonathan Pazer
Blog Content and Photos: Copyright 2026