About this Website
EarthPeopleAnimals.com, Sarah Nelsen Photography,
is a project by Sarah Nelsen Designs, LLC,
Email: sarah@sarahdesigns.com
Phone: 412.736.8670
Sarah's studio is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mission Statement
To inspire individuals to respect the earth, people, and animals by showcasing photographs focused on the beauty of creation and diversity of humanity.
About the Artist
Although Sarah Nelsen’s time is mainly spent on her graphic design company, Sarah Nelsen Designs, LLC, her love for photography often gets integrated into her projects and photography is always a priority when traveling. Nelsen’s photography has won several awards and inspired some of her oil and watercolor paintings as well. All of Nelsen’s photographs are created from personal experiences and specifically chosen for this showcase in efforts to encourage people to appreciate the natural world and humanity’s relationship to it. Her photography focus is mainly on nature, wildlife, and her travels in a documentary-style approach.
Sarah's Inspiration for Connecting Photography
with Support for the Earth
“My personal motivation for this website stems from my deep-rooted love for the natural world, which began with my parents’ love for the outdoors and grew dramatically during my five-year residence in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In this raw, incredible valley, I witnessed humanity‘s effects on the environment first-hand. I was exposed to the large community of people—passionate about this same cause—who worked hard to keep this special place beautiful and pure. The obvious love for preservation and conservation in that small valley allowed me to see that small things really can make a difference and, in time, can make a phenomenal impact. Upon moving, I realized I was unusually blessed to have lived in a place where it seemed everyone truly cared. Since then, living in California, and now Pennsylvania, I have come to see that a majority of people in our country either do not understand or simply disagree with the need for sustainable practices. I became disheartened and felt that there were so many things that I might be able to do, but I really did not know where to begin.
Experience and Perspectives
With over eight years of experience in the graphic design field while living in Wyoming, California, and Pennsylvania, I have gained some unique perspectives. In Wyoming, I was able to meet a pioneer in the sustainable design movement in the areas of interior and architectural design. At the nationally recognized National Museum of Wildlife Art, I was principal graphic designer and was involved with exhibition and program collaborations with environmental groundbreakers Jane Goodall, E.O. Wilson, Michael Fay, and James Balog. When I attended an AIGA conference in Denver, I learned about the ideas of biomimicry and the delicate balance of print and web media that is needed for successful marketing. In California, there was a general trend towards green practices, but I felt people didn’t always understand why they participated in these trends. There, I became a preferred designer for the Palm Springs Art Museum and found the widespread Latino population thriving there and mostly uneducated in green practices. In Pennsylvania, as an art director for the University of Pittsburgh, I have been able to work on projects focusing on topics such as green energy and global leadership while sharing the desire to increase sustainable print practices. I also art direct and design a regional publication focusing on conscious living that has a large distribution in the greater Pittsburgh area. All of these experiences have inspired me to do more.
Current Initiatives
I am now working towards a sustainable design Post-baccalaureate degree. My photography website is my effort to create awareness and donate a portion of proceeds from prints and products to charities focused on sustainability and ethics.”
- Sarah
