Kila artist holds contest

Kila photographer John Ashley is the featured artist during the month of July at the Paint Metal and Mud Gallery and Gift Shop, located at 16 First St. W. in downtown Kalispell.

Ashley was once an award-winning photographer at the Missoulian newspaper and a field biologist in Glacier National Park. He combines this unique background in photojournalism and conservation biology to produce images that stand apart from the rest.

"Life is difficult one way or another for almost every person I've ever met," he said.

"I want to make photographs that make life better, photos that are inspiring, soothing or just downright funny. I want people to feel better about their world every time they view my photos."

Ashley is also known in the Flathead Valley for his harlequin duck research, conservation and educational outreach. He has also worked with California condors, taught bird biology to Arizona nuns and given presentations to Montana college and high school science classes. He teaches a harlequin duck class for the Glacier Institute.

Meet Ashley during a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. July 5 at the gallery during downtown Kalispell’s First Friday event. He’ll give away a limited-edition canvas print at 7 p.m.

The image features a view of morning sunbeams lighting up the Livingston Mountain Range and North Fork Valley in Glacier Park. The person who enters the best title for the photograph, as chosen by Ashley, will win the canvas.

Enter your ideas on the gallery’s website, paintmetalandmud.com, on its Facebook page or by emailing Ashley at ashley@bigsky.net.

For more information, visit johnashleyfineart.com.