MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif., Feb. 25, 2016 — (PRNewswire) — Working in partnership with the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, acclaimed photographer Chuck Fazio brings his creative force to a collaborative, high-octane project showcasing the Monterey County destination with a "3D" perspective, from sky to sea.

"Artistically capturing the moments that define this region is exhilarating," says MCCVB President and CEO Tammy Blount, "and showcasing a destination in this way has never been done before."

As American Forests' Artist-in-Residence, Fazio is known for his compelling nature photography and will use that specialized talent to chronicle the iconic Monterey County from the air, on ground, and underwater using a cinematic drone and still photography.  Fazio will have just 96 hours to capture the essence and tell the story of Monterey County, California. Chuck's journey will range from the iconic Big Sur coastline to the majesty of the Salinas Valley as he works to cover as many important landmarks as possible. With the clock ticking, he will feel the pressure of curating and opening an exhibition just three days later.

"Putting a time limit on the project amps up the intensity," says Fazio. "I have to make every second count, but I thrive on the pressure."

Local art students will shadow Fazio as he crisscrosses the county on this artistic adventure. Five students a day will have the memorable opportunity of learning from a pro and being encouraged to frame their own viewpoint.

"This is such a great hands-on opportunity for these students," says Paulette Lynch, Executive Director of the Arts Council for Monterey County. "They will be involved in all steps of the process and their work will also be included in the final exhibition, which is very exciting for these kids."

Just three days after shooting concludes, a special VIP reception will kick off the "96 Hours Over Monterey County" exhibition on March 3^rd at Wave Street Studios in Monterey, Calif. The exhibition will include 10-20 Chuck Fazio still photographs, aerial videography and student photographs. Each piece is beautiful and remarkable on its own, but together they form a stunning visual, descriptive mosaic of Monterey County. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the photographs will benefit American Forests, a national nonprofit that protects and restores forests.

"We are thrilled to partner with Chuck Fazio and the MCCVB to showcase the exceptional beauty of Monterey County," says Lea Sloan, Vice President of Communications for American Forests. "Our mission is to inspire people to care about forests and nature. Chuck's photographs are a way to do that not only for people here, but also with the world at large."

The project is presented in collaboration with nonprofits American Forests and the Arts Council for Monterey County, as well as the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition to the exhibition, which will be open to the public March 4-5, the MCCVB will also use social media and digital platforms to share this project and the destination globally.

ABOUT Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is the organization that drives tourism for Monterey County and in recent years has led the destination to record levels of growth. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to drive business growth through compelling marketing and sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was more than $2.5 billion in 2014, representing a 4.4 percent increase from 2013, and per person/per day spending rose significantly to $324. More than 4.3 million visitors stayed overnight in 2014, generating more than $100 million in local tax receipts and supporting 23,850 jobs. The MCCVB is a 501(c)6 organization, visit SeeMonterey.com for more information.

ABOUT CHUCK FAZIO
Chuck Fazio is a prominent nature photographer and current Artist-in-Residence, with the American Forests, the oldest conservation group in the country. Fazio's work has been shown in galleries across the country, from Washington DC to Honolulu. He has spent decades perfecting his art and challenging himself to go further. Fazio is a licensed UAV pilot and views drone photography as a new photographic frontier.  While on the road, Fazio works out of a rolling studio dubbed 'The Chuck Wagon" – a state-of the art RV tricked out with the latest technology, and offers photo instructional tours of the most beautiful and iconic sites in America. For more information go to: chuckfazio.com.

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR MONTEREY COUNTY
The mission of the Arts Council for Monterey County is to improve the quality of life for everyone in our region through the arts. The Arts Council also provides arts education to thousands of students each year thanks to support from local PTAs, foundations, businesses and individuals.

ABOUT AMERICAN FORESTS
The oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the country, American Forests has planted 50 million trees in more than a thousand forest restoration projects in the last 25 years. These projects have resulted in cleaner air and drinking water, restored habitat for wildlife and fish and the removal of millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Learn more at www.americanforests.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Alliah Sheta/Monterey County CVB
831.657.6405; Email Contact

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SOURCE Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau