Glimpses of Nature grace the NCMNS Nature Art Gallery
Photographers Mike Dunn and Juan Pons to exhibit October 5–November 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Science, Features, Arts & Entertainment Editors
Contact: Emelia Cowans, 919-733-7450, ext. 305
September 25, 2007
(Raleigh) – Glimpses of Nature, an exhibit of nature and wildlife photography by North Carolina photographers Mike Dunn and Juan Pons, showcases their intimate knowledge of the subject, an abiding love for nature and the patience and eye to do them justice. Viewers will be richly rewarded with compelling views of Yellowstone National Park, the Arctic and of course native wildlife of North Carolina.
Glimpses of Nature opens at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' Nature Art Gallery Friday, October 5 and runs through Sunday, November 25. A reception to celebrate the opening of the show will be held from from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Gallery. The exhibit opening coincides with the Museum's First Friday events.
Mike Dunn, an educator for the Museum for the last 18 years, has pursued photography and biology concurrently since childhood. Hunting and fishing trips taken with his father instilled him with an appreciation of nature. Rather than a gun or fly rod, Mike, at an early age, chose a camera for his hunting expeditions into the woods. He earned a degree in Biology from Virginia Tech, a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia, then migrated to North Carolina to pursue a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences at North Carolina State University.
After eight years with North Carolina State Parks, he joined the staff at the Museum where he is Coordinator of Teacher Education. Now he shares his love of nature with educators all across the state and through it all photography has played an important role. Dunn has had numerous articles and photographs published in Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, Carolina Country, Fifteen-501 magazine and frequently contributes articles and photographs to the Museum's Naturalist magazine.
From the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to Yellowstone and the Arctic to just outside his home in Chatham County, Dunn has captured the beauty around him in a way that is impressive and breathtaking. "Photography is a tool for helping to open people's eyes to the beauty and mystery of the world around us," he says. "It is an aid to telling the story of the magic that surrounds us that we are often too busy to see or appreciate." He also thanks his friend, photographer Juan Pons for convincing him to go digital.
A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pons became interested in photography while attending high school in Massachusetts. There he learned the essentials of light and composition and to develop and process his own black and white prints. In college at Clark University he continued to pursue his interest as a student photographer for the university's communications department and contributor to the school newspaper and yearbook.
The next 14 years were taken up with the demands of a successful career in computer engineering. But eventually, the passion he felt for photography took over and with a renewed vigor, Pons rekindled his earlier interest. He converted to digital equipment which he feels gives him the same control he had when he was developing and printing his own black and white images years earlier. Pons is also a web consultant, an occasional contributor and Photo Essays forum moderator for NatureScapes.net, a premiere nature photography community on the internet.
Being a nature and wildlife photographer also inspired him to become a strong supporter of wildlife and natural habitat conservation and he belongs to several conservation organizations. He donates his images to non-profit organizations whose missions are wildlife and habitat preservation.
Nature Art Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; Noon to 5 p.m. Sun.; and every First Friday until 9 p.m. For more information call 919-733-7450 ext. 369 or visit naturalsciences.org
First Friday is a free, family-friendly, social event held the first Friday of each month at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. Visitors can enjoy exhibits, shopping, food and spirits from 5 until 9pm. The Natural Horror Picture Show (a vintage, sci-fi flick) begins at 7 p.m. Arrive early for live music and a film short from the A/V Geek archives. For information, call 919-733-7350, ext. 379.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 am to 5 pm, and Sun., noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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