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POWELL, Wyo. - The Northwest College Photography Department invites the public to a photo kick-off week that culminates in a presentation by renowned National Geographic photographer Sam Abell.
The week starts Wednesday, Sept. 8, with a 7:30 p.m. opening reception in Northwest Gallery for “Peru: A Visual Journey.”
The collection of over 40 images was taken by NWC students in Peru during a photography field studies class earlier this year. In addition to images from Machu Picchu, Cuzco and Lima, visitors will be treated to a half-hour multimedia presentation of the trip created by Dennis Davis, an assistant professor of journalism and mass communication. It augments the exhibit with the sounds and music of the Latin American country.
“Peru: A Visual Journey” will hang in the gallery through Oct. 1. Located in the Cabre Building on campus, Northwest Gallery is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays and Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free.
The second event of the week features National Geographic’s legendary photographer Sam Abell. He’ll present his multi-media program “The Photographic Life” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, in the Nelson Performing Arts Center Auditorium.
“It’s truly hard to explain what a big deal this is that we were able to get Sam Abell to come,” said Anthony Polvere, an assistant professor of photography at Northwest. “This is quite possibly the biggest name photojournalist we have ever had come to our school. His national name recognition is incredibly broad and this will certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people in the Big Horn region to see one of the premiere photographers in American history.”
Abell has worked with the National Geographic Society since 1970 and photographed more than 20 articles on various cultural and wilderness subjects. He’s also lectured on photography and exhibited his images to audiences throughout the world.
Abell's photographic art has been published in a number of books. In them, his images offer visual explorations to create a better understanding of the Mississippi River, Lewis & Clarks’ voyage of discovery, the Civil War, Australia, contemplative gardens and more.
In 1990, Eastman Kodak published a retrospective monograph of Abell’s photographs titled “Stay This Moment: The Photographs of Sam Abell.” A companion exhibit of his work was shown at New York City's International Center of Photography in November of that year.
Abell’s presentation is sponsored by the Canon Explorers of Light organization, a subsidiary of the Canon camera company. Admission is free.
