By Pam Creech
Contributing Writer
Photographs of trees, flowers and sunsets will adorn the walls of the Boseman Gallery at the University of North Carolina Wilmington April 23-Aug. 17. “An Observant Eye: Images of Nature in Southeastern North Carolina” showcases the work of Andy Wood, an ecologist and conservation educator.
“The title is a play on a line from Henry David Thoreau’s last journal,” Wood said.
On Nov. 3, 1961, while describing the ridges on a gravel railroad causeway formed by heavy rain, pebbles, Thoreau wrote, “All this is perfectly distinct to an observant eye, and yet could easily pass unnoticed by most. Thus each wind is self-registering.”
“Thoreau was a passionate record keeper,” Wood explained. “He would document when things happened in Concord, Mass. By documenting when a flower blooms today, we’ll be able to understand what’ll happen tomorrow. It’s important to keep track of the world around us. … Phenology is the study of timing, of paying attention to when things happen. Thoreau was an excellent phenologist.”
Wood said people need phenology in order to understand their surroundings.
“Our ancestors were phenologists. They needed to know when birds are going to migrate to a certain area because that’s what they hunted. … We’ve always been phenologists.”
Wood’s primary objective is to capture the beauty of southeastern North Carolina.
“We don’t have to go to Africa or South America to see something interesting. Beauty is in our own backyard,” he said. “We’re part of a community that includes more than people, dogs and cats. It includes dragonflies, lizards and trees.”
He also wants to educate people about the various species of local plants and animals. One of Wood’s favorite photographs from the exhibit is of a bald cypress tree at Lake Mattamuskeet.
“It’s gorgeous. It’s 40 years old, but it’s only 10 feet tall,” he said.
Wood said the tree’s location in the water stunted its growth.
Another one of Wood’s favorites is of a sunset.
“I take a lot of sunset pictures because clouds fascinate me,” he said.
Wood is partial to flowers, as well.
“I have one shot of a gentian. It’s a beautiful, electric-blue flower with a couple insects on it,” he said.
To stay true to his mission to capture natural beauty, Wood only edited one of his pictures.
“That sunset photo is the only one that’s been retouched. I cropped it and turned it upside down,” he explained.
Wood takes all of his photographs with a point-and-shoot camera.
“The nice thing about a point-and-shoot camera is that you can carry it anywhere,” he said. “I want to reinforce the idea of encouraging people to stop and look around. Nature is such a healing force. We have to take the time to let it benefit us.
Wood said he hopes his work will encourage people to enjoy southeastern North Carolina. “We’re fortunate to be here,” he said.
A reception will be held April 23, 5:30-7 p.m. The Boseman Gallery is located upstairs in Fisher University Union. For more information, contact the Association for Campus Entertainment at 910-962-7722 or email
[email protected]
