University of New England

"Extreme Nature - Images from the World's Edge" on exhibit at Art Gallery Oct. 5-Nov.27

The Art Gallery at the University of New England presents "Extreme Nature - Images from the World’s Edge," a retrospective of artist Bill Curtsinger's outstanding marine photography, from blue sharks to Adelie penguins, on view at UNE’s Westbrook College Campus in Portland starting Oct. 5 through Nov. 27, 2005.

Adelie Penguins march along an ice flow; Ross Sea, Antarctica

An opening reception with the artist will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 5-7:00 p.m.

In addition two lectures with the artist will take place as follows:

• "The Art of Marine Biology," a slide lecture - takes place at 113 Alfond, on University of New England’s Biddeford campus, Thursday, Oct 20, 5-6:30 p.m.  Part naturalist, part biologist and professional photographer Bill Curtsinger explores the territory where his art and science converge.
• Conversation with the Artist, takes place at the art gallery on UNE’s Westbrook College Campus in Portland, Thursday, Nov 17, 5-6:30 p.m.  Bill will talk about his 33-plus-year career photographing wild creatures in wild places for National Geographic and his latest book Extreme Nature - Images from the World’s Edge.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more details about this show and related programs, call (207) 221-4499, or visit www.une.edu/artgallery

Bill Curtsinger as Artist

Two Blue Sharks photographed in the Gulf of Maine

The images in this retrospective identify who Curtsinger is as a photographer and maybe also as a person. "Many of these images are quiet, calm, and a little mysterious. Some are edgy," he said.

Many of the species represented here had not been photographed underwater before Curtsinger’s cameras brought them to light. He states that geographically speaking, he’s always been drawn to remote regions and severe landscapes and likes dark, cold places best.

 "If I had to pick my favorite place on earth to photograph both underwater and surface subjects, it would be the Antarctic. I have very little interest in the colorful, flamboyant world of coral reefs. I am also attracted to the more ubiquitous species found in temperate oceans and cold water streams, species that have not been photographed much," Curtsinger said.

The challenge of photographing what has not been seen before has been the motivation for much of Curtsinger’s photographic work. He noted, "I try to blend in, go slowly, go quietly, in the hopes that my subject will forget I’m even there, and interact with their own kind or another species in a natural way. Sometimes it works." 

Regarding photography, Curtsinger stated, "I worship the single-minded effort still photography embodies, the challenge, the solitary immersion in an animal’s world and the rewards that are often found in such an adventure. I like to think that my work in this show, the hidden natural world will reveal to some how splendid a place our planet is, and instill a sense of wonder and reverence for its natural gifts-especially those that often go unseen."

Photographer's Background
Bill Curtsinger was born in Philadelphia, January 23, 1946. He grew up in southern New Jersey and has lived in Maine since 1971. He attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and Arizona State University in Tempe. During the Vietnam War he was a member of the elite Navy Photo Unit, Atlantic Fleet Combat Camera Group based at the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia. His Navy training included graduating from U.S. Navy Dive School in Key West, Florida, and Navy Parachute School in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Specializing in underwater subjects, Curtsinger has photographed 33 articles, (six cover stories) for National Geographic Magazine.

His most recent story in the Geographic was on harbor porpoises and appeared in the June 2003 issue. Other photographs and stories have been published in Smithsonian, Outside, Time, Newsweek, Life, Audubon, Natural History, Islands, Aqua, Terre Sauvage, Georama Experiment, Unterwasser, Mare, Airone, Stern, Geo, Paris Match, New Look, London Sunday Express, Sinra, Shukan Asahi, BBC Wildlife, Bonniers, and other publications worldwide.

He has produced video shorts and clips as well as a library of stock video footage. Curtsinger is a founding member of the Maine based art group "10x10" and a member of the Portland based printmaking cooperative, Peregrine Press. His latest book, Extreme Nature - Images from the World’s Edge, is a 409-page retrospective of his work. Bill lives in Yarmouth, Maine.

More of Curtsinger’s work can be seen at www.billcurtsingerphoto.com and more about the book is listed at www.extremenaturebook.com.

(Press release issued Sept. 15, 2005)