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BOUNTIFUL — His spectacular images of the nighttime sky framed by Utah scenery are breathtaking, and soon, photos by Bret Webster of Bountiful will be featured in the U.S. embassy in Tunisia.
As part of the ARTS in Embassies program, his photographs are fostering U.S. relations within local communities worldwide. The program, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, helps advance cultural diplomacy through the presentation of works by outstanding American and international artists around the world.
#webster1
Five pieces of his work have been on display since 2011 at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait. “They inquired if I was willing to do that, and of course I was,” he said. “It’s a great privilege and an honor.”
With a background in chemical engineering and rocket science, it’s no surprise his photos combine the scenic grandeur of Utah and its night sky. Webster said Utah has an abundance of beauty.
“It’s an amazing thing,” he said. "It’s an amazing resource. It’s a treasure for the world.”
He said his photographs are a good ice-breaker for people to look at. “It generates conversation and common ground, and if people are feeling those same feelings, it’s a bonding experience.”
He doesn’t use trick photography. There are no double exposures or photo editing. He does use spotlights, campfires or candles to illuminate the scenery, such as a natural arch or a red rock cliff. Then he just leaves the camera shutter wide open to capture the night sky.
When you capture these images of our planet, and then the scale of the Milky Way, there's all these things, all these concepts at play: There's time, there's distance, there's space.
–Webster
“When you capture these images of our planet, and then the scale of the Milky Way, there’s all these things, all these concepts at play: There’s time, there’s distance, there’s space,” he said.
His photographs are between 40 and 46 inches tall and 60 to 70 inches wide.
Webster will be leaving for Kuwait on Thursday. Because of his photo display there, he was invited to put additional photos on display, as well as conduct workshops for local photographers and students.
His work is getting its most prominent display at the new Natural History Museum of Utah as part of a special exhibit called “Weaving a Revolution.” The exhibit, which opens Jan. 12 and runs through April 28, showcases 150 contemporary Navajo baskets and tells the story of those who made them.
Webster said the museum is using several of his images, including one that is about two stories high and about 50 to 60 feet wide and covers the wall as people enter the special exhibit area.
Contributing: Viviane Vo-Duc
