As Namer, a previously stray dog, ran through the wooded river bottom near Centerville, a youthful Steve Dzerigian ran behind holding onto the leash. At some point during his daily chore of walking the dog, he decided the human-dog roles should be reversed and he let the dog run free. While the leash was still attached, he never let it tighten — running as Namer ran and observing her tracking techniques.

“Namer had a gentle approach to everything but pursued unequivocally that which captured her attention,” said Dzerigian, a longtime photographer and educator, in his recently published book. “Thirty years later in my series, ‘Connections with Nature,’ I’m tracking and sensing my subjects much as she would.”

In his book “Trail of Stones: My Path in Photography,” published by The Press at California State University, Fresno, Dzerigian exhibits a lifetime of stunning images while observing his influences and chronicling the creative process of his work.

“‘Trail of Stones' shares Steve Dzerigian’s decades of pedagogical wisdom with readers of all ages who will be very impressed by the quality of his compositions and ideas as well as the production values of the book itself. Steve has created not only a learning tool but also an inspirational text for anyone who loves the great outdoors,” said Dr. Honora Chapman, interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

The community is invited to view full-size prints featured in the book at an exhibition during library hours from Aug. 26 through Sept. 20 in the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery at the Henry Madden Library.

Dzerigian will give an artist talk and PowerPoint presentation at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the library (Room 2206). A reception and book signing will follow at 6 p.m. at the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery.

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