Bird’s-Eye View: Nebula Gallery Features Photography of Jay Miller, Renowned Aerial Photographer and 2019 Jalonick Lecture Speaker

Spectacular purple lightning, psychedelic sunsets, glowing clouds – when it comes to capturing incredible images of aircraft high above the planet, award-winning aviation photographer Jay Miller has a front row seat.

This year’s George W. Jalonick III and Dorothy Cockrell Jalonick Memorial Distinguished Lecture Series speaker is sharing that front row seat with UT Dallas students, faculty, staff and the Dallas community with a collection of aerial images taken throughout his 50-year career. Miller’s exhibit, “The Art and Science of Aviation Photography,” will be on display at the Nebula Gallery, located in the Eugene McDermott Library from August 26 through October 23, 2019.

The gallery’s newest exhibit is in conjunction with the Jalonick Lecture to be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Ann and Jack Graves Ballroom in the UT Dallas Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. The lecture is free and open to the public, but registration is required. A reception will follow Miller’s talk in Inspiration Hall just outside the ballroom.

During his presentation, Miller, who specializes in air-to-air and static photography, will explore the evolution of aviation photography beginning with photography pioneer Gaspard-Félix Tournachon (aka Nadar), who took the world’s first aerial photo, to today’s digitally-centric equipment. Miller will show the audience select pieces of his personal equipment – including gyrostabilizers, harnesses, tethers and communication headgear – to illustrate the unique requirements for air-to-air photography.

Miller, who has logged time in a broad spectrum of aircraft including hot air balloons, helicopters, sailplanes and high-performance military fighters, will also present a short selection of some of his favorite aircraft photos he has taken throughout his career.

“Attendees will hopefully walk away with a deeper understanding of the art and science and importance of aviation photography, some insight into the history of aviation photography and a better appreciation for what is required to create the aircraft images that appear with considerable regularity in everything from newspapers to television,” Miller said.

The Texas-based aviation photographer is also a historian, photojournalist and author who has written 36 books and more than 1,000 newspaper and magazine articles. Miller is also the retired director of the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum and the retired director of Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection. He has appeared on numerous television programs including 60 Minutes and the Wings series on Discovery Channel.

Miller has received many accolades for his writing and photography including the International Society for Aviation Photography George Hall Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. The award recognizes outstanding individuals whose initiative and dedication to aviation photography has improved the profession and positively influenced others.

Visit the Nebula Gallery between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to view “The Art and Science of Aviation Photography” Exhibit.

The Nebula Gallery is located in the lobby of the Special Collections and Archives Division on the third floor, Room MC 3.504. For more information, contact Cassandra Zawojek at 972-883-3855 or cassandra.zawojek@utdallas.edu.