Picture perfect

‘Discovering Alaska’ exhibit on display in Sunrise

Residents can take a visual journey through America’s last frontier at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery.

The “Discovering Alaska” exhibit, on display through May 9, features 27 photos by Sunrise’s own Melissa Machonis. The shots were taken in the summer of 2013 during a 14-day land and sea tour with Princess Cruises.

“There were many nights on the trip where I stayed up all night as it is daylight for 22 hours,” she said. “One night, the sky stayed pink and full of colors for four hours. I had never seen anything like it and captured that moment perfectly in my ‘Alaska Night Sky’ photograph. … I just hope people are impressed by my work and want to see more of it.”

Her images capture much of the state’s beauty, ranging from glaciers to mountain ranges.

This self-taught nature and landscape photographer was inspired by the country’s natural beauty, which motivated her to learn how to take professional pictures. The passion dovetails with her love of traveling, capturing the character of beaches, sunrises, sunsets, piers, national parks, lighthouses and flowers.

A member of the camera club at Flamingo Gardens, Machonis took first place in the site’s photo contest in the wildlife category. Residents can also find her selling her work at local arts and crafts shows a few times a year.

Mayor Michael Ryan saw her work at Sunrise’s Earth Day Festival and felt she should be featured in the city’s gallery. Curator Julie Flaig agreed.

“Melissa does a great job of capturing what so many of us in South Florida cannot see firsthand,” Flaig said.

The gallery is at 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Call 954-747-4641 for more information.