Despite an interest in both insects and photography since childhood, I had never combined the two until completing a research project on butterfly gardens. As part of the project, I taught approximately 60 Boone County residents to identify butterflies in their yards. The easiest way to get copyright-free photographs to give the volunteers was to take them myself.
Excited by my first photographs, I quickly fell in love with photographing insects and about a year after buying my first digital SLR, I quit my job to concentrate on photography.
Most people are unaware of the amazing interactions between species occurring right in their own backyards. In an effort to raise awareness, I've put together a dozen solo exhibits around the state. Several of my images are on permanent exhibit panels at state and city parks. I am currently under contract to provide text and images for a new butterfly and moth field guide to be published by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 2011.
I hope my images move viewers to look more closely at wildlife living in their yards and neighborhoods and inspire individuals to improve the habitat in their yards for insects.
Published Photographs and Articles
Expected 2011. Missouri butterflies and moths field guide. Missouri Department of Conservation. Text and Photographs.
June 2009. Watching Moths. Missouri Conservationist. 70 (6): 14-19. Chickweed Geometer (2-page spread, Haematopis grataria), Delightful Bird-Dropping Moth (Acontia delecta), Luna Moth (Actias luna), Green Marvel (Agriopodes fallax), Eight-Spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata).
June 2008. Raingarden Info Panel, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia, Missouri. Dragonfly nymph and Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella).
Spring 2008. Eco Park Insects Panel, Parks and Recreation, City of St. Charles, Missouri. Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa), Walkingstick (Diapheromera sp.), Water Strider (Aquarius sp.), Treehopper (Membracidae), and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
Spring 2007. Butterfly Gardening in Missouri. Butterfly Gardener. 12 (1): 4-6. (text and photographs, cover: Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia), 2 Great Spangled Fritillaries (Speyeria cybele), American Lady (Vanessa atalanta), Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
November 2006. World of Insects Calendar 2007. Entomological Society of America. Cicada Killer (Specius speciosus) with Cicada (Homoptera Cicadidae Tibicen sp.).
21 September 2006. Vox Magazine. Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele).
April 2006. Butterfly Garden info panel, Katy Trail State Park, Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), and Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole).
18 April 2006. Columbia Missourian, online edition. Falcate Orangetip (Anthocaris midea), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
April 2006. Brochure, Wild Ones Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, Mid-Missouri Chapter. Bird's foot Violet (Viola pedata) and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
October 2004. 2005 Natural Events Calendar. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Tachinid fly (Diptera Tachinidae Trichopoda sp.).
1992. Charles Valentine Riley and the Roots of Modern Insect Control: The Tension between Biological Control and Chemical Insecticides. Missouri Historical Review. 86 (3): 229-247.
Exhibits
2010. January - May. Solo photography exhibit. Bookmark Cafe, Ellis Library University of Missouri -Columbia.
2009. October - March 2010. University Hospital Cafeteria, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2009. September. Honorable Mention. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition, Professional Category. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2009. July - September. Merchants and Farmers Bank, 4000 Rangeline, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2009. April - June. Regional Hospital, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2009. January - March. Missouri Heart Center, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2008. October - December. Dialysis Center, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2008. September. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2008. August - September solo photography exhibit. August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, St. Charles, Missouri.
2008. July - September. Columbia Mall, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2008. July solo photography exhibit. Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
2008. May 1 - June 21 solo photography exhibit. Elizabeth Rozier Gallery, Missouri State Museum, Jefferson Landing Historic Site, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, Missouri.
2008. April solo photography exhibit. Powder Valley Nature Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
2008. January - March. Holiday Inn, 801 Keene Street, Columbia, Missouri. Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2007. October - December. Solo photography exhibit. Bookmark Cafe, Ellis Library University of Missouri -Columbia.
2007. October - December. Columbia Regional Hospital Lobby, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2007. September. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2007. July - September. Cornerstone Insurance, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2007. August and September solo photography exhibit. Springfield Nature Center, Springfield, Missouri.
2007. June 5 - July 30 solo photography exhibit. The Green Center. University City, Missouri.
2007. April - June. Toastmasters, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program
2007. March and April solo photography exhibit. Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City, Missouri.
2007. February. Solo photography exhibit. Peckham and Wright Architects, Inc., Columbia, Missouri.
2007. January - March. Columbia Board of Realtors, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2006. October. Tigers for Tigers, Best of Show at juried wildlife art show. Cherry Street Artisan, Columbia, Missouri.
2006. October - December. Missouri Heart Center, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2006. September. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2006. August. 10th Annual Festival of Butterflies. Powell Gardens, Kansas City, Missouri.
2006. July - August. Solo photography exhibit. Cherry Street Artisan, Columbia, Missouri.
2006. July -September. Boone County Johnson Building, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2006. April - June. Barnes Insurance, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2006. January - March. Progressive Spine Care, Columbia Art League Community Exhibits Program.
2005. September - December. Solo photography exhibit. Bookmark Cafe, University of Missouri -Columbia.
2005. September. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2005. March - April. Solo photography exhibit. Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City, Missouri.
2004. September. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2003. September. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
Presentations
Seeing Visions, Orr Street Studios. March 9, 2010.
Missouri Insects, Daniel Boone Regional Library. March 8, 2010.
Columbia Audubon Society. February 17, 2010.
Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners. February 2007.
Master Naturalists. September 2006.
Awards
2009. Honorable Mention. Annual Visions Photography Exhibition. First National Bank, Columbia, Missouri.
2006. Best of Show, photography division. Wildlife Art Show, Cherry Street Artisan, Tigers for Tigers, University of Missouri - Columbia.
2003. 3rd place, Native Plants. Wild Ones Natural Landscaping Photo Contest, St. Louis, Missouri.
2003. 3rd place, Insects. Wild Ones Natural Landscaping Photo Contest, St. Louis, Missouri.
Education
M.S., Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Missouri - Columbia. Thesis: Butterfly Gardening: Using Volunteers to Provide Data on Flower Use.
M.A., History, University of Missouri - Columbia. Thesis: Charles Valentine Riley and the Roots of Modern Insect Control: The Tension between Biological Control and Chemical Insecticides.
B.A., History, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Other
January 4, 2009. Columbia Daily Tribune, Niche: A Weekly Peek at an Area Artist: Donna Brunet.
Henry Domke. Healthcare Fine Art. Review of Rick Sammon's Flying Flowers photo book.
Spring 2008. Missouri Showcase: Buzz, a portfolio on insects by Donna Brunet. Show-Me Missouri. pp. 40-41.
21 September 2006. This Artist is Buggin': Insect photographs are creating a buzz; by Sallie Hickle. Vox Magazine.
