Lanny Wagner of Mancos was recently selected from among nine applicants by a panel of jurors as the 2018 summer artist-in-residence for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

He will focus on night photography of the monument and present an introductory astro-photography workshop to the public in September, said a news release.

The panel of jurors included two volunteers from Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance, the friends group for the monument and the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. They will share with the Bureau of Land Management co-ownership of one of Wagner’s photographs for promotional and educational purposes.

“We were pleased to have so many talented applicants for the summer artist-in-residence program this year, and with Lanny’s past work, we are very excited about the photographs he will develop for the September workshop,” said Marietta Eaton, manager of the visitor center.

Wagner has been the artist-in-residence for the National Park Service in El Malpais and El Morro, New Mexico. He was also selected by the National Park Service to conduct a night photography session at NPS/Hovenweep National Monument. After 32 years as a BLM law enforcement ranger, most recently in Dolores, Wagner has been a professional photographer since 2014.

In his proposal for the residency, Wagner said he would attempt to “capture the monument and its spectacular landscape during darkness and under the stars” and “show public land visitors the differences that exist when darkness falls on the monument.”

Before September, Wagner will spend up to eight days on the monument photographing images for his program to be presented in September in the monument. Dates and location for the workshop will be announced in August.

In addition to the workshop, Wagner’s work will be on display at the visitor center and museum.

For more information, contact David Kill at (970) 882-5621 or dkill@blm.gov.