Alumnus Jim Dester, Kishwaukee Valley Art League treasurer, is showing flowers in a different light.

Dester has his abstract photography on display until Nov. 8 at The Art Box, 308 E. Lincoln Highway.

Dester uses photography to portray life in an abstract way through photos. The Art Box serves to provide fine art to the community, according to its website.

“I think it’s exciting; he’s got some interesting themes going on here,” said Daniel Grych, owner of The Art Box and dekalbgallery.com.

Dester graduated from NIU in 1963 with a degree in industrial technology. After graduation, Dester went to work at Duplex Products Inc. until his retirement. Dester has been shooting photographs for more than 50 years. He is also a featured artist on dekalbgallery.com.

Dester said he goes out at least once a week to shoot flowers around Sycamore.

“I’m always looking for a different flower,” Dester said.

Several of Dester’s photos are left with generic titles like “Abstract 8030.” Dester said he named them that way intentionally so viewers can determine what the picture is.

“The viewer can find all kinds of things in there,” Dester said while looking at one of his abstract photographs.

Dester’s work primarily consists of flowers over a background taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

“I’ve seen his work before, which is absolutely astounding,” said Tamara Shriver, Kishwaukee Valley Art League program director. “He has a very unique technique which I’ve never seen before.”

Dester has only been creating abstract photos for several years, but he said he is committed to the art form.

“I want to see where I can go with this,” Dester said.