Brother John Lemker has spent his life - all 80 years of it - being inspired by nature and he uses his photographs of nature to inspire others.

Therefore, it is fitting that the title of his current exhibit at Gallery Saint John is “Inspiration.”

The exhibit by the Marianist brother includes 60 archival inkjet prints of his nature photography, including both local images and those from across the United States.

The images in the exhibit, which is open through Feb. 17, range from those of a grand scale to tiny subjects.

“From mountains to mushrooms I find awesome beauty and, through my images, I try to share this beauty and the contemplative mood it nourishes,” he said. “I have used my images of this beauty both for scientific purposes and as inspiration for prayer and reflection.”

Since 1984 he has been a photographer for a New York stock picture agency.

His inspiring images have appeared in publications of Time-Life Books, Sierra Club Calendars and numerous books, magazines and calendars. They are also included in many private collections.

Brother John has conducted several photography workshops at the Bergamo Center at Mount Saint John in Beavercreek as well as for the University of Dayton’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

The Kentucky native attended a Marianist high school in Covington, where he was inspired to join the Marianists.

After he received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Dayton, he taught physics and math in three Marianist high schools over 27 years. He earned a master’s degree in physics at Ohio State University. He also earned a master’s degree in scripture from Boston College.

Beginning in 1970, with a National Science Foundation grant, he spent three summers studying geology in Arizona, Colorado and Utah. Awed by the spectacular color, rock formations and desert beauty, he began his “serious quest to capture the beauty on film.”

Since then he has expanded his subject matter, and moved into the digital age, but his work still is a source of “Inspiration.”

Gallery Saint John, which is free and open to the public, is located at Mount Saint John, 4400 Shakertown Road, Beavercreek.

The gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and visits can be arranged other times by appointment by calling (937) 320-5405.

For more information on Gallery Saint John, visit www.dayton-gallerysaintjohn.org, where a few of the images in the exhibit can be viewed.