To capture a wild creature Dr. Drew Crain believes you have to think like one.
Of course, when he talks about “capturing” them, the Maryville College biology professor means in the photographic sense of the word. More specifically, he means the students in his BIO200: Wildlife Photography course, a biennial class held last spring that has resulted in Beauty in Our Backyard, a 17-month calendar of class works that showcases both the wonder of the Great Smoky Mountains and the budding skills of those behind the lens. It’s now available for purchase.
The 17-month calendar — August 2025 through December 2026 — includes holidays, as well as Maryville College-specific dates, such as breaks, important events, semester dates and final exams. Each month features a full-sized photo taken by a student, a small photo of the student photographer and the title and description of the photo.
“It’s funny, because for every photo in every calendar, I remember exactly what was going on,” Crain said. “I can look at photos in past calendars from 10 or 15 years ago, and I can remember everything about it. For this year’s calendar, I remember Abby Diggs ’25 spending 30 minutes to get a perfect hawk shot and Madison Taylor ’25 lying on the ground to get the perfect shot of two toads.”
Crain, who emphasizes wildlife photography in his other fall and spring biology classes, has taught wildlife photography since 2007, working with students in both the classroom and the field to capture the natural beauty of the Southern Appalachian region.
“The calendar features three of our greatest assets at Maryville College: Our amazing students, the Maryville College Woods and the Great Smoky Mountains,” Crain said.
The cost is $5 for those purchased in person, but for $10, those interested in acquiring one can have it shipped to them. Any proceeds will be used to purchase equipment to support future nature photography endeavors.
To purchase a calendar online and have it shipped, please complete this form or contact Paula Marlow, administrative assistant for the Division of Natural Sciences, at 865-981-8164, Sutton 102, or paula.marlow@maryvillecollege.edu.
Maryville College is a nationally-ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville. Maryville College offers more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”
Karen Eldridge, executive director of communications: karen.eldridge@maryvillecollege.edu.
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