Heritage Museum Director Nancy Raney looks over some photographs taken by local optometrist Dr. Don McGonagill. An exhibit of his photogrpahy, “Through the Photographer's Eye,” will debut Aug. 1 at the museum. (HERALD photo/Steve Reagan)

By STEVE REAGAN     
Staff Writer
For years, Dr. Don McGonagill has been helping Big Spring residents take care of their eyes, all the while developing quite an eye, himself.

McGonagill, an optometrist here for the past 52 years, also has indulged his passion for photography through the years and the results are impressive.

And they soon will be on display.

“Through the Photographer's Eye,” a collection of McGonagill's finest photographs, will be the subject of Heritage Museum's newest display.

The exhibit will kick off with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1 and run through Aug. 20, said Nancy Raney, museum director.

“The museum likes to feature local artists,” Raney said. “It was brought to our attention that Dr. McGonagill was a photographer, and after we saw some of his photos, we discovered that he's done some absolutely beautiful work.”

McGonagill said that using a camera has been second nature for years, ever since he was a boy growing up in Melvin, southeast of San Angelo.

“I do it just for the fun of it, just for enjoyment,” he said. “I always took lots of photos of the family when I was growing up. Later, I decided that there were so many scenes out there to be captured and that was something I wanted to do.”

Starting in his early teens and using a Brownie box camera, McGonagill began looking for vistas that caught his eye.

“I'd just see something and I'd go, 'Let's see if this makes a nice shot,” he said. “In the spring, I'll go out looking for pretty wildflowers, that sort of thing. But mostly, it was just something I'd see and think that it might make for an interesting photo.”

McGonagill's hobby is not an expensive one — he mostly uses a simple pocket digital camera. Nor has he ever considered trying to make money from his photos.

“Oh, I'm not in this professionally,” he said. “I'm doing this strictly for fun. But, quite often, (the photos) turn out quite well — some better than others.”

For more information on the McGonagill photography exhibit, contact the Heritage Museum at 267-8255.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it