Knapp, Bevil 1949–

PERSONAL:

Born October 18, 1949, in Shreveport, LA; daughter of Frank, Sr. (a football coach and teacher) and Lucile (a Spanish teacher) Knapp; married Ellis V. Lucia (a photographer), September 26, 1997. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Louisiana State University, B.A. Studied photography at the Maine Photo Workshop. Politics: Independent. Religion: Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Coastal wetland restoration, cultural heritage.

ADDRESSES:

Home and office— Metairie, LA. E-mail— [email protected].

CAREER:

Photographer. Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, staff photographer, 1979-81; Wagner International, New York, NY, staff photographer, 1981-82; Times-Picayune Publishing, New Orleans, LA, staff photographer, 1982-97.

MEMBER:

National Press Photographers Association, Society of Environmental Journalists.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Coastal Stewardship Award, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 2007.

WRITINGS:

(With Mike Dunne)America's Wetland: Louisiana's Vanishing Coast, Louisiana State University Press (Baton Rouge, LA), 2005.

Photographs featured in 10,000 Eyes: The American Society of Magazine Photographers' Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Photography, edited by Ann Clements Borum, Professional Photography Division, Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester, NY) and Thomasson Grant (Charlottesville, VA), 1991. Contributor of photography to numerous periodicals including Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, People, and New Orleans magazine.

SIDELIGHTS:

Beginning her career as a staff photographer for the Morning Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Bevil Knapp has since published photographs in numerous national publications including Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, and People. Her photography is featured in the book 10,000 Eyes: The American Society of Magazine Photographers' Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Photography. Knapp also worked as a photographer for Wagner International in New York, New York, and Times-Picayune Publishing in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In 2005, Knapp paired with reporter Mike Dunne to create the book America's Wetland: Louisiana's Vanishing Coast, a photo-essay that documents the rapid disappearance of a landscape that serves an integral role not only in the economy and the environment of Louisiana, but also in the economy and the environment of the United States. Knapp's photographs show how the loss of the wetlands has already placed gas and oil wells and pipelines in danger. Knapp's photography, in combination with Dunne's reporting, tells the story of a problem that threatens everything from the fishing and shipping industries to the populations of numerous species of plants and animals. Completed before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck cities and towns along the Gulf of Mexico, the book includes a prophetic explanation of how the loss of wetlands combined with the force of a category-three hurricane could result in the devastation of the city of New Orleans.

Southeastern Louisiana University Education Initiatives coordinator Roy Blackwood stated in a news release on the university's Web site that the "insightful commentary" and "startling photography" in America's Wetland "vividly tell the story of the catastrophic effects that wetlands loss has on our region and nation." In an article on the Web site of America's WETLAND Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu was quoted, saying, "In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,America's Wetland: Louisiana's Vanishing Coast is a photo essay documenting the way life was before the storms and why it is so vital that we rebuild not only our cities but also our wetlands."

Knapp told CA: "My motivation to publish a photography book on the vanishing wetlands in Louisiana was an attempt to show people locally and nationally what was disappearing and why we all needed to care and how they could help. We wrapped the book before Katrina devastated our coast and the greater New Orleans area. Unfortunately, some of the towns and areas we documented were destroyed and are now trying to rebuild.

"My husband, Ellis Lucia, has had the greatest influence on my work and subject matter.

"I would tell aspiring photographers and writers to believe in your project and to have a lot of faith that someone else will, too."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, May, 2006, P.R. Pinet, review of America's Wetland: Louisiana's Vanishing Coast, p. 1622.

ONLINE

America's WETLAND Web site,http://www.americaswetland.com/ (November 17, 2005), "New Book Chronicles Louisiana's Coastal Wet-lands, Culture, Way of Life"; (May 14, 2007), "Three America's WETLAND Advocates Win Coastal Stewardship Awards."

Bevil Knapp Photographer Web site,http://www.bevilknapp.com (September 28, 2007).

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana,http://www.crcl.org/ (May 11, 2007), "2007 Coastal Stewardship Awards."

Louisiana State University Press Web site,http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/ (September 28, 2007), description of America's Wetland.

National Press Photographers Association Web site,http://www.nppa.org (September 28, 2007), profile of Bevil Knapp.

Southeastern Louisiana University Web site,http://www.selu.edu/ (January 11, 2006), "Environmental Reporter & Photographer to Discuss Wetlands Loss at Maritime Museum Meeting."