Brian Stethem of Fillmore will exhibit photographs of places that hold special meaning for people in an exhibit running Thursday, Feb. 21, through Thursday, March 27, at California Lutheran University.

The opening reception for “Uncommon Places: Photography by Brian Stethem” will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in CLU’s Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture.

With subjects ranging from Loch Ness in Scotland to Area 51 in Nevada, Stethem explores the attributes that make a place special, whether the site’s history or the myths surrounding it. He also looks at places that are tremendously important to some people but hold no significance for others. Other subjects featured in the photographs include Salton Sea and the Lakeview Terrace site where officers beat Rodney King in 1993.

Stethem, who graduated from CLU in 1984 and earned a master’s degree in fine arts from California Institute of the Arts in 1994, has traveled throughout the world documenting diverse places through the lens of his camera. His photographs have been featured at many galleries including the Ventura County Museum of History and Art, Watts Towers Arts Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Stethem teaches photography at CLU and works as a commercial photographer.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series showcasing the work of CLU’s Art Department faculty.

Admission is free. The Kwan Fong Gallery, located in Soiland Humanities Center, is open to the public 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.