During a journalism career that spanned three decades, photographer Peter Southwick produced images that appeared in publications around the world. As a staff photographer for the Associated Press, he covered everything from political campaigns and conventions to major sports championships, as well as breaking news and feature stories. He was there for times of joy and sadness, triumph and tragedy, and the smaller “slice of life” moments that provide readers with some relief from the news. A photography exhibit of his work is on display through July 30 at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor.

From the wedding of Caroline Kennedy to the World Series, from Nelson Mandela’s tour of the U.S. to John Wayne riding through Harvard Square, Southwick’s goal was to capture the essence of each event in order to allow viewers to share his experiences.

In addition to his time with the Associated Press, Peter Southwick served as director of photography at the Boston Globe and professor of journalism at Boston University, retiring in 2017. He is a part-time resident of Boothbay and produced a multimedia project titled “Route 27 South” (route27south.com) comprised of photographs and recorded voices of residents of the peninsula.

The upstairs gallery at the Opera House of Boothbay Harbor is open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as for ticket holders during performances. The framed images are accompanied by short stories about what it was like to cover the events and photograph the personalities.

The public is invited to meet Peter Southwick on Wednesday, June 19 from 5-7 p.m. in the upstairs gallery.