CD: Monday Profile: Nature, music in harmony

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — As Mississippi State University student Wyn Dawson walked along the Trail of Big Trees this weekend in the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a female Red-cockaded Woodpecker tapping determinedly on a nearby tree.

The 25-year-old Tunica native halted, scanned the green canopy above and quickly located the bird. He then lifted his camera to his eye and focused on the Woodpecker for nearly 10 minutes as it first searched for bugs in one tree, then moved to another.

Dawson filmed silently, then continued his stroll down the trail, where he encountered a snake on a sun-drenched bank. He stopped and filmed the dark brown reptile from several angles, just as he did the Woodpecker, making sure not to disturb it in its natural habitat.

In what has become a typical day in the life of the aspiring musician and filmmaker, Dawson returned to his home in Starkville that afternoon and added his own music to the videos.

What are you studying here at Mississippi State?

I’m in the College of Arts and Sciences, under communication. My major is journalism and broadcasting.

What are you looking to do career-wise?

Career-wise, I’d like to get in to the film industry. My favorite thing to do is probably shoot wildlife. I’d like to do some documentary work. I’m looking more to run a camera than anything else. I do like writing and stuff too. I had a job at The Reflector (Mississippi State University’s student newspaper) for a little while because I was at one point looking to work at a newspaper. I still might eventually do that, but my main focus is really going to be on video.

When you say wildlife stuff, are you talking about possibly working with National Geographic or getting a job like that?

Yeah, working somewhere where I get to travel around to different places is what I would like to do.

What is it about that kind of job that appeals to you?

Always moving around, always being out, finding different things. It’s not so much sitting in the office. I like to be out in the field, as they say. I like doing in-field work.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.