The site of a geocache in Beacon Hill, Mass.

Photographer Margot Anne Kelley doesn’t just take photos, she finds treasures. Kelley is one of thousands of people who have fallen in love with geocaching. This relatively new hobby is centralized on a Web site (www.geocaching.com), which lists the geographic coordinates of little treasures hidden by people around the world. Users download the latitude and longitude and then use a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) to find the cache – a small waterproof container containing a logbook as well as toys, letters or trinkets. Caches are hidden in beautiful natural spots as well as gritty inner city locations, which inspired Kelley to pull out her camera.

Over the past four years, Kelley has documented her geocaching journeys in photographs, which she compiled into a book, “Local Treasures: Geocaching Across America.” An exhibition of the same name, featuring some 20 color photos, will be on view at UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library through September 28. A closing reception and artist talk will be held from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in the gallery.
 

The site of a geocache in Pisgah Forest

Kelley teaches photography at the Art Institute of Boston. She holds a doctorate in American literature and a master’s degree in photography. Her photographs have been exhibited in colleges and public galleries and are held in museum and corporate collections. Kelley and her husband divide their time between Cambridge, Mass. and Tenants Harbor, Maine.

Blowers Gallery, located on the main floor of UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library, is open during regular library hours. Admission is free. For hours of operation, call UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library at 828/251-6546.