Marrakech. Cape Town. The Serengeti. Casablanca. Zimbabwe. Tanzania. Botswana.

Four adventurous local residents, at various times in the recent past, have traveled to these amazing places on the African continent.

Eye Candy Gallery, in downtown Southern Pines, is bringing the photography and art of Gary Magee, Jude Winkley, Jim Smith and Lois Pollard together for a large exhibit titled “Out of Africa.”

On Friday, Feb. 15, all four adventurers will be together for the evening for a reception to meet guests and to talk about their travels and experiences.

Gary Magee has been an avid photographer since the 1950s. Tutored by his photo-journalist uncle, his interest in photography continued throughout his professional business career and grew stronger after he completed several courses at the New York Institute of Photography. He is currently a member of the Sandhills Photography Club and the Carolina Nature Photography Association. His specialty is nature and travel photography.

Magee views his travel experiences as “photo field trips,” each filled with unique experiences. His desire is to capture what he sees for the enjoyment of others. He strives not only to capture the moment, but also to create a photo art piece to recreate the complete experience for each viewer.

The images being shared by Magee during the exhibit are the result of an extended tour to South Africa this past summer. He took a particular interest in the history of South Africa in the aftermath of apartheid and found that children are living without formal housing, electricity and running water even now, nearly 20 years after the end of apartheid.

Magee will be offering some of his photographs at very discounted prices on Feb. 15, during the exhibit’s opening reception.

All of the funds from the sale of his pieces that evening will go to support the Jorvan Community Outreach, a privately funded volunteer organization that supports community education and health projects throughout the Cape Town area.

Jude Winkley has been on two African safaris with her husband. The first, in 2008, took them through game preserves in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. In 2011, they returned to Africa, this time for a Kenya and Tanzania Serengeti safari.

“Africa truly gets under your skin,” says Winkley. “I would love to return. We were amazed at how close the animals allowed us to get to them. Even the male lions!”

She has painted more than a dozen pieces from thousands of their African trip photographs. Several are among her husband’s favorite paintings. “Leo” hangs majestically over the mantelpiece of his “man cave.”

“Leo was a very special project,” says Winkley. “I started it during one of my classes with Eye Candy Gallery owner Frank Pierce, and just kept on going long after the close of the class. The painting just poured out of me. That’s the kind of experience I live for as a painter.”

The Winkleys’ travels to Northern Ireland, Italy, France, South America, China, all around North Carolina and the United States have provided a treasure trove of subjects for her paintings.

Jim Smith has always been interested in photography but did not become serious about it until his retirement in late 1999.

At that time, he joined and became active in the local photography club. His preferred subjects are nature, landscapes and wildlife. Smith also enjoys travel photography, particularly candid shots of the local people.

In the summer of 2012, he was part of a small group who traveled to South Africa. After a few days of touring in the Cape Town region, his party went on wild game safaris at Lion Sands and Londolozi, two private reserves within the Sabi Sand Preserve in northeastern South Africa.

“With the aid of the head ranger and a senior tracker, we were thrilled to get up close and personal with most of the local game species,” says Smith. “We were truly privileged to have hundreds of wild game sightings.”

Smith is currently a member of the Sandhills Photography Club, the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association and the Photographic Society of America. He has recently begun experimenting with infrared photography. He prints his own photos and does most of his own matting and framing as well.

Lois Pollard is an award-winning photographer and fine artist, specializing in the animals and cultures that inhabit the remote corners of the world.

Painting from her extensive collection of prints, Pollard gives each viewer an opportunity to share her personal interpretation and style.

During this exhibit, she will share both her photography and paintings that resulted from her travels throughout Morocco, from Marrakech to Casablanca to Safi.

Throughout her 30-year photography career, Pollard has journeyed to China, Tibet, Southeast Asia, Russia, Africa, South America, North America and Europe. Her images have been showcased internationally through gallery exhibits, articles and magazines. With an infectious enthusiasm for life, she enjoys photographing children, families and pets in natural settings.

The public is invited to meet all four adventurers during a reception on Friday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Wine and beer will be available for purchase.The exhibit will remain on display through March 9.

Eye Candy Gallery and Wine Bar is located at 275 N.E. Broad St., Southern Pines. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Call (910) 246-2266 or visit eye-candy-gallery.com for more information.