FARMINGTON — Photographer and artist William Wegman will discuss his book, “Hello Nature,” Saturday, Aug. 4, at Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers.

Reflecting on nature’s place in the cultural imagination, Wegman often revisits the books that shaped his first outdoor experiences — Boy Scout manuals, field guides and the like.

By creatively incorporating these materials, “Hello Nature,” released by Prestel Publishing, embodies the artist’s quirky and nostalgic aesthetic.

Wegman is perhaps best known for his photography and videos, particularly of his Weimaraners. He is also an accomplished painter, draftsman and writer, as well as an avid outdoorsman.

Throughout his work he looks to nature for inspiration. He may use vintage postcards as the starting point for landscape compositions, borrow from the rhetoric of outdoor recreation in his wordplay or invoke the writings of someone like Henry David Thoreau.

Wegman has received numerous awards and grants from some of the most prestigious art institutions of the country. He has also had his works shown at some of the finest galleries in the world.

Wegman’s work with Weimaraners inspired him to write a series of children’s books: “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “ABC,” “Mother Goose,” “Farm Days,” “My Town,” “Surprise Party” and “Chip Wants a Dog.”

Wegman has also published a number of books for adults, including “Man’s Best Friend,” “Fashion Photographs” “Fay” and the New York Times best-seller, “Puppies.” 

Wegman has created film and video works for “Saturday Night Live” and Nickelodeon, and his video segments for “Sesame Street” have appeared regularly since 1989. His videos include “Alphabet Soup,” “Fay’s Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Mother Goose.” In 1995, Wegman’s film “The Hardly Boys” was screened at the Sundance Film Festival.

Wegman lives in New York and in Maine, where he continues to make videos, take photographs, draw and paint. 

The book talk will be at 4 p.m. DDG Booksellers is at 193 Broadway. For more information, call 778-3454 or by email [email protected].

On July 13, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art opened its “William Wegman: Hello Nature” exhibit featuring more than 100 photographs, drawings, videos and writings.