A beautiful view: Deaver shows multiple and unique perspectives of Ravenel bridge

'In modern mathematics, the vertex is where many paths meet. The paths become the symbol of the center," said local photographer Diana Deaver.

"Vertex" is also the name of her photographic debut and first official solo show. It will feature 18 different perspectives of the Ravenel Bridge 5-9 p.m. Tuesday at Oak Steakhouse. All of the works will be for sale.

"The bridge is Charleston in a way. It is the vertex," she said.

Inspired by a view of the Ravenel bridge while going to Mount Pleasant where she saw every exit converging onto the bridge, Deaver was struck by a beauty of the bridge she had not yet seen.

"I started last year. There's a particular direction when driving to Mount Pleasant I saw all of these exits and I thought that this is such an incredible place to shoot the bridge, what else have I not seen?"

"I live at the base of the bridge in Mount Pleasant and I drive over it every day. I consider it a Charleston personality," Deaver said.

"It is interesting how one thing can be a symbol of a city, so I decided to study it. I decided I would try to find as many authentic and different directions to shoot the bridge. My goal is to find the perspective that will reveal its complexity and beauty."

Deaver's photographs are diverse. They range from day to night, to one right before a storm, to one on a boat looking up at the bridge. Her favorite is a photograph with the exits that inspired it all.

"As a portrait photographer I always want to capture the soul of a person. I tried to do the same thing here, but now try to capture the soul of something that is made of tons of cement," she said.

"I love so many things about it. I love the fact that it's huge, that it's about more than a bridge. It makes me think about a bridge between people, between cities, between beauty and the everyday traffic. Maybe next time someone will enjoy being on the bridge instead of worrying that its 5 (o'clock) traffic."

The photographer's expertise may be in portraits, but she has made a name for herself in beauty, fashion, family, real estate, product and fine art photography as well. She says she loves photography because it allows her to display the beauty that she sees.

The Romanian born model became a model coach. She found working with photographers to be the most enjoyable part of the job. After coming to the United States seven years ago, she started photography as a hobby and has since turned professional.

She hopes that through her photography, people will take "the power of enjoying what you have every day. I would like for people to remember that. Put down the cell phone, turn off the TV. Step outside and enjoy the evening sky or the sunrise, and remember what it is truly like to live in a city like Charleston and be grateful for it," she said.