dsmith3813
dsmith3813
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Aug 29, 2012 (13 years) |
- | 2 | 2 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
Aug 29, 2012 (13 years)
- Last activity
- -
- Topics created
- 2
- Replies created
- 2
Bio
I have been involved in photography for about 40 years. I started out building my own darkroom starting with a contact box, and then I built it up from there.
During high school, I took photography classes and shot photos of ROTC cadets to pay for photgraphy supplies needed to take more pictures. My photography instructor liked that I worked hard, trying to learn and work with the little I had. My instructor gave me a key to the dark room so I could work after hours. Little did he know that he also gave me the key to my spirit.
My instructor wanted me to work in the schools dark room; ordering supplies, mixing chemicals for other students to use. I didn't mind the extra chores as it just helped me to learn more about chemistry and dark room processes. This opened the door for me to experiment. I was able, through my instructor, learned how Ansel Adams did his dark room work. That really helped me to understand the whole process involved in making an image from start to finish. I was able to get a better appreciation for the amount of thought needed to achieve the end results of an image before clicking the shutter.
Before finishing high school, my father passed away and my mother wanted to move back to her home in Europe. I spent a few years in Europe working in a studio and a photo lab. One of the things I did to make extra money was shooting hill climb competitions. Where local racer/hobbyist took their modified cars to race. No prises; just the thrill of the race, to see if their cars were worthy, just for the love of it. I would set up on a curve and shoot away. I soon grew a small reputation and people started to recognize me. I think it was more the attitude of the racers that made my pictures what they were. It was fun, and that was the best part. I was; 17, living in Europe and shooting great cars driven by very talented people, it was a great time. The money I made, I used to build up my equipemnt.
I soon came back to the states and started working for a lab. I married a wonderful women that understood that photography was my way of expressing myself. I started college and started working with computers to help support our growing family. Photography was back to a hobby again. As the years passed, I would still shoot self projects or gigs and worked to improve my composition.
What photography means to me; The one thing I learned about photography; like music, photography has no borders, no race. I may not be able to pronounce the names of some photographers from around the world, but I can feel and see each one in their images. Like, musicians, photogrphers are a family of people that tell stories of the world as the
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