As I started to think about my photography more, I realized there were two things I enjoyed the most. The first, which will always remain the most important to me, is that it serves as an escape, almost like a form of meditation. There is something about the act of searching for an image in nature that causes my brain to disengage from the rest of the world. Issues just fade away. That’s not so easy for me without photography. More on that for another day, hopefully!

The second thing I noticed is that people were getting some sense of satisfaction from my work, different reasons for different people, but even if it was just for a moment, they enjoyed it. For some, it may be an easy entry into art, which can sometimes feel stuffy. For others, it offers an opportunity to slow down and enjoy a bit of nature from their phones, tablets, and computers. Knowing that my images had this impact on people close to me and those I had never met was inspiring.

Recently this lead me to begin explore the world of prints and print sales. My thinking was if people can experience this through their screens, maybe some would enjoy having a print on the wall of their home or office. Even with their devices put a way, they could escape for a moment to nature. I knew from the start that learning the art of making Fine Art Photography prints would be a new learning curve, and it has been, but I’ve been able to develop a process that works, and I will continue to learn and grow over time. I also believed that it was my duty to find a way to give back through this work because it is the right thing to do. I’ve partnered with an organization, The Alliance for Appalachia, to donate a portion of each sale back to doing something good for nature. More on this to come. Long story short, when you buy a print, you are also contributing to the protection of public lands in Appalachia.

As I started to dive into the art scene in central Ohio, one group continually popped up, Wild Goose Creative. This organization is focused on the promotion of local art, and building communities and spaces where people can come together to “engage each other, to tell stories, and to listen.” When I discovered they are hosting an upcoming event that would not only offer a chance to display my work to a new audience, but also to give back, I knew I needed to make an attempt to have my work included in their show “Wild Art Columbus.” This is a unique show that will take place virtually, on Facebook from 6-9pm on Thursday, May 5th. Each piece of art, including the image of mine you see above, Autumn Glow, will be available with each piece being auction with a starting bid of $100. Once a bid has been placed, you can ‘Goose’ the other buyer, and place your own bid. Each new bid raises the price by $35, the first ‘Goose’ raises the price to $135, second to $170 etc. etc. For me, it is a great chance to engage with our local art community AND more importantly, give back. Each piece sold is a 50/50 split between the artist and Wild Goose Creative to support their mission of building a creative community at the intersection of art, risk and meaning.

I can’t wait for this event and I hope you will be able to “tune in” on Facebook on Thursday, May 5 from 6-9pm to see the amazing art being created in central Ohio. You can learn more about Wild Goose Creative and and find out more details about Wild Art Columbus here. This is an opportunity for you to give back to the art community, learn more about the artists in central Ohio, and have the opportunity to purchase a framed 8x10 image of mine that is ready to hang on your wall!

If you are interested in hearing more about my work or keeping up to date with new events and releases, please fill out the form below. I promise not to send any spam or give your email address away. I have a pretty exciting project coming up from a recent trip and I plan to share that work as a complete gallery FIRST before releasing individual images. I will be sure to update newsletter subscribers and those who keep a close eye on the website as soon as the work is ready.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to have more exiting things to share very soon!

-Dave