Artist Statement
I live part-time in San Francisco and part-time in a 26 ft. Lazy Daze motorhome, christened Carpe Diem, pursuing my photographic interests across the continent. I am largely self-taught, but consider my longtime friendship with fine art photographer Stephen Johnson, and the likes of Richard Misrach, Linda Connor and Bob Dawson to be the basis of my photographic inspiration and proficiency. I studied graphic arts and multimedia design at San Francisco State University, and attend classes and lectures at the San Francisco Art Institute as time permits. My work has been exhibited across the country, and I am always seeking new venues to show work.
Over the past twenty years, I have attempted to hone my vision to better reflect the essence of the landscape as I see it. In that time, my approach has become quite contemplative, and resulting images more intimate and simple in design. My belief is that the true genius of nature lies in it's most subtle moments. This way of thinking has ruled my approach to photography until recently. In the past five years, I have shifted my emphasis as the difficulty in isolating landscapes free of human intervention has increased. I am now including evidence of human impact on the landscape in my images. I am looking more at how we use land and what we communicate through that use. In order to preserve what we have, I believe it is important to reveal what we are losing.- David Gardner