"A Good Beginning"
The only photographic training I've had were a few classes in High School.  After graduating, I wasn't making enough money to chase women, drink, and shoot photographs, so I mostly chased women and drank.  At some point, I stepped back, took a look at where I was headed, and decided that I needed to change my path.  If I was going to ever chase a dream, this is now the time.  The dream is to carry my cameras into the wilderness and wait for the proper light to shoot beautiful photographs.  I started collecting camping gear and camera accessories.  In July of 1997, I had collected the essentials, but was still low on cash.  In August 1997, I got rid of my rent payment, put my meager belongings into a storage unit and began living in my tent.  Work was in Indy, so I slept in friends yards during the week.  On the weekends, I'd go to the forest.  In September, I began extending the weekends by taking personal holidays on Mondays.  Friday at 2pm, I'd get into my truck and drive 8 hours in a given direction.  Camp Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in the area, and begin the return trip Monday afternoon.  

"The Web Site"
A good friend suggested that I get a website so that I could post stories and other memories in a venue which many could access.  After asking a few questions of some people who knew a little bit about computers, I got a domain name.   IAMDAVE.COM was purchased in February of 1998.   Another friend  maintained my web site for the first 8 months while practicing his HTML skills.  I purchased my first computer in August 1998, and learned how to use it well enough to post my own version of the website in March of 1999.   When I began putting this web site together, I knew nothing about computers other than "ON". 

"Looking Back"
I had told myself,                           
"Self, y'alls got yerself three years fer practice'n" (I took 5),
"than yas gotta take a look in the mirror."  
Ya know,  I took a look into that mirror.  I found that I really like mirrors. 

I've been to 48 states, 8 provinces of Canada, 9 European nations;  Stepped into Mexico, and dropped onto a couple of islands in the Caribbean..   I've met many wonderful people and I'm happy to show  what I have been doing.  It amazes me, the numbers of people that are viewing my stuff.  I get stopped in stores by people who have seen my website.  I was once boiling eggs at a parking lot in Florida when...
Well, that is a different story...
So anyways, I love what I've done the past few years and bla bla yadda yadda..

"Looking Forward"
I'm living and working about 100 miles south of Yellowstone National Park now.  Hope to get more time off work to do some exploring in the mountains and National Parks.   My current interests are:  Ansel Adams, Bruce Barnbaum,  bands, nudes, long exposure, dawn and dusk,  my 4x5 view camera.  Looking into building a darkroom in a camper so that I can process film and print my own black and white images.  Still not much into digital.  It is handy for snap shots, but I'm a purist and love the art of film.

I'm just looking for a bit of exposure....

                                                                   ...Dave
                          
"Great things come from adversity."
Those words went through my head during the heat of August...
Stayed with me while getting rained on every day on the Olympic Peninsula...
Kept me going when I was shivering in Novembers windy chill.

I hoped these words would be true for me.