1. For those unfamiliar, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi all!!! I am a native New Yorker currently living in the corn fields of Illinois. By day I run a graphic arts company and by night I am a photographer. I started photography May 15th 2002. Yeah, that's right, I know the actual date. I remember all the important days in my life.

2. Your typical day, what does it consist of?
I get up around 5am, get ready for work. Usually in work about 6. A usual work day is about 12 hours give or take. I come home, eat, get the gear out and start clicking. It's an ever night thing for me whether I have to shoot or not.

3. What kind of equipment do you use?
Canon 1D is the camera of choice. Lenses are all Canon. 300mm, 70-200, 24-70, 17-40, 100mm, 50mm. Canon flashes out galore (5 total - 2 550's and 3 420's). Just recently picked up some medium format gear also. Pentax 645 with a 75mm and 150mm lens. In fact some of the images I have shown on the net recently were MF. I am quite proud of them. I don't make much of a deal about gear. I think you should get good equipment but it shouldn't be a controlling factor in your perceived ability. Really good photographers could shoot great images with anything.

4. What is your inspiration behind your photography?
I get asked that a lot. The big broad answer is 'everything'. I can't watch TV without getting ideas and inspiration. Ideas are everywhere! I think most of my ideas revolve around human emotions. I am a bit of an introvert when it comes to my emotions so I use photography to help get it out.

5. Seeing as you may have a lot of admirers (myself included), who do you look up to?
Thanks, and there are so many. The ones who are always mentioned (Mangelson, Wolfe, Shaw) plus some who might not be mentioned. Misha Gordin and Dominic Rouse come to mind immediately. These guys are pure genius IMO. But the one biggest influence I have is from a guy named Mike Malloy. He goes by ViperMike on the internet. I met him online early in my career and he was the only guy I found who would say "wow that really sucks Dave". He was always honest with me and helped me grow immeasurably. Mike isn't into photography much any more but is still a huge influence. His images are at www.vipermike.com. Check em out.

6. When approaching a photo, how do you decide the angle, tones, etc? Is there a set formula you use?
No formula at all. Might sound trite but I see a shot in my head a long time before I even get near a camera. I actually see the finished shot. I hardly ever deviate from it either even if they break every rule in the book. Some say I am really lucky to be able to achieve a mental visualization. I agree totally. There is tons of work involved in it. I have spent up to a month trying to capture what is in my mind. I had to wait about a year to shoot my Censorship series until I learned how to light it correctly. My mind was years ahead of my ability.

7. Digital or Film? What are your views?
Some of the stupidest debates I have ever heard are the ones over the validity of digital vs. film, or the ease of digital vs. film. The image is all that matters. Who cares what medium was used to catch it? I think those that raise this argument are usually too into gear and not enough into the art of photography. I think they are both great. I think for photography to ever be accepted as an art form in the traditional art world photographers need to stop pigeon holing themselves with rules and boundaries and just let the art flow.

8. Any advice to people just now getting interested in Photography?
Simple. Be honest to yourself. Don't shoot with the thought of anyone but yourself. I see so many people who create for the masses. They find what others like and just keep doing it. What they get are a bunch of emotionless boring images. That isn't what art is about.

Another thing. Learn how photography works. Study it. Find out what DOF is. Find out how light works. Understand exactly what dynamic range is. Digital cameras make photography real easy. That is cool because more people get into it. But it takes out the understanding of the art. I go out shooting from time to time with an incredibly gifted photographer named Rod Evans. He has been published in a bunch of books, mags, etc... His understanding of his equipment is amazing. He almost knows the exposure before he looks at a meter. He just understands light. Most photographers getting into it today don't and it is the second most important thing IMO next to honesty.

Here's a test for you. Take your digital camera. Turn off the preview and set the camera to manual. Shoot for a week like that. Find out how you do. View the image in your mind before you shoot and then when you see the results determine if that is what you had in mind. A telling test for sure.

Last thing. Have fun!!!

9. For a full time job, are you in the field of art/photography?
The answer is that I could be if I wanted to but have decided to hold off for a while. I never meant this to be anything other than a hobby and I know the second it becomes work it will lose something for me. So for the time being an advanced hobby it will be.

10. You've had your photographs shown in art galleries. How did that come to be? Any advice for people interested in having their photographs shown?
I started selling images long before my first show. A local retired business man saw my 7 sin series and wanted to buy a set. Turns out he use to own a chain of bars across the US. He passed my names along to friends, one of which happened to own a gallery. They got in touch with me and the rest is history. Really just a lucky break. My career to day is full of them.

Art Festivals, local art shows, Street fairs are great ways to go. I have gotten some great reactions and contacts from them. I have been totally blesses in the last 2 years. The breaks I have gotten are truly amazing. I have a lot of people to thank. They know who they are and I thank them almost daily.

11. What are your views of the online art community, good or bad?
Both. The sites are started with the greatest intentions but the users really screw it up. Some have little to do with art and more to do about popularity, how good you look or how angst ridden you are. It is all about marketing skills. Great artists go unknown while bullshit is rewarded. Some are truly about art and the pursuit of the bettering there of. Those are the ones I have tried to associate myself with. Just my opinion all. If you disagree with it, I accept and understand... Peace.

12. Where do you see yourself and your work in the next 10 years?
Absolutely no idea, LOL!!! I hope no matter what I do it is still honest, sincere and valid. So many artists become irrelevant after too much time yet they continue to embarrass themselves by pumping out crap. Just look at Aerosmith.

13. Let's say you buy a lotto ticket and the news reads your numbers. How would you spend your winnings?
Guitars. Tons of em. 59 Les Paul Tigers, Pre CBS Strats galore. Anything Hendrix owned. Shelby Mustang GT. A huge refrigerated habitat that I could keep a bunch of Penguins in. What ever is left over would be donated to animal rights groups.

14. What do you do to unwind? relax?
Guitar. Music has always calmed me. My dogs also, I have two Australian Cattle dogs names Coy and Dingo.

15. Thanks for sitting with us Dave, we wish you nothing but the best of luck with your photography!
No, I thank you Jason. Your commitment to art and bringing a viable art tool to the internet is both commendable and honorable. Bravo.