Photography for me, over the last 45 years, has simply been an effort to personally and creatively express the wonder of my natural surroundings. In essence: not something that I have relied upon as a career, but rather as an endeavor to keep my art free from the constrains, dictates, constrictions often imposed by a professional art career. Though I have, on occasion, worked professionally at industrial photography.
My love of photography dates back to Germany, as a soldier, in the mid 1960’s. I hold a BFA – magna cum laude – from the University of Michigan in Design & Photography. During my film period, I used 35mm SLR, large format 4X5, and medium format 6X7 cameras, along with B&W darkroom experience.
I entered the digital world of DSLR photography in 2006 with a Nikon D200, and since with D300, D700, and D810 systems. My Nikon professional-grade lenses consist of a Nikon wide-angle 16-35mm, medium range 24-70mm, 70-200mm Telephoto, 105mm macro, and a Nikon TC-14E Teleconverter. I use a Induro Carbon 8X CT313 tripod with a Really Right Stuff BH-40 Ballhead. Finally: my flash unit consists of a Nikon SB-800. For post processing, I use the latest version of Photoshop CC.
My favorite subjects include rustic landscapes, nature, architectural ruins, and fishing villages. I have made photographic trips to England, Scotland, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Texas, Vermont, and Washington State.
Finally: Photography, for me, is a continual learning process on an endless road that always strives toward the ultimate goal of personal perfection. I’ve not yet reached that elusive goal, but I continue to press on toward it – 45 years later.
Dale Leach
