Dennis Small

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From the time someone introduced me to a paintbrush and paint I wanted to create something that was realistic and artful. It wasn’t until 1990 that I bought a knife and chisel and started carving a fish out of a 2×4 for a wood working project. I liked it and continued on learning how to carve decorative fish, song birds, ducks and then shorebirds. Carving was half the battle. I finally learned to paint by finishing the carvings. At this time in my life I had no respect for photography. How hard could it be? Was I wrong! I had dabbled a little in 1975 with a friend when I was stationed in Panama shooting night skies. It didn’t spark the need to continue. (Maybe the cost of film had something to do with it.) I found a new drive when I bought my first camera in 2007 for a trip to Alaska. Now I do photography or photography related things full time. Growing up hunting and fishing spending way too many days out in the field, it was natural to start out my photography chasing wildlife. Hunting taught me my most important lesson; finding things. I had a great first year not only learning how to use a camera but about the wildlife I wanted to photograph. Photography filled a void of not getting in the outdoors as much as I wanted to. Now I look for photo opportunities where ever I can. Sometimes I find I like shooting something like HS Football and the things I’ll never do again like a wedding. To me photography is more than experimenting with camera settings, light and subject material. It’s about watching and learning about the life that surrounds us. REMEMBER, in photography there is no substitution for light and distance. So if you have to; add a little light or get a little closer and your photography will be much better for it.

If you’d like to learn more about carving or see some random photos at Flickr or if you are a HS Football person check out the sports shots . Contact can be made through dksmall@hotmail.com