David Beebe

Artist Statement

My discovery of photography began over 40 years ago when I joined a camera club in high school. It was the start of a long and exciting journey.  I initially shot black & white film in 35mm SLRs and processed and printed them in a darkroom. Ansel Adam’s Zone V Metering System was at the center of my studies. I eventually moved into color photography and focused on wildlife and nature.  In the late 1980s, I added underwater photography and video to my toolbox. In 2001, I made the transition from film to digital. It still amazes me how a digital camera and a computer have replaced both the chemical darkroom and analog video editing bay.

I have been blessed with a lifetime of travel around this globe we share covering wildlife above and below the water. The quotation, “If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” is attributed to Jim Richardson at National Geographic and I have experienced many wondrous wildlife encounters and met amazing people in exotic locales. From Africa, India, Indonesia and the South Pacific to most of the Americas and the Caribbean, these adventures inform my art.

Regardless of how light is captured, the fundamentals remain true.  Start with an exciting subject and frame it in a way that conveys that excitement to the viewer. Today, we still work to expose the photograph accurately in-camera and fine-tune the final image in the same way that Ansel Adams did. I believe that as artists we should always be trying to grow and try new things and not become complacent with our tried-and-true methods. My website provides examples of the major techniques used in my large body of work and showcases the exotic destinations I have been privileged to visit.

Biography

David Beebe was born in Tampa, FL where he lives today with his wife Patricia.  He has had a camera in hand since 1971.  Since retiring from a 35-year career in Information Technology in 2012, he has devoted himself to further developing and fine-tuning his artistic expression.

David is president of the North Tampa Arts League and is active in the local art community. His jaguar photos were featured on Nat Geo Wild’s Big Cat Week special “Hunt For The Shadow Cat”. His photos and stories have been published in Luxe Beat Magazine.