About Dave Johnson:
Dave Johnson
Photographer
Arroyo Grande, Califorina
Photographer
Arroyo Grande, Califorina
Dave Johnson’s love affair with photography started when his neighbor gave
him his first Kodak 35mm camera in the early 1960’s. He began to experiment with
black and white work and his interest in photography blossomed. In the early
1970’s he began working with a professional photographer and assisted his night class
at University High School in Los Angeles. During this time Dave started working with his
Calumat large format 4x5 camera, and was inspired by the landscape work of Ansel
Adams. Further expanding his hobby he built his first darkroom in his garage in 1975.
As a heavy machinery mechanic by trade, Dave was able to travel around to different
job sites always with his camera in tow. In the 1980’s he began participating in co-op
art shows and sold his work to various private collectors. While Dave still maintains a love
of film and old cameras he is now fully entrenched in the digital age. Beginning in the year
2000 he traded his darkroom for a computer and his 4x5 for a Nikon DLSR camera.
In October of 2008 Dave retired from his day job and was able to turn his hobby into a full
time adventure. This new free time allowed him to join various photo groups further expanding
knowledge and creativity. Dave is proud to be involved with groups such as the San Luis Obispo
Camera Club, PhotoMorroBay, and the Photo Society at the San Luis Obispo Art Museum.
Dave's current work shows his keen interest in HDR (high-dynamic-range-imaging) and
post-processing work using software such as; Photoshop,Topaz, Photomatix and Nix.
Dave's use of HDR technique allows him to achieve a greater level of intensity found in
real scenes such as landscapes and sunsets. His most recent work is heavily influenced by
Urban Exploration. His work involves the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts
of uban areas or industrial facilities.The unusual environments Dave seeks out combined
with his HDR and post processing work make for extremely powerful images. His most recent
photography allows the viewer to see that decay of an uninhabited space can be in fact
profoundly beautiful.
Exhibits: "Art After Dark"
Hands Gallery
San Luis Obispo, California
March 2011
"Urbex Beauty In Decay"
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
San Luis Obispo, California
September 2011
him his first Kodak 35mm camera in the early 1960’s. He began to experiment with
black and white work and his interest in photography blossomed. In the early
1970’s he began working with a professional photographer and assisted his night class
at University High School in Los Angeles. During this time Dave started working with his
Calumat large format 4x5 camera, and was inspired by the landscape work of Ansel
Adams. Further expanding his hobby he built his first darkroom in his garage in 1975.
As a heavy machinery mechanic by trade, Dave was able to travel around to different
job sites always with his camera in tow. In the 1980’s he began participating in co-op
art shows and sold his work to various private collectors. While Dave still maintains a love
of film and old cameras he is now fully entrenched in the digital age. Beginning in the year
2000 he traded his darkroom for a computer and his 4x5 for a Nikon DLSR camera.
In October of 2008 Dave retired from his day job and was able to turn his hobby into a full
time adventure. This new free time allowed him to join various photo groups further expanding
knowledge and creativity. Dave is proud to be involved with groups such as the San Luis Obispo
Camera Club, PhotoMorroBay, and the Photo Society at the San Luis Obispo Art Museum.
Dave's current work shows his keen interest in HDR (high-dynamic-range-imaging) and
post-processing work using software such as; Photoshop,Topaz, Photomatix and Nix.
Dave's use of HDR technique allows him to achieve a greater level of intensity found in
real scenes such as landscapes and sunsets. His most recent work is heavily influenced by
Urban Exploration. His work involves the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts
of uban areas or industrial facilities.The unusual environments Dave seeks out combined
with his HDR and post processing work make for extremely powerful images. His most recent
photography allows the viewer to see that decay of an uninhabited space can be in fact
profoundly beautiful.
Exhibits: "Art After Dark"
Hands Gallery
San Luis Obispo, California
March 2011
"Urbex Beauty In Decay"
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
San Luis Obispo, California
September 2011