DAVID G. PETERSON (1949-2019)
Carmel Valley
“My inspiration is sparked by my love of nature, how the light illuminates certain environments and a sort of whimsy. I intuitively identify certain elements within images that others might pass by without noticing. I keep these images in mind and return when the light illuminates them exactly as my mind’s eye sees them.”
About
David G. Peterson developed his innate artistic abilities as a young boy when his mother married Artist Professor, John Cunningham.
Under the guidance of his new stepfather, David discovered the magical world of two-dimensional design mastering the concepts of composition, perspective, values and space.
His appreciation of art fostered his love of nature and all that is “the great outdoors.” Consequently, as an adult in the 1970’s, he took on work as an arborist in the beautiful town of Carmel, California.
It was during this time that fate introduced him to renowned landscape photographer, Ansel Adams. Their lighthearted chance meeting quickly became the most impressionable encounter in David’s career. “He led us inside his home and darkroom and for the first time, I realized photography could be more than a literal translation.” It was during this meeting that David experienced the fusion of this three loves — art, nature and science. It was for him, a rebirth.
Following his calling, David took to his photography with fire, producing magnificent refined images of nature so compelling that a viewer is not only entertained by the notion of having been transported, but of also having been energized by them. Every photograph is an exploding life force capsulated in time. His collection of works range from very small intimate scenes to wide-ranging landscapes.
Led by his creative intuition, David ventures into the great outdoors with his Linhof, Master Technika view camera that uses 4″ x 5′ film which offers higher resolution. The view camera reveals the image upside down on the view screen, permitting him to consider composition without distractions. It is a slow process that allows for greater control of depth of field through movement of the film and lens planes.
