As always if you have time be sure to check out my website ^_^ [link]

Hi There! Thanks for visiting my DevArt account!

~About Me~
My name is Dan Spalding, and I am a photographer in the West Coast region of Canada. I live in Vancouver, but can be found all over the Lower Mainland taking shots. My photographic interests vary greatly, from Fashion to Pets, Landscapes to Macro, but are mainly of flowers and nature currently.

I have been interested in photography for the majority of my life but only really got to practicing and taking good photos over the past 3-4 years. I started off with some really big, heavy, and poorly built 35mm cameras, and never got a clear shot out of them! My very first camera was one my Dad bought me with my meal at McDonalds. You couldn't replace the film, and you had to mail the camera to the other side of the country to get your photos back. Once they arrived, they were miserable. But at least I have some funny, and really old photos of my brother and I when he was like 3 and I was 10

These days, I am so busy with the rest of my life that I don't spend as much time taking photos as I would like. For a short while, 3-4 months, I didn't take a single shot, and was completely unmotivated to go out and try. It was right about when winter started, and I couldn't take any more shots of Flowers. Now spring is back, and in-between bouts of Vancouver weather I am back out there 1-2 times a week.

I really love photography, and am quite proud of my photos. I am a very strong critic of my own work. Out of the 250+ shots posted here, and the 500 or so on my personal website ([link]) there are over 12,000 more I've taken in the last 1.5 years sitting on my hard drive that you’ll never see


~My View on Art~
When it comes to my own photography, I try to avoid using heavy post production whenever possible. I really like the feeling I get when I have a great photo in front of me, and all I did was transfer the file to the computer. I rely on my eyes and imagination to come up with interesting shots I want to share. Separately, I practice my airbrushing to keep myself good at it, but only apply it where it’s needed. I try to point out the specific shots where Photoshop hasn't been used to give you an idea of how it was done.

My favorite art forms are Photography and Painting. I can't paint myself, but love looking at them, and buy them when I can. My favorite style is abstract, and I prefer darker color tones whenever possible.


~My Work~
My full gallery of work can be found on my website, [link] You will find hundreds of photos there that I don't post here on DevArt. Most of my photos share the beautiful scenery and wildlife here in British Columbia. I have always enjoyed just how amazing our world is, and try to share my view on things through photography.

In addition to the photos that I have online, I also do photography for events, and if you need a photographer in the Vancouver area I am available for work. Please contact me as far in advance as possible, to keep scheduling easy. I don't post photos I am paid for to protect my client's privacy. If they want to share their shots they are always free to do so. I can be reached through the email available on my website, and will reply promptly.

I want to create something beautiful that we can both enjoy and be proud of. I want you to feel you are dealing with a professional, and know the results will not only meet your expectations, but more.


~Tools of the Trade~
I spend entirely too much money on my photos, and have quite a pile of equipment and software to work with. My primary camera is a Canon 350D. I use three lenses, and a set of extension tubes to cover a wide range of focal lengths. My lenses are the EFS 18-55mm, EF 50mm f/1.8, and EF 75-300mm. I have a laptop for editing shots on site, and a PC at home with too many monitors for editing and web publishing. I have a full range of software to work with and can do any level of airbrushing needed.


~Final Words~
I am quite proud of my photography. I can always take criticism, but I ask that you please elaborate and provide in depth thought when doing so. People have unique perspectives on what can be a good photo, and as mentioned above, I strive to keep the post production on my work to a minimum. If you spend an hour in Photoshop on every picture, that’s fine, but it’s not the type of work I like. Please provide comments related to technique, and best practice, vs. vague comments about the method I applied. I am also not here to argue about brands or whose camera cost more.

When shooting alone I listen to a lot of music to block out noise and distractions. My favorite types of music are Breaks, Trance, and Dance Music. A few artists to name would be Breakfastas, Freestylers, Plump DJ's, Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren, DJ Tiesto, Filo and Peri, 4 Strings, Mark Norman, and some hometown favorites like Jimmy Chou, Miss Marz, and Shy Brothers.

Thanks for visiting my account, I appreciate all visitors, and I hope you enjoy my photos almost as much as I do.