About
My Background
This isn't a short piece because I've been "around" for a long time and the influence on my photography goes back to childhood.
I started lugging around a camera, my mother's Brownie, when I was 7 yrs old. I loved taking pictures and one Christmas (1967?) my brothers and I all were gifted with Kodak Instamatic 126 point-and-shoots, but it wasn't until my parents gave me my first 35mm, the Fujica ST-701 when I graduated from high school at 17. To this day, some of my own favorite images are from the first 30 rolls of Ektachrome and Kodachrome on the 4-week road trip we took as a family to the national parks west of the Mississippi.
Like many people, I suppose, I've been in awe of National Geographic photographers and was originally inspired by the images of Ansel Adams, the Westons, Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray, Karsh, Bourke-White, and so many others. I took a photography class or two in university while studying chemistry and shot for the yearbook, learning traditional B&W processing and printing skills spending far too many hours in the darkroom to the detriment of my chemistry studies.
At some point after university, I discovered IR photography and was drawn by the surreal imagery that was somewhat uncommon in the mainstream at the time. I spent about 5 years shooting fireground photography for two volunteer departments, actually taking my gear into burning buildings, shooting the external environment and firefighting training, as well. I also discovered my love of motor racing at Limerock Park in Connecticut where I shot hundreds of frames of the IMSA Camel Championships in the late 70s.
In about 1979, I acquired my Canon AE-1 and the Canon EOS-10S just prior to a trip to Germany in 1990. Although I continued taking "snapshots" of family events and travel, I actually lost interest for a time in creative photography while I raised a family, was employed full-time as a chemist, built a house, served on a local planning commission, was a Scoutmaster, pursued my graduate degree, and started a career in post-secondary education. Maybe I just ran out of time? In any case, my creativity went into hibernation for about 30 years.
I actually didn't resume photography until the digital world had blossomed and became somewhat mature and I had more time to practice with a good camera and learn some post-processing skills. By that point, around 2011, it seemed that everyone was taking photos with their phones and DSLRs and I really didn't consider the possibility of pursuing photography other than as a personal satisfaction of my creative urges. It wasn't until 2019, after a trip to Sanibel Island, that my lifelong appreciation for nature was re-ignited, such that I felt the deep desire to return to being a student of photography.
Since then, I've been spending more time looking at the world around me, even without a camera, spending nearly every Thursday night in the studio shooting people, investing quality time in developing my skills, investing time and other resources in my equipment and learning how to use it more expertly, with more thought each time I press the shutter.
My current mentors and inspiration include Ed Crim, A.G. Shaw, William Andrea, and Bill Curran, whose world-class black-and-white imagery has inspired me to set out on a mission. My new experiment in digital IR photography has been mentored and inspired by photographers Ryan London and Jordan Michael Garcia, who have graciously shared their knowledge, skills, and time to bring me up-to-speed in the digital IR world. In addition, I have so many new photographer friends around me who have encouraged and challenged and collaborated with this old man to find the beauty and joy in this troubled world... and to share it with others. I appreciate so very much the dozens of models who have tolerated my ineptitude and helped me to understand my human subjects as unflinching targets for my lens. There are so many to whom I owe appreciation but can't list by name so with their permission, I'll share their names and likenesses in my galleries.
They say "there's a picture around every corner" and I believe there's new fresh light every morning. My goal is to share with others those opportunities to see light, and even the light you can't see, differently.
Please share your honest comments with me by emailing me and if you like what you see, we can discuss how you can own a print or secure users' rights for commercial purposes. My email is davemountphotography AT gmail DOT com. If you want to phone me instead, please text me first with your name so I know who is calling rather than letting an unidentified call go to voicemail.
Make it a great day!
Photography as Communication
Surrounded both by natural beauty, interesting people and in some places the gritty reality of our world, I use my camera to document those experiences and then share images with a focus on the my experience in daily life. My pictures tell the stories of our world.
Sharing Stories
Through my prints and photo books, I invite you to bring bits of my stories into your life, home, place of business or commercial space. New prints are released regularly, so check back often. If you sign up for updates, you will get notified about new prints or books, sales, competition awards, and shows.
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