Bob Spalding, Dacusville, SC (outside of Greenville)
Member Since February 2009
Artist Statement Well, I really got into photography in 1972. I was a 4-H Agent working with kids and I wanted to get there photos in local newspapers. I could not get a local news photographer to come out to our minor events. However, all 4 newspapers said they would print any photos I gave them. So I had to learn to take my own pictures.
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I started out with a Nikonos (35 mm underwater camera) and a hand held light meter (I had access to the Nikonos through a Dive Shop I owned).
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I bought my first SLR (Canon FTb) around 1974.
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I built my own wet darkroom in the mid 70's. With the help of the Clemson University Photographers, I learned all I needed to know to produce high quality b/w prints. These Photographers were also a GREAT help in teaching me the basics of good photography. I also read a lot.
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One of the biggest thrills I had was when my 4-H’ers wanted to learn photography. So I started teaching Photography. This is when I really learned a lot abpit the art of picture taking.
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In 2001, I was in Jackson Hole, WY getting ready for a National 4-H Wildlife Contest and my Canon EOS 35 mm film camer shutter return broke and my dinky Kodak Digital Camera quite working. I had a big decision to make. If I was going to get serious about Photography again, should I buy a digital SLR. After a day of soul searching, I decide to buy a Canon D30. I had to have a camera, being in one of the most beautiful areas of the US.
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In June 2004, when I was in Hawaii, I decided to upgrade to a Canon D10. That was a mistake, because the D20 came up a few months later.
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When retired, I decided to take my photography to the next level. I always thought I was a good photographer, but I wanted to be better. I decided on a goal of photographing all the National Parks in the US, (including the ones in Hawaii and Alaska). I got 4 out of 9 parks in Alaska in 2008. The other 5, you have to fly or boat into. They are in the middle of no where.
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I took a Nature Photo Workshop in Yellowstone in the fall of 2008 with Joe and Mary Ann McDonald. Learned real quick that if I am going to photograph wildlife, I need a longer lens and a better tri-pod. I learned a great deal about nature photography and I plan to take their Nature Photography Workshop in the spring of 2009.
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I have upgraded my equipment to a Canon Mark III and several new lens including a better tri-pod.
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I am still teaching photography to kids about 10 -15 workshops each year, as well as a week long photography workshop for Elderhostel’s.
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Thank you for visiting. Please browse through some of my pictures, and hopefully, you will find something of interest.
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New images and galleries are frequently being added, so please stop by again soon. If you have any questions, email me at bob@bobspalding.net.
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Copyright Notice
Please remember that all the images within my Galleries are protected by copyright.
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Copyright © 2008 – 2009 Bob Spalding - All rights reserved.
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