About Me

As both a photographer and a painter, I am an image maker on two fronts. In my youth I studied illustration for two years at the Art Center College of Design. I then went into the U S Navy where I trained and worked as a photographer, continuing in the profession for several years after my service. That was followed by a twenty-eight year career in the computer world, designing and writing business software both as an employee and a business owner.

These days I am back in the image business and loving it. 

Photography satisfies my need for realism in my images while my painting has moved in a more abstract direction. Doing both gives me freedom to fully express myself visually.

I enjoy photographing a variety of subject matter as my portfolios testify. But I try to remember that there is a difference between the subject of a piece of art and the subject matter used to convey that subject. The subject matter might be a stand of aspens on a chilly October morning, but the subject of the resulting image will be the feeling I experienced there and, hopefully, that is what I convey to the viewer.

My wife Kathy and I live in East Texas, have three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Thanks very much for visiting my site and I sincerely hope you find something that enriches your day.

Dave Bates

About the images

All the images on this website are registered with the U. S. Copyright Office and are protected from infringement by U. S. Copyright laws - whether or not the copyright symbol is displayed on the image. Removal of the copyright symbol, where present, demonstrates willful intent to infringe.