About Me

Hi, I'm Dona. Welcome to my website.

I was born an animal and nature loving kid. At age three I noticed people were stepping on those big black ants in our yard. So, I got a shoe box filled it with dirt, plucked up all of the ants I could find, put in a capful of water and bread crumbs and brought them into the house much to my grandmother's dismay, they all climbed out. At age ten, I received my first camera, a Brownie, that went with me everywhere which led me to becoming a professional photographer for over forty years. My love of all things nature and photography combined has created a life I only dreamed of as a child. I went from ant rescue to feral cats to founding and running a state of the art wildlife rehabilitation and education center devoted to injured and orphaned birds of prey called the Hudson Valley Raptor Center near Rhinebeck, NY. I retired in 2007 and moved to San Diego to be closer to my family and work on my work, art and photography which is represented at A.Space in Menlo Park, CA.

My art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.

Inspiration

“From infancy we concentrate happily on ourselves and other organisms. We learn to distinguish life from the inanimate and move toward it like moths to a porch light….To explore and affiliate with life is a deep and complicated process in mental development. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion, our existence depends on this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hope rises on its currents.” Edward O. Wilson “Biophilia”

Techniques

Photography is all about light. I seek light like a dog on a scent. The only kind of light I use is natural and available. I like to capture my subjects where and how they are in the world. Connection is important. I believe we are connected to all life at the cellular level. Rarely, if ever, do I pose my subjects or use a studio. As to backgrounds, I will sometimes use a background technique to bring out my subject, especially for portraits. But, I am mostly a photojournalist and shoot in black and white although color is still available to my images should I choose it. Some subjects simply cry out to be in color. I respect that, and let them have their way.

Career highlights

In 1969 my husband and I built my first darkroom in our house when our children were babies. I would follow them around all day taking pictures and at night, when they were asleep, I would develop my film and print photos. Oh I was in heaven. For me the darkroom was my Zen. A few years later I joined a photographic studio in New York City and my career as a professional photographer began and also the establishment of my own custon black and white lab for some of the top photographers in Manhattan. Those were the days. I had the honor of shooting pictures of John Houston, Jessee Owens, Alastiar Cook, Alice Cooper, other celebrities of the day and also a piece for Playboy Magazine. Nature photography has always been my passion. I don't call it work though, for me, it is living the dream. Presently my work is represented by A.Space Design Gallery in Menlo Park, California.

trusted

by artstorefronts

Trusted Art Seller

The presence of this badge signifies that this business has officially registered with the Art Storefronts Organization and has an established track record of selling art.

It also means that buyers can trust that they are buying from a legitimate business. Art sellers that conduct fraudulent activity or that receive numerous complaints from buyers will have this badge revoked. If you would like to file a complaint about this seller, please do so here.