Dave Brenner is an award-winning artist with over 25 years of experience in his field. His photography and work with informational graphic design has been published in numerous books and magazines and featured in such publications as the Detroit Free Press, USA Today, and Italia Vogue. He is also a featured photographer for istockphoto.com. His work in fine art is part of the University of Alaska Museum of the North and other private collections. Dave earned his bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at the University of Alaska and is currently the Sr. Web Administrator and Graphic Designer at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Artist statement:

As a formally-trained painter, my interest in photography began as a simple tool for creating compositions for my paintings. Soon this tool took on a life of its own and I began exploring the world in a new way. Instead of creating compositions, I began taking pictures of textures, animals, people, nature, or whatever inspired me. These early excursions turned into a passion for finding artistic subjects in the outdoors. A simple walk down a trail became more than a means of traveling from one point to another but a place of inspiration and creativity. I found beauty in the majestic mountain landscapes, glowing forest leaf canopies, but also in the smaller venues of a forest floor.  Macro photography enables me to slow down and become intimate with nature.  Studying these tiny details fascinated me and allowed my creativity to flourish.

My process starts with a walk or hike into a natural setting. By focusing on details at eye level I am drawn to the way light falls across a leaf or ground covering in contrast to the shadows. At this moment I become immersed in the smaller world that our eye often passes over. A leaf becomes more than a piece of the environment around it, but a microcosm worthy of it’s own investigation.  I am fascinated by the winding trails insects burrow across the surface, how veins create a complex infrastructure within a leaf and the way the tiniest of water droplets create a dazzling refraction light. During these moments I am truly lost in my work.