Member Spotlight - May 2010
David B Watt - David B Watt Photography
http://www.davidbwatt.com
What is your background, education, training, work experience if other than photography? How long have you been a photographer?
Although I have always had a passion for photography it was not my first career choice. I grew up in a suburb of northern metro Detroit from divorced lower middle class parents. I realized early in my life that if I were to ever escape the lot in life that I had drawn, that I would have to work hard and study. At that time, I really was not sure what my future would be, but knew I wanted more than I had. Since my family could not afford college the military seemed to offer a way out.
In 1975 I was in my junior year of high school and the government announced that they were changing the way that the military GI Bill would be offered to college bound military members. In order for a new enlistee to take advantage of that current college tuition portion they had to enlist before December 31st of that year. I went to the Army recruiter the following day.
It was the US Army that taught me direction, organization, and during my three year active enlistment I completed my high school education and a pilot program and received my private pilots license. I loved flying and thought this might be my career. When I completed my active duty portion of my enlistment in 1978 I began an Associated Degree in Aviation, however, once again the government changed the rules on me.
In the fall of 1978 the US Congress decided to eliminate the flight part of education in aviation programs due to the excess amount of military pilots after the Vietnam War.
I completed two years of prerequisites, received an Associated Degree in General Studies and moved to Arizona. During the first year of living in Arizona to establish residency I took a job working for a small advertising paper in the valley called the Penny-saver. Although I had not realized it at the time, but it was a great opportunity to learn sales and client interactions. It was also during this time that I met my incredible wife and sole mate, Debbi. After meeting residency requirements I was accepted as a full time student at Arizona State University (ASU). However, I was as unsure as ever about my future. While walking on campus one day I noticed a table in front of Hayden Library and an Army officer standing by handing out literature.
David with his new bride Debbi
Curiosity drew me to the table. We struck up a conversation about our military service and before I knew it we were talking about flight opportunities in the Army as an officer. "A ha" this was it I thought, the means to the end. I would go back in the military, via ROTC, and let the Army pay for that expensive flight training. Now, all I had to do was complete my Bachelor's Degree and the ROTC classes and I would be commissioned and off to flight school...so I thought. Like many people, I had a 35mm camera and enjoyed taking pictures. I thought the quickest route through college might be journalism or a teaching degree. So as to maximize opportunities I combined the two (journalism/education). Fortunately ASU offered a BA in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Journalism (BASE/Journalism). For the next year I threw myself into my classes and ROTC. At the end of my junior year ROTC sent me off to an advance camp at Fort Lewis, Washington for the summer. It was at that time they conduct extensive physicals for those interested in aviation.
It was during this process that it was discovered that I had a slight astigmatism in my right eye. Slight, but not slight enough to fly multi-million dollar military aircraft. Disappointed once again, I called my new bride for guidance. We decided that there was really only one thing to do, and that was to do the best I could with what was given to me.
So I did. Knowing aviation was no longer an option for me I pushed harder than I had ever before. I completed my college course work and ROTC. I graduated with honors and first in my ROTC class. Although I could no longer fly I was allowed to choose any other career field in the Army and was given a congressional active duty commission, normally reserved for West Point graduates.
This time I was going to choose a career field that would help me when I left the military. I chose the personnel management branch. While serving I completed a Masters Degree in Public Administration and completed another seven years on active duty. After the first Persian Gulf War, Congress decided to downsize the military and close several bases while offering early retirement programs to many of us.
I really thought now with my education and experience some great corporation would have a use for my services. No such luck. After living out of a small travel trailer with a wife and two small children, I knew once again it was time for an evaluation of life choices. Let me try the teaching thing, I told Debbi. I took and passed the state teaching certification, but no district in the valley would hire me because I had no recent teaching experience and a Masters Degree, which meant they would have to pay me more.
The only place I could find a job teaching was on a reservation. Locations are generally remote and living conditions can be a challenge for some people. So we went to the Navajo Reservation and taught for a semester. At Christmas break I took the family to visit the in-laws in rural Nebraska. While visiting, my mother in law had a heart attack and was in very critical condition. Debbi and I decided to move to Nebraska and be closer to her family.
If you don't live in Omaha or Lincoln Nebraska, you are in rural agriculture. Opportunities are extremely limited. Debbi, who is a nurse, was able to find a job at a local hospital. While seeing a patient one day she discovered my career in photography.
You see, the mother of the patient, Kami, had a small photography business she was doing from her home and because her son was so ill she wanted to sell her business so she could care for her son. Wow. I thought it would be nice to have my own business and for once control my own destiny, but all I really knew was 35mm photography. She had medium format cameras. I immediately joined the state photography association, The Professional Photographer's of Nebraska (PPofN) and the Professional Photographer's of America (PPA).
It was really the relationships I built through these groups that showed me the way in photography. Sure, I could teach myself to set up a light or use a meter, but I wanted to create beautiful lasting portrait images that people would be proud of and enjoy looking at forever. Also, I wanted to comfortably support my family. I did not have that skill level. It took some time and mentoring by some patient photographers who I truly respected.
As my skill level improved so did my business. I eventually outgrew my building and hired employees. Business was good. Ah, and now comes change once again. Technology came to to industry and man was there a lot of stuff to learn. Fortunately my business had been doing well and I made the decision to embrace change and learn the new hardware and software programs necessary.
Now that our children are grown, Debbi and I decided to move back to the place where we fell in love and the place that we loved living. So we moved back to Arizona a few years ago.
Why did you join the AzPPA? What has been the best thing you have gotten out of being a member? Or what do you look forward to the most out of being a member?
I am still a member of the PPA and now the Arizona Professional Photographers (AZPPA) I have received a few awards and degrees over the past few years, but to me these pale in comparison to the friendships I have gained with peers and clients. I will always continue my growth in learning as I believe we must continue to learn from one another in order to move forward. I have met many awesome photographers and members of these associations that love what they do and are willing to share. Even as economies and technologies change, as long as we are willing to learn we will survive. |
