-Story by Nessa Pullman

It香蕉视频直播檚 by following our curiosity that we find our true passions 香蕉视频直播� by listening to that small, subtle voice inside, begging us to come a little closer. But not everyone hears that voice right away. And for Peninsula-based photographer Dave Hutchison, it took awhile to find the path to his passion.

But today, Dave has carved out a career niche with his love of photography, working for clients that range from BC Ferries to National Bank Financial, and producing images for over 20 calendars, books, thousands of art cards, tourism guides, magazines and more.

Recently, he香蕉视频直播檚 had two images accepted into the PPOC () National Images Salon (competition) and received his second PPOC Accreditation in Scenic/Pictoral Photography from PPOC.

香蕉视频直播淚 consider myself fortunate to have ventured into places that many others don香蕉视频直播檛 visit,香蕉视频直播� he says on his website at . 香蕉视频直播淭he Great Bear Rainforest 香蕉视频直播� has called me back repeatedly with the lure of grizzly and Spirit bears.香蕉视频直播�

He has also photographed whales, wolves and birds, landscapes and seascapes from all over North America and, recently, Europe. His images are breathtaking.

Growing up in St. Catharines, Ontario, Dave was drawn to the outdoors. Cycling, a cherished hobby, gave him the opportunity to be outside in nature 香蕉视频直播� easily his favourite place to be. By 1993, Dave found himself on the West Coast of Canada in Vancouver, selling commercial exercise equipment to large corporations such as Telus, BC Hydro and Canada Post.

In 2002, Dave gravitated to the Saanich Peninsula in search of a quieter surrounding to call home. Still working for the company in Vancouver, Dave commuted from his home in Sidney to his workplace on the Lower Mainland every few days for two years.

香蕉视频直播淭hat back and forth lifestyle 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 enough to burn anyone out. You start to feel like you don香蕉视频直播檛 really live anywhere. I needed to find an outlet to offset that,香蕉视频直播� explains Dave.

As the owner of four Whippet dogs at the time, he began photographing dog racing around BC. What started out as a simple pastime, soon catapulted into a career in which he never thought he香蕉视频直播檇 find himself.

香蕉视频直播淚t was just very peaceful, being out in the field, no one else around except me and the dogs. To me it was very therapeutic after a long work week.香蕉视频直播�

Soon after that, Dave went on a trip to Yellowstone National Park with his friend and fellow photographer .

香蕉视频直播淚 remember being completely wowed by the abundance of wildlife 香蕉视频直播� bison, pronghorns, elk 香蕉视频直播� everywhere I looked. It was that connection to photography that I hadn香蕉视频直播檛 yet experienced. It was the bait that lured me in,香蕉视频直播� he recalls, the memory still so tangible.

香蕉视频直播淚t was an image I had taken on my trip to Yellowstone that was my first framed and sold piece of art. It was then that I realized this could become much more than just a pastime.香蕉视频直播�

As he launched his career in nature and wildlife photography, his home in the Saanich Peninsula provided an 香蕉视频直播渆xcellent training ground to experiment and practise with landscape photography,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淭he Peninsula has these amazing sunsets 香蕉视频直播� from Deep Cove to Moses Point.香蕉视频直播�

Dave approaches photography as a form of communication.

香蕉视频直播淲hat I love most about nature and wildlife photography is that I can communicate to others what is out there to preserve 香蕉视频直播� what we have to cherish and keep. People buy artwork because they can connect to it, whatever it may be,香蕉视频直播� he explains. 香蕉视频直播淭here are so many different genres to communicate 香蕉视频直播� whether it香蕉视频直播檚 painting, music, or dance 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 all the same in the sense that we are trying to communicate. For some reason photography happened for me 香蕉视频直播� whether it came to me or I came to it.香蕉视频直播�

What especially draws Dave to his work is the way in which immerses him in nature.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a whole different life when you are out there in the wild with another being; it teaches you how to be present in an instant,香蕉视频直播� he says, adding, 香蕉视频直播淲hen you香蕉视频直播檙e alone with wildlife, you can only be fully there 香蕉视频直播� nothing else matters. And that香蕉视频直播檚 where the real teaching comes into place 香蕉视频直播� it teaches you to stay calm, to breathe, but at the same time it magnifies itself into all areas of your life. Photography is just a medium 香蕉视频直播� a portal 香蕉视频直播� to reveal how you香蕉视频直播檙e going to be in this world.香蕉视频直播�

Dave began conducting one-on-one photography workshops eight years ago.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I work with my students I don香蕉视频直播檛 call it 香蕉视频直播榩hotography,香蕉视频直播� I call it 香蕉视频直播榠mage making.香蕉视频直播� I teach them how to create images, not to take snap shots 香蕉视频直播� they already know how to do that.香蕉视频直播�

He soon expanded the personal sessions, and within a few years, he was hosting group workshops and photo tours around BC.

香蕉视频直播淔or me, it香蕉视频直播檚 about meeting the students where they香蕉视频直播檙e at, not to be above or below them. We are all creative beings, it just sometimes takes something to bring it out in us. For me, it was much later in life.香蕉视频直播�

As I sit down with Dave on a late summer香蕉视频直播檚 evening, I can feel his excitement as he tells me his plans for his in Italy, Colorado and the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in Northern BC. Dave香蕉视频直播檚 outlook on his craft may seem ordinary to some香蕉视频直播攂ut it香蕉视频直播檚 his outlook on our role as creative beings and communicators of our earth, that seems imaginably exceptional.