Your Bio
Welcome
Like any photographer, I love exploring the beauty of nature and recording the effect of light as it influences what I see. The uniqueness of creation and the influence of life (humans and animals) provide great magnetism to my shutter finger. My creative side started while shooting slides as a teenager and progressed into Black and White silver halide prints as an adult. Now in my later years, I've returned to color with the advent of digital imaging.
I have been involved in photography for nearly 60 years. Along the way I received a masters degree in Image Science from Rochester Institute of Technology and retired from Eastman Kodak Company in 2002. The post-graduate degree helps me better understand what I am doing but contributes only slightly to helping me get better pictures. During the earlier part of my 36 years at Kodak I was involved in aerial photography, photographic paper design, and graphic arts. During the last third of my tenure at the "Yellow Box" I managed the design of silver-based and chromogenic Black and White photographic papers, like Polymax and Ektamax II. Along the way I picked up numerous photographic design patents.
The recent images in this website were digitally collected. The older ones (from Italy) were first captured on film, scanned and then mastered. Many of the Black and White images were collected on film and then printed on silver halide paper. The final image was then scanned on an Epson 4990 Photo flatbed scanner. Silver halide methods are a retired process for me since I sold all my darkroom equipment and have gone fully digital. I retain quite a few B&W images I made before the demise.
Currently I use a Canon 5D Mark II digital camera with Canon L lenses. Trying to keep the weight down I limit what I carry to the following things in my backpack: the Canon L 17 to 40mm lens, the Canon L 24 to 105mm IS lens, a Canon 100mm macro lens and the Canon L 300mm f/4 IS lens occasionally used with a 1.4 II extender. I have 20 Sandisk 4 gig flash cards and an Epson P-2000 card reader. My "Big Bertha" Canon 500mm f/4 IS lens is too big for the bag. I use a shutter release when the camera is on the tripod. I carry a light Velbon carbon fibre tripod with a Right Stuff big ball head. I also have a Canon 430 flash that I rarely use with the remote trigger. I carry one extra battery and protect everything in the bag so it continues to look brand new. I also carry on my belt an awesome Panasonic DMC LX2 point and shoot camera.
The photo of me above was taken by a passerby with my Panasonic LX1 version in Bryce canyon. The quality of this camera for its size is outstanding. I shoot in raw format with both cameras. I love shooting panoramas and stereo.
I love to mentor budding photographers. I have taught photography in Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Toronto, and countless times in Rochester, NY.
Please enjoy the website.
Contact: DaveValvo@Rochester.rr.com
Member: Canadian Association for Photographic Art
Accolades:
11/14/09 Three images published in Capture Rochester '09. "Angel Painting" printed as full page image.
2009 Staff Photographer for Drum Corps World.
3/21/09 NFRCC. Received First Place Monochrome Nature award, Judges choice, perfect score, and Best of Show for Angel Painting found in "Landscapes > Finger Lakes > Winter Gallery" . Also received another judges choice award in the same competition for a second monochrome image "Ceiling House". Color Version is shown under "Landscapes > Southwest > Ancient Ruins." Also received HM for a print of the desert.
2/1/09 Winner of "Live the Winter" contest; Visit Rochester for image found in >Landscapes > Finger Lakes > Winter > "Frozen Lower Falls"
12/31/08 Image published in Inn Cuisine; http://inncuisine.com/decadent-desserts/wednesday-innsider-sunrise-and-comfort-at-the-blue-heron-inn-recipes-southern-spicy-gingerbread-cake-so-light-buttermilk-pancakes/#more-1931
3/ 20/2008 NFRCC Awarded Second Place in all catagories, Color Print for False Kiva, located in "Landscapes > Southwest > Ancient Ruins". Also received HM for a print of the desert.
Date ? "Best of Show" Howe Caverns photo competition. Located under Landscapes > Finger Lakes>Summer > Howe Caverns. Also "Best Professional image.
Like any photographer, I love exploring the beauty of nature and recording the effect of light as it influences what I see. The uniqueness of creation and the influence of life (humans and animals) provide great magnetism to my shutter finger. My creative side started while shooting slides as a teenager and progressed into Black and White silver halide prints as an adult. Now in my later years, I've returned to color with the advent of digital imaging.
I have been involved in photography for nearly 60 years. Along the way I received a masters degree in Image Science from Rochester Institute of Technology and retired from Eastman Kodak Company in 2002. The post-graduate degree helps me better understand what I am doing but contributes only slightly to helping me get better pictures. During the earlier part of my 36 years at Kodak I was involved in aerial photography, photographic paper design, and graphic arts. During the last third of my tenure at the "Yellow Box" I managed the design of silver-based and chromogenic Black and White photographic papers, like Polymax and Ektamax II. Along the way I picked up numerous photographic design patents.
The recent images in this website were digitally collected. The older ones (from Italy) were first captured on film, scanned and then mastered. Many of the Black and White images were collected on film and then printed on silver halide paper. The final image was then scanned on an Epson 4990 Photo flatbed scanner. Silver halide methods are a retired process for me since I sold all my darkroom equipment and have gone fully digital. I retain quite a few B&W images I made before the demise.
Currently I use a Canon 5D Mark II digital camera with Canon L lenses. Trying to keep the weight down I limit what I carry to the following things in my backpack: the Canon L 17 to 40mm lens, the Canon L 24 to 105mm IS lens, a Canon 100mm macro lens and the Canon L 300mm f/4 IS lens occasionally used with a 1.4 II extender. I have 20 Sandisk 4 gig flash cards and an Epson P-2000 card reader. My "Big Bertha" Canon 500mm f/4 IS lens is too big for the bag. I use a shutter release when the camera is on the tripod. I carry a light Velbon carbon fibre tripod with a Right Stuff big ball head. I also have a Canon 430 flash that I rarely use with the remote trigger. I carry one extra battery and protect everything in the bag so it continues to look brand new. I also carry on my belt an awesome Panasonic DMC LX2 point and shoot camera.
The photo of me above was taken by a passerby with my Panasonic LX1 version in Bryce canyon. The quality of this camera for its size is outstanding. I shoot in raw format with both cameras. I love shooting panoramas and stereo.
I love to mentor budding photographers. I have taught photography in Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Toronto, and countless times in Rochester, NY.
Please enjoy the website.
Contact: DaveValvo@Rochester.rr.com
Member: Canadian Association for Photographic Art
Accolades:
11/14/09 Three images published in Capture Rochester '09. "Angel Painting" printed as full page image.
2009 Staff Photographer for Drum Corps World.
3/21/09 NFRCC. Received First Place Monochrome Nature award, Judges choice, perfect score, and Best of Show for Angel Painting found in "Landscapes > Finger Lakes > Winter Gallery" . Also received another judges choice award in the same competition for a second monochrome image "Ceiling House". Color Version is shown under "Landscapes > Southwest > Ancient Ruins." Also received HM for a print of the desert.
2/1/09 Winner of "Live the Winter" contest; Visit Rochester for image found in >Landscapes > Finger Lakes > Winter > "Frozen Lower Falls"
12/31/08 Image published in Inn Cuisine; http://inncuisine.com/decadent-desserts/wednesday-innsider-sunrise-and-comfort-at-the-blue-heron-inn-recipes-southern-spicy-gingerbread-cake-so-light-buttermilk-pancakes/#more-1931
3/ 20/2008 NFRCC Awarded Second Place in all catagories, Color Print for False Kiva, located in "Landscapes > Southwest > Ancient Ruins". Also received HM for a print of the desert.
Date ? "Best of Show" Howe Caverns photo competition. Located under Landscapes > Finger Lakes>Summer > Howe Caverns. Also "Best Professional image.
