About

Doug Hammer designed and built his first camera in 1977. The 4x5 view camera was constructed from a block of walnut at a time when he would have preferred buying a camera, but he was challenged financially. Inspired by Ansel Adams' books on photography, Doug studied photographic techniques and used his view camera to develop his style of quiet images. His big break in photography came in 1978 when he won enough money on the Family Feud TV show to attend Ansel Adams' workshop in Yosemite Valley. He then served as an assistant at Adams' workshops in 1980 and 1982.

His Ansel Adams-based background of view camera and darkroom techniques, coupled with the ever-advancing digital age, provides great enjoyment and exciting possibilities for new images. Doug has no plans to build a digital camera from a block of wood.

Doug's images are often natural designs set in quiet, peaceful light. The images invite the viewer to stare and study -- to be there -- to enjoy the solitude.

Doug works at a manufacturing organization in Southern California, specializing in quality systems and organization development. His ordered approach to his work often seeps into his photographic images. Doug has been married 38 years to the best of all wives -- Judi -- the subject of the image "Flashlight Message, Death Valley 2005."