Gary’s Bio

Gary

From the moment he clicked the shutter at his first concert by The Temptations, a spark ignited in ten-year-old Gary S Davis. Surrounded by excited fans, he tried to catch the moment, while he felt the energy of the music coursing through him. That was the start of a life long journey, those five pink dot photos would mark the beginning of his passion for music photography that led to over 200 concerts captured through his lens.

An Atlanta-based photographer and retired environmental engineer, who grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. Gary was captivated by the sound of Philadelphia, Motown, and the British Invasion, which fueled his love of music that became part of everyday life. In addition to photography, attending concerts and unsuccessfully trying to play music were teenage pursuits. He purchased his first 35mm SLR camera while in junior high, where he first learned photography, black and white film processing, and darkroom printing. Gary held a part-time job in a local camera shop, which expanded his knowledge of photography, camera and darkroom equipment, and helped him learn new techniques as a teenager. High school was a period of growth for Gary; he learned from his work in the camera shop, an active peer group of photographers, and Bob Loudin, who mentored many students and directed the school’s TV studio and the national TV broadcast of “The Mike Douglas Show.” Under Bob’s direction, the group spent many hours on outings experimenting with photography, each seeking their own style. During this time, Gary started to earn money with his photography and discovered his love of the darkroom and ambient light photography, spending many hours in his basement darkroom honing his style.

Gary moved to Atlanta, GA, to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering, while continuing with his photography. He spent more than the average number of years in college while worked in camera shops, one-hour photo stores, and doing freelance photography to pay his way through school. Gary found in Atlanta a music scene that was much more accessible than Philadelphia’s, he worked with local bands and photographed headliner concerts. For more than twelve years, Gary spent his days going to work and class, while his nights were spent at concert venues which shape Gary’s life forever. The stories his photographs tell, is the magical connection between performers and their audiences.