Nikon Net Honors Professional Photographer David Alan Harvey for the Month of February

NikonNet Press Release Summary:
NikonNet and 'Legends Behind the Lens' Honor David Alan Harvey This February

MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- David Alan Harvey really knows how to tell a good story - through photography, that is. Not only can he compose a story through his pictures, but he also has the ability to photograph his subjects without them ever being affected by his presence. This February, NikonNet will pay tribute to David Alan Harvey and his work in its inspiring monthly showcase, “Legends Behind the Lens.”

For over 30 years, Harvey’s photographs have brought us as close to the reality of situations as we are likely to get. With a graduate degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, he went to work for the Topeka [Kansas] Capitol Journal. He eventually became a staff photographer for National Geographic and was named Magazine Photographer of the Year in 1978 by the National Press Photographer’s Association. In 1986 he left the Geographic’s staff to become a freelancer. He joined the Magnum photo agency in 1993. Harvey is a frequent contributor to National Geographic and has shot more than 30 stories for them over the years on subjects as diverse as French teenagers, the Berlin Wall and Mayan culture. His photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated. His books include The Mysterious Mayas, America’s Atlantic Isles, Cuba and Divided Soul, an acclaimed collection of images of Hispanic life and culture.

The element which makes Harvey’s work so intriguing is his ability to connect photographs and turn them into a visual story. He is constantly drawn to the long-form narrative story. “Sometimes I think, hey, I’m not going to think ‘story’ any more, but then I just somehow can’t help myself,” Harvey comments. “I tend to get involved in a narrative, whether it’s Cuba or hip hop or a project I’m doing on portraits of women. It’s something I instinctively feel like doing. I tend to tie pictures together.”

Not only does Harvey have the unique talent of linking pictures together, he also possesses the ability to blend in with each and every crowd. As seen through his photographs, Harvey’s edge is that he can, as he says, “hang out with both the Harley Davidson crowd and IBM executives, all in the same day.” Harvey is often accepted and respected by all groups of people in all areas of life. “You’ve got to like meeting and hanging out with a lot of different kinds of people,” he explains, “and I think that comes from my background. The way I look at the world is that people are not really very different from each other. I key in on the commonalities, and I genuinely enjoy getting to know people from all over the world. It’s not hard for me personally to get involved in their lives.”

“David Alan Harvey has a unique approach to photography and NikonNet is pleased to honor him this February,” states Anna Marie Bakker, Director of Communications at Nikon Inc. “His ability to transcend barriers and merge into the environment of his subjects makes his work honest and distinct. He is, indeed, a rare talent.”

People react to David, not the camera he carries. He does not stand on the sidelines. Instead, he becomes an integral part of his surroundings. It is this ability to merge and interact which has earned him the respect not only of fellow photographers, but from those who have had the honor of being his subjects. To learn more about David Alan Harvey, visit NikonNet’s “Legends Behind the Lens” series at http://www.nikonnet.com/legends.
About “Legends Behind the Lens”

NikonNet’s “Legends Behind the Lens” series aims to educate users and, in turn, breathe excitement into photography. Nikon has assembled a comprehensive and intriguing collection of artists to share their most incredible, challenging, emotional and exciting experiences on NikonNet. This inspiring monthly program offers a behind-the-scenes look into the personalities and philosophies behind the world’s greatest and most famous photographers. “Legends Behind the Lens” also offers portfolio galleries, as well as tips and tricks of the trade from featured professionals. Past “Legends” in the series include Kevin Gilbert, Nancy Brown, Joe Buissink, Steven Weinberg, B. Moose Peterson, Eddie Adams, Jay Maisel and Howard Bingham.

About NikonNet:
NikonNet (http://www.nikonnet.com) is the web’s leading site for photography education, photo sharing and inspiration. NikonNet leverages the resources of parent company Nikon Inc. to offer the most innovative and inspiring educational segments on the Internet. Nikon’s suite of websites- http://www.nikonusa.com, http://www.nikonnet.com, http://www.nikondigital.com, http://www.nikonmall.com and http://www.nikonschool.com-connects consumers to the company’s products and services and links users to the most complete photography education and information community available on the web today.

SOURCE NikonNet