“When one seeks photographs of lighthouses there are hundreds if not thousands to choose from. Most, if not all are daytime images. Seldom do you find photographs of lighthouses from when they did their most important work—at night. With the advent of more sensitive image sensors, newer cameras now allow for the emerging genre of nighttime photography.”

David Zapatka specializes in lighthouse photography along the Eastern coast of the US and has developed some tools and techniques to capture these iconic subjects with a unique perspective. At our September meeting, David will share his experience and insights on how night photography can yield some amazing images.

To view or download David’s Zoom Presentation to RPS on October 5, 2021, please click HERE

About Our Speaker – David Zapatka

Rhode Island native David Zapatka spent ten years shooting local news in the Providence market until he began his long career as a network freelance cameraman and director of photography. His work regularly appears on national news and sports programs for ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, HBO, and CNN. His assignments have brought him to 49 states and over 30 countries. He’s covered six Superbowls and for the past 20 years has annually covered the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament; he’s worked at four winter Olympic Games, winning two National Sports Emmy awards for his contributions to the NBC coverage of the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010.

In October 2103 he began what has become the “Stars & Lights” lighthouse project shooting historic structures under brilliant stars on new moon nights. His lighthouse photography has been well received by galleries throughout the Northeast and has resulted in a solo exhibit and publication of two books.

David was featured in a segment on Rhode Island PBS that aired on September 29, 2021.

At home in Rhode Island, David is involved in several civic efforts on local boards that include the South County Tourism Council as well as Camp Surefire, a summer camp for children with Type 1 diabetes. He is also president of the Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse in North Kingstown and was responsible for the creation of the Rhode Island lighthouse license plate that has sold over 9000 sets and raised over $180,000 for the preservation of the local icon.

He lives in North Kingstown, Rhode Island with his wife Lisa.

The Stars and Lights gallery can be seen at www.starsandlighthouses.com