We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Coblitz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.
David, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
For some years I’ve specialized primarily in creating photographic work that helps people heal & feel less stressed. This is based upon research in hospital design on what works best to reduce stress in patients & staff. Any project that meets this goal is meaningful to me, but one example is the installation by Louer Facility Planning of a set of my large biophilic prints in the Anderson Hospital cardiac catheterization lab in Maryville,, Illinois.
David, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
About me: I graduated from the University of Rochester Institute of Optics with a Masters in Optical Engineering specializing in holography, which is the creation of 3 dimensional photographs using lasers. My first full time job after that was as a holography for McDonnell Douglas Electronics. A year & a half later, they exited the holography business and I ended up continuing to work for them in visual systems engineering for flight simulators. The rest of my engineering career was spent working on research & product development of visual systems and engineering consulting in sensor avionics.
How I got into this industry:
Upon retirement, I started up my photography company as a creative outlet. At first I did almost any type of photography I was asked to do including events, headshots, portraits, commercial photography (products, facilities, staff, etc.). As time when on, I focused my work increasingly on commercial and fine art photography. One day a medical interior designer in my business network suggested I do artwork using guidelines from hospital design research that showed that engrossing nature photography reduces stress in patients & staff while shortening hospital stays & reducing medications needed. I hadn’t heard of it, but began looking into it. Being an engineer, I have always liked my work to be functional, so I was attracted to this type of photographic art. It’s often referred to as biophilic art (nature loving) and is the result of what’s called Evidence Based Design.
Types of products/services/creative works I provide:
Healing art has become my primary photographic interest, though I also still do commercial photography. Another area of focus for me is photographing their artwork for other artists of every type. They need quality photographs of their art to enter shows or sell prints of their work. It’s generally hard for them to do, but easy for me and I enjoy helping other artists. I also teach photography to a limited number of students.
Problems I solve for clients:
In general I use my knowledge of photography to create photographic work needed by the types of clients discussed above. I love creating “functional art” for all types of clients not restricted to medical settings. The needed function is determined by the client and my creative process helps create work that serves that function.
What sets me apart:
My lifelong study and work in understanding the visual system as well as my balance between the artistic and the technical aspects of photography is somewhat unusual. I enjoy night and panoramic photography, which not everyone does.
What I’m most proud of:
I’m most proud of the fact that I can help people and businesses through my photography.
Main things I want potential clients to know about me/my brand/my work:
I’m obsessed with making sure my clients are completely satisfied with the process and results of my work with them. As a result, I have almost exclusively 5 out of 5 star reviews.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I’ve heard of NFTs and would like to learn more about them & get involved in creating and marketing them. Any information or guidance along those lines would be much appreciated.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Most rewarding for me is that I can create work that improves people’s mood when they may be feeling low, such as in a medical situation. I remember a neighbor complaining to me that his elderly father was becoming hard to live with & was always on his case. I suggested he try placing one of my existing photographic canvas prints somewhere in the house that his father frequented. Three weeks later, I saw him outside & asked how it was going. He said, “Thank you for giving me my Father back’. That gave me first hand experience of the power of art to heal.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CoblitzPhotographicArts.com
- Instagram: @dcoblitz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcoblitz/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkZVW3v-uU34KuKse7WBXRA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/coblitz-creative-concepts-saint-louis
- Other: www.biophilicarts.com stlouisimage.com