IdahoPhotoMan

Welcome to my Blog!

This site will enable me to post photographs I've taken over the years to the web so friends and family can view and enjoy them.

I am an amature photographer living in southeast Idaho, and I began the love of photography with my mother and dad in Bellevue, Idaho. My dad owned a beautiful black and white darkroom in the late 1950's through 1973 when he passed away. He and my mother spent many hours in the darkroom processing film and photographs, and when I arrived on scene in 1956, I spent time with them in the darkroom as well. I grew up watching my dad take photographs and processing them, and I enjoyed watching him.

At Wood River High School in Hailey, Idaho, I was on the yearbook staff taking photos for activities, and taking photography class as well.

I took two years of College at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho and the second year of college I took Law Enforcment. The instructior Wes Dobbs and another man who taught photography to us also an ex police officer taught me many more things in the way of photography. I explained my interest and background and they allowed me a key to the darkroom so I could use it more often when school and work allowed. Also at the College I met a man named Holly Hoffberg who was over the visual aids of the college and he introduced me to processing color slides and mounting them, with Ektachrome.

As a Law Enforcement Officer I have had to use photography almost weekly if not more often, and the training and experience I gained was very useful. In 1996 I applied for and obtained a grant to attend the Federal Law Enforcment Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. This course was ten days long and we were up at 7am and sometimes didn't get finished taking photos etc. until 2am in the morning. Their were only 9 students, mostly Federal agents from the IRS, Postal Inspectors, United States Army, and a couple of Indianapolis Indiana police officer/fire arson investigators in the class. There were also three instructors, so we had close instruction. We shot mainly slides and they were developed the next day at a nearby lab and on projectors we were able to see our work on a wall at the same time with the other students, this was a great learning experience. We shot low light, no light, daytime and used night scopes, telephoto lenses, closeup lenses, tri-pods and an assortment of special items like large flash units and high dollar light meters.

Our class took over 3,500 photos in ten days, we also worked in the darkroom developing film and photos. The course was jam packed with information and we all learned a great deal.

I still use photography for my law enforcment activities, but my true love is taking scenic shots. So most of what I post here will be scenic photographs of Idaho. I sometimes travel to other places and I may post some of those as well as family and things of interest. So visit often and let me know if you like what you see.

My name is Gary D. Etchison and I live in Grace, Idaho
my email is: idaho1956@hotmail.com
If you have questions or comments please let me know!