ABOUT Don Sala Beecher, Il. 60401 All Images On This Website Were Created And Photographed By: ©DonSalaImages.com

Photography has been my professional career for 57 years. 
It started when I took a printing class in high school, and was introduced to black & white photography.
I didn’t know it at the time, but it was a life changing experience. I found something I liked, and I was good at. Thanks to Mr. Nagy at Reavis H.S. I quit the basketball team my senior year to work a job to pay for art school. I attended Ray Vogue School of Art in Chicago for 2 years while working part time for a location photographer.
A few months later I was drafted in the U.S. Army, and deployed to the Panama, Canal Zone in 1969. My job was a Military Police Photographer with the 534th M.P. Company. I would photograph military personnel promotions, vehicle accidents, and special aerial assignments. After 2 years of service, I received an Honorable Discharge, with the rank of E-4.
  I returned to Chicago, and started working for Vogue Wright Studios, at 469 E. Ohio St. as an assistant photographer for Ron Richardson, Devon Reno, and Adam Elsenbach. These photographers were shooting covers for Sears, Alden’s, Montgomery Wards, and other catalogs. Adam & I would travel to L.A., Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Dallas, Florida, and other locations.
When we weren’t traveling we were shooting products with models. Sadly Adam Elsenbach passed away in 2017, he taught me a lot, and I will never forget him. And Ron Richardson passed away in January 2019, I talked to Ron in October of 2018. He will also be missed in the photography community.
  After 6 years I started my own business, Don Sala Photography, at Wacker & Lake St. in Chicago. I have worked for, and learned from some amazing people. My clients were great to work for. I would shoot large format film (4x5 & 8x10) for advertising photography.
   My clients were SRA, World Book Encyclopedia, Scott Foresman Company, Encyclopedia Britannica, BOCA International, Kroch’s & Brentano’s Corporate Office Book Store (Mr. Kroch’s Christmas Cards, using Mr.Kroch’s collection of Netsukes), SVE, Turtle Wax, Strom Toys, Howard Medical, Federal Signal, and the team of artist at Tessing Design, and also our great friends, Arvid & Louise. Sadly Arv passed away January 2020. He was a great & fun guy. I learned a lot from Arv, and Louise, it was great to be around both of them. Arv will be missed but not forgotten. Devon Reno passed away in Sept, 2021. He was my Mr. Fix guy, when it came to my power packs. He was also a great friend, and photographer.
  I have been shooting fine art photography. My work has been exhibited in Chicago, Illinois galleries, and Indiana galleries. Where I have received first place awards.

This fall one of my hero’s passed away after living 100 years. She was a fantastic person, and a gifted artist. Her needlepoint art is a permanent collection at the Art Institute Of Chicago. Her name is Virginia Bath. Virginia was member of the Beecher Historical Society. She wrote many books about the history and people of Beecher, Il. She will be missed!

My art work symbolizes a connection I have with nature, that I learned from different naturalists over my lifetime. I believe in preserving nature in its full natural form, photographing natural subjects, and leaving the subjects as I found them. Through my clear vision of lighting and composition, I have developed into an artist that is determined to create more new and exciting artwork over the years.

Member Crete Creative Gallery & School

Member of Frankfort Arts Association

Member of Tall Grass Arts Association

Member of Art Institute of Chicago

Volunteering for the Art Institute of Chicago- Partners In Art Program, for introducing famous American & European Artist in their classroom. I included color slides that I formatted for the lesson plan.

Member Rainforest Foundation US- Gamboa Rainforest in Panama,CZ

Member Sierra Club

Member of The Beecher Historical Society & The Beecher Preservation Commission.

 If you would like to know more about me, or my art work, please contact me at:  dsala7@gmail.com. Thanks, Don Sala