Photographer at The Old Hotel

Dave Goeke has always been interested in photography from the time he got his first camera — a Kodak Duaflex IV twin-lens reflex, back in the 1950s. He took photography courses as electives at Western Illinois University and worked part-time as a photographer for the University during his junior and senior years.

He met his wife-to-be while on a photo assignment for the University.

This month, he is the Artist of the Month at The Old Hotel Art Gallery, 33 East Larch. His photos can be viewed Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Goeke’s interest in wildlife led to a degree in biology and graduate school in wildlife management before it was officially designated wildlife management.

At the time, in the 1960s, there were relatively few trained wildlife managers. During the summer of 1964, he worked as a student-trainee at Seney National Wildlife Refuge on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

In subsequent years, he worked at stations in North Dakota, South Carolina and Georgia before coming to Othello at the start of 1980 to serve as manager of Columbia and Saddle Mountain national wildlife refuges.

Over the next 10 years, his work emphasis shifted to the point where he was working heavily with staff of the secretaries of the departments of Interior and Energy, the National Park Service, conservation groups and daily with Department of Energy personnel at the Hanford Site in Richland.

Finally, in 1998, he was designated project leader for the Arid Lands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the area now known as the Hanford Reach National Monument, and established a new office in Richland.

Throughout this career, Dave used his photography to illustrate the work he was doing with the agencies. Meanwhile, photographic equipment was evolving to become more compact and convenient to use, especially as it applied to wildlife photography.

“Most fortunately for me, the rise of digital photography grew into prominence right at a time when I could take full advantage of it,” Goeke said. “Just as I retired and had time to devote, digital allowed me to take photos, see them in the field and do post-production on my computer at home in a normally lit room with a television on. No more need for chemical darkrooms or waiting days to have slides developed. What could be better?”

Goeke enjoys photography of all wildlife, especially birds, but over the last several years, he has been developing greater interest in smaller subjects, particularly dragonflies and butterflies, even bees and spiders.

“I like to capture wildlife doing things in interesting situations and in retirement, I can take the time to devote hours to an individual subject,” Goeke said. “As a biologist at heart, I also enjoy spending time in the field getting to know more about the biology and behavior of my subjects, a key to anticipating the action. I see and learn new things all the time. Catching the moment or scene and creating an image of interest and-or beauty is personally rewarding and more so when others also enjoy it.”

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