Don was first drawn to photography while enrolled in Business Administration at St. Clair College in Windsor.
His schooling led to an 11-year career in the IT field, which included travels throughout Canada and the United States. But his passion for photography was growing even more. That led to enrolment in various photographic workshops, which prepared him for the inevitable career change from computers to cameras.
In 1999 when he collaborated with Freeman Patterson during spring workshops in New Brunswick. He also teamed up with Marike Bruwer to conduct workshops on the west coast of South Africa in 2001.
Later that year, he conducted two, one-week workshops at Singing Sands near Tobermory with Marike. It proved popular so for the next 10 years he conducted week-long workshops in both the spring and fall on the Bruce Peninsula with help from James Sidney. He has conducted solo workshops on the shores of the Bruce Peninsula for the last five years.
He freelanced his photography skills for more than 25 years, which has brought him a wide variety of assignments and a wealth of experiences. In 2007, he was featured on CBC’s live radio program Ontario Today answering questions from callers about photography.
He’s been the subject of numerous feature articles in Canadian newspapers about his photograph goodwill trip to his hometown’s sister city, Tsumeb, Namibia, Africa which nearly cost him his life. Escaping tragedy has renewed his zest for life.
Don is the founder of the Windsor Photo Guild, which hosts the Windsor International Photo Seminar each November. He has also given lectures and presentations to many groups including Windsor Camera Club, Mississauga Camera Club, London Camera Club, Lake Shore Camera Club, Huntsville Camera Club, and presenter at Niagara Falls Regional Camera Clubs fall seminar. In 2014 and 2015 he did winter workshops at Shampers Bluff, N. B., with special guest Freeman Patterson. He conducted two impromptu people/portrait workshops that sold out immediately.
Publications: Kodak.com, National Geographic Society, Spaceweather.com Discovery Channel. Photo Life, Photo Digest, Borealis, Science Probe, Best Wishes, The Record, Windsor Chamber of Commerce, Windsor Tourism, Business Life, Windsor This Month, Best Wishes, The Windsor Star, The Londoner, London Free Press, Toronto Sun, Vancouver24, Woodstock Sentimental, Edmonton Sun.
contact info don@donmartel.com 519 984 6329