Daily Inspiration: Meet David Lile

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Lile.

David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am David B. Lile and I am presently sixty-eight years old. It has been said that…”A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” (Lao Tzu)

My photographic journey began thirteen years ago. The mission statement that I began with and still believe in today, is the following…

“To uncover and reveal the hidden, potential energy contained within every object and environment, thus inspiring life among the otherwise inanimate, while integrating architectural and environmental elements into powerful expressions of art.” This mantra has been the guidepost of my creative work.

Surprisingly, my initial, photographic epiphany/moment came to me when my neighbor was cleaning out his garage!

All types of items were sitting out in his driveway. I was immediately drawn to the air gauges, various tools and every industrial item known to man! I picked up my first ever Canon digital camera and immediately began shooting these objects and then went back to my production studio. Working with each image through the power of Photoshop, allowed my creative passion to bring these inanimate images to life.

That intersection of passion filled knowledge, along with the available technology of Photoshop, brought out the hidden energy and beauty of each element captured within the photograph, much akin to the sculptor looking at a boulder and seeing a beautiful statue within.

That life changing moment was also the starting point of new opportunities to enlarge my photographic exploration. I have had numerous opportunities to photograph major cities within the United States and throughout Europe, including Italy, Iceland, Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Over these twelve years, my journey has taken me from my initial beginnings of exhibiting my artistic photographs within local exhibits and contests. Now, I currently work with Fortune 500 companies, local businesses, 501c3 organizations, interior design studios, ASID interior designers, architects, and residential clients.

The subject matter of my artistic image portfolio now contains images of industrial, photographic abstracts, international scenes, urban, landscape, aircraft, transportation, along with numerous environmental and architectural elements. My portfolio includes over 6,000 fully produced images.

My brand of imagery offers multiple artistic options that are powerfully centered on both newly constructed, refreshed, remodeled design space environments for businesses, corporations, and residential clients.

All of the following styling expressions below, may be used in diverse design environments, all the way from small, intimate areas to large, spacious public and corporate design spaces.

My images are available from small to large format. They may be ordered as matted/framed/ mounted/covered prints. They also may be ordered as large- scale canvas or individual prints, 3M Wall Wrap or Commercial Grade Wallcoverings.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When one embarks on a business adventure, it is not usually easy! Let’s take a moment to remember the quote, “If it was easy…Everyone could do it!” with that shared, it is initially, indeed hard.

In the early years, I remember making presentations to groups and businesses that were used to speaking with fellow Fortune 500 companies, about their environmental design space needs, for image placement.

I only had about 100 images that I could offer them, but I thought, “What do I have to lose if they say no, except to pack up the few images that I could present and find another group where I could present my work!” Which is exactly what I did indeed do!!!…I moved on and did do it once again and again and again!

As you learn your craft, don’t hesitate to learn from others, whether it is a fellow creative, or taking in seminars and classes that will help you grown within your creative field. Education, in any form, is definitely a very good thing and it helps give you additional knowledge, confidence, and experience!

Another aspect that you need to remember as a newbie in any field, is that many corporations and even designers like what works for them. Remember, your appointment is about them and not you!

They find solace and comfort in what they have done and if you present unique, artistic imagery and work to them, sometimes, believe it or not, it will scare them or make them fearful. That is because it is new.

Don’t be offended if someone does not like your work. Whether is it a photographic image, a painting, a sculpture or anything else that you have created, if you believe in it, and you know its worth, present it! And if that someone does not like it, move on and present it again elsewhere. If you do that, you will grow in confidence and strength, as you continue to promote your work.

Remember…In every worthwhile business endeavor, there will be mountaintops to cross and claim, along with deep valleys to endure, accompanied by stretches of both straight and winding roads to travel.

Nevertheless, when you continue to persevere you will see your business goals and concepts realized and those ongoing experiences will give you inner strength to continue day by day. Then you will one day look back and realize just how much you have grown!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As David B Lile, I am an artistic, photographic artist, engaged in the creation and sales of multilayered, unique, Artistic Architectural/Environmental Photography.

My Client/Viewer Goal…

On a personal level, I always strive to be cognizant of every environmental space in which my viewer encounters. My goal is to be a catalyst in empowering each viewer with an increased opportunity of equity, power, insight and community. Viewers have often described my work as “Creating visions of life, among the otherwise inanimate.”

My Artistic Image Goal…

Each environmental space has a unique story to share. I seek to reveal each story’s personality and soul through the enhanced application of vibrant, resonating colors, textures and layers.

Production Process…

I initially begin by capturing unique imagery of elements and environments. Then the process begins with the intent of breathing life into each image, through Adobe Photoshop. With that power of Photoshop, I then apply varying degrees of numerous plugins and filters, to enhance each image, to bring it to completion, with my vision.

Artistic Archival Documentation…
The focus of my work involves careful photographic captures of architecture, elements and buildings of both large and small city areas, across the United States and the world.

In some cases, those same buildings and structures that I had captured earlier are later demolished, to make way for new buildings. When this planned demolition has occurred, I created the phrase ”Artistic Archival Documentation.” This refers to the fact that I had documented that building, at an earlier moment in time and often created an artistic image, from its earlier capture point.

Corporate/Business Use Of My Work…

Through my last eleven years, my images have been commissioned for local businesses, various design environments, corporate headquarters and discerning residential clients.

As an example, Price, Waterhouse and Cooper, on Public Square, in Cleveland, Ohio, purchased 60 of my large format images for their two floors, within the Huntington Building.

One of their spaces included a large format, pictorial montage of Playhouse Square (The Cleveland Theater District) for their Conference Room. My photographs of commissioned Cleveland Landmark ceilings were transformed into commercial grade wall covering, that became the ceilings for their break rooms, along with 20 large format images of Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs, throughout the building.

I have also had the privilege of my work having been used in publications. Ohio State University Press, featured my work in Fall Classes catalog. OSU also purchased three of my large format images, placing them in their newly constructed building on the Ohio State University Campus, through Brenda Kroos Gallery and Campus Partners.

My Image Work Has Intersected With Dance…

Professor Erin LaSala, past director, with Kent State University Dance/Arts Department was inspired by my image, “Determination.” Professor LaSala created and choreographed the entire dance presentation, focusing on the “Determination” image. The image was projected on their professional, stage-wide backdrop, using different forms and formats, for the entire dance. The dance presentation was viewed, over several performances, by over 12,000 attendees. It was a very unique, powerful and synergistic intersection of photography and dance.

My Akron Exhibit…

Suzie Graham and Downtown Akron Partnership commissioned me for a very unique installation. At that time, many of the downtown buildings were slated for restoration, which was later accomplished. However, at the time they commissioned me the buildings were still in transition. The city wished to add vibrancy at that time, to their vacant buildings. So they featured sixty of my images in the first, “My Akron,” exhibit. The exhibit stretched the length of half of a city long block of downtown Main Street. The unique exhibit was retained for two years, during building renovations. All of the vibrantly colored images were various captures of the city of Akron.

My desire, within the scope of this particular work, was that each viewer who had a visual interaction with this “My Akron” exhibit, would take a moment to look even deeper and see the city of Akron, as they had never seen it before.

My Mission Statement…

To uncover and reveal the hidden, potential energy contained within every object and environment, thus inspiring life among the otherwise inanimate, while integrating architectural and environmental elements into powerful expressions of art.

My continuing goal is to be an environmental and social catalyst with my clients, designers, and individuals,
so they may experience self-awareness and personal power.

To gratefully and carefully provide a unique image product that has been specifically hand crafted, to the client’s exact desires and expectations.

To artfully and socially enhance design installations, in order to generate community for all those who experience that environment.

What makes you happy?
Happiness is spending time with my loving family and my wonderful wife of 46 years.

Happiness is putting on my well-worn work clothes, over the weekend and working together in the garden, with my wife.

Happiness is getting on my bicycle and riding 30 miles with a lifelong, childhood friend, through a National Park.

Happiness is reaching out to friends and doing what I can, within my friendship circle, to make their lives just a bit brighter and joyful.

Happiness is a walk in the sunlight and later, sitting in an easy chair, with a big glass of sweet tea on a very hot day.

Happiness is skiing down the side of a mountain in Colorado.

Happiness is meeting a new client or talking with a fellow creative about a cool new tool in Photoshop.

Happiness is living life each and every day, to the fullest and being thankful for it.

Happiness and joy is knowing my relationship to both God and all those that walk along with me on this big, round globe, and being content, grateful, appreciative and thankful for everyone.

Happiness is knowing that Voyage Savannah asked me to share my creative and personal life with their digital magazine here, allowing me to share my thoughts and my work with you all!

Happiness leads to joy and joy leads to lifelong pleasure and contentment!

Thank you, ever so much, for your time in learning about myself and my work!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.davidblile.com
• Instagram: davidbryanlile
• Facebook: David B Lile

Image Credits
David B. Lile