About the Artist

Born in Oakland, CA, Van and his family moved to Sioux Falls, SD in 1965. He attended Patrick Henry Jr. High School and received his high school diploma from Washington Sr. High. After a few years working on construction and then as a draftsman, he joined the Military.

Van started his love of photography while enjoying a 27-year career as a communications technician in the U.S. Air Force and the South Dakota Air National Guard. Travels throughout his career lead him to photograph such places as Japan, Italy, Sicily, France, Germany, Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States. He has officially photographed two Presidential visits for military base newspapers and numerous military air shows as a backup photographer.

Shortly after retirement he graduated from an intensive 10-month photography course through the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turner's Falls, Massachusetts. He now enjoys an interaction with people through wedding and portrait photography.

Photograph by Tony Downer