P!nk Photography

SUBJECT: Daniel James Dion, fourth generation San Franciscan, MFA Candidate in Photography

RAISED: on a vineyard in Sonoma county, he would one day trade wines with Tommy Smothers at a photo Session

DAN ALSO WRITES: He has had three satires in The Realist. One was on a “Homeless and panhandlers professional expo…with a seminar on dumpster diving.

BACKGROUND: Night manager at the Holy City Zoo, “the legendary comedy club where Robin Williams started. That’s where I started photographing comedians.

TIME OUT: He was also assistant photographer for the San Francisco Giants in 1993.

DOCUMENTATION: Dan photographed the restoration of the historic Fillmore Auditorium. (Currently it’s construction of PacBell Park.) Also, musicians at the Warfield Theater, backstage and in performance. “It was a wonderful opportunity to shoot stars like Johnny Cash, CSN, and Beck.

SO WHY: did he need to return to school? “It’s made a huge difference. “Instead of doing snapshots, I wanted to develop portraiture skills.”

ROCK AND ROLL CELEBS: They’re fine. “But you run an obstacle course with their entourage- managers, publicists, groupies, posses.” And the “hectic thing is, you have five minutes at most” to do do set-up shots.

FUNNY PROJECT: Dan is doing portraits of humorists. This includes a willing Mayor Willie Brown. His picture of Tom Lehrer, song satirist, was used in Time Magazine.
MORE CREDITLINES: Cover of Guitar Player, September issue; featured in American Photo last February. Has signed with Gamma Liaison Agency. “They handle my stock and give me editorial assignments.

POLITESSE: Not a street photographer, Dan wouldn’t think of taking a picture without permission. About his manner with pop icons, he says “A rock and roll photographer is thought of as a loose cannon. It’s a way of differentiating yourself to be polite and patient, relaxed.”