By Kristi O'Harran, Herald Columnist
As a physician, Dr. David Welton can see what may be wrong with a heart.
As a photographer, he "sees" hearts from different angles.
When his grandmother gave him a Kodak Starflash camera for his eighth birthday in 1956, his love of photography took hold. Today, he's an accomplished photographer. One of his photos will be shown this weekend at the Edmonds Arts Festival.
The University of Washington cardiologist has an office in Lynnwood and lives on south Whidbey Island.
Through college and medical school, a camera was never too far from his medical bag. A graduate of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, he practiced at Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic, then moved to Whidbey Island to work at the University of Washington as an assistant professor.
"I learned how to do angioplasty and became board certified in interventional cardiology,” he said. “A lot of things happen in a 30-year career and it is kind of amazing to learn stenting during everyday practice. The procedure builds on basic skills one develops during cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography.”
His wife, Georgia Edwards, is a retired oncologist. Their son, Nathan, is a professional photographer in Colorado.
When he was asked to work 70 or 80 hours a week at his old job, the couple left Santa Barbara, Calif. They saw a house featured in a newspaper spread on Whidbey Island, fell in love with it and bought it. They wanted to live in a rural atmosphere and Welton said the ferry commute is no problem.
His photography work appears on a pamphlet for the July 12 Langley Half Marathon. He helped produce a pamphlet for Whidbey Children’s Theater and has sold pictures to the South Whidbey Record.
And he has won awards. His work placed third in the Edmonds Arts Festival in 2008. He won Best of Show at the Island County Fair in 2005 and earned a first-place award for sports photography in a state newspaper contest.
Nothing pleases Welton, 61, more than late-afternoon golden sunlight.
“I like black-and-white and colored photography,” he said. “Black-and-white is abstract, but an excellent print has so many tonal values it will affect you like a color print.”
Welton says a good picture is well-composed and technically perfect, with proper exposure and appropriate focus.
“It should be informative or trigger an emotional response in the observer,” Welton said. “Take pictures of things you like and try to show what makes the subject special. It may be something that only you can see. Be quick to react with the shutter button. Sometimes the best moments only last for a few seconds.”
Marta Mulholland of Freeland asked Welton to take pictures of her 1-year-old son in autumn leaves.
“I’ve found David to be professional, enthusiastic and really excited by photography,” Mulholland said. “He’s not afraid to take action and candid shots and try different angles. He seems to prefer the more natural look, which I appreciate.”
In his eventual retirement, Welton will no doubt pursue camera work and another passion, bike riding. He said he has had a wonderful career in medicine, but would have enjoyed being a photographer, too.
“Medicine influences my photography,” Welton said. “I see things other people miss.”
Kristi O’Harran, 435-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
