I recently had the pleasure of judging the photo competition at our local county fair. This year was exceptionally rewarding as we had a great selection of outstanding entries and I was able to meet several of the photographers. I also learned there are some fascinating and inspiring stories behind many of the images.
In past years I have judged these competitions and always felt disappointed that I wasn’t able to bring more recognition to the talented artists that had spent their time and money on producing images that we could all enjoy. Additionally, I always felt frustrated that more people weren’t able to see the beautiful work created by these local photographers.
After discussing this with Donna McDonald (in charge of exhibitions), we decided to do a series of stories to shine a little light on these artists. By showcasing them and their images, we hope that others may be inspired to participate, or simply see what they missed by not attending.
To kick off this series, we feature Dan Hauck. Dan’s exceptional images earned several top honors, including best-of-show. In his own words…
Diana Richards’ portrait of her father Dan Hauck. August 2025.
“I’ve had a passion for photography for years, but it truly took hold when I was with the US Navy, stationed in Iceland in 1972. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. I fell in love with capturing nature’s raw beauty- and I’ve been hooked ever since. My journey began with an old used Argus C3 manual film camera. Over time, my love for exploring new perspectives and the technical side of photography has only grown. I’m driven by the challenge of turning everyday moments into lasting art. Come along with me as I share the world through my lens, one unique image at a time.”
Lake Tahoe Sunrise at Sand Harbor: Another favorite location at one of the most beautiful locations at Lake Tahoe. I stumbled across this location on the lake for the second time in my life with camera in hand I again crawled out on a couple boulders to take this shot. It was a little harder this time due to age but it was so worth it. – Dan
Blue Cove at Lake Tahoe, Sand Harbor: As a small lad I dreamed of finding this location at Lake Tahoe. Seeing photographs of this side of the lake with its boulders submerged in the crystal blue water seemed to draw me into its beauty. Well dreams do come true. I continue to come back to these locations and enjoy the peace and beauty of the area on this side of the lake, away from the busyness of some areas here. We have been given all things to richly enjoy, I enjoy! – Dan
Bristle Cone Pine Tree,
East of Bishop California:
I hiked up to these beauties last year with a photography buddy. Some of these living trees exceed 4000 years of age with their weathered, twisted and beautifully colored wood. These trees display the true meaning of resilience. As I walked through these remarkable trees The evening was completed by photographing this tree with the Milky Way in the background. The elevation is just above 10,000 feet. So worth the hike. – Dan
Golf Course Sunset at Dayton Valley Golf Course: It had rained hard that afternoon. Lightning and the sound of thunder rolled through Dayton Valley for hours and I couldn’t wait until the rain stopped so I could set up the camera for what I thought might be a sunset photo opportunity. Little did I know that this was to be one of the most beautiful sunsets I would ever see. The storm was headed north and I caught the tail end of the power packed super cell as the sun light up the sky dancing with color. Everything seemed to come alive including the reflection on the golf course pond. -Dan
Golf Course Bridge in Dayton, Nevada: At the tees of the 11th hole of this Golf Course is a splendid view of a bridge crossing the water leading to some of the most breath-taking sunsets you will ever view. The bridge and walk way draw you into the scene leaving the viewer with the feeling of peace. This was a planned view and photo. I waited for a day with rain and clouds with just the right light from the sun. What a spectacle of elegance. -Dan
MaMa With Her Colt, Wild Mustangs in Dayton, Nevada: We enjoyed a band of Wild Horses in the town of Dayton Nevada some weeks ago. They hung around the neighborhood for a few weeks posing for pictures and then went on their way. During that time, one afternoon, a Mama and her colt appeared around the corner from where we lived. This mother was very protective as I photographed the two. I was using a long telephoto lens from a safe distance, a good 100 feet or so but never the less she kept her eye on me. A peaceful moment indeed. -Dan
Fire Fall at Horse Tail Fall, Yosemite Valley: I took the trip to Yosemite with a friend and we were both fortunate to capture this amazing spectacle. We had waited all day to capture this moment in Yosemite Valley on a bitterly cold February day with a hundred other photographers from all over the world. The moment finally came; all you could hear were hundreds of shutters clicking and cheers coming from all around us. Unquestionably a highlight. I’d do it again. – Dan
Monarch Butterfly in the Foothills of Squaw Valley: I found myself in a photography slump, not motivated at all to pick up my camera. I was taught to just get it out of the backpack and just shoot around the house. Well to my surprise a Monarch Butterfly landed on the butterfly bush that had been planted in the back yard. It was there for only a few seconds but I was able to pull off the shot in focus. Needless to say, I’ve kept my camera close at hand, ready to capture whatever comes my way. I learned that you don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth to seize the opportunity. Just be ready and willing. – Dan
Daffodils in Squaw Valley, Fresno County: Squaw Valley is a small town nestled in the hills east of Fresno California located at the base of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. While at a friend’s house playing cards and sharing a meal together all of a sudden, the sun light up the clouds over the foot hills and Central Valley of California and in all of its spender gave us a pretty as a picture sunset. Gotta love it. – Dan
You can meet Dan and see more of his images at the Dayton Valley Days, Sept. 20 – 21, 8am to 5pm in the historic district of Dayton NV. For additional information, contact Dan Hauck via email…ddhauck@gmail.com.
Richard Massey is an international award-winning photojournalist and freelance-writer. He has a passion for film and does much of his photography using vintage film cameras…as seen here. His interest in teaching has led him to start a photography YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChdW0Jjsca47EpKE5N_jtag
Photo by Robin Travis
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