David Hayden loves solving problems.

Whether it’s crunching numbers or figuring out how to suspend a coffee pot mid-pour for the perfect photo, Hayden, 73, enjoys challenging himself to find solutions to complex tasks.

Fueled by curiosity, ingenuity and creativity, Hayden developed a distinctive style of photography that’s been in demand by companies, individuals and organizations across Southern Colorado—and beyond—for more than a decade.

His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Pueblo and across Colorado, as well as internationally in London, Cape Town, Berlin and Belgrade.

Hayden’s passion for photography began in 1965, when he was 13 and his older brother gave him a 35mm camera. With film too expensive to waste, he first learned the mechanics of the camera without film and taught himself principles like depth of field.

“My brother showed me that you could put a piece of ground glass on the back [of the camera] and use it like a view[finder],” Hayden said. “So, for a couple of months, I just went around imagining taking pictures with the little ground glass on the back.”

Eventually, he saved up enough from his paper route to buy film and start shooting real photos. 

In the mid-1980s, he purchased a Pentax K1000.

“I really got inspired by what a camera could do with interchangeable lenses,” he said.

But photography had to remain a hobby. His work in manufacturing engineering—which took him from Colorado to Pennsylvania and Texas—left little time to explore his creative side.

Born in Pueblo and raised in Aurora, Hayden eventually returned to Longmont in 2009. About 11 years ago, he and his wife settled in Pueblo, where he works part-time as a data analyst for the Pueblo City-County Library District. He plans to retire soon and embrace photography full time.

CAPTURING CURIOSITY

The rise of digital photography reignited Hayden’s passion. In the early 2000s, he made the switch from film to digital and began shooting more frequently. His portfolio grew from dozens of images to thousands each year. As his skills improved, so did his ambition.

When he returned to Pueblo in 2014, he founded Pueblo West Photography and began exploring new ways to express himself through still life and product imagery.  

He joined the Southern Colorado Photography Society and volunteered to take photos for the American Red Cross and Pueblo Zoo. 

A few years later, he met Christopher May, then the photographer-in-residence at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center. May invited Hayden to help photograph an event—something Hayden had little experience doing—but he accepted the challenge.

“I was doing Red Cross events and zoo events to improve my skills,” Hayden said. “I never really planned on doing event photography.”

He adapted quickly. When May moved to Chicago, Hayden took over as photographer-in-residence.

Today, he photographs events for the arts center, equestrian competitions, museum functions, graduations and more. 

“Pour Me” uses sleight of lens and mechanics to make magic of a coffee pot.

His work also includes commercial product photography, where he uses custom-built fixtures, creative lighting and technical precision to craft a distinct visual identity for each client.

In all his endeavors, collaboration is key. He said the key to strong product photography lies in understanding how the image sells beyond the object itself.

“The more I know what a person wants, the better I’m able to deliver the product,” he said. “I ask, ‘What’s the story you’re trying to tell through these photos? Are you trying to sell the lifestyle that it brings?”

Like fragrances, for example. 

“You can’t take a photo of a fragrance—it’s a liquid in a bottle,” he said. “Companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars designing bottles that will catch your attention. If you don’t realize that, if you don’t collaborate with them on that, you may miss something really important.”

ENGINEERING THE PERFECT SHOT

Hayden’s engineering background informs his photographic style—a blend of analytical thinking and artistic expression.

“Curiosity really drives me,” he said. “Whether it’s depth of field or shift lenses, I want to know how that works and why it works. I don’t want to accidentally get a good picture.”

He has designed and built several custom fixtures to hold objects in place or suspend them in midair. His favorite genre is still life, and he spends hours perfecting lighting and composition to capture the right image.

In “Fresh Squeezed,” David Hayden uses his engineering background to create a surreal floating illusion.

One of his favorite still lifes—a lemon clamped in a vice—took eight hours to get just right.

For another project, he engineered a rig to suspend a coffee pot mid-pour—a scene that required careful construction to capture without any visible hands.

Hayden has also mastered editing and color grading techniques to make his images “pop.” 

His vivid visual style reflects years of meticulous experimentation and a commitment to blending form with function.

He said his ultimate goal is to spark curiosity in his viewers.

“I like creating images that make people curious,” Hayden said. “I want them to ask, ‘How do you do that?’ Because that’s the way I approach it.”

RETIREMENT THROUGH A NEW LENS

Despite his accomplishments, Hayden remains committed to growth.

He is one of the leaders of the Southern Colorado Photography Society and is active in a global online mentoring group, where photographers give and receive constructive feedback.

With retirement near, he’s looking forward to dedicating even more time to photography.

“I have a couple of contract proposals out there, and I planned on doing two books this year,” Hayden said.

He’s already authored six books—three technical and three focused on photography. 

David Hayden zooms in on the details, capturing his subjects one close-up at a time.

Operating under David Hayden Photography, He accepts projects and contracts on his own terms.

“The nice thing is that I can choose what I work on,” he said. “I’m not relying on photography to pay rent. It gives me freedom to do the projects I want.”

Wherever he goes, he brings his camera.

“You can’t capture that moment if you don’t have the camera,” he said.

Learn more about Hayden and his work at his website or call 719-289-2670.

For information about the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave., call 719-295-7200 or visit their website.

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