Dr. David Bess

David Bess has been passionate about photography since eighth grade, at which time he studied with a professional photographer in his then hometown of Berea, KY. During his high school years, he served as a yearbook photographer at Berea (KY) Community School, a publicity and group photographer for the WV State Baptist Camp and a portrait photographer. He won first-place awards for his black and white portraits and landscapes at the Kentucky State Fair.

In January 2010, he started a business named David Bess Photography LLC, focusing on portrait, event, and wedding photography. He has taken student, faculty, and staff portraits for WVU websites and publications over the past several years. His photos have been displayed and sold in four solo shows at Slight Indulgence II in Morgantown, WV, a solo show at Glen Manor Winery in Front Royal, VA, a solo show at the Fairfax Coffee House in Berkeley Springs, WV, and at the Mountain Laurel Gallery in Berkeley Springs, WV. He teaches a popular class in digital photography through the WVU Community Music Program. He states that his work in photography represents an “inner journey from a world governed by fear, mandate, judgment, and illusion to a world of peace, love, beauty, and creativity.

David is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of WV.

David recently retired from West Virginia University, where he served as a member of the music education faculty for 30 years. While at WVU, he also served in several administrative positions, including Chair of Division of Music from July 2000 through June 2007. He was inducted into the West Virginia Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in spring 2017.