[David Simchock.]

Person: David Simchock                         
Place: Studio 375 Depot                          
Passion: Photography

Let us start out by saying, David Simchock is “humbled to be here,” in the River Arts District that is. He is humbled to be surrounded by talent, community and energy. This says a lot considering Simchock has traveled the world, continent-hopping over the past nine years. He has been places, he has seen the faces and the landscapes of this world, and these things have inspired him to pursue a career in photography.  

Before Simchock become a globe-trotter, he was a man in a suit. Before he was a man in a suit, he was in graduate school achieving a masters in business at Stevens Institute for Technology [after receiving a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University.] The background does not quite match the foreground; Simchock was well on his way up in the business world, when he decided to leave it all to travel. He left his job [a good one in England], sold all his possessions and started on his traveling way.

He documented his travels through photography, capturing the essence of the way people live and move throughout the continents. His images were well received, to the point that many encouraged him to pursue a career in photography. He did. He decided to become a travel photographer, so he could live freely doing the two things he loved most; traveling and creating photographs. First, he had to come up with a name, so he did some market research [perhaps an ode to his business background] and the winning result was Vagabond Vistas.

The name "Vagabond", has multiple meanings, some not for print. But the meaning that strikes the most fitting for Simchock is "free-spirit". During his travels, locals called him "Vagabundo", and the name stuck, and is now one of his two business names [the other David Simchock Photography.] During the first year in creating Vagabond Vistas, Simchock proved himself successful; he landed a cover shot in the New York Times Travel section, and other well noted papers around the country. About four years into his nomadic venture, a friend asked him to teach photography to a group of Polish-American immigrants. Simchock agreed, and this decision changed the direction of Vagabond Vistas.

The photography classes were a win-win situation for both the teacher and the students. As an instructor, Simchock was learning more about photography through teaching. He had fun with the students, and instruction came natural to him. He wasn’t by the book. He taught what he knew and put his students at ease behind the camera. Photography classes took off, even in the midst of dropping economy. He recognized this opportunity and went with it; teaching walking photo tours in New York City and Philadelphia, hosting classroom-based workshops and offering private instruction consultations.  

Presently, Simchock is doing the same in Asheville. He moved here back in July, and has set up a homey studio at Studio 375 Depot, furnished with a big comfy couch, guitars for strumming and a wall or two full of his photos. He has a lot going on in the coming months, including many photography classes; some are free, some are pay what you can, some are a fixed-rate. His classes and workshops are listed on his website at www.VagabondVistas.com.

Simchock is one of fourteen photographers for the Click Project opening February 14th at the Conn-Artist Studios & Art Gallery in Hendersonville [River Arts District photographer Laurie McCarriar is also part of the show.] Simchock is planning First Friday Films in his studio; a laid-back, come hang out and watch an uplifting film with good people kinda night. He is also a big fan of Second Saturdays in the River Arts District, and is looking forward to planning events to get more people down to the district. Simchock is eager to get things done this year, to inspire people through photography, creativity and awareness. Check out his websites at : www.DavidSimchock.com [his photography] and www.VagabondVistas.com [his classes and workshops.]