David Hellard shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
David, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity and honesty—without question.
I value intelligence greatly, and it absolutely matters to me, but once someone has been deceitful or underhanded, I find it extremely difficult to engage with them at all. Whether it’s an outright lie, a lie by omission, manipulation, or—worst of all—gaslighting, the effect is the same. Trust is broken. When dishonesty becomes a pattern, I don’t hesitate to step away entirely.
I realize some of it comes from a feel of inferiority, and I’m not talking about people who may embellish a story a bit, but if I feel like I’m being compelled to accept an alternative reality, I’m out.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a photographer and digital artist currently based in Portland, Oregon. I grew up near Dayton, Ohio, and later spent time living in Los Angeles, experiences that continue to shape my perspective and work.
Outside of the studio, I enjoy hiking, reading, and exploring the landscape through photography. I’m currently developing several photography and digital art projects, including one I’m particularly excited about: Voices From Space—a themed collection exploring visual and auditory apophenia. Looking ahead to 2026, my goal is to present this work in a gallery exhibition, even if it’s a modest one.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
It’s so funny you asked me this question.
Recently I shared a photo of myself as a child with some friends. It was one of those online things where everyone in the group posted a photo and we guessed who was who. They remarked on how happy I looked and how big my smile was. If I really try, and I mean REALLY try, I can kind of sort of remember that carefree sense of joy at just being alive.
Climbing trees, running for the sake of running, finding faces in the clouds, making friends with the free roaming cats, laughing for no reason at all.
Sadly over time that person began to fade and was completely gone by middle school. There are a lot of people in the world who attempt to grind down or beat that feeling out of you. It never really comes back. You can kind of catch a brief sense of it from time to time, but as an adult you have so many more things occupying your mind and so many responsibilities that you cant just be completely free.
I’ve gotten some of the joy back by focusing on finding beauty in small moments during the day. A laugh with a good friend, a perfect cloud in a blue sky, a waterfall, the sound of the ocean, the taste of a good piece of chocolate. The list goes on. The key I think is really recognizing these moments without the distraction of negative, intrusive thoughts.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Oh gosh, that’s easy. It might sound cliche, but the idea that you are capable of doing so much more than what you can imagine is a difficult concept to grasp as a child or younger person.
I honestly thought everyone who was good at something was naturally good at it right away. The concept of putting in work to get better seemed implausible. Instead I somehow got the message that I should put effort into finding what I was good at instead of following my heart. Guess what? I never did find out. I only got better at the things I worked towards.
That notion, give up quickly and do what’s easy, is the language of defeat and cedes control of your self and your being to society.
I’ll add this as well. One concept I wish someone had explained to me or gotten through to me is: don’t allow your sense of self worth be based on your relationship status. Be happy with yourself first. I could probably write a book on this topic.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Ideologies don’t solve problems; ideologies PREVENT you from solving problems.
Ideologies exist to maintain the status quo.
Common sense should tell you that problems existing within the status quo absolutely require that something must change.
Precedent is actually a woefully inept way of having a just and healthy society.
Every problem requires a unique solution.
Believing that we need to address every situation in the same manner as we have always done is pointless.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Clinging to ideology is literally doing the same thing over and over again and expecting problems to resolve themselves.
If you find yourself mentally arguing against this concept, you may be clinging to an ideology.
A good place to start is “The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling” by Ted Chiang. Read it, and if you’d like to discuss afterward reach out to me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
The thing I’ve always wanted to have accomplished is to write a book.
I used to write creatively all the time then found myself doing a lot of technical writing for work. Although I did it very well, it sort of let the air out of that particular balloon. I found myself not wanting to sit and write after having spent eight hours or more doing it.
I don’t even really care if it’s well-received or successful. I just want to have done it and hold it in my hand.
I mentioned earlier wanting to have a gallery exhibit this year. I believe I will regret it if I don’t put forth the energy to make that happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davidhellard.com
- Instagram: dhellard_photography
Image Credits
All photos are mine.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
