David B Lile

In 2009, David ditched his trusty Canon AE-1 film camera to embrace the burgeoning phenomenon of digital photography.

A salesman at the time, he spent long days traversing hundreds of miles from Elyria and Willoughby to Rocky River and Shaker Heights, and everywhere in between.

During slow stretches of downtime, David cruised the neighborhoods of downtown Cleveland, heart thumping in his throat and spine vibrating from the soulful wailings of Hendrix, Guy and Zeppelin, turned up so loud the speakers crackled with static.

Then one day he grabbed his digital camera, opened the car door and stepped onto the hot concrete.

He felt the city’s song pulsing beneath his feet, a deep channel of heat and history. He looked out over the classic buildings and saw an unbreakable spirit, forged in steel and rubber and rock n’ roll.

What came next was a technicolor explosion of electric neon intensity.

That was the beginning. 

Since then, David has gone on to create a prolific and stunning body of work that serves as a colorful love letter to urban environments.

In a relatively short amount of time, he has amassed a catalog of more than two thousand images. And he’s gaining speed.

In fact, David himself is all about fast-moving, heart-pounding momentum. He’s a tall, wiry bundle of frenetic energy, light and loud color.

An avid cyclist, he whips through the hills of Northeast Ohio, the scenery passing by in a blur. He talks fast and walks even faster.

David can easily fill a room with his booming voice and passion for discovering new connections.

A natural networker, he thrives on building lasting relationships with his clients and delights in finding new ways to “wow” them with his work.

These days you might find David brainstorming with an interior designer about his next installation project, leading a presentation at the Camera Club or perched in his office chair in the middle of the night, lit by the glow of his monitor.

But, there’s one thing you can always count on… he’s creating something new.

And you’ll definitely want to see it.