David Hartwell is a Pasadena-based photographer. His practice lies at the confluence of the scientific image, traditional botanical illustration, and contemporary representation. His botanical photographs are constructions both in their making and figuratively. They are compendiums of hundreds of shots taken at minute intervals and distances. Separating his subjects from their life ecology his process emulates what the human brain does best: synthesize information into a coherent whole thus exposing a plant’s unique morphology. What makes them them. The process is sincere and the images are authentic albeit never to be seen as such by a camera or the human eye. His models are locals, guests and aliens who inhabit the self-imposed area of study that is his garden. David peers down at and exposes a plant’s most private parts for an audience that was never intended. He magnifies our gaze of those shameless exhibitionists.

His photography and artwork have shown at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew; the National Museum of China, Beijing; 798 Art Zone, Beijing; The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands; Wende Museum of The Cold War, Culver City; EPFL Pavilions, Lausanne; WUHO Gallery, Hollywood; Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Los Angeles; Louis Poulsen, Los Angeles; Palm Springs Art Museum.

In February 2025, David was awarded 1st prize winner of International Garden Photographer of the Year competition in the portfolio category. The award is given yearly and organized by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in partnership with the Royal Photographic Society. His series “A Cast of Characters” will be traveling throughout the UK and Italy as part of a group show with fellow laureates.