Dave Gartner's photography started in his cousin's camera shop located on 46th Street off 5th Avenue in New York City in 1959. It was mainly a professional shop where many of the pro photographers would come in to buy equipment. He'd been taught by the best such as Sam and Larry Shaw-Sam Shaw whose famous photo of Marilyn Monroe has been seen throughout the years. His work with Playboy started through the association of Playboy photographer Jerry Yulsman.
Official Playboy photographer Dave Gartner began working for Playboy in 1961 and continued for the next 30 years. During that time and after, his photographs have been numerous. They range from photos from the clubs in New York, New Jersey and Atlantic City to being the official photographer of Geraldo Rivera for 7 years to photographing the New York Nets and the New York Islanders and being given the title of Honorary Deputy Sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff's Task Force photographing the Orange County Sheriff's 150th anniversary book in 1995 and shooting many of their calls on the scene.
As a photographer of Playboy, his photographs were never ending from individual photos of the Bunnies to candid shots with the Playboy Bunnies and celebrities at the clubs for Playboy. He was the head photographer who hired the camera Bunnies for the NYC club and in the Great Gorge Hotel and Resort and traveled with the Bunnies as chaperone with them to the numerous assignments and promotions outside the clubs.
During this span of 30 years and more the following are special credits given to him. This is just a partial list of them:
1.Cover for the Albums "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits and Kai Winding's album "Penny Lane".
2. Special lighting system used on Johnny Carson for Richard Harris's "McArthur Park and the CBS special called "Spoon River Anthology with Jason Robards. After seeing the special lighting effects at Dave Gartner's studio in NYC, Woody Allen hired him for a New Year's Eve party at his townhouse.
3. U.S. Army Reserve promo video called "Charge of the Light Brigade shot in 1980 near the Playboy Great Gorge stables.
4. Photographed the Harlem and Philadelphia riots in 1964-1965.
5. Photographed Leroy Neiman's first showing at the Hammer galleries on 57th Street in NYC.
6. Photographed the still photography in 1995 for the Backstreet Boys' first video.
7. Co-Produced and photographed with stills of "The White Whore and the Bit Player written by Tom Eyen (in Playboy Magazine)
8. Photographed some of the photos for China Lee, Playboy centerfold Miss August 1964.
Dave Gartner has had an incredible career shooting for Playboy and photographing numerous celebrities and sports figures. This site contains many of his best works.
If you would like any information about these photos, please contact Dave Gartner through his web site at davegartner.com.
