Bella Terra Gallery

At Bella Terra Gallery we are all about Photography and Nature and our mission is to bring the timeless beauty of nature into the spaces where life unfolds. Each photograph is more than an image—it is a reflection of a moment when light, landscape, and emotion converge in harmony. Through vibrant, detailed prints, we seek to offer more than wall art: a spark of wonder, a conversation piece, or a cherished reminder of places that touch the heart. Guided by a passion for preserving the spirit of the natural world, our images are created with the belief that surrounding ourselves with nature’s beauty enriches our lives, brightens our spaces, and connects us to the experiences and memories that matter most.

How It All Started

Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are filled with the sound of my father’s Leica IIIf shutter and the sight of him carefully composing each frame. He was an accomplished photographer in his youth and later applied his visual and technical skills in photolithography for the aerospace industry, crafting images on a microscopic scale. His love for photography, however, never dimmed—and it was through him that I was introduced to the world of cameras, tripods, film, and the patient pursuit of beauty. Watching him work instilled in me a deep appreciation for the blend of science, art, and curiosity that defines the craft.

My very first camera was a fully manual folding bellows, handed down from my mother. Under my father’s guidance, I began experimenting with exposure, focus, and composition. Those early experiences were less about making “perfect” images and more about cultivating the patience to see—learning how light changes a scene, how timing alters mood, and how a simple detail can elevate a photograph. By high school, my fascination with how things worked had earned me a reputation as the kid who dismantled electronics to explore their secrets. That same curiosity later led me into a career in electrical engineering. But alongside my professional path, photography remained my truest calling. Recognizing this, my parents gave me my first serious camera: a Minolta SRT-102 with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. Unlike my father’s rangefinder Leica, the Minolta was a single-lens reflex, which gave me a new level of control and opened up endless creative possibilities. Every shot required deliberation, every decision mattered, and every mistake became a lesson.

My Interest in Photography Grows

For nearly twenty years, that Minolta was my constant companion. I expanded my kit with lenses, flashes, and tripods, and I spent countless hours in the darkroom printing black-and-white enlargements. The experience of working with film—its limitations, surprises, and tactile nature—grounded me in discipline and respect for the craft. It also instilled in me a lasting appreciation for the artistry of pre-visualization: the ability to see an image in your mind before pressing the shutter.

Photography Becomes Much More Than a Hobby

When digital photography began to emerge in the 1990s, I was skeptical. Early digital cameras lacked the depth, tonal range, and richness of film. But my curiosity eventually drew me in. My first digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 950, was a modest 2MP device—but it opened my eyes to the potential of digital photography. The ability to experiment, review instantly, and refine my process was revolutionary. From there, I transitioned to more advanced systems—the Nikon D300, then the D800, and later the D850 with its extraordinary 46MP resolution. These tools, paired with increasingly powerful software, redefined what was possible. Photography was no longer a single moment captured on film—it became a two-stage art form: first recording the maximum information in RAW format, then interpreting and shaping that image into a final piece that reflected how the human eye and mind truly perceive the world.

Nature Photography Became an Obsession

While technology has transformed photography, my artistic focus has remained constant: landscapes. There is something profoundly humbling about standing before a waterfall roaring with unstoppable force, a desert that stretches endlessly beneath the sun, a forest that has stood for centuries, or a coastline illuminated by a fiery sunset. These places remind us of the grandeur of the planet we inhabit. My work seeks not only to document these landscapes but also to convey the emotional resonance of being there—the awe, peace, or exhilaration that lingers long after the moment has passed. Each photograph is both a record of place and an invitation for viewers to connect with their own memories, dreams, and sense of wonder.

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that photography is not just about technical mastery—it is about creating a bridge between the external world and the internal experience. The human eye is extraordinary in its ability to perceive dynamic light, subtle textures, and color variations, building a composite memory of a scene that no camera can capture in a single exposure. Through patience, skill, and digital refinement, I aim to create images that echo the way our minds remember landscapes: vivid, balanced, and alive.

Photography Becomes Much More Than a Hobby

To share this vision more fully, I created Bella Terra Gallery (www.BellaTerraGallery.com). The gallery allows me complete control over how my work is displayed and experienced. My images are available as museum-quality prints on metal, acrylic, canvas, wood, and fine art paper—mediums that bring out unique qualities of depth, vibrancy, and texture. Whether someone is seeking to brighten a home with the memory of a beloved trip, to mark a milestone with a meaningful destination, or simply to enrich a space with the calming presence of nature, my goal is to make that connection possible.

For me, photography is not only an art form but also a lifelong dialogue with nature. It challenges me, grounds me, and continually pushes me to see the world with new eyes. Through my work, I hope to bring that same sense of discovery and reverence to others—so that every piece offers more than an image. It becomes a window into nature’s magic, a story told in light and color, and a lasting reminder of the beauty that surrounds us all.

— Norbert Daberko