You could say David was born into photography. By 12 years of age he was in the darkroom with his father making contact prints by exposing paper to a light globe. A High School affair with photography led to a brief stint at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology tackling a Degree in Illustrative Photography. Later on, while studying an Architectural Degree, the call of the outback led to the departure from the big smoke. David explored the landscape and drew experience from his many varied jobs on stations and the railways.

A return to studies led to a Degree in Teaching and off to Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. The camera was always at the ready and a library of images was formed while teaching and later managing an Aboriginal Art & Craft Corporation. On arriving in Darwin teaching only lasted a few weeks. While working in the construction industry David was slowly building up a clientele which were looking for good commercial photographic work.

In 1983 Silva Photographics was incorporated and after a couple of years of rental, purchased a building in the CBD from which to operate the business. David now draws on his experience in the outback, construction work and insights into architecture to identify closely with his commercial and industrial clients and their photographic needs. His work is varied including government, aerial, editorial, corporate and tourism operations. David is a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and has been awarded an Associateship for the high standard of entries in National Competitions. David also won the Editorial Photographer of the year for South Australia and the Northern Territory.

David is one of those rare, lucky people who is able to earn a living by pursuing his life's passion for photography.