David Zapatka is the Director of Photography for the Washington State-based United States Lighthouse Society. His national project, USA Stars & Lights, features night photography of our nation’s historic lighthouses. The project began at Narragansett Bay’s Dutch Island Lighthouse in 2013, and over the course of the last decade, David has photographed 285 lighthouses in 26 states. He has released two books of his work: Stars & Lights: Darkest of Dark Nights in 2017, and USA Stars & Lights: Portraits from the Dark in 2020. His third book, USA Stars & Lights: The Edge of Darkness is slated for a Spring 2025 release. Currently on sale in stores nationwide is his first calendar, “Great American Lighthouses, 2025” released by Sellers Publishing of Portland, Maine. He is the president of the Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, owners of the 1899 historic lighthouse located beneath the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge in North Kingstown. It was through his leadership the group created the ubiquitous Plum Beach Lighthouse Rhode Island license plate. Since 2010, plate sales have generated more than $350,000 for the continual maintenance of the lighthouse. David is also a nine-time Emmy®-award winning national freelance cameraman for network news and sports programs. He is a newly elected artist of the Art League of RI, and is a juried-member of the Wickford Art Association. He lives in North Kingstown with his wife, Lisa.
