Behind the Shield Podcast with James Geering

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Episode 10 - Daniel Sandahl - Firefighter/Paramedic and artist.

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Dan was born in 1967 and raised in Canada. Being Canadian automatically makes him super nice and very apologetic, even when he doesn't need to be. He's been a full time firefighter and paramedic for 13 years and that’s where he get's all his motivation for my emergency services artwork. Dan has a real passion for raising mental health and PTSD awareness for our profession. "You can’t do this job and not get a little crazy."

In his previous career, Dan was an English teacher. This gave him the opportunity to travel the world and live in many countries. While living in Japan, he even played in a Japanese blues band, one of the strangest experiences he'd had. Living in other countries really shaped his personality and perspective on the world and travel continues to be his biggest teacher.


He first picked up a ‘real’ camera about 5 years ago. Dan loves the technical side of photography, which appeals to his "geeky" side. He also loves the artistic side of photography; "it’s great for my left and right sides of my brain."  Dan continues to travel, learn about photography and work full time as a firefighter/paramedic. "I’m truly humbled by all the attention my work has received and I’m sure I’ll keep creating until I’m old and cranky."

Dan's Website: http://www.dansunphotos.com/

Facebook: Dansun Photos

Instagram: @DanSunPhotoArt

Dan's Book: https://dansunphotoart.com/products/portraits-of-an-emergency-early-special-edition

Book mentioned in the interview: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484742668&sr=8-1&keywords=book+law+enforcement