While on assignment for the University of Tennessee Beacon newspaper in 1969, Don photographed a student hidden in the bushes behind a row of riot police. That photograph eventually made its way into a 1970 issue of Esquire magazine which also became one of Esquire's top photos of the year. Don was also published in Newsweek as well as other national publications. While in college, he was featured in two solo exhibitions of his photography at the University of Tennessee.

After his college years, Don was involved with a small group of photographers interested in photography as an art form. They were known as the Tangent Photography Group. Their goal was to broaden their vision as art photographers. As a result of their efforts, they procured numerous group exhibitions in various major cities throughout the Southeastern United States.

In 1975 he was extremely fortunate to study directly with Ansel Adams at his home in Yosemite
National Park.

Don was now well into his professional career and had entered regional and national competitions and received numerous awards includuing three Kodak Gallery Awards. A number of these award winning images were included in international touring exhibitions.

He received his Tennessee Professional Certification in 1981 as well as his Master of Photography degree through the Professional Photographers of America in 1985.

Don's photography is available through Martin Gallery in Charleston, SC, Thomas Dean Gallery in Atlanta, GA, Bennett Galleries in Nashville, TN, River Gallery in Chattanooga, TN, Winter Works on Paper in New York City, NY, and Kate Hendrickson Work of Art on Paper in Chicago, IL.