Since light exists in a dualistic state as both a wave and particle, is it the observer altering the state and how it's observed?

Light can show either particle or wave behavior, but not both at the same time. It depends on what kind of measurement is done. The double slit experiment will show wave behavior. The photoelectric effect will show particle behavior.

It is not the observation, but how the observation is made.

Example: The 2 slit experiment. If you observe many photons strikeing the screen, the wave nature is shown by the interference pattern formed. But, if you observe each photon as it strikes the screen the quantum nature is shown. Each photon strikes a unique x-y coordinate.

You can combine the 2 observations. Put up an array of photometers for the screen. Each photon will strike a single photometer. Now sum the number of strikes for each photometer and show them on a graph. The points will form the interference pattern. i. e. Plot the x-y coordinate of each photon.

"All of quantum mechanics is in the 2 slit experiment." - Richard Feynman