Anne-Marie Jackson has put together a Q&A to give some insight into the workings of photographers and visual journalists throughout Canada. This is an ongoing series and is posted every Monday. This weeks Q&A is with freelance photojournalist Dave Chidley.

The family and friends of Trooper Wilson gathered at CFB Trenton for the ceremony in the pouring rain, shortly after 8:00 pm. Immediate family members watch as the flag draped casket is carried from the aircraft. Photo By Dave Chidley The London Free Press

Hello NPAC members,

I have put together a Q&A for the student forum to give some insight into the work of photographers and visual journalists throughout Canada. This will be an ongoing series.

If you would like to add a specific photographer to the list, please e-mail photo@amjackson.ca.

Cheers,
Anne-Marie Jackson
photo@amjackson.ca

Q&A With Dave Chidley

http://davechidley.ca/

What were your first steps in the industry?

I started taking photos while in high school for the yearbook and school newspaper.  That led to an interest in photojournalism as a career.  While at Ryerson I shot photos for a music magazine.  I got the gig by just calling them up and showing them some of my work.  It was really my first professional experience.

When you were a student, what did you want to do after graduation and are you where you thought you would be now?

When I first started in school, I really wasn’t sure where I would end up, but after my first year I had pretty much decided that newspapers is where I’d like to be and poof, that’s where I went.

Dave Chidley with his new camera. Photo Submitted

What or who are your biggest inspirations?

My wife motivates me to make money, ha, ha, just kidding she is a big supporter and pushes me.  I actually believe my mother who was a hobby painter inspired me to be creative and she and my father supported me all the way into photography.  Today I am inspired constantly, from a colleague creating one “wow” image to the,  photojournalism (still images) long-term projects that are still being done, today there is so much visual work that makes me wide eyed, it’s sometimes overwhelming.  So a lot of my personal inspiration comes from the basics around me, I’ll go for a walk in the forest and I’m back just like when I started in photography seeing light and textures, and colours, and being like a kid in the candy store.

Did you have a mentor? How important are mentors?

I can remember Barry Gray of the Toronto Sun (now Canwest Editor) coming in to my class at Ryerson and showing these giant black and white prints he had shot at the Olympics and of other amazing moments.    Barry spent the time to chat with those of us who were interested and invited us to tour the paper.   I called him and he helped get my “foot in the door” which we all know is a huge first step.  That led to an internship where he and all the staffers really did help me.  After that I was hooked.

Over the years I have learned from so many photographers and editors it would be tough to start listing them, but I’ve have found that most are very willing to share skills and ideas.  It’s very important to have feedback and guidance at all stages of your career.

Conrad Black gestures at a member of the media as he arrives at the court for the racketeering trial of Conrad Black and other former executives at Hollinger International leaves the federal court building in Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday July 10, 2007. CP PHOTO/Dave Chidley

What was a pivotal point in your career?

Getting offered a staff job at 21-years-old while still in school.  In hindsight, I was incredibly lucky.  I left school and have been working ever since.
How important is multimedia to you?

Presently to me multimedia is not very important.  Most of the multimedia offerings have not impressed me terribly.  Although a few have really grabbed me.  I have enough trouble managing still photography, but to add moving pictures and sound to my plate makes my head spin.  I am not against it at all, I took motion picture production in school and loved it.   To me it’s another whole world and when I see still photographers trying to do both stills and video I cringe.  How can anyone be expected to do both well???  I will be doing my own multimedia personal projects in the near future but not while shooing stills.  It’s another way to “gather” information.  As an information gatherer, I look at the message more than the delivery process.

Tshidiso, 8 years sits on his bed at Nkosi’s Haven, an orphanage in Johanesburg, South Africa. Tshidiso is nicknamed “Mr. President” by the residents and staff at Nkosi’s Haven where the orphan lives. He reminds the staff of South African President Thabo Mbeki with his “orderly” behavior and personality. Tshidiso is HIV positive. Image if from a project on the HIV/AIDS orphans of South Africa. Photo By Dave Chidley

How do you ensure that you are progressing as a visual journalist?

I am tough on myself.  With single images I critique them constantly.  When I am really down I look at working on something larger.  I never stop learning.  I sometimes feel that there is so much to learn with today’s technology it gets to be daunting.  So I get back to basics.   I also teach and lecture to students and camera clubs on a regular basis.   Every time I do, I am shown work that is fresh.  I often say to myself, hmmm I wouldn’t have shot it that way.  Sometimes because it’s bad, but often times because it’s original, and I learn.

What are some of the must-see websites you visit? Please include why you visit these sites. Eg: Inspiration, guidance, information, education etc….

Wow, back to the daunting topic.  There is so much out there!  I read NPAC, and Sportshooter sites nearly everyday, not so much for the “complaining” but for tech tips and links to other cool sites.  When people take the time to post something cool, I usually will go there and often it is great work worth seeing.  I actually look and about 5-6 newspapers a day.  I have a full subscription to pressdisplay.com where there are over 700 newspapers listed daily.  Talk about overload!  So I try not to spend too much time getting buried in it.

A Navajo teen plays his guitar inside the Antelope Canyon near Page Arizona. The slot canyons were formed by water wearing a path through the sandstone. The tranquil canyons are one of most breathtaking places I’ve visited.  The excursion, was one of the journeys I have helped to lead as a co-host on travel trips exclusively for photographers. Photo By Dave Chidley

What is your favourite way to unwind?

My wife and I have moved into the country on a tree filled lot that has about 100 acres of woods behind ours.  I have a large workshop and I am totally relaxed by building something, or doing renovations.  I like working with my hands making something physical, not a digital file.   When I really need a boost I grab the chainsaw and fell a tree, look out!
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you about being a photographer?

Is to get a real job instead! ha, ha.   There has been lots of good advice over the years.  I can’t pinpoint “the best” piece, but I do believe that doing your absolute best on every single job from the “pet of the week” to the really big ones is been my goal.  Someone once told me that they don’t judge a photographer by their best work but by their worst.   I guess the key advice is to always have high standards.