Fabulous Arts - Doug Chinnery Photography

Doug Chinnery Photography

Photography is all about light. I set out to look for the light and photograph what the light does to what it illuminates. The quality of light can lift the ordinary into something beautiful.

Photography is all about light. I set out to look for the light and photograph what the light does to what it illuminates. The quality of light can lift the ordinary into something beautiful. I want others to see and enjoy the stunning landscapes I see in my work. I believe in 'making' images rather than 'taking' them. A fine photograph needs to be composed, crafted and executed skilfully. This is what I endeavour to do with my camera.

Like many people, I was given the classic 'Box Brownie' camera as a child and instantly fell in love with its magical ability to capture images. That sense of wonder has never left me, as I worked my way through several cameras as I grew up. However, when I saw the early digital cameras my sense of excitement over the possibilities was really unleashed. The immediate view of the image on the camera with no waiting for film to be developed. The ability to remake an image if something wasn't quite right with the first shot and the huge cost saving which allowed for the making of hundreds of images a day instead of simply 12 or 36 in the days of film allowed me to really experiment and develop my skills.

Like many photographers, I record weddings and portraits for clients. I do commercial work, even photographing a pallet manufacturing factory recently (try making that artistic, there's a challenge!) But my heart is in fine art landscape and nature photography which forms the majority of my work.

Strangely to some, I love getting out of bed in the dark, getting out to stunning locations an hour or more before sunrise and having the environment to myself with the challenge of capturing the sublime beauty of what the early light does to the landscape. Then pressing on into woodlands, up hills and along shorelines looking for natural abstracts and details, finding order in the chaos and recording it for others to enjoy. I love the loneliness, I love having the world seemingly to myself for just a few hours (although my dog Stan is often out with me).

My images have been published in magazines and articles world-wide, I have authored articles for the photography press and have recently released a range of greetings cards through the Woodland Trust and other organisations. I conduct a whole range of photography workshops for those interested in developing their skills and this has become a major part of my business. I get great satisfaction from helping others get the results they want from their cameras and seeing the joy on their faces as the quality of their image making improves. I blog regularly ( www.dougchinnery.blogspot.com) as I believe in sharing what I learn with others and enjoy the contact this gives me with other photographers and those who love my images.

Future goals? I want to write more. Magazine articles and a book are part of my plan for the year ahead. I also want to exhibit my work. This is something I have long wanted to do but always had that nagging doubt that plagues many artists - are my images are 'good enough'? I would love to exhibit my landscapes and macro images but I have also been working on some minimalist and fine art projects that are quite different to much of my work. I would love to see reactions to these images. I must pluck up the courage and approach some gallery owners for their expert opinion. What is it they say? 'Feel the fear and do it any way'.

Organisation - Doug Chinnery Photography
Contact - Doug Chinnery
Area - East Midlands, but travelling widely
Art Form - Fine Art Landscape & Macro Photography
Contact number - 01909 509733
Mobile number - 07974 147655

Web: www.dougchinnery.co.uk

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