photography
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b: careynash.com
t: twitter.com/careynash
p: 780.721.8646
How did you get into the industry?
I have been shooting for well over 10 years, but I first got into the industry in 2005 in Fort McMurray, Alberta. I started out doing family shoots and model headshots along with fine art travel work. I wasn’t sure which direction to head in until I was offered a great opportunity by Shell to shoot images of Prince Phillip’s Royal Visit to the oil sand sites in Northern Alberta. It was one of my first corporate shoots and it opened opportunities with other companies and got me started in larger projects with Syncrude and Suncor.
Did anyone inspire you or do you have a mentor?
Over the years I have found many great inspirations and leaders in the photography world that made me want to deliver a message with my work. Sabastio Salgado is, and always has been, my favourite artist. His work is a reflection of lives, souls and the environment around those people. I admire his style and approach and hope that my work can inspire others. I have always strived to produce unique artwork, and have not aspired to be like another photographer. Like most photographers I may test and mimic other styles, but ultimately my imagery is a reflection of myself and my feelings. I spent the better part of ten years on the road to remote parts of the world and my photography evolves in each environment. My work in the Congo is drastically different than my work in Nicaragua.
What do you feel makes you stand out from the rest?
When it comes to fine art photography I bring a personal and sincere gift to my work. I often mention to others that I never travel to shoot, rather I travel to see the world and my work is a reflection of what I saw. I travel most often with one camera and one lens and I’ve never felt comfortable forcing photography on myself. I try to let every new day be my inspiration and now I can look at my most prized photos and know that they were a real moment somewhere magical in my life and in this world. With my wedding photography I try and bring the same vision to the table. I’m a passionate person with a distinctive vision and I do my best to deliver a true representation of that special day. As a husband and a father I know what those moments mean and I love the ability to turn that day into art. It’s an incredibly creative field filled with real passion.
What have been your challenges, if any?
My challenges have been trying to find a balance between my wedding photography and my fine art. My fine art is more than just an image, it is moments of my life, a life of a young man trying to find himself and express his feelings and adventures. And my wedding photography is similar; I am an artist who uses that wonderful day to deliver the couple’s personal story.
What do you feel is your specialty, if you have one?
One of my strongest skills is my interaction with others and as a result, my portraiture work. I feel I have the ability to talk with others and gain their trust and create a comfortable setting. When you have that, your portraits take on a whole new expression. It isn’t just a photo anymore, but an interaction between the photographer and the person. When you have trust with your subject, the viewer can see the true person in the face of the subject.
What’s new or cutting edge in your opinion?
Where to begin? Since the advent of digital SLR cameras, this industry has taken incredible leaps. Now everyone easily has the ability to shoot, to express themselves and to edit. I sometimes hear complaints from others about this as it has allowed so many people to effortlessly access the photography world. I disagree, as it has permitted more people to explore their creativity and challenge themselves. Photoshop and other photo editing software have also been an incredible tool; sometimes it skews the line between what’s real and what isn’t, but it has opened up new avenues of originality. Of course I miss using film, as I loved being patient and not rushing to take a picture and waiting to develop the shot. I miss that feeling of getting a roll of film back. It was exciting and sometimes frustrating but I miss it.