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Behind the Lens With Doug Dickin

By Doug Dickin
July 1, 2012
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Meet Doug Dickin:
Experience: over 30 years active in photography, studied photography at Red River College in Winnipeg, Canada. Spent two years as a news photographer with the Regina Leader Post, two years with a government photo department, several years as a Mac Support Specialist.

Gear:
Nikon D700, iMac, Photoshop, Aperture.

Teachers and/or influences?
I was greatly influenced by fashion photographer Richard Avedon.

I knew I wanted to be a photographer when...
As a youth I was fascinated with Life magazine, later when I got the chance to go to photography school, I jumped at it.

Your approach to photography:
Strictly documentary, a face, a place, an event— no words necessary (good music helps).

Your teaching approach/philosophy:
Richard Avedon said it best: "I have no secrets. I just work."

Your biggest challenge when shooting indoor (or low lighted) events:
Color casts, uneven lighting, tight space like in a club.

Your biggest challenge when shooting outdoor events:
Backlighting, a mixture of sun/shade on the scene, can all cause problems requiring extra post-processing.

Favorite venue to shoot:
Clubs can be a joy to shoot in as long as management are not power-tripping.

Favorite festival to shoot:
I have found most festivals to be a rewarding experience. The atmosphere is usually relaxed and offers various vantage points.

Where was your first assignment location?
I was fortunate to get on with a daily newspaper right out of photography school, the best experience one can get.

P.J. Perry at The Rex—Toronto—© 2011 Doug Dickin

Your favorite musician(s) to photograph:
My favorite musician to photograph is the one I am focusing on at the moment. I strive to say something significant about the person and the music and hope the resulting photograph is worthy of displaying on my wall.

Did you know...
I left photography for a few years to work in Mac computer support. Photography is much more interesting and personally rewarding.

Your favorite jazz story:
After a jazz performance wound up in a club recently, I was packing my camera bag and an elderly gentleman stopped beside me and said, "I'm a photographer. I was watching you! You know what you are doing, picking the moments and the angles. And you don't even use flash." I left with a contented grin on my face.

View more Doug Dickin photos at All About Jazz

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