June 14, 2004 - This week, we interview David Nightingale from Chromasia.com:

Please tell us a little about yourself:
I'm currently a 41 year old academic living in the North of England. I'm shortly moving from Yorkshire to Blackpool - an archetypal British seaside resort. Trading sheep for candy floss, sandstone for sand, and the hills for the sea. I was born by the sea, so in some ways, it feels as though I'm going home.

First time grabbing a camera?
I think I was around four when I first used my dad's camera, and our family albums from that time contain a number of skewed and blurry portraits that I was immensely proud of at the time.

Why does photography interest you?
Photography interests me because it's a way of interpreting the world that fits with the way that I see the world. I can't paint, or draw, but I can take photographs that go some way towards capturing my vision of the things that interest me - things that I think are worth drawing to the attention of others.

Other hobbies other than photography? Do they mix with it?
None that are worth mentioning. With four, sometimes five kids, I've run out of time for hobbies ;-)

Your most memorable photographic experience?
I'm not sure that I have one. Photography, for me, is something I tend to lose myself in, so bringing particular experiences to mind isn't all that easy.

Most negative photographic experience?
Taking shots because I know I have nothing to put up on my site for the following day - which isn't a particularly rewarding experience.

What is your shooting style? How and what do you prefer to shoot? What is the underlying theme in your work?
I don't think I've found a theme yet (other than my family); and I don't think I have a particular style, nor a preferred way of shooting. I guess that the closest I can come to answering this is that I think that everything is a potential photograph ­ everything I do, everything I see, everything that catches my eye ­ all of these things are potential images that might or might not work out.

Why do you prefer that shooting style? Those things you shoot? Why not anything else?
Look above...

Film or digital?
Digital.

Why did you start a photoblog?
In retrospect, I'm not really sure. I started out using some photographs on a mostly text based blog and over a few months realized that I was enjoying the photographic side of it much more than the textual aspects. So I set up another blog and haven't written anything on my other blog for quite some time.

What have been the biggest joys in running a photoblog?
The positive response to my work; both in terms of the wonderful comments I receive on my site and the amazing response from photoblogs.org members.

The biggest strains in running a photoblog?
Finding the time to take enough shots to keep up with my aim of posting an image a day ­ sometimes it all gets rather fraught.

Has photography and photoblogging changed your life?
Yes. I've always been interested in photography, but until I started Chromasia, I didn't really think of myself as a photographer, and that change was much more significant than I anticipated.

Your inspirations? Both in photography and photoblogs?
Ansel Adams ­by far and away THE best photographer... ever. Also Cartier Bresson because his images are magical and his vision is entirely beyond my understanding. Other photoblogs that influence me (and this is not an exhaustive list, but
it is in alphabetical order) include:

Caitriona, Chromogenic, Daily Dose of Imagery, Deceptive Media, Milo, Fiftymillimeter, Ground Glass, Mike Golding, Orbit 1, Overshadowed, Pixpopuli, Radio Uruguay, Russcam, and Shutter Release.

The best photograph you've ever seen?
Any of Ansel Adams Aspens series.

What can make photoblogs better?
For me, the thing that makes Chromasia work is the dialogue between me and those people who visit the site ­ who comment on what I write, and say what they think of my work. Without that dialogue, I don't think I'd find Chromasia half as rewarding.

Are you involved in anything else photography-wise other than your photoblog?
I've entered the last 34 Photo Friday challenges, but don't really have much time for anything else.

As always, we thank you for both this interview, and for your wonderful photoblog...
...I was pleased to be asked to contribute.