LABOR OF WILD LOVE: DAVID DUCHEMIN
DAVID DUCHEMIN
All art is a labor of love. But some artists, like photographer David duChemin, take the labor and the love to even higher levels.
DuChemin is a world & humanitarian assignment photographer and best-selling author. He spends a tremendous amount of time, effort, and energy, not only perfecting his images, but by raising awareness for important issues in the world and by helping to raise up next generations of photographers.
Based in Victoria, Canada, duChemin takes gorgeous photos of the landscapes and wildlife in his own neck of the woods and he travels all over the world capturing beautiful images wherever he goes.
We are featuring images from two of his Canadian adventures in this Daily Fix.
Steller Sea Lions are stellar, especially as portrayed in duChemin’s incredible underwater portraits.
Taken, after several failed attempts to find them in the choppy Salish Sea, off the Strait of Georgia, between British Columbia’s west coast and Vancouver Island, these images are not only a testament to duChemin’s astonishing talent, but also to his patience.
The Steller Sea Lions winter in these wild green waters, then feed on the spring herring run. On his last attempt to navigate the rough Salish Sea, duChemin and his friends headed to Norris Rocks, the Sea Lion rookery, through driving rain and pounding waves.
DuChemin & friends dove 35 feet to the bottom and, alas, they were finally joined by the curious sea lions who came to investigate the new visitors.
DuChemin described the thrill and concern he felt when a sea lion took his entire head into its mouth and partially closed its jaws. Good thing the sea lions were gentle and just playing around!
On an adventure to Khutzeymateen Inlet, off the west coast of British Columbia, duChemin set out to document the beautiful lives of indigenous grizzly bears.
It took tremendous calm, patience, and many days to get his shots. The bears surprised duChemin in that they were far less scary than he was expecting. Instead, he found them to be exceptionally beautiful, gentle, and curious.
DuChemin got some of his best shots sitting only a few meters away from a mother and her cubs for a couple days.
A beyond their technical and aesthetic brilliance, duChemin’s photographs not only document life and landscapes few of us ever get to see, but he captures and conveys the emotions of the scenes. We understand how he felt to be there. And we feel it vicariously through his images.
When on humanitarian assignments, duChemin creates powerful images that convey the hope and dignity of children, the vulnerable and oppressed for the international NGO community. Past clients include World Vision, Save the Children, and the BOMA Project.
DuChemin had a previous career in comedy, which helps him to be a highly dynamic and engaging presenter and educator.
He is the founder and Chief Executive Nomad of Craft & Vision, Editor in Chief of PHOTOGRAPH Magazine, a contributing columnist to PHOTOLIFE.
See more of David duChemin’s work here.
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