My interest in photography began early in my high school years. I have always been fascinated with the images and articles being presented in National Geographic magazines. I would read the magazines during study hall from the library archive. At the time, I had also become interested in mountaineering. One of my early dreams in life was to become an adventure photographer on assignment like those individuals who were featured climbing in Yosemite and in the Himalayas during the 70's and 80's. People such as Reinhold Messner, Peter Habeler, Greg Lowe, and Jim Whitaker among many others. I learned of Royal Robbins who had pioneered solo free climbing in Yosemite in the 60's. The images from high on the cliff walls of the world astounded me. I was fascinated how these men over came obstacles to acheive their goals- all in the name of adventure! I worshipped Galen Rowell and his mountaineering photography from high in the Himalaya along with all the beautiful pictures he took of the cultures and people in Nepal and Tibet. He set a standard for me to follow which shows in my work today.
I got my first camera when I was 14. The camera was an Olympus OM-10 and I took it into the mountains in Colorado on a few backpacking trips to the San Juan mountains near Durango. While in the mountains I reached the summit of my first and only 14,000 ft. peak. This experience changed my life for ever. After these trips my interest in traveling became apparent. Two trips to Badlands National Park in 2007 and 2008 have produced some of my most revered work. These trips were my first attempts at photojournalistic work on my own. I was fortunate enough to have met some very influential Lakota people and to have been able to camp in some of the most sacred places on Pine Ridge indian reservation. Forty three images from this trip were recognized and produced in my exhibit: Visions of Black Elk �. The exhibit was presented in March, 2008 at the St. Charles Community College (St. Charles, Missouri), and more recently in February of 2010 at Cahokia Mounds State Historic site in Collinsville, Illinois. Two photos from this exhibit were awarded 1st Place in the Cahokia Mounds Native American Cultural Photography contest in both the Color (2008) and Black and White (2009) categories.
It is my desire to produce images as naturally as possible. I am old school and prefer to let the camera do the work. Lighting is everything
Chris Brewington
Chris Brewington Photography LLC joined Pixels.com Licensing on November 1st, 2010.
