Meet Christy Dickinson | Fine Art Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christy Dickinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christy, why did you pursue a creative career?
I come from a family of doctors, nurses, educators, and business owners. None of that appealed to me, and as the youngest of five kids I was given quite a bit of slack when it came to career choices. In college, I bounced around from major to major, but eventually I settled comfortably in the art department. Photography was an easy choice, as I’d grown up shooting and developing film with my dad. Combining art history with photography was a perfect match for me.

Growing up in Oklahoma is where I first fell in love with photography. My dad was really into photography. We had a darkroom in our attic, so I learned all about developing film from him. As an art history major I filled my studio requirements with photography classes. I did my first conceptual series in college, all film, no digital editing. My friend braved the cold winter of my unheated garage in Golden, CO to wear sheer curtains in the role of a ghostly figure, oh man, lol. That’s probably the beginning that led to where I am today. I just love to create surreal and painterly images. After college I ran my own natural soap company for about 13 years. Film photography was dying and I didn’t really shoot much during those years other than photos of my kids. My husband bought me a small Sony digital camera for Christmas one year, I wasn’t impressed. I couldn’t set it manually, the quality was pathetic back then, so I wasn’t impressed with digital photography. Then one day I started messing around with that little camera and figured out how to manipulate it to work manually for me (sort of). I got a better camera, then a DSLR and then I taught myself digital editing and Photoshop. Learning digital editing was like going back to school again. One thing led to another, and then I was able to start working as a photographer.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The constant desire to create and bring to life my imagination is the driving force behind my work. That’s what keeps me busy.

I started my photography business doing the normal stuff like senior photos, family photos, and eventually weddings. I love that work, and I enjoy capturing special moments in people’s lives. An image of mine from a family session in Denver was even featured in a National Geographic book about photography. That form of photography is my bread and butter. Weddings have afforded me the opportunity to travel the country and abroad, and for that I am grateful. Once I became proficient at digital editing though, I realized all the possibilities for creating artful imagery, that was a game-changer for me. I wasn’t a great painter, but I could make my wildest dreams come to fruition in a photo.

My art history background plays a heavy influence in the work I create today. I have forever been captivated by the rich folds of fabric in paintings, and the light, I love that light. I try to mimic the light I see in the work of the old masters when creating images; I get a lot of inspiration from those old paintings.

Taking what I envision in my head and bringing it to life in the real world can be tricky though. I try to do as much of the scene/set for an image physically and limit the amount of digital compositing as possible. That’s hard, sometimes you just can’t find a giraffe someone will loan you. I go to some pretty extreme lengths to create my little scenes. I’ve strung up a hundred birds, laid a tarp inside a set then filled it with water, and covered myself in dirt for a piece where I was a plant in the ground, lol. I’ve purchased humongous hooks from a fisherman in Florida who was quite perplexed as to why a girl in landlocked Colorado needed those hooks (you can see them in a couple of my images). It’s like a whole installation thing first that takes hours, sometimes weeks to create, then I get my model in there and shoot in like 30 minutes. So it’s a lot of work for just a few minutes of photos, but I love the whole creative process. The model isn’t in there for just a few minutes, really; I’ve been thinking for weeks about what she’ll wear, how I’ll create what she’ll wear, how she’ll be posed, or what I want her to be doing. When I create these conceptual pieces, or whatever you want to call them, I’m not creating for a specific audience. I’m always surprised by who enjoys some of my weirdest work. Some of my ideas are strange, but they mean something to me in my brain. If someone comes up with their own interpretation of what it means to them, well I love that.

I’m beginning a new series and getting back to my roots by incorporating film photography and digital. This past Thanksgiving I went home, and my brother helped me drag my dad’s old photos and 8mm film reels out of his attic. I bought a digitizer to convert his old reels into digital video. My dad never got to see my success as a photographer. He would have been so geeked out by digital photography and even phone cameras. He would have seen what I see, how endless the possibilities are. By combining modern photography with my dad’s old film is a fitting way to pay homage to the person who showed me photography in the first place. I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in a tiny 123 year-old Victorian in Old Colorado City. The first place I would take someone is probably breakfast/brunch at BonTons in OCC, I love eating brunch on their patio, it reminds me a little of the cafes in Paris. Some of my favorite restaurants are the town favorites like Jake & Telly’s, Paravicini’s, Front Range and La Baguette, which are all in my neighborhood and all delicious. I would definitely take a visiting friend to eat at the Green Line Grill, and if I was in Denver, I’ve always been a huge fan of the vegetarian/vegan food at Watercourse. As far as sights go, the obligatory drive up the Peak or a stroll through Garden Of The Gods is always happening. Driving to Cripple Creek and Victor is a pretty gorgeous one, plus the history is cool. Gold Camp Road and Helen Hunt Falls is always fun. Hiking the Crags is something we like to do with friends who are in town who want a great hike. But to be honest, we usually are hanging out in our backyard.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe a great deal of gratitude to the friends who have pushed me and encouraged me. My husband, Chris, is my biggest fan, so of course he’s someone whose help I couldn’t create my crazy ideas without. Two art instructors from college were instrumental in setting me on my creative path (whether they know it or not I’m not sure). My dad taught me how to shoot and develop film. He taught me how to frame a shot. He’s the reason I’m a photographer.

Website: www.christydickinson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikeforestphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikeforestphotography/

Other: www.pikeforestphoto.com

Image Credits
I am the photographer. Christy Dickinson