- Dean Chalkley
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Dean Chalkley (born 2 April, 1968) is a British photographer from Southend-on-Sea.
Contents
Early life
Dean Chakley's first years were spent on a farm in Essex where his parents were Labourers. At the age of seven the family moved to Southend-on-Sea where he eventually attended Fairfax High School for boys, in Westcliff-on-Sea.
It was the 1980’s, the time of the mod revival. He describes himself as having been “...a hardened mod, totally into scooters, dressing flamboyantly, in cravats and so on.”[1]
Towards the late 1980’s Acid House coincided with his discovery of photography, although initially after leaving school his interest had been in Fashion, especially the type influenced by music. [2] He trained for and became a bespoke trouser maker for a couple of years but on realising the debt involved in setting up shop, he decided to become a Civil Servant and remained working as one for seven years.
During this time, the Civil Service sent him on an A-Level course in Photography, since it was applicable to his work there. This in turn led to a Photography degree at Blackpool and The Fylde College, during which he started shooting for Dazed & Confused magazine.
On completing his degree course he moved to London and assisted two notable photographers, Malcolm Venville and afterwards Seamus Ryan, whom he assisted fulltime for a period of about 9 months.
Professional career
Dean’s big break came whilst he was still assisting, in the form of an advertising campaign for Twix. Under the wing of his first agent, Yogi, who knew the advertising market well, he went on to shoot down the advertising route for some time, for clients such as Ben Sherman, Kodak and Lloyds. During this time the only editorial work Dean undertook was for Mixmag, shooting the covers and inside features, travelling to Iceland with dance duo Propellerheads for example, and spending lengths of time covering club-season Ibiza.
Reaping the financial rewards of shooting within the advertising genre allowed him to finance side projects such as his short film Strip which was accepted into and screened at several short film festivals around the world, and won the Kinofilm 2000 Best Experimental Short Film award at the International Short Film Festival in Manchester.
After growing less satisfied with the advertising work, he and his agent Yogi decided to part ways. Dean says of the departure, “…the editorial side that I liked, and the fuel that I needed, was being overwhelmed by jobs that were a little too broad.” [3]
After spending a year without an agent, Dean met photographer Paul Rider who introduced him to his wife Adele Rider, agent and now director of the photographer’s agency Shoot. Today, Adele and her team remain Dean’s choice of agent, undertaking amongst other things, production work and fee negotiation.
Music
Dean started shooting for the New Musical Express magazine in 2001, with The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft his first subject. Having been introduced to the magazine by current NME Photography Director Marian Paterson, he continues to shoot covers and features for the magazine today. This has proved a successful working partnership with Dean winning the Portrait Photographer of the Year at The Picture Editors' Awards 2006 [4] after having submitted his portrait of Oasis singer songwriter Noel Gallagher, a shoot commissioned by the NME. He has shot amongst many others, Ian Brown, Pete Doherty, The White Stripes, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse, Hollywood actress and singer Scarlett Johansson, and most recently American rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z, and Simon Cowell, British entrepreneur, music executive, television producer and celebrity .
As well as shooting within the music genre for magazines such the NME and Uncut, Dean also undertakes commissions from record companies, shooting artist’s and band’s album’s and single’s artwork along with their press photography. He has, to name but a few, shot for XL Recordings, Sony, Island Records and Acid Jazz providing pictures for the following:
Dizzee Rascal"s Mercury Prize winning album Boy in da Corner (2003)
Lily Alan’s single LDN (2006)
The Horrors’ single artwork for Gloves (2007)
New Young Pony Club's Fantastic Playroom (2007)
Tinchy Stryder’s Third Strike (2010)
Paul Weller’s album Find the Tourch Burn the Plans
Advertising
Dean has also returned to shooting “fun and edgy”[1] advertising work such as the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.
Editorial
He has also been shooting some fashion work for client’s such as Sport and Street magazine and Levi's and likes to shoot for The Observer magazine for which he has photographed actors such as Rhys Ifans, Dominic West, Rupert Everett, Bond girl Eva Green, and most recently, former model and author Sophie Dahl and in 2010 Clemence Posey.
DJing
To this day the photographer also continues to DJ with vinyl at several club nights, most frequently at Shake! at the boogaloo which takes place at the infamous Boogaloo bar in Highgate, London. A host of well known musicians including Shane Macgowan, original singer and songwriter of The Pogues, and others can often be found here too.
Exhibitions
Having shot many of today’s leading pop and rock musicians and bands led to Dean’s exhibition Now Stand Tall! Icons of the new sonic generation which opened in February 2006 at The Spitz gallery in London’s Spitalfields. In collaboration with this, he also arranged three accompanying gigs at the venue. On the 27th July 2006 the exhibition went on to open at Birmingham’s Snap Galleries and remained there for several months. The exhibition is still available online and the gallery’s director Guy White continues to sell limited edition prints.
Southend’s Underground opened in August 2006 at The Spitz gallery. “It was a snapshot of the thriving music scene that's grown up around the now defunct Junk Club and bands like The Horrors and These New Puritans.”[5] Part of the show went on to exhibit in Florence, Italy at the Pitti Imagine Uomo festival in June 2007, and in October 2007 it was part of the Family Viewing exhibition, Teenage Kicks Episode in Shoreditch, London, and culminated in a final show entitled The End at Homestead in Clerkenwell, London.
Dean’s short film Serge and accompanying exhibition of “emotive and graceful studies”[6] of Physical Culturists premiered at The Rex cinema and bar, in June 2005.
In 2008 Dean was asked to contribute some of his live images of The Horrors and Kings of Leon to the 100 Club’s permanent exhibition, curated by Emily Beaver.
Later in the same year and again in early 2009, Dean travelled as far a field as New York, Beijing and finally Milan to be brought together with the young stars of the contemporary music scene to advertise the re-launch of the Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunglasses. Dean documented the artists as they recorded in the studio and performed at the Ray-Ban events and exhibitions which were the results of the photographic project.
In October 2009 Dean exhibited at Camden's Roundhouse to celebrate the opening of the 2009 Electric Proms. The photographs displayed consisted of some of radio's finest faces, commissioned by the BBC. Subjects included dj's Lauren Laverne, Cerys Matthews, Craig Charles, Tom Robinson amongst others.
On the 4th March 2010, Dean opened a new show at The Book Club in Shoreditch, London. The exhibition title 'The New Faces' was thought of by none other than 'Modfather' Paul Weller who Dean had recently shot. The exhibition- a collection of studio photographs shot towards the end of last year, shows a group of sharply dressed young Mods, their attitude and their dance moves. The show ran until April 29th 2010.
Moving image
Young Souls
This project, sparked by a commission from 125 Magazine, had to be completed in a extremely short time frame, Having met up with the 125 Magazine Art Director Rob Crane three days before Christmas, inviting Chalkley to submit inline with the next issue’s theme of “Religion” with the deadline being the end of February.[7] The work took the form of a photographic series and short film which was written , directed and produced by Dean himself.[8]
The cast of the film were gathered through “putting the word out” on Northern Soul community websites and forums.[9] In January 2011, a message was posted on Dean Chalkley’s official Blog requesting“Good youthful Northern Soul Dancers to feature in a short film and photographic project". and that the project would then be presented through 125 Magazine.[10] A later post, by Amanda Ashed of Looks London and the Ranch Casting Company mentioned that the project would be a short film that wasn’t set out to be a "definative story of Northern Soul" but that it “does aim to celebrate it.” And that the project had no outside funding.[10] This point has been reiterated since by Chalkley himself, who in an interview with the British Journal of Photography, referred to the project as being a “Labour of Love”[11]
In this later post by Ashed a call was put out asking for dancers of all ages to get in contact for the filming side of the project that would take place on 30th January.[10]
On the 5th April 2011 a 25 second teaser of the short film Young souls was released on Dean Chalkley’s official Vimeo.[12] Later in April of the same year the photographic side to the project was published In 125 Magazine.[13] This was a “study focusing on the current Burgeoning generation of young people getting into the scene.”[14]
Being a DJ and running his own club nights around London where he plays rare soul music (Black Cat and Shake! at the Boogaloo); Dean witnessed the interest of a younger generation who were interested in northern soul and not just for the short term; 'These are real people who spend all their money on this because they love it, not because it's the flavour of the month'[15] In an interview with The Guardian in July Dean said about the film:
“I didn’t want to just recreate the past, but I did aim to produce timeless works that illustrate the culture as never before. It is great to show how people dance to Northern Soul music, but more importantly how it is a passionate experience, and how its devotees young and old are immersed in it.”[16]
The film was made available to view online from 125 Magazine’s website in July 2011 following the short film’s premier at Bethnal Green’s Working men’s club in London, which was attended by many of the participants in the film who took to the floor after the first screening was greeted with rapturous applause[17] Following from the films screening and online launch, as well as the publication of 16 images in 125 Magazine Young Souls was exhibited at PYMCA’s Youth Club Gallery. The Exhibition consisted of the original 16 images with some new editions, which added up to 22 in total. These went on display alongside the film Young Souls. On the night of the private view Kent Record’s Ady Croasdell, Jo Wallace, who are credited as Music Consultant’s on the film DJed alongside Donna Driscoll and Chalkley himself.[18] The Exhibition at Youth Club Gallery ran from 21st July 2011 until 16th August 2011.
Young Souls Reviews
“The film is very, very, very authentic.” “It ‘s absolutely beautifully filmed, It’s the kind of thing that I’ll come back to and watch again… …so that I can get all of the nuances of it. – Ian Dewhurst.[19]
“It is really a homage.” – Eddie Piller. [20]
“It was beautifully shot. Dean is a genius photographer.” – Jonny Owens [21]
"[The] film... ...is seriously good in terms of the cinematography, sound, aesthetics etc., and (perfectly captured in the still photos) the dancing is so damn cool it hurts."- Bryony Quin, It's Nice That[22]
Strip
Written and produced by Dean Chalkley, music & sound by Geir Jenssen, edited by Suki, 2000
Serge
written and directed by Dean Chalkley, music by Johann Johannsson, edited by Spencer Doane, 2005
Eddyfink, In For Me
Video promo, written and directed by Dean Chalkley and Spencer Doane, edited by Spencer Doane, produced by Will Haynes, 2007
No Bra, She was a Butcher
Video promo, a collaboration between Dean Chalkley and Ciaran O’Shea, 2008
External links
- http://www.deanchalkley.com/
- http://www.shootgroup.com/
- http://www.nme.com/home
- http://www.snapgalleries.com/
- Dean Chalkley about Northern Soul (Interview)
References
- ^ a b 'The F2 Profile' by David Land, F2 FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER magazine, February/March 2008, Vol 1, No.6
- ^ http://www.professionalphotographer.co.uk/interviews/dean-chalkley-profile
- ^ 'Special Agents' by Gavin Stoker, Professional Photographer magazine, December 2008
- ^ http://www.ipcmedia.com/press/article.php?id=82119
- ^ http://playlouder.com/content/4766/chalkley-says-cheese
- ^ http://www.rexbar.co.uk/mailer/2005/mailer13-06-05.htm
- ^ BJP for iPad. <ref "Projects: Dean Chalkley". British Journal of Photography. http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/feature/2103978/projects-dean-chalkley<ref. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ "NME photographer set to stage Northern Soul inspired exhibition". www.nme.com. 01 July. http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/57714. Retrieved 02 July 2011.
- ^ BJP for iPad. <ref "Projects: Dean Chalkley". British Journal of Photography. http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/feature/2103978/projects-dean-chalkley<ref. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ a b c "Exciting New Soul Photography and Film Project". Dean Chalkley News. January 2011. Archived from the original on January 2011. http://deanchalkley.blogspot.com/2011/01/exciting-new-soul-photography-and-film.html. Retrieved 02 February 2011.
- ^ BJP for iPad. <ref "Projects: Dean Chalkley". British Journal of Photography. http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/feature/2103978/projects-dean-chalkley<ref. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ Chalkley, Dean (5). "Young Souls (Teaser)". Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/21981176. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Young Souls in 125 Magazine Religion Issue". Dean Chalkley News. June 2011. http://deanchalkley.blogspot.com/2011/06/young-souls-in-125-magazine-religion.html.
- ^ Chalkley, Dean (29). "The big Picture: Northern Soul, by Dean Chalkley". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jul/29/northern-soul-dance-clubs-photograph#start-of-comments. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ Chalkley, Dean (29). "The big Picture: Northern Soul, by Dean Chalkley". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jul/29/northern-soul-dance-clubs-photograph#start-of-comments. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ Chalkley, Dean (29). "The big Picture: Northern Soul, by Dean Chalkley". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jul/29/northern-soul-dance-clubs-photograph#start-of-comments. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Exclusive YOUNG SOULS - EXCLUSIVE FILM". 125 Magazine online. http://www.125magazine.com/?p_id=300&pg=488. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "YOUNG SOULS : The Exhibition". Dean Chalkley News. July 2011. http://deanchalkley.blogspot.com/2011/07/young-souls-exhibition.html.
- ^ sarahb (03). "The Modcast - Episode 6 - Ian Dewhirst and Dean Chalkley". The Modcast. http://www.themodcast.co.uk/episode-6-ian-dewhirst-and-dean-chalkley-3/. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ sarahb (03). "The Modcast - Episode 6 - Ian Dewhirst and Dean Chalkley". The Modcast. http://www.themodcast.co.uk/episode-6-ian-dewhirst-and-dean-chalkley-3/. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ sarahb (03). "The Modcast - Episode 6 - Ian Dewhirst and Dean Chalkley". The Modcast. http://www.themodcast.co.uk/episode-6-ian-dewhirst-and-dean-chalkley-3/. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ {{cite web|last=Quinn|first=Bryony|title=What's On: Young Souls|url=http://www.itsnicethat.com/whats-on/young-souls%7Caccessdate=26 September 2011|}
1. ‘The F2 Profile’ by David Land, F2 FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER magazine, February/March 2008, Vol 1, No.6
2. http://www.professionalphotographer.co.uk/interviews/dean-chalkley-profile
3. ‘Special Agents’ by Gavin Stoker, Professional Photographer magazine, December 2008
4. http://www.ipcmedia.com/press/article.php?id=82119
Categories:- English photographers
- Living people
- 1968 births
- People from Essex
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