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Name: Colin Adair
Home Town: Toronto, ON
Home Base: Vancouver, BC
Home Page: www.colinadair.com
Sponsors/employer: DC Shoe Co USA
Sports Photographed: Snowboarding, Motocross, Lawn Bowling
Favorite Subject: Outdoors in the sunshine
Recent Projects: DC Snowboards Catalog 2011, articles for Snowboarder and Transworld Snowboarding Magazine, MTV's Nitro Circus, Travis Pastrana's DC Shoe Co. ad.
Do you remember when you realized photography was more than a point and shoot camera?
When I bought my first SLR in high school. Went outside. Shot some photos thinking they were going to be amazing and when I got them back from the lab they were absolutely terrible. I was so disappointed but so motivated to figure it out at the same time.
What was your first camera? And what is your current.
Canon Rebel, don't remember the lens. Canon 1D mark II... waiting for the Mark IV to come out already! Probably buy a 5D Mark II soon cause I can't wait anymore...
What has photography done to your life?
Completely fucked it up. No wife. No kids. Not getting any younger! Haha... Photography opens doors. It really does. I have been put into situations and put myself into situations that are both awe inspiring and pant shitting. It challenges you every time you go to work and gives you a way to express yourself.
As a career photography has let you see much of the world. Where are the places you wish to return or are most memorable?
Bali is the most beautiful place I have ever been. I would like to explore more of Indonesia soon. British Columbia is also extremely, ridiculously amazing. I can't think of a better place to live. Norway is a photographers playground.
Being an action sport photographer, one would generally assume you also play the games you shoot. What are favorite sports to do with out a camera bag on your back?
Surfing is my new obsession and it's something I'll be doing til I'm really old. I snowboard without my camera as much as possible every season, I enjoy it more than anything else and the good days with good friends are so rare lately cause I'm always busy shooting.
Who or what do you look too find inspiration in?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. I know it's a cliche but for me it's true. Ideas come while driving. They come from the sun hitting the fresh snow crystals. They come from something someone says. I find one of my main sources is the other snowboard photographers. I see some shots and get really stoked. I also get competitive and it drives me to try harder, to shoot more and to try new ideas. One of my favourites who stopped shooting snowboarding is Vincent Skoglund. He was on the cutting edge all the time. Always had new, fresh images with a unique style. That has carried on into his commercial career now. His new work is amazing.
Life behind a lens means being witness to the best of times and the worst. Please let us know an experience from each.
Best: A perfectly executed pow turn in perfect conditions. This is the hardest thing to do.
Worst: Death. You want to know about inspiration? When someone loses their life doing what they love, it is your responsibility to carry on that person's legacy and inspire the next generation. When you are exhausted and cold and just want to go home, that's the only thing that keeps you going.
What would you say to a young shooter with who dreams of traveling the world taking photos of the elite athletes in our sports?
Put on your seatbelt cause it's a wild ride. So many highs and lows. You will be beaten down many times before you get back up. Do unto others what you would have others do unto you. It's Chess not Checkers. Shut up, listen and observe. Respect other cultures and remember that you are representing yourself and your country.
Tell us one over looked lesson you have learned in the photo business:
Know the value of what you are selling and never, ever give the rights to your photos away.
Colin's recommended reading
FFFFound.com, aphotoeditor.com, lens.blogs.nytimes.com, magicseaweed.com, toomuchchocolate.org
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Colin's favorite quotes
"I like to party". "Hold my beer and watch this". "Are you some kind of photographer or something?". "Should I do it again?"
