Damon was born in Vancouver and raised in North Van. He now resides in Port Coquitlam with his wife, Jodi, and his 18.5 month-old son, Riley. Damon has been acting in theatre since he was a young child, but much more seriously since 1988. Damon has degrees from UBC in Animal Biology and Education (theatre, science). In 2002, Damon quit full-time teaching in order to pursue more opportunities in theatre. Damon also formed Ace Productions with Gord Roberts in 2002 in order to create touring musical theatre projects. Ace has produced Tomfoolery, Billy Bishop Goes to War, and Holmes and Watson Save the Empire!, and a new project is in the works for 2015. Damon published a bird photography book, Flights of Fantasy: Photographing North American Birds, in 2007.
the facts:
Name: Damon Calderwood Theatre Specialization: Actor, Musical Theatre performer, Producer Training: UBC, Actor's Working Academy You Might Know Him From: The Elephant Man, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Holmes and Watson Save the Empire! Website: www.globalbirdphotos.com Offstage Play: Bird Photography |
the goods:
What came first - photography or theatre? Theatre, from a very young age. I did little church plays at about age 7, and my first breakout role was at First Baptist Church in Vancouver at age 9 as a shepherd with two lines in a Christmas version of Battlestar Galactica. After that, I was hooked...in grade five I played Charlie Brown in a school play called Charlie Brown and the Four Food Groups. What was your first introduction to photography? |
It came out of my love for nature; I had a friend who had a good camera system, and before I ever owned my own camera, I went travelling with him to several exotic areas to shoot animals with his Pentax system. I did the lighting, mostly, with a handheld wired-in flash unit, and also wrangled the various small animals we were photographing. We went to the Okanagan, Arizona, and Costa Rica, along with many local wild areas.
Then I met Don Waite, an accomplished bird photographer and author of The Art of Photographing North American Birds, and I began working with him and his Hasselblad system and custom made strobe lights. In 2003, he loaned me his Konica system and I began photographing on my own in the Yukon with Fuji slide film. In 2004, I finally purchased my own digital Nikon system, and since then have gone through a variety of secondary lighting systems, now using Nikon SR-800 Strobes.
What drew you to birding and bird photography specifically?
It was a combination of my love of nature and a chance meeting with Don Waite, a bird photography specialist, who shot in a similar style to the great Eliot Porter. Don was very enthusiastic about photography, and very inclusive and encouraging. I remember him and I going out looking for bird nests and finding a Golden-crowned Kinglet nest together in 1991 in Pitt Meadows.
What drew you to birding and bird photography specifically?
It was a combination of my love of nature and a chance meeting with Don Waite, a bird photography specialist, who shot in a similar style to the great Eliot Porter. Don was very enthusiastic about photography, and very inclusive and encouraging. I remember him and I going out looking for bird nests and finding a Golden-crowned Kinglet nest together in 1991 in Pitt Meadows.
How does this work inform/ enhance/ supplement your life in the theatre? I think it gives me more patience and discipline, and I have often studied my lines and read plays in my bird blind! It certainly gives me very specific life experience, and allows me to spend a lot of time outdoors, which is a nice counter to theatre. |
What does the art of photography do for you?
It's hard to explain the depth of satisfaction it gives me, but I can say that the various sides of it are all very rewarding: looking for nests/birds in nature, being involved in a shoot over a week or so, and working with the final images afterwards. Sharing the final product is also rewarding, especially if it inspires people. The whole process always brings me closer to God.
It's hard to explain the depth of satisfaction it gives me, but I can say that the various sides of it are all very rewarding: looking for nests/birds in nature, being involved in a shoot over a week or so, and working with the final images afterwards. Sharing the final product is also rewarding, especially if it inspires people. The whole process always brings me closer to God.
How often do you do bird photography while you’re working on a theatre project vs. When you’re in between projectes?
Very often they are tied together, and the bird photography comes as an opportunistic result of where I am doing theatre. In 2003, 2004 I was doing theatre in Dawson City, Yukon, so I would shoot all day and then do the shows at night. In 2005 and 2011 I was in Chemainus, so I shot birds over there. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, I was in Penticton, so I shot there, and in 2010 I was in Ashland, Oregon doing a musical, so I shot birds there. In 2012 I was in Victoria doing a show, and shot birds there. I also made several specific trips to various locales that were not connected with theatre, but rather, worked around upcoming projects. I went to Oregon in 2006, Arizona in 2008, Southern California in 2009, and Penticton in 2012 just for bird photography.
Very often they are tied together, and the bird photography comes as an opportunistic result of where I am doing theatre. In 2003, 2004 I was doing theatre in Dawson City, Yukon, so I would shoot all day and then do the shows at night. In 2005 and 2011 I was in Chemainus, so I shot birds over there. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, I was in Penticton, so I shot there, and in 2010 I was in Ashland, Oregon doing a musical, so I shot birds there. In 2012 I was in Victoria doing a show, and shot birds there. I also made several specific trips to various locales that were not connected with theatre, but rather, worked around upcoming projects. I went to Oregon in 2006, Arizona in 2008, Southern California in 2009, and Penticton in 2012 just for bird photography.
Do you notice a difference in your creativity when you’re working on a play, than when you aren’t?
I think that different aspects of creativity come out depending on the type of play or musical I am doing, and when I am not doing theatre, I look for creativity outlets elsewhere, with photography, mostly. I do notice a yearning (much like what C.S. Lewis describes) when I am not creative for a long time. Definitely am happier when I am being creative!
Where can people look at/ purchase your photographs?
You can find my work at www.globalbirdphotos.com, or peoplw can contact me directly (I sell prints, cards, and books - Flights of Fantasy: Photographing North American Birds, 2007).
I am working on a second book: Moments of Discovery. It's been slow, especially since my son was born in 2013, but I am chipping away at it!
I think that different aspects of creativity come out depending on the type of play or musical I am doing, and when I am not doing theatre, I look for creativity outlets elsewhere, with photography, mostly. I do notice a yearning (much like what C.S. Lewis describes) when I am not creative for a long time. Definitely am happier when I am being creative!
Where can people look at/ purchase your photographs?
You can find my work at www.globalbirdphotos.com, or peoplw can contact me directly (I sell prints, cards, and books - Flights of Fantasy: Photographing North American Birds, 2007).
I am working on a second book: Moments of Discovery. It's been slow, especially since my son was born in 2013, but I am chipping away at it!