![Portrait of Paul Chesley with Camera](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Portrait_of_Paul_Chesley_with_Camera.jpg)
Paul Chesley is an American
photojournalist
Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (such ...
born in Red Wing,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
who is best known for his work as a photographer for the
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...
.
Career
Paul Chesley was introduced to the art of photography by his father at the age of three when he was given his first camera. He grew up taking pictures on family vacations and developing film in his dad's darkroom.
Chesley's early work focused on natural subjects and landscapes and in the early 1970s he began taking photography classes at Colorado Mountain College as well as participating in workshops at the Center of the Eye in Aspen, Colorado.
Chesley also participated as a student on a National Geographic workshop led by
Robert Gilka, the society's director of photography.
Chesley began shooting assignments for
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
in 1975 and has since completed more than 35 projects for the society. His photography has focused primarily on people and cultures in Oceania, Asia and Europe. In 1984, Chesley helped found Photographers/Aspen, a photo collective of four National Geographic photographers. In 1989, Chesley met and became friends with
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement. He rose to prominence with the publication of '' Hell's Angels'' (1967), a book for which he s ...
while producing a story on Aspen for
Life magazine
''Life'' was an American magazine published weekly from 1883 to 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978, and as a monthly from 1978 until 2000. During its golden age from 1936 to 1972, ''Life'' was a wide-ranging weekly general-interest ma ...
.
In an interview with Stephen Metcalf for Accent Thai magazine Chesley stated that he doesn't consider himself a schooled photographer. ‘Almost everything I’ve learned has come from my experience in the field’ he says.
According to John Agnone,
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
book editor, Chesley '...Takes graphically strong images that communicate the essence of his subjects – and he makes it look easy.' When asked to describe Chesley's style of photography, Carole Lee a former project coordinator for Chesley stated ‘Paul's sensitivity captures the gentle spirit in people.’
Fellow Minnesotan and
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
photographer
Jim Brandenburg said of Paul, 'With so many photographers out there constantly boasting about their work, Paul contradicts the profession. Chesley holds his projects very dear. he goes about his work in a quiet but dignified and steadfast way. And most of all, he lets his work speak for itself.'
Recognition
![Paul Chesley - A Photographic Voyage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Paul_Chesley_-_A_Photographic_Voyage.jpg)
Chesley's work was included in the National Geographic Society's first major exhibition, ''The Art of Photography at National Geographic; A 100-Year Retrospective'', held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1988.
His images have also been exhibited in museums in London, Tokyo, New York, and Honolulu. His photographic essays have been featured regularly in Life, Fortune, GEO, Stern, Newsweek, and Time. In 2006 Chesley received a Pele award of excellence for photographs contributed to a public service print project titled ''Our Liliha''. In 2013 Goff Books published a retrospective of Chesley's career titled ''Paul Chesley A Photographic Voyage''.
Bibliography
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References
External links
Paul Chesley's official websitePaul Chesley's official book websitePaul Chesley's images at National Geographic Creative
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chesley, Paul
American photojournalists
Living people
National Geographic photographers
Year of birth missing (living people)