Photo: Nick Jones
Devon’s name is one of those names that there’s a good chance you have seen. Between the handful of times we’ve featured his work here on the site, like the October Photogallery, to having a ton of his photos featured between a bunch of the different websites, magazines and brands. Over the years, Devon has spent a lot of time bouncing around the country, traveling, shooting photos and working jobs to make the ends meet so he can keep doing his thing!
We’ve featured a lot of photographers over the years and I think everyone has a good story about what it takes to make it in this industry that can be tough to make a living out of. It is definitely well over due that we caught up with Devon to find out how he got into shooting photos and just what it takes to keep living the dream! Let’s see what he had to say along with a sample of his favorite photos!
Name: Devon Denham
Photo: Nick Jones
Location: Clifton, NJ (Transplant) from Louisville, KY
Sponsors / Hook ups: Merritt
Year riding: 15
Years shooting photos: 7
Photo: Nick Jones
What was it that first got you into BMX? Any early memories come to mind?
I had a friend that would bring Dan’s Comp catalogs into class in 7th grade and I thought the covers were interesting. Soon after that I noticed a few kids riding in my neighborhood. The kid that had the Dan’s catalogs let me borrow one of his issues of Props that he had and I would watch that all the time. That summer I saved up $100 bucks from cutting my aunts grass every Friday and my mom paid the other half for my first bike. I ended up buying a Specialized 415 Fat Boy off this kid that quit riding for $200.
How about photography? How did that all start for you?
Soon after I started riding the urge to document what was going on came around. My friend had some point and shoot film camera that he found so we would randomly shoot with that. I was digging around my parents closet one day and found a camera bag that had a flash and a Pentax SLR camera in it. I was curious how it worked so I would take it apart and reassemble it at night. I didn’t take it seriously till I started college though.
What was your first camera?
That Pentax was my first camera. In college I bought a Nikon D80 and then traded it for a D200. I bought a Canon 7D last year cause Canon has cheaper camera bodies. I want to say that what camera you have doesn’t make a difference. I shot with both brands and nothing has changed with the quality of my photos. I do like how the 7D has a faster frame rate but I feel that Nikon has better lens quality.
What are you currently working with today?
Canon 7D, Sigma 10mm Fisheye, Canon 50mm 1.8 lens. Pocket Wizard Mini TT1, Pocket Wizard Transceivers x5, Einstein E640 Strobe, Vagabond battery pack, Quantum Q-Flash x2, Quantum Turbo Battery x2, LowePro Vertex 200AW, Lightroom 2, Photoshop CS5, Macbook with OSX 10.6.8, $20 Light Stands x3.
Do you have a dream setup or are you pretty content with what you are working with these days?
Would be nice to have the money to switch back to Nikon and get the new D4, but I’ll be shooting with Canon for a bit since their camera bodies are cheaper than Nikon. Would love to grab me that 70-200mm L series Canon lens. While I’m at it I’ll pick up two more Einstein’s and a new LowePro bag. That’s not including a darkroom, enlarger, photo paper, a Canon AE-1, and all the tax 100 film in the world, haha.
Who were some of the first people you remember shooting photos with?
Some of the local guys in Pittsburgh and Louisville. I shot a lot with Brian Hinkel and got to go on my first road trip with him thanks to Failure Bikes. That ended up running as a article in Ride BMX back in 2010.
Over the years, you have definitely had the chance to shoot with a ton of different riders? Who are some of your favorites you have had the chance? Any reasons behind why?
Brian Hinkel cause he was down to do whatever it took and he wasn’t getting paid for it. Cory Weirgowski was cool cause we ended up becoming really good friends and traveled across the country after shooting photos together. Dean Dickinson was a blast cause everyday for a week we got to ride a new pool and I drained a few with him. Jimmy LeVan cause of the stories he told.
Are there any riders you have always wanted to shoot photos with but haven’t had the chance?
Butcher maybe… I’ve heard crazy stories about him.
Who are some of the photographers you really look up to?
Jeff Zielenski, George Marshall, Keith Terra, Jerry Uelsmann. Also my friends that shoot photos like Greg Moliterno, Wes McGrath, and Chris Marshall. I just like seeing a good print worthy photo.
You have done a fair bit of traveling over the years. Where are some of the places you have had the chance to ride and shoot photos?
I’ve moved a lot for BMX. I’ve lived in California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and New Jersey. I shot photos as I traveled, so I got to shoot in Phoenix a lot when Cory Weirgowski lived there. When I lived in Long Beach I shot with We The People for a week in Los Angeles. I also shot some in Texas last year a little for Sunday. Just got to do a little Northeast Tour with Merritt that was a lot of fun.
Is there anywhere you have always wanted to go but haven’t had the chance?
Out of the country. I still don’t have a passport, but I would like to go to England. I also want to check out the pyramids too.
Let’s say you get a fat budget to take any 5 riders anywhere in the world for a week to shoot photos. Who do you bring, where do you go and why?
I’d rather take 5 of my closest friends cause I know I would have a good time then. Barcelona would be cool to check out because of the architecture and weather.
Who all have you had the chance to shoot photos for in the past? Feel free to name drop some past clients.
We The People, Redline, Ride BMX, The Albion, Cream, Primo, G-Sport, S&M, DIG, and BMX PLUS! are some of the companies and magazines that have been kind enough to print my photos.
Do you ever shoot outside of BMX like weddings or anything?
have if people ask me too. I never really hustled myself like that outside of BMX. I always stayed pretty focused on magazine work for the most part.
Are you available for jobs? How can people get ahold of you for work?
I can shoot freelance on my days off. If you want to get ahold of me just , send me an email at [email protected]
Do you shoot photos for a living or is this just something you do for fun?
I tried the whole living off of BMX photos thing in Long Beach and it sucked! Companies and magazines are really slow at sending payments so that can make budgeting your money really hard. I ended up having to pick up a bike shop job when I was doing that so I could could feed myself. The answer would be no, I just use the money I make from photos to pay for equipment or traveling.
You recently took on a job with Merritt, right? What’s your role there? How are things going?
I’m a sales rep. I handle all sales for Merritt. If a bike shop needs our parts then I setup the order and ship it out to them. I send out all the info to shops to get them setup with us. Things are going great. We are picking up new shops left and right. Plus, we are getting new products in so it’s getting real exciting.
Do you have any projects with them that you are getting ready for like trips or anything? I feel like you handle the photos for them too.
I’m not sure on any trips coming up soon. I’ve been fortunate enough to get to travel so much the first couple of months I started. I got to go on the Spots and Shops tour through the Northeast, Jam Chowda in Connecticut, and Interbike in Vegas. I’m more than happy to be able to see those places so far. I’m not the staff photographer but if I’m on a trip that they can fit me in then I’ll be shooting photos for that trip. Sean Curran shoots all the product photos.
Did you go to school for photography? How important do you think school is to become a photographer?
Yes, I went to school for photography. I really wish I wouldn’t have went but I didn’t see how pointless college was until I was 3/4 through it. I’ve met plenty of people that shoot great photos that just learned it from a friend or read a few posts on the web. I think school is just something that could help you in the long run if you need a job in the future.
What kind of advice do you have for the people out there looking to get into it?
Just read a lot about it. ASK QUESTIONS! I found out a lot over the years by just emailing photographers. I used to email every magazine editor and any of the staff photographers asking them what I could do to make my photos better. I feel like kids today are so quick to sell a photo short and just put it online. If the photo has been turned down by a few magazines then turn it loose to the web. For me I try and find a photo for all my photos wether its online galleries or articles in magazine. If riders catch on to the fact that you will sit on photos and waste them, they might not want to shoot legit photos with you in the future or at all.
Do you still find much time to ride these days?
I ride a few days out of the week. I ride with Grimaldo and George Duran a few times a week and I ride with Mike and Sean after work in the warehouse a few times a week. We just built a huge vert wall and we have more ramps coming for the warehouse.
What do you think you would be doing today if you never got into BMX? Do you think you would be shooting photos?
I have no clue what I would be. I would probably still be back in Kentucky with some warehouse job living a normal life with a family I guess. That never appealed to me so I feel like BMX was the only way. I was really into baseball before I started riding when I was little so maybe I would have been playing 2nd base for the Cubs or something. Life is so random.
What are you usually up to when you aren’t riding or working? Any other hobbies or anything?
I like to explore and sight see. I always find myself reading about BMX or photography. Lately I’ve been playing GTAV and watching BMX videos that date before 2008.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given or able to give?
My Studio photography teacher told me to never drive down the same street twice cause a life of routine will never bring any thing new. I apply that to riding and everything else. My advice to anyone that wants to hear it is never be afraid to ask. I’ve gotten to go on some amazing trips and experience some great times in my life merely by asking. Keep it within reason, but if it feels right then ask.
How can people keep up with you these days? You’re on Instagram, Twitter and all of that, right? How about your portfolio website?
I gave up on twitter cause it just seems like regurgitated post from instagram and Facebook. My instagram is @devondenham138 and I’m on Facebook. My photo site is DevonDenham.com.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I want say thank you to Mike Brennan and Sean Curran for taking me in over at Merritt. I really am honored to be their first employee and get to see how a company is built from the ground up. I can’t thank them enough for getting to experience this. Jeff Z, and the dudes at Ride BMX. The Albion. Anyone that has taken me on trips with them. Anyone that has printed my photos. Anyone that I’ve rode with. Jimmy LeVan. My Family. Fat Tony. Greg Moliterno, Cory Wiergowski, Ryan Howard, Daily Grind. Brian Hinkel. Grimaldo and George Duran. Nick Jones getting me some photos for this interview.
