NoBs Digital Dogbowl

Do You Know This Man?

At the last NSI seminar, Rob and James got to know a very passionate new NoBS member, Joce LaChapelle. Now, it's fair to say that a few of us have taken unusual roads to the world of professional photography, but Joce's experience is definitely not your run of the mill story. Here in his own words, Joce tells us how he came to NoBS and professional photography.

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I was really young when I was born. Just kidding..;-) but at year 15, I had a friend who had a brother that had a camera (Olympus om1 I remembered) that really impressed me and got me to go buy a used Olympus om2. Together, we were walking the street, exposing B&W film to subjects we chosen. We had this idea to take on film all the stencil drawings made by kids on Montreal's streets walls. That was fun and I started to photograph peoples, sceneries, and what not. Not too late after, I purchase my B&W lab in a pawnshop in Montreal for less than 100$ which I installed in my mother's house's closet. I learned everything myself by reading first instruction on chemical packages or books. What an adventure. I loved it.

Many years after, I married a English woman from USA, which whom I bought a lovely house in Quebec. Being a carpenter a the time, all my photography equipment went in a closet: "Not for long", I said to myself, just the time to settle down and built again my lab. Unfortunately, my house burn down at Christmas, and I lost every piece of photographic equipment I own, including my camera. I never, from this time thought about getting back in photography. My career in furniture making was growing and I went from my own 8 employee shop and making furniture for Important peoples to being a teacher in a furniture teaching college until 2006. I really got into my woodworker and teaching passion by doing more. I learned every bit of information I could and got involved in all sort of activities like furniture tradeshow and worldwide internship with my students. 5000 hours of work done with a group of 10 students to spend a month in North Africa doing what we like best, making furniture and learning about other cultures. One day, my superiors told me to lower my participation and my teaching skill to my students because some other teachers couldn't keep up this level with their students, those clearly indicating their frustrations with the quality of teaching they were receiving. I had a break down faced to my lack of power to be able to change that situation. My passion for furniture started to fade away really fast and I decided to hang my shoes and proceed to sale all my equipment and books. I knew then it was time for me to leave. I decided to take a full year to decide what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

When I started teaching in 1998, my next desk colleague was in amateur photography, and I went and bought some equipment from a journalist that was going digital, a Nikon f4s with pro-lenses. I started again to practice photography with a growing interest. In July 06, after my last days of work, I knew my interest in photography would be more important in my life than just a hobby. I started to learn about photography and all my days I spent in learning and practicing. Every bits on material I could find on the internet, I would go for it. From NYIP (New York Institute of photography) to Monte Zucker and then finally NOBS. When I found out about Rob and James' passion for photography, I began smiling. Finally I found other than me that could have such a strong passion about something at the point to invest every breath they had. In a couple of week, I swallowed every tutorial they had on the forum. It was not the time yet for seminar, but when they announced the NSI and Inferno for 2007. I immediately send my application. Being self teaching for as long as I remembered. I was enchanted to actually be in a school learning about photography. The first day I arrived, I saw Rob in the classroom and having watch them on my screen for almost a year now, it was like meeting a star;-). I went to salute him right away, and felt his warmth trough our salutations. Throughout the week, I enjoyed Rob and James's presence and passion. That week, I felt it was my kick in the both for starting another wonderful career, that of photography. Before I left NSI, I bundled a couple of tattoos in my bag, knowing two well I was not going to do anything with them beside giving it to my children. But when I got home, I started fooling around with them and took a picture showing with pride what made me believe I CAN DO IT! It's been now almost two weeks since I came back from NSI, and as I was planning my marketing strategy, I met a man who own a lab who offered me to lease me a studio in his building on main street. Yes main street! Just like I was dreaming!! Amazing power of will!!!. I signed my lease for October 1st. My drive is so strong I can hardly sleep. My mind is really running setting up my career to the smallest details. Nobs is really important to me as it allow me to stay in touch and keep learning. This kind of person to person and constant contact with people is really important for me. When I feel alone, I tend to let it go and get lazy. With that kind of touch (the forum), it keeps me going and strong. Inferno is coming soon, and I really strive to be there again. This is my medicine!

Thank you NOBS for the changes that took place in my life, for the kick in the butt it gave me, and for the passion that you transmitted to me. As a teacher, I believe that passion is the first and most important thing a teacher must give his student as it give them the urge to learn. All that is between that is meat for the soul and proof of his passion.

This is my story so far.. and I can't wait to write the next chapter?..

Jocelyn Lachapelle

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