Check Out Corey Charlick’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Charlick.

Hi Corey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I got into photography 3 years ago completely by accident. I was running a drone business and had received several requests for ground photos. This led to me purchasing my first mirrorless camera. A few months later I saw some astrophotography photos on social media and thought I could give it a try. It was the end of the season in late September but that night still sticks in my memory.

If can imagine a nearly 40-year-old guy running around a mountain lake with his friend in the pitch dark excited by what their cameras could see and trying all the different things we could think of. I’m sure we looked pretty goofy but we were having fun. I still get that same excitement when the conditions are great and I’m capturing images I hoped to get, especially those nights under an amazingly clear sky.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a rough road but being self-taught there has been lots of trial and error. Fortunately, the photography community can be pretty helpful to newcomers. But, like most people trying something new, I spent countless hours on YouTube and searching trying to learn and perfect my craft. It’s an ongoing process but sure is fun to see where I am now compared to where I started.

Early on I learned some of the limitations of the equipment I chose to start with. You can do a lot with a crop sensor camera but astrophotography is not their strength. But, I worked through it for a season working on my technique and researching gear before purchasing again. I encourage everyone to master the basics before throwing money at the “best” equipment. I like to think of the 3 Ps of photography; Practice, Patience, and Perseverance.

Always practice new skills or the same skill to get more efficient. Be patient, even when the conditions aren’t what you hoped because lighting and weather can change in a second and you may miss that magical moment. Persevere even when you are struggling. Nobody gets it perfect the first time. Some of the photographers I follow will shoot the same scene a dozen or hundreds of times waiting to get the image they have in their head.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ll start by telling you a bit about my background before I found photography. I’ve been in the Civil Engineering industry for 20 years. This is a black-and-white world based on math and geometry. I never really thought I had a creative bone in my body. But, I’ve come to find out that we all do, it just takes time and the right circumstances to discover our hidden talents. Creatively I’m a landscape photographer that loves to capture old buildings, especially old churches, with the night sky.

I’ll shoot some architecture, wildlife, and street just to keep myself fresh and try new things. I like to think of myself as primarily a nightscape photographer though and I spend most of my time planning night shots and working on other landscape shots during the daytime hours. I included a Milky Way shot from Lily lake which was my first ever nightscape adventure and then several others including a Milky Way shot from the Great Sand Dunes.

How do you define success?
Success for me is knowing that I left a location and executed the image that I had imagined in my head. I do this for myself and share it with others so it’s not about the number of prints I sell or the number of likes or follows that I get. It’s about picturing a scene, capturing it on camera, and editing it to achieve the vision. Now, it is extremely humbling to hear how a particular image stirred memories or emotions for someone that may follow me on socials and even more humbling when someone wants to hang my art in their home or office.

Another part of success for me is sharing the hobby and helping others to grow in it. I created a group on Facebook when I was first getting started called Colorado Astrophotography Enthusiasts to bring other skilled photographers together with those new to the hobby to help everyone grow. I think the group has been a success and it is growing every day with photographers of all skill levels.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ccharlickphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccharlick_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlickPhoto/