The Cale Best Interview

Cale is a real good friend of mine and also the one that first truly got me into shooting photography in a whole other perspective. I first met him a few years ago in an old shed that Richard turned into a chillen spot. Not to long after I started seeing him at the skatepark more and noticed him shooting pictures, I asked him a few of the annoying questions that every nosy kid wants to know.  Cale is my go to for anything camera related and I got him to take some time (a very long time in this case) and do this interview for anyone that wants to learn a bit about See Best Photographys Cale Best.

The Cale Best Interview
*All photos by Cale unless noted.

Self Portrait on the Road

Name: Cale Best
Age: 28
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
Years Shooting: About 10, but 4 seriously






1.) First off, what is it that really got you into photography?
I started shooting in high school after I gave up trying to play guitar. All my friends were in a band and I became their photographer. I was also just getting back into BMX so I'd shoot photos of my friends on my ramp in the backyard.



2.) What does your current camera setup consist of?
I'm currently in the process of buying a new camera; Right now I'm shooting with a Sony a350. I went with Sony because before digital I shot Minolta and had a bit of gear already. Sony bought Minolta and continued on from them, so when I got my Sony DSLR I already had some lenses. I've finally started to have a decent gear collection with 3 good flashes, a 15mm fisheye, a Tamron 70-200mm 2.8, Tamron 17-50mm 2.8, and an old Minolta 50mm 1.7.

Abandoned Van and Shed

3.) Which type of area do you prefer to shoot? (Ex. Nature, Action, Etc.)
My favourite subjects are pretty much anything but portraits. I like taking photos of things I don't have to talk to. Landscape and Night photography are my favourites, but I also do a lot of BMX/Skateboarding, Auto racing, and Hockey. I guess I shoot a little of everything, I tend to have ADD when it comes to photography.


4.) Living in Windsor has some advantages and disadvantages when it comes to photography; Your able to venture into the US but seeing as you don't own a passport yet, what do you do to find new things to shoot?
I've really become bored with the Windsor Area. In the last year I've spent a lot of time roaming around sideroads in the county to find interesting things to shoot, but it's usually pretty sparse. My favourite way to find new things to shoot is taking solo road trips. In the last year I've taken 6 or 7 trips around Southern Ontario lasting anywhere from 2 to 7 days. I usually head North where it isn't so flat like Windsor and just roam around back roads looking for interesting things (abandoned houses, waterfalls, etc). I like to do a little research first to find a few interesting places along the way and find my own places in between.


5.) Last year you came out to Sarnia and picked me up and we got to take some shots there, aswell as Chatham; Whats the farthest you have traveled mainly for photos?
Most recently I took a week trip around the Peterborough area. I found some interesting abandoned places on the internet, including an old quarry filled with about 400 feet of water. The weather wasn't great and I didn't get to explore it as much as I wanted to but I got one good photo of it at least.

Abandoned Quarry in the Peterborough Area

In 2007 some friends of mine set out on a trip to see a game at all 30 Major League Baseball parks in just 28 days and I was able to tag along for 12 of the games as their
photographer. I made it as far as Arlington, Texas and Denver, Colorado and many other major cities along the way.


6.) Every once in a while I see some film shots; How come you still like to shoot film where as digital is taking over?
I haven't shot much film recently, though I always mean to. I think every photographer still enjoys shooting film. It just feels right, I guess. It's like how a lot of people still love listening to albums on vinyl, but I wouldn't consider myself a film photographer, I never really learned much about it even though I shot film for years.


7.) Do you print your negatives yourself?

Film Shot of 1am Fog

No. But I've always wanted to do my own darkroom stuff. I feel like a bit of a poser as a photograper because I've never developed any photos myself.


8.) There is a ton of photography courses out there; Have you taken any?
I almost failed photography in high school. haha. When it came time to go to college I didn't really know what I wanted to take but I ended up taking Journalism at St. Clair College here in Windsor. I honestly didn't care for it much as I never learned much about photography. There were only 2 poor photography classes and a lot of stuff I didn't care about, but I got the diploma and went on to teach myself about photography.


9.) Other then photography, what other hobbies do you enjoy?
I ride BMX, of course. Though not as much as I used to, thanks to getting old. I also race go-karts. Real go-karts, not those amusement park ones. haha.


10.) What is BnE?
BnE is Bacon and Eggs, BaconEggs, Bake and Eggs, etc. haha. Richard Carson and I came up with it as a joke idea (from Bathin' Apes) to make shoes with bacon on one side and Eggs on the other. We started calling our bmx "crew" Bacon and Eggs and it just grew from there. What it is exactly now, I don't know.


11.) I noticed you use to race BMX just like you race go-karts now. When did you decide to stop racing BMX and take it up with four wheels?
I raced BMX from age 6 to about 11. I just had enough of it I guess. I got into Mountain biking for a bit but I wasn't crazy about it. Then I started karting at age 12 until I was 16. Then I got back into it a few years ago when some guys built a dirt oval on a farm to have some fun. But it has grown a lot since and is quite serious now. I've always been into racing. My dad raced stock cars and go-karts and it was just a matter of time before I got into it.

Cale driving the #68 Go-Kart
Photo: Laura Berry

12.) Do you drive the number 68 because your scared that if you chose 69 you'd have to turn around?
Hahahaha... No, it was the number I was assigned when I started racing in 89'.


13.) Unlucky 13, will the world end in 2012?
Haha, Probably not. But I've always had a morbid fascination with the end of the world. Thats why I like abandoned places so much, they make me feel like I'm the last person on earth sifting through the remains of civilization.



14.) You also use to have some killer chops, will they be making a re-appearance in the future?
haha, I'm sure they will at some point. But right now I'm just working on a monster beard.

Alleyway behind Hotel

15.) There is a handful of photographers from Windsor that all have their own type or style you could say; What would you describe yours as if you had to put a name to it?
I've never been good at talking about my own work, but my favourtie kind of photos are the ones you can really look at and imagine yourself in. Thats why I like landscape photography so much. Thats not really a 'word' but its the best way I can explain it.


16.) Who do you look up to or are influenced by?
I don't have a lot of photographers who I could point directly to as favourite, or influences, but Troy Paiva (www.lostamerica.com) really got me interested in night photography. Donnie Johnston (http://twentythreephotography.blogspot.com) here in Windsor got me interested in the abandoned places, but I dont have the balls (or passport) to go exploring around Detroit like he does. And of course my girlfriend, Laura Berry (www.lauraberryphotography.com) who is an amazingly talented photographer always keeps me inspired and motivated.

17.) Have you had any photos published in magazines, books, etc.?

Published photo of Richard Carson in Dig BMX Magazine

I haven't had much published. Though I haven't made the effort really either. Thats something I really need to start working on. I've had one photo published in the "readers photos" section of Dig BMX magazine. I also have many photos in the book "Major League Anxiety" about my friends baseball trip I mentioned earlier.

18.) If you could have any setup in the world, what would it be?
Thats hard to say really, because digital photography is always changing. But it would be nice to have a full frame camera and plenty of fancy lenses that I probably wouldnt buy even if I could affored them. It would also be nice to have a decent film setup with my own darkroom.


19.) Any advice for other young photographers that want to take up photography as a hobby or career?
I think the best way to learn is just shooting. It's never been easier than it is now with digital. I learned way more in my first year shooting digital than I did in almost 10 years shooting film. Plus the internet can be a wonderful teacher too. I wouldn't say its a better way to learn than school, but I've tryed the classroom setting and teaching myself was definitely the best way for me to learn.


20.) What editing programs do you typically use to edit?
I've always just used Photoshop, but recently I've been using Adobe Lightroom. I shoot RAW so its a much easier way to edit a large amount of photos at once. I've never like doing a whole lot to my photos in post processing, because I like to keep my photos realistic, but sometimes I like to experiment and get a little creative with my editing.


21.) Where is someone able to purchase your photos?
I have some of my photos at Nancy John's Gallery and Framing here in Windsor (http://nancyjohns.com). Other than that, if someone is interested in one of my photos they can email me and I can have anything printed at pretty much any size. My work can be viewed on my website (WWW.calebest.com), on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/seebest or my blog (http://seebest26.blogspot.com) and my email is calebest@gmail.com. I'm also on facebook. However I don't have, and don't plan on getting, a cell phone.

Thank you, Chase for wanting to interview me and for putting up with my procrastination of completing it.

New Years Eve