Bio

David Champagne holds a degree in photography from Cégep de Matane. He works mainly in the documentary field, but is also interested in photomontage, a medium that enables him to transform his photos to create tableaux that are sometimes strange or humorous, sometimes critical and denunciatory. He has collaborated with numerous NGOs, and his work has been supported by the New Brunswick Arts Board and the Canada Council for the Arts. A member of the Hors d'État photo collective, he lives on the Acadian Peninsula.

Residency Project

I'd like to introduce students to photography through a documentary project. Have them produce a photographic report on a subject that's close to their hearts. For example, they could use photography to discover favorite places and activities in their region. Students would have to identify and target subjects that interest them. They could then use a professional camera to capture significant places and moments in their community. For this step, I could help them with technique, choice of angles and visual composition, to help them tell a story through their images. The final goal of the project would be to produce an exhibition. The steps they will go through to achieve it will require a commitment to the artistic process, with technical and aesthetic questioning throughout the project. This will push them to develop a vision and a sensitivity to their subject. They will sharpen their sense of observation and originality in creating with photography. This project will enable them to explore their creativity while reinforcing their sense of belonging to the region and developing skills in the visual arts.

Teaching Experience

My approach is open-minded and humanistic. I've been confronted with many different realities in my life. My experience is limited to a few short workshops in schools. For example, I've done photo rallies. The students had to use photographs to answer the rally questions. I've also presented my portfolio on the big screen a few times.