Defend the Darkroom

I started talking to partners because I wanted to learn how a partnership can help you stay focus - stay inspired - to help you keep creating. I asked Sonja and Kelly to talk with me because I have witnessed the growth of their gallery and wanted to hear their story. Many couples (at some point) take a pause or pull back from one another as their business grows -so much of  their energies goes int...

There are no words to adequately describe this conversation - it blew me away.  So often a family has one person who is "the go-getter" but when you meet a couple whose relationship could only be defined as "reaching for the stars" - you just have to talk to them. After 50 years of marriage, Mme. Charette-Poulin and M. Poulin still talk about each other as if they just met. The admiration, respect...

In my head, a photo shoot is loud and bright and full of people running around. A gorgeous model stands in front of a camera with a wind machine blow their hair back - the model looks moody and the photographer is yelling at them to give them.... something. Then there is real life... or at least real life during a Chris Nicholls shoot.  Quiet music plays in the background - the stylists, who I tho...

We all give ourselves excuses to not achieve… but do we ever give ourselves reasons to succeed. Michelle Forsyth is an incredible inspiration for me. She is unstoppable in her studio practice – she supports and encourages a new generation of artists in her teaching practice – she is so positive and enthusiastic about life. I am blown away with the complexity of her work and the thoughtfulness she...

The involvement of the hand of the creator… not many people currently think of photography being an art form where the artist has their physical hand in the piece. Digitally, a creator is removed…. But Mike Robinson is intimately involved in all of the images he creates: he builds camera; takes the shot; mixes the chemistry; prints the image. He is precise, concerned with the details, and you can...

A lovely project focused on added beauty not only through the creation of artowrk but also planting trees. An inspiring reforestation project to support cutting carbon emissions and an amazing organziation "One Tree Planted"

I think it's common for most creatives to dream about the day when they garner recognition, find gallery representation and starting to get shown internationally. I don't believe I ever have had a full understanding of what these things would (or could) mean to an art practise or how an art practise needs to be in constant motion to keep evolving and fresh. Speaking with Deanna Pizzitelli was a re...

Marcel Petit doesn't mince words – he openly shares his journey, philosophy and desire to not only take a great photograph but connect with his environment. He is thoughtful about why he takes photographs and mindful of how he is capturing an image; he isn't ok with being on default. Marcel is very respectful of the subject and strives to create a strong story. In his community, Marcel is known fo...

Dianne Bos does not look at her life linearly. At every opportunity she is open to learning and challenging her perception about the world around her. Speaking with Dianne was electric – she loops ideas and processes together seamlessly with a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Knowing that Dianne defines herself as an Artist and that she does not limit herself to only one method of creation makes unders...

While I was speaking with June Clark she mentioned how artists must be willing to take risks. This sentiment really stuck with me – in these crazy times where nothing is "the same" or "normal", we creatives have been given the gift of time: time to break out of our routines, time to look at the world around us, time to question, time to be open and try something new and different. June seems almos...

Although April Hickox may not be an environmentalist, in the traditional definition of the word, she is very much of her environment. April is completely engaged with the place where she lives, the people that are part of her community and what is happening around her. She is an observer; a thinker; storyteller and her photographs bring you into her world. I feel like every moment inspires her by...

Craig Richards has a full life but there has always been one underlying theme that brought everything into focus: photography. From his time at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff AB starting as a technician and retiring as the Curator of photography; creating the internationally recognized "Through the Lens" program as well as being the one of the founders of Exposure Photo Festival...

Chatting with George Webber…. While speaking with George Webber he said: "Time is the currency of photography" – so true. George has been part of Calgary's photo community for decades; not only as an instructor but also as a documenter, through creating artistic commentary and as a commercial shooter. George started as a script writer which gave him an intense understanding of time, process and th...

We all have that one artist whose work is compelling and interests us – it provides us with interesting ideas that challenge how we look at the world, ourselves, our work. Barbara Astman's photography does that for me. I love how she constructs images, layers images (and meanings) while creating bold statements. It was such a pleasure to speak with Barbara. She was really easy to talk to and so op...

When Shin Sugino said that he was up for chatting with me – I was so excited. I knew he was wildly talented but his story makes that seem like an interesting side note. Shin's story cannot be described as ordinary or dull – he has always challenge boundaries, continued learning and is always having fun. I look forward to seeing the work that comes out of his new darkroom! Attached is a copy of a v...

David Morrish's career is definitely unique – starting in architecture, moving into carpentry, then photography, throw in some print making all the while creating an epic collection of… things makes for a great story. I love how his every day is an exploration in creation. Learning about his use of found object, the creation of a Wunderkammen, his love of creating narrative and an ever apparent se...

This past week I had the pleasure of getting to know Thaddeus Holownia. Our conversation really made me stop and think about how see my practice and myself. I hope that you enjoy our conversation! To see more of Thaddeus' work please visit.... https://holownia.com/ And his printing press can be found at.... https://anchoragepress.ca/

Ruth Kaplan is a documentary-based photographer whose work explores a variety of themes such as the social behaviour of bathers in communal hot springs, participants in rituals of spirituality and most recently, the situation surrounding refugees seeking asylum in Canada in Canadian/U.S.A. border-town shelters in Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto and Fort Erie, and at the Roxham Road border crossing in Ne...

This podcast started as an opportunity for creative people to talk about their motivation: not their process; their equipment or their team but simply 'the why' of creating. What gets them up in the middle of the night. We believe this interview with Deborah Samuel demonstrates how some people are more than simply inspired but driven to create. It is their language... beyond an emotion… It simply...

Defend the Darkroom, Episode 3

Welcome back! This episode we are talking with Steve Sherman. I met Steve a number of years ago when he came to Elevator Digital to lead a workshop on his method of split tone printing. Flash forward a number of years, a couple of workshops and a few parties and I was attending the inaugural Photo Arts Exchange symposium in Connecticut with over 50 other photographers from across the US (I was the...

Welcome to our first interview! Bob Carnie has been working in the photographic industry for over 30 years now. He is an accomplished printmaker, colour corrector and project manager. Known to being a supportive collaborator, Bob has dedicated himself to helping educate new photographers and printmakers as well as supporting seasoned photographers exhibit their work. He is in a new studio space at...