Looking Back

Good morning everyone,

I have been very busy lately. My time has been divided up doing photo shoots, processing digital files, exploring new techniques, or posting, sharing, tweeting and pinning new material on my various social streams. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining. I am very thankful that I can make money doing something I am passionate about. However, recently I got an email from a customer asking me about some of my older work. This email got me thinking about how easy it is to be so focused on the future that we forget to appreciate where we came from. So today's posting is dedicated to looking back at my photographic and artistic evolution. I think this is an important point, given that my history shapes my perspective and that in turn shapes the artwork I create.

How Art Saved Me

I was not always an artist. I have a background in molecular Genetics, I have worked for the National Research Council in Canada, I have a Master's degree in urban planning from the University of British Columbia, and I have spent many years being self employed in the financial Industry. My love affair with art specifically photography started in 2010,

In 2010 my life was changed forever as I was diagnosed with various health issues. At that time I was spending much of my day lying down and feeling generally rotten. As time went by I knew that I needed a distraction. I needed something to focus on rather than just be sick and feeling crumby. I wanted an activity or a hobby that would force me off the sofa and would restore some balance in my life. In July 2010 my wife and I just had our second child. To celebrate the occasion I bought a new camera so that I could take pictures of the children as they grew up. Thus begun my passion. The more photographs I took the more fascinated I became with the creativity involved in making the images.

Over the course of the next couple of years I read everything I could find regarding photography. In addition I had signed up for Kelby training, watched endless hours of videos on the Internet, listened contently to photography podcasts and practiced and practiced and practiced the art of photography. In those years my photography database swelled to over 20,000 images. In addition to learning about photography I was reading copious amount of material on post production processing. Specifically, I was learning how to use Lightroom and Photoshop effectively.

Finding the Light

Photography has given me a number of things such as an income, enhanced computer skills, and a better appreciation of all forms of art. However, the truly amazing gift photography has given me is that I now use my eyes to see and appreciate light.. Photography is really an adventure of finding, capturing and displaying light. As funny as It may sound, I am for the first time truly aware of light and how it's qualities (i.e., type and quality) influences my images.  As an artist I use light to evoke emotion or feeling in my work.  I think photography is really a study of light and finding creative ways of using light to transform a beautiful image into an extraordinary image.

​Hidden Treasures

I thought it would be fun to include some of my earlier work in this posting and give some history behind the photograph.


​John's Cove Reflection

​This photograph was taken a few years ago while visiting in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia..  On this trip my wife and I had decided to rent a small cottage near the iconic lighthouse at Cape Forchu.  One night after driving my mom home I was returning back to cottage when I glanced over my shoulder and noticed this beautiful waterscape.  I instantly knew that I had to make a photograph of this small fishing hamlet,

On this night ​It was a warm summer evening and the water was as still as glass. Some of fishing boats tied up at the pier had their lights on while the fisherman were working on preparing their boats for an early morning departure.  The lights reflecting on the water made it an almost magical scene.  The photograph was made using my DSLR camera mounted onto a sturdy tripod.  To make the star bursts I shot the photograph with a small aperature f18.

This photograph is one of my all time favourites as it reminds me of home.  It is also a great reminder that as a photographer that I always need to look forward. to my sides, and always look back.  Sometimes the best things are ones not right in front of you, 

To Purchase a Fine Art Print of "John's Cove Reflection"

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On The Edge

​This photograph was made a few years ago while visiting a local butterfly conservatory in Ontario, Canada.  Looking back I think this was the point at which I fell in love with macro photography.  This type of photography requires a certain degree of attention to detail that I find stimulating.  This image was created using my DSLR mounted on a monopod to help steady the camera.  When doing macro photography I always shoot in manual focus as I tend to be happier with the results.  This photograph highlights another important lesson I have learnt in photography.  Always have your camera and ready to shoot.  Photography is about capturing moments in time.  I have learnt that it is often mere seconds that separates a great photograph from an average photograph.  So if you are interested in taking great photos carry extra batteries, keep your camera on, and keep the lens caps off so that you have a chance in capturing life's beautiful moments.  

To Purchase A Fine Art Print of "On The Edge"

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​Simplicity

Floral photography is an amazing and fascinating genre of photography. It is here that I have the most creative license.. I can change the mood of the photograph by altering the light, the lens, the background, and though my post production process. The options for making fine art prints is almost endless. Much like the print "On The Edge" represents the beginning of my macro photography so does this print represent the beginning of my love affair with floral photography. This is one of my earliest works and I love the deep rich tones of the red rose and the beads of water on the petals. This print has been one of my most popular since I first released it.

To Purchase A Fine Art Print of "Simplicity"

Thank you again for visiting our photography blog at garvinhunter.com.  We always appreciate hearing your comments and questions.  Don't forget to come back often as we are always adding new content.

Cheers,
Garvin Hunter Photography



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