Hands Up!

“Our experience is governed by pictures.”

Douglas Crimp said that. It’s something I came to realize when I eventually got into photography and one of the reasons I find photography such a compelling medium.

When I was young, our library had these hard-bound books that contained historical issues of National Geographic (usually 5 or 6 issues to a book). They were kept as ‘reference material’ so you couldn’t sign them out and take them home; they had to be viewed in the library. I’d sit for hours flipping through those annuals, immersed in the articles and, especially, the photographs.

I came to ‘know’ the world a bit more by looking at those strong visuals from places that I had not actually visited. Those images, and the photographers who made them, were in my mind, transformative. I wanted to do that. I wanted to be them. To get one or more photos printed in a national magazine was the stuff of this kid’s dreams. The fascinations found in nature, photo, geography, and outdoor magazines would drive me to photography classes in high school; backpacking and canoe trips; and, would fuel a passion for travel and an eventual degree in Environmental Sciences.

So, while it might seem somewhat trivial for some, eventually having one of my photos printed in a national magazine with a history steeped in Canadian geography and the environment is a big deal. Many a young Canadian kid has hoisted an imaginary Stanley Cup at the conclusion of street hockey games; that was what victory looked like for many. Having my image printed in Canadian Geographic was akin to that imaginary Stanley Cup.

Seeing your image in print feels special. Seeing mine in THIS magazine couldn’t be better. I begin to wonder if there will be anyone who will feel motivated to see the locale in the image or take a surf lesson or be curious about atmospheric conditions on Canada’s West Coast?

I’m in the March/April issue of Canadian Geographic for an image aligned to ‘outdoor adventure’ and I couldn’t be more stoked!