Hello fellow SPC Members,
Our guest speaker this week is Wayne Fisher. Wayne is an architecture photographer based in Toronto Ontario.
Normally I would create an introduction to our guest speaker, but I figured I would ask Wayne to introduce himself, so take it away Wayne.
“thanks Shawn, its great to be here.
My journey began in South Africa, where I grew up sketching and exploring creative forms of self-expression. I was constantly drawing my parents, and eventually moved onto the scenery and architecture around me. I began to discover the value of my work when one of my pieces got stolen from our house as a teenager.
After completing my military service in The South African Airforce, I attended art school and graduated with a National Diploma in Photography where I specialized in fashion. I spent 6 months as a photojournalist in Johannesburg during my final year, where I truly witnessed the strict and oppressive society. I immigrated to Canada in 1991.
When my youngest daughter was growing up, I began sketching again and rediscovering my passion for art through her. In 2016, I attended the Professional Photographers of Canada conference in Calgary where my photographic journey was reignited. I began taking architectural photographs, an interest precedented from my childhood sketches, and was drawn to the beauty of black and white photography. Growing up witnessing apartheid and the emphasis on black and white, I utilized photography to explore all the shades in between. My daughter urged me to start and Instagram account and share my work which was a pivotal step in my journey. This allowed me to build a community, and I soon gained the opportunity to give presentations at photo clubs and launch a series of architectural photography workshops in downtown Toronto.
I have been creating for over 35 years and I believe that each stage of my journey has provided a building block, inevitably leading me to architectural photography. When I am creating, I feel a sense of exhilaration and know that this genre is where I feel at home. My early influence of Ansel Adams and the pursuit to emulate the tonality he achieved in his black and white photos continues to inspire me. I employ the rules of photography as I recall my education and experience in the rigid society of South Africa, and I break the rules to emphasize the freedom I gained moving to Canada. Honored to have representing Canada at the 2020 World
Photographic Cup in the commercial category.”
You can check out some of Wayne’s work using the links below.
Instagram
Website
On-line Meeting: November 6, 2024
