As an ongoing project, Gabriola Photography Club curates the art display space downstairs at the Gabriola Medical Clinic on Church Street, Gabriola Island. Club members take turns having solo exhibitions or taking part in group exhibitions.

We’re delighted to present a new exhibit by Blair Mann, entitled “Gabriola Artists: A Review in Black and White”.

Blair says the new exhibit is a sampling of work in his ongoing project to capture artists absorbed in their creative process, and that his has chosen to process the images in black and white “because colour can distract the viewer from seeing the connection an artist has to their work”.

Photo: the late Ode Howard at work © Blair Mann

Blair is skilled at photographing people. Before moving to Gabriola, he worked as a commercial photographer in the Lower Mainland for almost 15 years, creating portraits and headshots of actors, singers, dancers, public speakers and authors, along with corporate executives, boards of directors and staff of numerous companies. As well, he photographed products made by light manufacturing companies for use in their sales catalogues and websites.

In Blair’s own words:

Having come to digital photography in my early 50’s, I realized I needed some help if I was going to be successful. To this end I hired two mentors. Peter Hurley in New York City and Don Giannatti in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Over three years of weekly critiques, Peter taught me lighting, portrait and headshot photography and how to interact with my subject.

From my two years of every-other-week online meet ups with Don, I learned the business side of Photography; i.e. how to acquire clients, marketing, how to write proposals and contracts – how to get paid. Also, Don taught product photography.

From this experience, I learned to love photographing people. There wasn’t, and still isn’t, anything more exciting for me.

After retiring and moving full time to Gabriola about nine years ago, I looked for ways to still capture images of people. With the support of Gabriola artist Gwen Spinks, I was able to connect with other artists on the island who kindly allowed me to capture their moment in time. The personal project is still ongoing.

I wish to thank the Gabriola Photography Club for asking me to display a sampling of my work at LifeLabs.

It is my hope you have an opportunity to view my work.