Christa has been working in the visual and production arts for 10 years, beginning with a BA from Queen's University. After her career in film and television production brought her to Vancouver she began her career in photography. She received her technical training from Langara College. In addition to freelance photography and teaching, Christa has worked as the Assistant Manager at Lens & Shutter. She is now the Program Manager for Digital Photography at VanArts and a foundation instructor teaching Digital Workflow in the full-time program. Christa brings the complexity of digital photography to her students in a most accessible, comprehensive and inspiring environment for even the most techno-phobic amateurs.
Always pushing his own limits, Adam Blasberg found his inspiration to photography on a one-man bicycle tour of Canada from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, BC. Dedication to perfection, professionalism and focus have helped put Adam on the map as a rising force in photography.
Whether behind the lens or in front of it, his focus is people, working cooperatively with all involved to produce a flawless finished piece. With a peerlessly sharp eye for details, Adam Blasberg brings a personal touch to his clients' work.
Aura McKay is an experienced instructor and workshop leader committed to sharing her passion for photography. Her professional work includes creative weddings and portraiture, fine art alternative process images and commercial interiors and decor. An active member of PPOC and professionally trained, Aura is known for her enthusiasm as well as her technical knowledge. Her background in business, accounting and marketing is a solid foundation for facilitating emerging professionals in building their businesses.
Christopher Morris was born in Ottawa, grew up in Montreal, and now lives in Vancouver. He got his start in photography seventeen years ago shooting news and sports events in Montreal for Canadian Press and Reuters.
Christopher likes the colour yellow.
Now living in Vancouver, he works for editorial clients such as Maclean's, Der Spiegel, Newsweek, Stern, L'Express and Time Magazine doing documentary photojournalism and portraits. His corporate and commercial work includes annual reports and advertising. Christopher's ability to connect with people and put them at ease can be seen in all his work.
He likes cheeseburgers, too.
Authors, politicians, the homeless, CEOs, Olympic athletes, divas and assorted celebrities. On location, in studio, or on the fly, it's all about creating great photographs that tell the story.
He also really likes dogs.
Award winning photographer David Ellingsen photographs people for the advertising, editorial and corporate markets with a strong focus on contemporary portraiture and athletes.
After almost 10 years in the industry David remains motivated by authenticity and sincerity and focuses these elements into his work with people, portraiture and the creative process itself. David's portraits have attracted commissions from well-known publications such as the New York Times Magazine, Marie Claire, Men's Health, and People. In the advertising and corporate markets he has partnered with clients such as DDB, MTV/Nickelodeon, BC Place Stadium, Translink, BC Hydro and the esteemed David Suzuki Foundation.
David also commits substantial time to his fine art collections. While a departure from his commercial work, they are motivated from the same ethical base and the photographs have evolved to a place of subtle commentary on society’s contemporary values. Two solo exhibitions in the US and the attendance as a guest artist at the Lishui International Photography Festival in China are recent highlights.
David came to the city by way of Cortes Island, a small community of 700 residents off the coast of British Columbia. Bouncing between his hard working folks on the family farm, a few draft dodgers and the other free spirits on the island was certainly an interesting start to life, but also made crystal clear the importance of pairing quality with practicality, people with the environment and the individual with the communal. These values inform his working life to this day, not only through his photographs, but the support of charities, industry associations and mentorship programs.
Ian McGuffie is one of the leading members of the Vancouver photographic community. For the past nineteen years he has been director/curator of Exposure Gallery, Vancouver's oldest photographic gallery. As an award-winning photographer his photographs have been exhibited in Europe, North America and Japan. His extensive background stems from forty years of experience in photography. He is also President of the Vancouver Association for Photographic Arts, a society for the promotion of photography as a medium of creative and artistic expression.
Renewing his passion for photography after a long absence, Jeff has immersed himself in the art and technology of making pictures.
Jeff had been working in a corporate role in information technology and web development for ten years, but with training at Langara College, now relishes the opportunity for expression and creativity offered by pursing photography and assisting full-time.
Educated in British Columbia and California Kaj has over 25 years experience in commercial, illustrative and stock photography working in all camera formats including 35mm, medium, 4” x 5” and 8” x 10” view cameras, and the latest digital equipment. Kaj also has extensive knowledge of and experience in lighting techniques and has owned and operated studios for over 20 years. He has been actively involved in teaching for over 20 years, and has taught at institutions such as the University of British Columbia (Centre for Continuing Education), British Columbia Institute of Technology, and other prominent local photography schools.
Katie Huisman studied photography at the Alberta College of Art and Design, graduating and winning the Govenor General Award in 2004. From there she took on an internship position at Kingsize Studios in Auckland New Zealand where she lived for 1 1/5 years assisting Adam Custins, Aaron K, Fraser Harding, Tony Drayton and countless other international photographers.
Today, Katie is based in Vancouver Canada, where she shoots for a variety of local freelance and international clients. Katie has been exhibiting her work regularly since 1998 and has shown across Canada & overseas. She has had the opportunity to create larger site-specific public art peices along with smaller works for private collectors. Katie's work is represented by the Elliott Louis Gallery and can be seen exhibited regularly.
Mary L.G. Jensen is an accredited portrait photographer who has been running her successful studio in Richmond, B.C. since 1986. Through giving presentations, teaching fellow photographers, and exhibiting her work, she has earned from the Professional Photographers of Canada her Master of Photographic Arts designation. Further recognition from her peers has allowed her to have the prestigious F/PPABC conferred on her, making her a Fellow of the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia. She is accredited in both Portrait and Wedding photography.
Leaving their small B.C. towns of Courtenay and Summerland in the mid-eighties and meeting at Langara's respected photography program led not only to a thriving partnership in business but also to a thriving partnership in life. Pink Monkey Studios, established in 1996 by the husband-and-wife team of Ross den Otter and Sarolta Dobi, has skillfully filled the portfolios of actors, models, and corporate executives from across the Lower Mainland for over a decade. Establishing and maintaining quality relationships with all their clients, the Monkeys' branched out to commercial and on-set film work as well, expanding the scope of their business.
Scott is a Media Producer & Trainer with 10 years of professional experience. Scott brings great relevance to his training through patience, humour, and proven communication techniques to convey complex concepts in simple understandable ways. Scott is an active web site/ interface designer, flash programmer, blogger, administrator and consultant.
Years of traveling around the world following the surf and snow can do a lot of wonderful things to a person. For Vairdy the people and places rekindled a passion of photography and eventually brought her back to Vancouver to study at Langara College.
After graduating from the Professional Photo Imaging program, she spent the next few years between the secluded Islands of Haida Gwaii in the summertime shooting and following the competitive snowboardcross racing circuit competing across Canada. Her competitive drive to develop as a snowboarder took her to the Andes Mountains of Chile where she was injured during training, putting a sudden end to her snowboarding career.
Following some recovery time at home in Vancouver, Photography once again became her focus and before long Vairdy was assisting and learning the ropes of retouching with Commercial Photographer Philip Jarmain. After a couple years in the commercial business, Vairdy had discovered talents and interests that she did not know existed in retouching and post-production.
With this new focus Vairdy brings to the industry her own unique style, delivering quality work to Ad Firms and Commercial Photographers here in Vancouver.
One of Canada's most experienced magazine and portrait photographers, Alex has photographed celebrities (Bob Hope, Candice Bergen, Dennis Hopper), politicians (Larry Campbell, Carole James, Jack Layton) actors (Molly Parker, Nicholas Campbell), writers (William Gibson, Nick Bantock, Douglas Coupland, Mario Vargas Llosa) and enough CEOs and business leaders to start his own capitalist army. His favorite photographic subjects are this granddaughter and the roses and hostas that populate his garden.
His pictures have appeared in publications ranging from the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Stern to Readers' Digest, the Globe and Mail and the Georgia Straight. His commercial work has adorned everything from annual reports to postage stamps. Alex is also a teacher and a writer, and he would like to take your picture.
The first time Ian really thought of himself as a photographer was in the mid 80's doing shots of Hosoi and Hawk and other great skaters of the time for a photo contest. By 1991, he had turned his focus to winter sports having met Evan Feen while doing some backcountry snowboarding. A photo of John Griber jumping a crevasse on Serratus Mountain a year later sold to Mistral snowboards and Ian realized that it was possible to make money from photos. For the last 10 years Ian's main sport has been on mountain biking. Past clients have include Red Bull, Specialized Bicycles, Fox Racing, Maxxis Tires, Ryders Eyewear, Oakley, Race Face, Marzocchi, Manitou, and Brodie Bikes amongst others. Ian has worked as a staff photographer for Decline Magazine and for two years produced a large coffee table photo book for the mountain bike industry titled “TwentySix”. His work have been published in magazines in all over the world including Sports Illustrated, National Geographic Adventure Magazine, Outside, Bike Magazine, Dirt, Modest Bike, Mountain Bike Rider, German Bike Magazine, MBUK, and many more.
Marc Koegel is a local fine art photographer, educator, writer and director of Vancouver Photo Workshops LTD. His black and white landscapes, nudes and architecture photographs have been widely exhibited in Vancouver and abroad.
Born in Germany, Marc first came to Canada in 1996 to earn an Economics degree. He has been seriously involved with photography ever since he was given his father's camera and darkroom setup at the age of 12. He has worked and studied with many internationally acclaimed photographers, including Ralph Gibson, David Hume Kennerly and Jon Cone from Cone Editions Press. Among Marc's keen interest are the creative and transitional techniques used to merit traditional darkroom with the latest digital processes.
Patrick Koslo's first published work was a shot of science fiction author William Gibson for the 1991 cover of West Magazine. His work has since appeared in Vancouver Magazine, B.C. Business, City Food, Common Ground, Nuvo Magazine and the Georgia Straight. He has done slideshows and lectures at Vancouver Film School, Exposure Gallery, Camera Canada College at UBC, Capilano College, The Roundhouse Community Centre, The Planetarium and various camera clubs.
His work, which included 50 light painted images, appreared in the 1998 episode “Killswitch” of The X-Files with Twentieth Century Fox Television. He worked with Georgia Pulos on a 50th Birthday tribute to Jim Morrison of The Doors, shooting in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and Paris France.
He is constantly looking for new ways to expand is conceptual, experimental photographic vision. He does not use a computer or photoshop but encourages his students to use whatever means necessary to stand out with a creative edge in today's competitive and high-tech photographic world.
Tracey is a professional freelance photographer specializing in food and beverage. She photographs cookbooks, stocks, editorials, product packaging and advertising for the food & hospitality industries. A passion for the culinary arts, combined with her skills and commercial training in photography, led Tracey to develop Foodie Photography in 1997. Topics such as lighting techniques, food styling, set decoration, media usage and color theory will be shared and demonstrated with captivating photography and quirky anecdotes compiled through the years. Tracey de-mystifies food photography and styling with insightful and fascinating tips, tricks and techniques commonly used in this niche market.
Advisory Council
With a career spanning some 30 years in photography, marketing and technology, James has a heartfelt interest in seeing other photographers succeed. He brings a wealth of innovation and vigorous energy to Vanarts. James is well known for his expertise and dedication as a teacher and mentor to other photographers. Over the years he has been a resource to many of his former students who have gone on to create successful photographic careers of their own.
An accomplished commercial photographer in his own right, James’ career has also extended into the corporate world. He has held positions as Industry Consultant, District Technical Manager and later, Canadian Marketing Manager for Cincom Systems. He was Head Instructor at one of the most respected photography schools in Western Canada, where he taught Basic and Intermediate Photography, Advanced Darkroom, Practical Studio Lighting, Large Format Photography, Professional Development, Product Photography, Advanced Studio Lighting, and Developing Photographic Style. James now owns and operates his own portraiture business. With his partner Gaetanne, he also co-owns and operates Then Comes Marriage Wedding Photography, providing wedding photography services in the lower mainland.
Award-winning photographer Alan Jacques has been involved in photography since 1972, starting out as a freelancer and instructor. He started his own film & video production company in 1981, which won him a Canadian Film & Television Association First Choice Award for his first film, Marathon - The Ultimate Challenge. In 1985 he left the film & video industry to pursue his interest in business and marketing, beginning a period of personal work.
In 2001 Alan re-discovered his passion for street photography, and continues to expand into new areas. His recent projects include Wires (a series of B/W photographs shot at Broadway & Main in Vancouver) and 3 Minutes 30 seconds (a study of the beauty and sensuality of the female form). His work has appeared in 14 gallery shows in Canada and the US, and in Black & White Magazine. He utilizes all 3 photographic media: digital, film and instant film. Alan lives in Langley, BC and has two teenage daughters. Though he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, the past 2 years have been the most photographically productive of his life.
Ian McGuffie is one of the leading members of the Vancouver photographic community. For the past nineteen years he has been director/curator of Exposure Gallery, Vancouver's oldest photographic gallery. As an award-winning photographer his photographs have been exhibited in Europe, North America and Japan. His extensive background stems from forty years of experience in photography. He is also President of the Vancouver Association for Photographic Arts, a society for the promotion of photography as a medium of creative and artistic expression.
John Isaac is a distinguished member of VanArts' Advisory Board. As a photographer for the United Nations, he has photographed some of the world's most shameful tragedies from Afghanistan to Bosnia. After photographing the genocide in Rwanda, John found he was unable to continue working. His journey from despair to inspiration is evidenced in his moving photographs, which are the subject of this unique presentation.
Isaac's work with the UN, UNICEF and the Sierra Club has taken him to over 100 countries around the globe. Since retiring as Chief of the Photo Unit for the UN in 1998 he has continued his travels and produced several important books. The most recent, "The Vale of Kashmir", published in October of this year, takes an intimate look at the people and peaceful beauty of India's Kashmir region.