Jeff Galbraith
What made you choose photography as your main means of expression and when did you start working with images?
I think that I chose photography as my main means of expression because I have always "seen" photos. For as long as I can remember, I have taken pictures with my mind's eye. Despite this, I never learned to use a camera until I was in my late twenties (in the mid eighties.) And I never really started to appreciate photography as an art form until the latter part of 2000. Since then I have worked hard to make my photography say something about the world and how we perceive it.
Do you prefer using a traditional camera or a digital one?
Although I currently do my planned shoots with a 35 mm SLR and use a 35 mm point and shoot as my street camera, I would prefer to shoot digital--in most cases-- and plan to go digital soon.
We ask it to all our photographer guest artists, which are the pros and cons of using a digital camera and a reflex? Which are the main differences between the two in your opinion?
SLR cameras certainly do offer incredible versatility and creative control, but, unless you have your own darkroom, a lot of the process is out of your hands.
Digital, on the other hand, gives you total control of the creative process from beginning to end, which I find very appealing. I believe that this makes up for the slight lack of versatility, giving digital the edge as a creative tool.
Have you ever tried other forms of art in your life?
Not unless you count woodworking in general and canoe building in particular as forms of art. I have dabbled in both, but my limited ability in these disciplines hasn't led to the creation of much that could be considered art.
What is the importance of light in photography in your opinion?
I would have to say, that in photography, light is everything. You can have the most interesting subject in the world, but, if the light isn't just right, your subject will come across as flat and ordinary. Dramatic lighting is hard to find and even harder create, but on the rare occasion when you do find it or manage to create it--the rewards are worth the wait.
Do you elaborate and retouch your photos, either traditionally or digitally and if so, which darkroom and/or digital techniques do you use?
Generally I only make minor digital adjustments to my image files such as brightness, contrast, saturation and sharpness in an attempt to make them look as close to the original slide or print as possible. However, I do play around with digital art from time to time for a challenge and a change of pace.
Do you look for a certain effect and atmosphere or are they just be the result of a casual process?
I like to search for a mood that conveys what I found special about a particular image such as soft, subdued lighting that gives a sense of calm or strong contrast of light and shadow that makes an image striking. But sometimes I just shoot for the plain fun of it, without thinking about why.
Do you have an alternate favourite subject than nature?
Nature is definitely my favourite subject, but I am drawn to any subject that has strong lines, patterns, dramatic colours or striking contrasts.
What is your attitude towards Black and White photography?
I believe that Black and White is to photography as classic cars are to motoring. Black and White photography offers a timeless sense of elegance and class that just isn't present in colour photography.
Are there photographers and other artists inspiring you?
There are many photographers and digital artists (too numerous to name) who have inspired me. I have met most of these talented people through online photography forums such as Pixi Port, Photo Board International and Better Photo.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I think that my inspiration comes mostly from a need to slow down and appreciate the overlooked beauty that is all around us. I hope that this shows in my photography, and perhaps inspires others to take a closer look at the everyday world.
Is there something you want to communicate through your photos either overtly or covertly?
Only that beauty is everywhere, often in the simplest, most ordinary things that we pass by everyday, but seldom take the time to notice or appreciate.
Many artists like you now have websites presenting their works on virtual galleries in the Internet. What do you think about this way of presenting one's work to the public?
The Internet offers an affordable and interactive means for artists to get their work out there for all to see. I have made numerous contacts with other artists and photographers via my web site. I think it is a great way for people with common interests to share ideas and inspiration, because there are no distance borders and even cultural borders seem to matter very little.
What does fascinate you most of the nature you depict?
I think that what fascinates me most about nature is its ability to instil a sense of calm and wonder. A sunset over a calm lake, or a brooding sky--you just can't get that kind of feeling from anything else. Nature feeds a basic inner hunger that nothing else can.
We are getting the most frightening alarms from the state of our environments. As a nature photographer how do you see the state of our planet? What do you think we should do actively to protect our environment?
I believe that we have reached an environmental crossroads and our planet's well being, and ultimately our own, is what's at stake. There has been some progress in our awareness and caring about nature, but I fear that we are not yet taking it seriously enough.
All of us can make a difference by composting, recycling and cutting back on our use of energy. We also have a lot of power to shape our world by rejecting consumer products that are not produced in an environmentally responsible manner and embracing those that are.
Are there other foreign places in the world you would like to visit and photograph?
I would love to see Australia's Outback and Great Barrier Reef, as well as Britain's Stonehenge and the Grand Canyon in the United States. I would also love to take about a year to really get to know my own country, Canada, a lot better too.
What are your future projects?
I am currently studying for a career in web design and am very excited about the prospect of combining my love of photographic imaging with digital graphic design.
If you were to list the most important values in your life at present, which would be at first place? Are they the same as when you were younger?
At this point in my life I would have to say that family comes before everything else. Without the strength that comes from that close inner world, I don't know if I would have the courage to face the big, sometimes overwhelming outer world. This is something that I did not give a lot of thought or really appreciate when I was younger.
What is your biggest fear these days? And what makes you happy anyway?
I would have to say that my biggest fear is that we will destroy this planet and ourselves all in the name of progress. And that would be a terrible shame, because this world is truly a beautiful and wondrous creation.
And what makes me happy are the small things: a calm glass-like river, a rich and colourful sunset, my wife's smile and tireless sense of humour, my teen-aged daughter's sense of compassion that is as strong as her sense of fashion, and the hope that we will make the right decision and choose nature over progress.
© BTDesign Art Gallery, Barbara Tampieri. Unauthorized reproduction forbidden.