Artist Statement
A walk through a forest grove. A skyline in the distance. Fleeting moments of daylight that give way to a pristine sunset.
It’s those moments captured in time that create the essence of life on British Columbia’s west coast, and it’s those settings that serve as a springboard of inspiration for Vancouver-based photographer Chris Collacott.
Specializing in natural images, architecture and cityscapes, Collacott’s works are both a celebration of his surroundings and a testament to his craft.
Collacott’s process of creation first starts with the selection of his photo subject, and from there, the use of digital technology then gives way to a collection of images embodied as one.
Though some of his works are finalized through the use of technology, it is a steady hand and adherence to age-old photographic principles that makes his photos come to life – composition, location and an eye for dramatic.
In other words, Collacott uses the tools available to him, but is not bound by them.
“When I do take photos, I take them properly with the best settings on my camera to ensure the highest quality as possible from the beginning,” says the 36-year-old Vancouver resident. “Software can only do so much to make the image look good. I have to shoot each image perfectly so the software can do its job easily.”
Less than a decade into his career, Collacott has already garnered significant attention and praise for his highly-detailed, fine-art prints.
Among his most notable accomplishments was a 23-foot skyline mural piece commissioned by the City of Vancouver that found a home within the Olympic Village.
Collacott also came home with first prize in the 2010 BUILDEX photo contest, exposing his works to countless industry professionals in the process. Most recently, Collacott’s art was accepted into the prestigious Associate of the Vancouver Art Galleries Art Rental and Sales program to hang amongst the ranks of other well-known artists.
He also views his talents as an opportunity to give back, a feeling evidenced by his participation in last year’s One World showcase at Vancouver’s Science World. The event saw more than 60 artists from across North America coming together to lend their respective talents to raise funds for those affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
“When I observe people looking at my work, their reactions seem to be a sense of awe and wonder for the photo taken, in part because they know the location and may even have lived in the photo I took,” Collacott says.
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