Tdot Shots interview with North Bay Photographer Garrett Campbell (Community Member Feature)
We have enjoyed collaborating with Garrett Campbell, one of our long-standing community members. Here we present the Tdot Shots Five Questions interview completed via email.
Please read and check out all the images. Comments are welcome. (Please register and login to comment). Be sure to follow the artist on Instagram: @le__graveur
Who are you?
Hey! I am Garrett Campbell.
How did you get into photography?
It was an interest that started in college, while taking Journalism – Print and creating at night in my uncle’s darkroom. This was still back in the days of developing prints or film.
After that, I had to drop out of college due to personal reasons, and stopped shooting for a while, yet art and photography were still in the back of my mind. I would mostly read up on it and learn different techniques on my own, never giving it up entirely.
This accelerated again when I got laid off at a factory job and with part of my severance money, purchased an Android phone. Then I started shooting again, full force (about 2016-2017). This led to the purchase of a Nikon B500 and then I upgraded to a Canon, a surprise gift at my 40th birthday party. Since then, photography has once again become a full on passion of mine. I have just been learning by osmosis, hands on experience and reading different books and articles online, including the Tdot Connect Photo Graphics With Photoshop Course. Photography also helps with grounding, and with my mental health immensely.
What do you like to shoot and where?
I like to shoot anything that catches my eye, really …. (I kid. OK but not really haha).
Mainly old architecture and Nordic, rustic nature shoots. My genres overlap and include (but are not limited to); street photography, architecture, reflections, nature, liminal and black and white. You can find me in the inner urbane parts of cities or out in nature with my camera these days. I like historic and ‘earthy’ venues. The old part of Toronto is great for historic buildings, and the North is wonderful for nature, although one can still find historic buildings here up north and nature in the city …. The two are not mutually exclusive, by any means. If I had to break it down ….
- Toronto Urban: Kensington Market, Chinatown, Distillery District, The Annex, Gooderham Area/Old Toronto.
- Toronto Nature: Rouge National Urban Park, The Toronto Zoo, High Park, Toronto Islands.
- North Bay Urban: Main Street/Downtown, First Avenue/Masonic Temple Area.
- North Bay Nature: North Bay Waterfront, Champlain Park, Sunset Point Park, Duchesney Falls/Canadore Trails.
What gear do you use?
The gear I use varies, depending on what type of shot I wish to get and what artistic expression I want to convey with the piece.
Overall, I have four main cameras that I use (including my phone): Canon EOS T100 Rebel, Nikon B500 Coolpix, Fuji S1000 Finepix and my Samsung Android phone. Sometimes, I use photography lens balls and tripods.
Who are your favourite photographers?
I’ve had a few photographers influence me over the years. Ones that stick out are Yousuf Karsh and Vivian Maier. I admire their work in the realms of portraits and street photography, respectively. There are interesting back stories behind them too!
Gallery North Bay
Credits: all photography by Garrett Campbell
Thanks to our contributor
Thanks for the interview and photo contribution Garrett. Be sure to follow the artist: @le__graveur
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