Victoria West Portrait Photographer of the Year

VICTORIA WEST

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

By Victoria West, CPA

AFTER MY SECOND CONSECUTIVE WIN OF PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, I WAS INTERVIEWED BY OUR LOCAL PAPER. IT WAS A BRIEF INTERVIEW, DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TIME TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF IMAGE SALON. THEN, TO MY SURPRISE, AND EMBARRASSMENT, THE RESULTING NEWSPAPER HEADLINE WAS “THE BEST PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER IN CANADA LIVES IN OROMOCTO”.

I never said that (and I don’t even live in Oromocto, although my studio is there). As much as I would love it to be true, I’m not even close. But I am a very hard worker. I put a ton of time and energy into my submission each year. I take it seriously because I want to win. I set that goal, I met that goal. So I should be happy right? Never, because the first thing that goes through my mind after I get the good news is, “how am I going to top this next year?” Overachiever issues clearly. A blessing and a curse. So let’s get into my submission….

Micheal - Figure Study - Merit

Like my image Exsanguinate from 2019, this is also a composite starring my husband. Both of them are him. My inspiration came from Ancient Greek sculptures and classical paintings, although not one in particular. I shot it in the studio with a two-light setup, one for fill and one for direction. The background was from a ceiling in the Alhambra palace that I photographed in Spain, and the frame came from a photo from that trip as well. The wings, I photographed and added after that fact. I felt like he looked about ready to take off once I had pieced it all together, and since he’s basically an angel to nude model for me, I went with it.

Spanish Rose - Child Portrait - Excellence

Another Spanish backdrop, this was also shot in studio on a two-light setup. My model was an actual client, who I asked to come back and model for me because she looked like she stepped out of a renaissance painting. I had the outfit waiting for the right person, and she was the one. So this was really straight-forward, just a two image composite. I think her expression is renaissance perfection.

The Last Supper - Portrait - Excellence

I made this image in early January. Australia was burning and at that time it seemed like that was the greatest threat facing us in the immediate future….if only. So, this was one of those rare times when I knew exactly what this image would look like before I made it. A clear vision. Australia was burning because of our appetites, literally and figuratively... but most literally. We are eating ourselves to extinction. So I ordered an earth balloon, found a model/friend who had a Jesus-like resemblance, and got to work. This was a 3 light setup. A gelled backlight, fill light, and sidelight for direction. There were a few separate takes involved to get the details right (wine splashing, hair blowing). I wanted to create a strong sense of movement. The windows and background scene were from my trip to Spain again. Like The Last Supper painting, I wanted there to be a similar vibe, although modern-day, so wardrobe kept it current even in the midst of the gothic style architecture. I also learned that Photoshop makes fire. Thank you Adobe!

Humane Meat - Conceptual Illustration - Excellence

When I showed this image to my father, he said “do you think that one day you’ll make something that I can actually hang on the wall? Your mind is a scary place.” Technically, my Facebook feed is the scary place, with post after post from the many animal rights activist pages that I follow. I didn’t have to think too hard to come up with this idea. The human race enslaves, confines, and kills 70 billion land animals every year. Human supremacy justifies this for many, so what happens if we weren’t the most powerful/intelligent species anymore? That’s what I wanted the viewer to consider. If we were in their place, the animals’ place, how would we feel? This was a very complicated composite. I photographed every piece of it myself (I never use stock images). I had 7 models, 4 bars, a photograph of a delivery truck, a homemade alien, and a lot of time. If you’d like to see all the details head over to the PPOC National Blog (https://www.ppoc.ca/news_ articles/article_122.php?thread=1 ) where you can find my post showing the behind-the-scenes. So that’s it! In closing, I’d like to thank everyone involved in putting together image salons, the virtual awards gala, and keeping us all well entertained with so many great webinars during these social distancing times. I can’t wait till we can all party together in Saskatoon, 2021!

Victoria West, CPA

Victoria West is a full-time portrait photographer. She’s built a strong reputation and business in Oromocto, NB, by creating portraits for people who hate being photographed (just like her). She’s a proud PPOC member and serves on the Board of the Atlantic Region. She is also an internationally awarded photographer having top 3 finishes at WPPI, WPE, and World Photographic Cup in 2019. She’s also 2020 & 2019 Portrait Photographer of the Year for PPOC. Victoria is also a passionate animal rights activist and lives with her husband, 5 dogs, and 1 unlucky cat.

Yes, you can rent it!

If you’re like most photographers, you can’t wait to get your hands on the next piece of must-have gear. Could be a new lens or a camera – or maybe that gimbal stabilizer you’ve been eyeing for a 32 while. You know it belongs in your kit, but your budget-conscious self is having second thoughts. | GALLERIE MAGAZINE That’s understandable, but did you know there’s an affordable alternative to buying it outright? Vistek Rentals makes nearly every piece of photo- and video-related equipment and accessories available at economical rates for short-term periods ranging from a day or two to a month or longer. We also offer a Try Before You Buy program that lets you apply a one-day rental fee toward the final purchase price if decide to keep it after all. And you’ll be glad to know that we’ve implemented rigorous protocols and procedures to ensure that every item, right down to the cables and accessories, is thoroughly cleaned before and after use. Transactions can now be completed online, pickups and drop-offs can be done in a safe and contactless manner, so you can enjoy your next piece of gear with total peace of mind. | SUMMER 2020 PHOTO | VIDEO | DIGITAL | SALES | RENTALS | SERVICE

TORONTO • MISSISSAUGA • OTTAWA • CALGARY • EDMONTON VISTEK.CA

FULL-FRAME WITHOUT COMPROMISE

LUMIX was first to announce a mirrorless camera to the world, setting standards that define digital cameras today. As global pioneers, LUMIX continues to lead through product innovation and to drive the market globally. Now we introduce our first Full-Frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless system, the LUMIX S series – crafted to become an extension of yourself, empowering your full creative vision. The LUMIX S features the ‘L-Mount’ which allows for connectivity to a wider range of interchangeable lenses including the L-Mount alliance of Leica, Panasonic and Sigma. The portal to a bold new frontier of image culture is now open.

Our coverage is superior.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS INSURANCE PLANS

Whether you’re a small home-based or large studio photographer, Harvard Western Insurance offers superior coverage for your camera equipment or gear, and your liabilities * . We see the bigger picture, which is why we’ve partnered with the Professional Photographers Association of Canada (PPOC), enabling us to provide our members with exclusive rates on coverage.

* Excluding Quebec