Sidney photographer Tracey Farrington has been nominated for the 72nd Canadian Photographer of the Year award, an accolade she won back in 2008.
Born on the prairies, Farrington now lives in Sidney and started her professional photography business in 2000.
“I have wheat in my heart but salt water in my soul,” she says.
The competition is being held by Professional Photographers of Canada and, as well as winning in 2008, Farrington won their BC provincial prize last year.
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Under consideration are four images entitled Headstrong to True North, May You Not, Warrior Within and Transcendence.
Farrington’s interest in photography was sparked when she was given a Polaroid camera as a gift when she was 10. Her brother was given an electronic football game and her earliest pictures were blurry shots of him and his friends playing the gadget.
These days, Farrington takes inspiration from the natural world around Sidney, creating conceptual art and specializing in digital artistry.
“My art is mostly conceptual illustration and fine art,” she notes. Asked for an example she says, “I take a photo of a body and then digitally paint a whole universe behind her.”
Farrington says she loves creating commissioned art for clients and using her creativity to take unique photographs.
She says her greatest inspiration is Hannah Maynard, one of the first professional female photographer in B.C., from the 1800s.
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Farrington especially likes the interesting techniques Maynard explored in her dark room, such as long exposures and trick photography.
“When the police arrested someone they used to march them down to her and she took the mugshots,” Farrington says with a laugh. “She was eclectic in nature, a bit like me.”
The awards banquet, where the winner will be announced, is going to be held in Quebec on April 29.
“It’s quite the honour,” says Farrington. “I love living on the Peninsula and being a part of this community.”
nick.murray@peninsulanewsreview.com
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