Photography Canada Wade Hudson photographer
Wade Hudson

20 Canadian Photographers Share the Pics Giving Them Hope

Guaranteed to lighten your heart

Almost two years ago, we asked talented Canadian photographers to share the favourite photo that they’d taken during quarantine. At that time, the pandemic was new—we had just started the sourdough starter phase—but now, 22 months and counting into COVID, it often feels like we’ve been living this way forever. (The bleakness of February doesn’t help.) Now, we’ve asked 20 Canadian photographers to share a photo, taken during the pandemic, that made them feel hopeful. The results made us smile, laugh, cry and feel reassured in the power of beauty and importance of artistry.

 

Erin Leydon best Toronto photographer

ERIN LEYDON, @erinleydon

“This photo was taken on my first shoot working with a bigger team since all the restrictions had taken place. It was the closest feeling to normal that I had in what felt like far too long. Everyone was in good spirits and we had such a great time working together in the early morning, down by the water. I think it was just hopeful and reassuring to see that although certain precautions need to be taken, there’s still a place for the feeling of freedom and getting creative and having fun.”   

 

photography Saty and Pratha best Canadian photographers
Featuring the talents of @carmelfloral and @kris_lt for Saty + Pratha’s @new_day_project.

SATY + PRATHA, @satyandpratha

“We chose this image because it represents nature, collaboration and a belief in continuity—things that have been keeping us sane! It’s from the second series of a fundraising calendar project we started during the pandemic and its execution felt truly hopeful.

We had sent an outline of plant life pushing through rocks to floral artist Hayley O’Byrne, and she suggested golden Ginkgo leaves as the main material. We absolutely loved this idea as Gingko are most resilient tree species, here for over 200 million years! We were working on a very grey day, but right as we were finishing up the composition, the sun came out and shimmered perfectly across the water. We all felt like something magical happened in front of us.”

 

Aaron Wynia photographer
Taken at Willibald Farm in Ayr Ontario. 

Aaron Wynia, @aaronwynia

“I feel like with the pandemic, we spent a lot of time indoors, without travelling. Now I am hopeful that things will get better sooner than later, but if they don’t I really can’t complain.”

 

photography Kayla Rocca
Featuring @being_Mjrenshaw.

KAYLA ROCCA, @kaylaroccaphoto 

“I chose this image because it encompasses many beautiful things: love, light, nature and oneness. This image makes me hopeful because it reminds me to slow down and notice that love and light are all around us. It is shot on 35 mm film.”

 

photography Wade Hudson best Canadian photographers

WADE HUDSON, @wadehudson

“This image was taken in the thick of lockdown back in 2020, pre-vaccines. It’s my friend and her mother. They started sharing space for the first time since [my friend] had moved out. They shared with me how beautiful it was to get this opportunity to learn more about each other and how it helped them to be more kind and patient with each other. Their example gives me hope that even though we’re really going through it, one positive way to look at the situation is that some of us have been forced to slow down, and this presents an opportunity to rekindle/ mend relationships and refocus our energies on what’s really important to us. For me that’s family.”

 

photography Nelson Huang
Featuring the talents of @jasminws, @melanieguile_, @saravroberts and @thessicaaa.

NELSON HUANG, @nelshuang

“The pandemic has been really hard on everyone in different ways. This image made me hopeful for the future because I got to work with people I love and adore to create with. I wanted the image to feel joyful and fun, the way that I felt being able to communicate and create with people in person again.” 

 

photography William Ukoh

WILLIAM UKOH, @willyverse

“There’s a warmth to the photo that reminds me of summer. In the summer my imagination is the most active, the most hopeful. The light source encapsulates that feeling for me.”

 

Billie Chiasson photographer
Image from the Cheekbone Beauty Right The Story campaign. Featuring Autumn Peltier, chief water commissioner for Anishinabek Nation, and the talents of Deandra Wells, Jessica Maria, Michelle Silverstein, Santane Luzige and Aarin Mackay. Photography by Billie Chiasson with Lisa Bonnici.

BILLIE CHIASSON

“I am a French/Mi’kmaw from Northern New Brunswick and am forever inspired by the strong Indigenous humans in this country. One of the most beautiful moments for me within the last couple of years was the opportunity to photograph the Cheekbone Beauty campaign. This campaign came together with the hard work of many and showcased so many strong Indigenous voices. Autumn Peltier was part of this campaign and she is doing incredibly important work for the ongoing crisis and lack of clean water in Indigenous communities. She truly inspired me and I am so honoured to have captured this Matriarch. My hope for the coming years is that we can continue to uplift Indigenous voices, provide clean drinking water and honour the treaties. More info here.” 

 

photography Hilary Dean

HILARY DEAN, @hilaryvdean

“I took this self portrait in December of 2020 on one of the daily walks around my downtown Toronto neighbourhood. I brought my camera with me on each of these walks, as all of the postponed family shoots meant that my new subjects were myself, my home and any space I could reach on foot. It was a happy accident stumbling upon this enormous flowering bush on a quiet side street, off a route I must have walked almost every day. The earthy fragrance was instantly transportive, taking me out of the concrete jungle and into Jane Austen’s English countryside, a physical escape I so badly craved during a time of unrelenting wintery isolation. But even more, it was a reminder of the everyday magic that still exists… a reminder that although my surroundings might not be new, with a little bit of hope and a little bit of creativity, I might suddenly and unexpectedly see them anew.” 

 

photography Jacklyn Barber

JACKLYN BARBER, @jacklynbarber

“I left Crescent Beach (Nova Scotia) and pulled over behind the tall grass, looking through some photos I had taken, when I noticed that the sky in front of me was pink. I hopped out of my car, and that’s when I saw the moon. It was huge and low, hanging in a sky of vibrant pinks and purples, with not another soul around to see it. Witnessing this beauty, all to myself, I suddenly had this pure moment of true happiness. It was as if a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Looking at this photo now, I feel hopeful that those moments will one day come again, and with greater frequency.”

 

Photography Brittany Daigle

BRITTANY DAIGLE, @brittany_daigle_

“I chose this image as a reminder. These are my grandfather’s hands and he was truly the kindest and most loving person. It’s people like him that make me hopeful for the future. That hard times don’t harden people.”

 

photography Hadi Mourad

HADI MOURAD, @hadimourad

“This photo was taken in April 2020, right when the pandemic was starting and there was so much uncertainty about the future. I hadn’t picked up my camera for over a month. Given the situation, I was in a creative rut. I finally decided to take some photos with this fabric I had bought. I laid it out in my mother’s backyard in the countryside and snapped some shots. It reminds me of a time where everything stopped, around me but also around the world. It gives me this bittersweet nostalgic feeling of a time I hope we’ll never have to live through again.” 

 

photography Brian Rankin

BRIAN RANKIN, @brianrankin

“I spent the first lockdown with my parents, in St. Catharines, Ont. After a few weeks of cabin fever, I set about trolling through Kijiji and managed to piece together a darkroom in my parents’ basement. This was from the first roll I developed and was the first print I made that I was happy with. It’s the first bloom off of one of my Dad’s apple trees, and was taken on the first real sunny, warm day of spring. A little thing, but it was a bit of life peeking out from behind the clouds and it felt great.” 

 

photography Lawrence Cortez
Featuring the talents of @daniela._bosco , @lamarjohnson and @robertweirbeauty.

LAWRENCE CORTEZ, @lawrencejcortez

“In 2020, the pandemic sent shockwaves across industries, and the creative world was no exception. Through the months, restrictions were being enforced and vaccines were still being developed; our way of life was being challenged constantly, setting new norms. It was a difficult time for work in the industry, let alone to shoot creatively. At the end of 2020, my friend and stylist Daniela Bosco had called me up one day and presented an opportunity to shoot with the Canadian actor Lamar Johnson. I was very excited by this project, which allowed me to re-engage with my creative side. When Lamar came on set, I was immediately inspired by his talent to convey emotion and the movements he brought forth from being a professional dancer. At a time of uncertainty in the world, I remembered at that point what it felt to connect with people and to become adaptable in a situation, as any photographer would be. This image represents hope for me as a gentle reminder that, while life isn’t perfect, we should move forward leaving the past behind and try to have fun when life’s circumstances are unfavourable.”

 

photographer Vonny Lorde
Featuring model Alicia West, @Aliciaacewest, and lighting assistant RéSean Russell, @slesean.tv.

VONNY LORDE, @lastnamelorde

“What’s more beautiful and hopeful than new life? In a time where everything seems uncertain, it’s so easy to lose hope. This image reminds me that despite the times, there’s still so much to look forward to. We may feel engulfed by darkness, but the sun will soon rise.”

 

photography Vai Yu Law

 

VAI YU LAW, @rawkavai

“Random acts of kindness gave me hope. When the pandemic first hit, we saw people come together to sing, bang on pots, offer support to the elderly or vulnerable. In addition to the sense of community, support and hope going on around the world, there was one thing I was grateful to see during my countless, sometimes monotonous walks for fresh air. These straightforward yet effective posters would instantly make me laugh. The simple idea of displaying hilarious messages in an analogue form is refreshing, compared to being glued to our screens for trending memes. I feel extremely grateful for the one who took their time to spread a bit of joy in the neighbourhood, and I can’t help but feel empathetic and want to help too.” 

 

photographer Mariah Hamilton

 

MARIAH HAMILTON, @mariahdontcarey____

“This past summer, my mother and I spent a weekend away together in Port Sydney, Ont. I took this photo on our way out from the rapids, a place I grew up going to frequently with friends. My mom and I don’t get to spend a lot of time together, but now she’s retired and I am free most weekends. Although we don’t always get along, I feel hopeful that we will get to spend more time together and continue to grow closer.”

 

photography Kristina Dittmar

KRISTINA DITTMAR, @kristinadittmar

“I can’t say I feel terribly hopeful lately. This stretch of winter is always particularly hard, and I naturally disassociate during this time of year—which leads me to summer. So here we are. 

This photo is of two people that gave me a lot of light during the pandemic, a time where I’ve been outside more than I have since I was a child. The combination of being in nature with people that deeply care for each other is what keeps the current climate bearable. Small acts of tenderness bring me hope; they always have. Cutting your partner’s hair, holding your friend’s hand. These small physical gestures seem even more precious in the pandemic, so I’m holding them tight.”

 

photography Janice Reid Toronto photographer
Featuring the talents of model Kristienne, @kristiennew, stylist Christal Williams, @chrisytez11 and hair & makeup artist Racquelle Nembhrad, @quellesss.

JANICE REID, @janice.reid

“I remember feeling very grateful and appreciative on this day when I shot this image. Everyone there was vibing and happy to shoot. It was the first time for me and the models to be working with an all-Black female team. I was happy to create that space and to create that memory for them and for myself.” 

 

Renata Kaveh photography

Renata Kaveh, @renatakaveh

“I took this photo of my sister Roya just weeks before giving birth. It was taken in August in Prince Edward County. I look at this photo and think how lucky I am to witness my little sister become a mother. She is strong, imaginative, thoughtful, witty and beautiful and only good can come from her garden. It’s women like her and the children they raise that give me hope for this world.”

 

 

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