Photographer captures Crowsnest essence
Community
Posted By Joni MacFarlane, Editor
Posted 1 month ago
Lured by the fishing but smitten with the beauty, an American photographer chose Crowsnest Pass for a rare respite from his hectic life.
Hunter Neal is a professional photographer based in Connecticut with clients in Boston, New York and up and down the eastern U.S. seaboard. His work includes annual reports, business journals, executive portraits, architecture, and other corporate photography.
In addition to his busy schedule, he also teaches college courses in commercial photography.
Two years ago Neal visited the Pass on a fly-fishing trip after a back injury derailed a planned trip to Alaska to celebrate a milestone birthday.
Neal said he had one year to use the airfare and instead of the far north, settled on Crowsnest Pass. Accompanied by his sister, the pair visited Fernie, Banff, Kananaskis and the Pass, fishing along the way.
"We learned to fly fish as kids," he said.
So impressed by both the beautiful scenery and the incredible fishing, when an opportunity to return came his way, Neal jumped at the chance.
Participating in the Gushul Studio Residency Program, Neal is enjoying the chance to photograph nature and wildlife in abundance.
The dilemma lies in deciding which activity to choose.
"I have to decide, am I fishing or taking photographs," he laughed. "Yesterday, there was so much wildlife and of course I didn't have my camera. But if I didn't have my fishing rod that day, the fish would be jumping like crazy."
Neal studied at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York where he received a bachelor of science in commercial photography. He said he choose the commercial program based on the fact that, at that time, the fine arts program taught basic technology last. The commercial program taught the skill base first and the creative aspect second.
Neal believes all creative work is equal and the commercial pursuit is no less valuable than a purely artistic endeavour.
"I have a great client base and am also the art director, but still consider myself somewhat of an artist," said Neal. "I tell my students to get it out of your head that something's better than others. It's just different."
In his creative photography, Neal focuses primarily on landscapes.
"I'm showing something they're familiar with in a new way or something they've never seen before," he said.
As an example, Neal describes a technique of using different distances of a landscape to capture different meanings.
"It's a visual game to give different perceptions of the same reality," said Neal. "It forces people to think how they're not in control and challenges them visually."
Neal said when he has had shows of his work he pays attention to the reactions of children not the adults.
"Kids are delightfully unencumbered and respond to the sensations of colour," he explained. "Adults may be thinking about the value of a piece."
In addition to the photographic opportunities of the Pass, Neal said he is thoroughly enjoying his time getting to know Crowsnest Pass and its people.
"So many people drive through and never get the experience," he said. "The people are very interesting, and there's a very unique history. I feel sorry for the people who don't stop here."
Neal said he's driven coast to coast across the U.S. but never Canada before now. His trip from eastern U.S. to Crowsnest Pass both confirmed and changed some of his perceptions about the country.
The density of the population along the southern regions was as he expected, but the scale of the country and Canadian's infamous politeness surprised his expectations. Lastly, he joked, "there are more cars parked at Tim Hortons than at church."
