Peter Martin (photographer)

http://www.petermartinphotographer.comPeter Martin developed his first pictures at age 13. He became a professional by the age of 16 when a photo was published on the front page by a Toronto daily newspaper. At 17 he became the official photographer for the Miss Teen Canada and Miss Canada beauty pageants. From that time he has been freelance and staff photographer for various daily and weekly newspapers throughout Canada (Oakville Journal Record, Edmonton Sun, Montreal Gazette).

Over the last 25 years Martin has traveled extensively on assignment throughout Europe, the Orient and the South Pacific. He has won significant critical recognition for his work including the National Newspaper Award for his photograph of Terry Fox, Recognition of Achievement Award-The Ontario News Photographers Association and the Alberta News Photographers Association.Since 2002 his work has been displayed in major solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibits in the US and Canada where he won a major award with the Washington Gallery of Photography and 3 prestigious Jurors Choice Awards for the Maryland Federation of Art.

Peter’s work has been published in numerous travel and news magazines (including Time, Newsweek, McLean's, Sports Illustrated) and books including The Day in the Life of Canada, Day in the Life of the N.H.L. and The Ice Storm-An Historic Record of Photographs from January 1998.

He has recently resigned from the Montreal Gazette where he was a staff photographer for 16 years and will continue to pursue his career dividing his time between Montreal, Annapolis and Europe.

He is currently working on 2 book projects: "21:32" (black and white images of Venice) and "Lost" (a collection of Black and White images from his time spent in Paris.)

EQUIPMENT

At the age of 11 he received his first camera, a 35 mm Balda Rangefinder, from a family friend. While in High School he managed to scrounge enough together to purchase his black Nikkormat from the original Henry's Camera in downtown Toronto.He used Nikon (FTN's, F2's, and F3's)exclusively until moving to the Montreal Gazette where the Staff Photographer's, collectively, decided to move to Canon.Currently he uses Canon Digital cameras (as little as possible!) and Leica 35mm film camera's with a wide assortment of Lenses.

FAVOURITE QUOTES

ERNST HAAS (Photographer):

- A picture is the expression of an impression. If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?

- I am not interested in shooting new things - I am interested to see things new.

- There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.

- With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look at an impression as long as we wish, we can delve into it and, so to speak, renew past experiences at will.

- My theory of composition? Simple: do not release the shutter until everything in the viewfinder feels just right.

MINOR WHITE (Photographer):

-No matter how slow the film,Spirit always stands stilllong enough for thephotographer it has chosen

PETER O'TOOLE (Actor):

"I was asked about my epitaph. And it was on a leather jacket. And pinned to it was what I decided in a comical moment would be my epitaph. It was from the Sycamore Dry Cleaners: 'It distresses us to return work which is not perfect.' And it will do."