FACE FORWARD

PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS OF THE SELF AND OTHERS ARE PERPETUALLY INTERESTING, but now, more than ever, faces unguarded by masks may be a particularly welcome sight. Images of full faces and the stories from intimate portrait sessions have always been a staple of photographic storytelling. Given the year we’ve had, we may now be cherishing these images and experiences with a deeper intensity.

Whilst the COVID global pandemic paused most things, the creative community found ways to work around boundaries. Photographers across Canada continued shooting, either in the form of selfportraiture, such as the beautiful, messy, wild, and dynamic images of Liam Mackenzie, or from a distance as the #Porchtraits trend took off, documenting people and families isolating at home.

In this issue, we are thrilled to share stories of resilience, connection, and community from diverse photographers who dive face-first into portraiture. Our “Fresh Faces” feature shares work by recent photo school students from across the country. They are the “ones to watch” going forward. Looking into our past, we’re excited to have discovered the story of Yucho Chow, the man behind countless family photos between 1906 and 1949. Now, a very special project spearheaded by Catherine Clement is helping to fill in gaps in Canadian history.

“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.” — Edward Steichen

Somewhat unbelievably, our next issue will be our sixtieth printed edition! Yes, it’s been over 20 years since photoed was founded. Our next edition will take a fresh look at black and white photography. If you’ve got a project that takes black and white image-making to a new level, drop us a line!

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