Michael Easton
Biography
I remember, as a child, spending many long wonderful summers with my grandmother in the small Kootenay town of Nakusp. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s there still remained large pockets of virgin interior rain forest in British Columbia. These ancient trees were hundreds of feet tall and measured 6 to 10 feet in diameter at their base. The woodland caribou were abundant. Large stately cottonwoods ringed the Arrow Lakes. The lake rose and fell with the natural rhythm of the seasons. This was my playground and classroom. My natural sense of curiosity was my teacher. My first encounter with a camera was at age 6 – a Kodak Brownie box camera. I used it to photograph my family and pet dogs and stuff at the aquarium. My first serious camera was a Nikon f with a macro lens. I was now able to photographically consider the world of nature. From my time as a cowboy in the high mountain meadows to working as a Park Naturalist in the BC Provincial Parks system to studying birds on an isolated island off the West Coast of British Columbia to my long-time residency in Newfoundland. It was after my Newfoundland experiences that I acquired my Pentax 645 and a variety of lenses so that I could make good quality prints to 16x20. This when I started to use black and white (and Ilford Pan f film) almost exclusively in my work. My basic darkroom skills were learned during my time as a member of the UBC Photographic Society and later refined through further private study. After my return to BC from Newfoundland, I was invited to join the Western Photographic Circle. This was (and still is) a wide ranging group of photographers who embodied many skills in producing fine prints. We would critique each others’ work on a monthly basis and give workshops on particular processes. This peer review and teaching opportunity enabled a high standard of photographic excellence to be maintained. I am also invited throughout the year to judge at local photography clubs as well as at national photographic competitions. My prints are represented in many private and corporate collections. I have had 15 group shows and 7 solo exhibitions in selected galleries over the past 20 years. My current main outlet for my work is my website.
Internet Gallery Site
http://www.naturphoto.com - since 1995 – over 1000 images available
Group Shows
Bel Art Gallery – Vancouver – 2008 – Nature Nurtures the Soul – 21 prints
Seymour Art Gallery – North Vancouver – 2006 – A Black & White World – 8 prints
Ferry Building Gallery – West Vancouver - 2003 – Flora – 4 prints
Ampro Gallery – Vancouver – 2000 – Photo-Illusionism – 2 prints
Bravura Interiors - 534 West Pender St. (at Seymour St.) – 1998 – Ongoing
Vancouver International Airport (International Departure Lounge) - Richmond - 1997 - 4 prints
Seymour Art Gallery - North Vancouver - 1997 Urban Realities: Nature Actualities - 22 prints.
Royal B.C. Provincial Museum - Victoria - 1996 Showcase of Wonders - Spirits in the Forest - 12 prints.
Ferry Building Gallery - West Vancouver - 1996 - Juror’s Select Show - 6 prints.
Seymour Art Gallery - North Vancouver - 1996 -Discovery ‘96 Spirit in Art - 1 print (Hon. Men.)
Park Royal South - West Vancouver - 1996 - Personal Impressions - 7 prints
Atrium Hongkong Bank - Vancouver - 1994 - Personal Impressions of the Land - 8 prints
Foto-Base Gallery - Vancouver - 1994 - “The Classic Shot” - 11 prints
National Association of Photographic Arts Exhibition - Vancouver - 1988 - 10 prints
Annex Gallery - St. John’s, Nfld. - 1978 - “The Mushroom Show” - 10 prints
Solo Shows
Alpha Guild Gallery – Nakusp – 2006 – Memories of a Childhood in Nature – 10 prints (3 feet x 4 feet)
Carillon Properties Atrium Gallery – 2000 – Kirkland, WA – 18 prints
Vernon Art Gallery - Vernon - 1996 - “The Drop That Roared” - 31 prints
Centennial Theatre - North Vancouver - 1995 - “Bark Bark!! (it’s not about dogs)” - 23 prints
Place des Arts - Coquitlam - 1995 - “Contrast of Time and Mind” - 36 prints
Ferry Building Gallery - West Vancouver - 1994 - “Subtle Images of Nature” - 26 prints
Annex Gallery - St. John’s, Nfld. - 1979 - “Nature Photography” - 24 prints
Corporate Collections
Allen Smith and Associates Ltd.
Canada Wide Publications
Clark, Wilson
Executive Financial Group
Goodwood Property Investments Inc.
Harper Grey
Royal Columbian Hospital
Jody Michael & Associates
National Bank Financial
Quantum Financial Services Group Ltd.
River Rock Casino
Suncor Ltd.
United Properties Ltd.
Yorkton Securities Ltd.
Prints used for TV and Film Production Set Décor
Devrye Internet University – 2003 - Commercial - Area 51 Productions
“Scary Movie 3” – 2003 – Major Film Production - 414 Project Limited
“Fishing with John" - 1999 - TV Movie - Lifetime, Television for Women
"The Sixth Day" - 1999 - Major Film Production - Columbia/TriStar Studios
"X Files" (2 episodes) - 1998 - TV Series
"Cupid" - 1998 - TV Movie - Columbia Tristar Television
"Don't Look Down" - 1998 - TV Movie - CBS
"Twilight Zone" (3 episodes) - 1997 - TV Series
Education
BSc 1st Class with Honours – Zoology - University of British Columbia, Canada
PhD – Evolutionary Genetics – University of Liverpool, UK
Postdoctoral Fellow – Primate ecology – University of Bristol, UK
