On to the next step

by Jonathan van Bilsen

Fifty-one years have passed since I took my first professional photograph. I remember the sleepless nights, the pressure to get everything right, and the endless repetition of technical details. Back then, working with film brought its own challenges; not just in the studio but later in the darkroom, where every step was filled with uncertainty.

Four years of training in photography and film production prepared me for that initial test, and since then, I have had the chance to photograph over a thousand people in countless settings. I have managed to avoid photographing all but three weddings, a choice stemming, not from dislike but, from an early misstep. My first wedding shoot went smoothly, until the development process. A drop in water temperature caused the negatives to reticulate, leaving the emulsion cracked and the images unusable. With no way to fix it, I swore off weddings from that point forward.

My true passion has always been travel photography, capturing the essence of far-off places. Over the years, I have visited 107 countries and hope to continue exploring the world, through my lens. My studio work, however, has reached an end.

In 2007, in an attempt to slow down, I moved my studio to Port Perry, a town where I have resided for more than thirty years, with the hope of crafting both business and personal projects. Now, with the building sold, it feels like the right time to scale back. I have moved into an office at 21 Wilbur Street, (next to the Petro-Canada station) marked by a side entrance with my name. This new space is not a studio but a place where I can focus on the things I enjoy most.

I will still be photographing events and projects around Durham and will continue writing my seven monthly articles, as long as you choose to read them. With 14 books published and two more in progress, writing remains a significant part of my life. I will also keep up with keynote speaking and emceeing engagements, when opportunities arise. My travel television show wrapped up, after five seasons, but my talk show has been renewed for its seventh season, a project which has been deeply fulfilling and shows promise for the future.

One of my most rewarding recent endeavours was a black-and-white portrait series, featuring every physician who has worked at Medical Associates of Port Perry. These portraits, paired with brief biographies, are displayed in the lower level of the building. A 190 page book accompanies the collection, chronicling the history of doctors in Port Perry, since 1835. This project has been a privilege to undertake, and will remain a lasting tribute to their contributions.

Black and white portraiture has always been my speciality, a skill inspired by my mentor, Nir Bareket. Nir, an Israeli photographer and the first to photograph the Dead Sea Scrolls in Jerusalem, was a master of studio work, both in Toronto and New York. Though he has been gone for ten years, his influence continues to guide my approach.

To everyone in Scugog, who stepped into my studio and trusted me to capture his or her image, thank you. Meeting so many of you has been an honour, and in many cases, these sessions have blossomed into lasting friendships. I look forward to continuing my work and hope our paths cross again soon.

Jonathan van Bilsen is a television host, award winning photographer, published author, columnist and keynote speaker. His show, ‘The Jonathan van Bilsen Show’, on RogersTV, the Standard Website or YouTube, features many of the people included in this column.