John Davie – About

Raised in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, John started making photographs 40 years ago. His fascination with photography began at an early age, from looking at the family’s copy of The Best of LIFE. He taught himself how to take photographs after getting his first camera, and learned how to develop and print B+W by reading the instructions which came with the developing tank.
An early job taking production photos for the Dalhousie University Theatre Department found John emulating one of his early heroes, the dance and theatre photographer Martha Swope. He continued making and printing B+W photographs until the advent of digital made darkrooms difficult to find. Two things brought back him back to the joy of using black and white film after years of shooting digital: Learning that instant coffee and washing powder can be used as an alternative developing agent, and finding a medium-format film camera in his basement. He now divides his time between B+W film and digital colour.
His work is in the Dalhousie University Archives, was exhibited at ECPHORE, can be seen on walls around Halifax, and has been featured in several local publications

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

John Davie – Artist Statement

My attitude toward making photographs is best summed up by Sibylle Bergemann: ‘…I press the button in order to see what I have seen.’
The photographer’s eye can see in different ways. It can find an image which already exists and capture it the way it is, or it can take elements of a scene and show them in an entirely different way. I constantly struggle with the question What is the difference between a photograph and a snapshot? There is no definitive answer to that question, and that’s what keeps me taking pictures.
Taking photographs on any given day is not something I set out to do; I don’t leave the house with my camera and expect to find something to shoot. Instead, I prefer to let the images come to me when I’m doing something else, like driving, or walking the dog. You make a mental note and then come back later with a camera and get the shot.
Shooting and developing film is like performing a magic trick, but one in which the mystery begins before the trick is done.