Artz

Every photograph taken by Craig Carmichael tells a story. From his urban collections that include doorways, windows and stairwells to innovative shots of mossy forests, rocky coastlines and heritage buildings his stunning images speak loud and clear of his well-tuned love of the natural world.

Following a successful career spanning two decades, paying his professional photographer dues shooting weddings and portraits throughout, Craig made the move off the mainland just over two years ago and found himself home.

“There’s a certain ambience about the people and places on Vancouver Island,” Craig explains.

The walls of his Island Exposures Gallery in Parksville showcase so much more than traditional shots of Vancouver Island often seen in mainstream travel brochures, websites, and postcards. Craig freezes those particular Island moments that still manage to stop a long-time Islander in their tracks.

“I go into a place like Cathedral Grove and I just want to capture it, take a bit home with me by taking some pictures…I just love it,” says Craig, standing before one of his impressive coastal forest prints.

It’s that love of place that speaks volumes in every shot, although for Craig most of what is said is expressed, and expressed well, without the use of words.

“In the early days of my career I really enjoyed photographs with spiritual comments below the image,” he says. “But I never tried it myself because I’m not a poet.”

Poet Michael Poyntz has been telling his own story since studying in Toronto in the seventies. Creating and successfully publishing poetry under the name ‘Irish’, Michael Poyntz is well-versed in matching perfectly crafted prose with related images. His poems, lyrics, and poster images were already available worldwide by the time he walked through the doors of Craig Carmichael’s gallery.

“I was working on a poster of mine called ‘Strength’ and I needed it done on canvas so I came to Craig,” he explains. “I came into the gallery, saw his work, and immediately felt we should do something together.”

Enjoy the "Sweeten Your Day" launch party on video ... 

But it wasn’t until Michael returned to pick up the completed ‘Strength’ poster that the wheels began to creatively spin. Craig had a print displayed in the gallery that stopped Michael in his tracks.

“The moment I saw it, “says Michael. “I had to sit down and all the creative juices just started flowing.”