Every now and then, I enjoy pointing my camera at something other than wildlife. In fact, photographing people is where it all began. As a young photographer in the 1980s, I co-owned Château Photo, a portrait studio in Châteauguay, Quebec.
Recently, while visiting beautiful St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, I spent some time photographing my friend, artist Steven Smith. Although many people first came to know Steven through his astonishingly detailed watercolour paintings of birds, his artistic journey began long before that.
Steven and his wife Gail own and operate Crocker Hill, a wonderful gift shop on King Street that is well worth a visit if you find yourself in St. Andrews. The historic building has an interesting past, and today it houses an eclectic collection of art, sculpture and handcrafted treasures.
Step outside and you'll discover another surprise.
Over the years, Steven and Gail have transformed the gardens into one of the hidden gems of St. Andrews by-the-Sea. Blending sculpture, carefully chosen plants and artistic vision, it feels like discovering a secret world tucked away behind the shop. It's easy to understand why their gardens have attracted the attention of a national home-and-garden publication.
Steven's current artwork is unlike anything I've seen before.
Through an extraordinarily meticulous process of painting, carving and sculpting, Steven's portraits seem to emerge from the surface almost as though they had been carved in relief. Every feather, wrinkle and highlight appears to have depth, blurring the line between two-dimensional artwork and sculpture. The craftsmanship is simply extraordinary.
As Steven described his process, he showed me one of the tiny stainless-steel spoon-like tools he had painstakingly crafted himself to remove microscopic amounts of material. Listening to him explain the hours, weeks—and occasionally months—that disappear into a single piece, it became obvious that this is far more than simply creating a picture. It's the work of someone who has spent decades perfecting his craft.
For this portrait, I knew exactly which camera I wanted to use.
The Leica Q3 43 was the perfect choice. Its remarkably sharp APO lens let me capture every line and every bit of character in Steven's face, while the shallow depth of field kept the emphasis exactly where I wanted it. I also wanted just enough detail in his magnificent crow artwork to tell the story, while keeping the focus firmly on the artist himself.
Everything was photographed using available light beneath a single hanging copper lamp—another beautiful piece created by Steven himself. As we talked, I gently coached Steven through our conversation and occasionally asked him to smile, knowing I wasn't after the smile itself, but the frame immediately afterward, when the face naturally relaxes. A smiling snapshot would have missed the point. I wanted something quieter and more intimate—a portrait of an artist completely immersed in his passion while reflecting on the process behind one of his remarkable creations.
I think it captures exactly the person I've come to know.
Although wildlife photography remains my greatest passion, I've always believed that photographing remarkable people requires many of the same qualities as photographing wild animals—patience, observation, respect, and waiting for that quiet moment when personality reveals itself. Whether the subject is a Snowy Owl or an artist in his studio, the goal is exactly the same: reveal something genuine.
If your travels ever take you to St. Andrews by-the-Sea, be sure to stop by Crocker Hill on King Street. Spend some time browsing the gallery, wander through the beautiful gardens, and if you're fortunate enough to meet Steven and Gail, you'll quickly understand why they've become such a treasured part of this wonderful seaside town.