Sanctuary
Biography
Jason was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia with an honours degree in Chemistry. After working as a chemist in Toronto he moved back to the Maritimes and switched careers to web and graphic design, which reignited his passion for the art of photography.
He is now a landscape, action sport and commercial photographer who has been pursuing the craft since 2007. It was around that time that he started to travel and hike in remote locations around the world. He has since photographed in more than ninety countries for many clients and in many capacities.
His goal is to document stark landscapes in remote regions of the world. Long exposures capture fluidity of movement against static backgrounds and have become staples of his work. Mountains, snow, intense cold and prolonged periods of hard effort provide ample motivation.
Photography is a study of light, and who better to provide insight into light than the grand masters? Jason draws inspiration from classical landscape photographers like Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell, expedition photographers including Jimmy Chin and Tim Kemple, and Josef Albers, a pioneer in the fields of shape and composition. The immediacy of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s work also finds appeal. In recent years, he has had the privilege of working with outdoor great Lars Schneider and portrait maestro Peter Hurley.
Jason currently lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is an F-Stop Gear Staff pro photographer, a Lumix Storyteller, and a collaborator for Altitude Sports in Montreal. He has received financial support for his work from the New Brunswick Arts Board, and is also a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada.
Artist Statement
“Sanctuary” is the result of an expedition in the Himalaya of Nepal. One of the most difficult aspects of any expedition is the planning of the thing, the logistics involved, and this project was especially difficult. There was significant waiting and delay, which in retrospect made the entire experience more rewarding. I’ve explored Buddhism my entire adult life; I am not especially good at it. I am goal oriented, and vastly prefer seeing progression toward accomplishment versus leaving things to chance. For this endeavour I was forced to develop patience, to become better at leaving aspects of my life to unseen forces. For this I am grateful.
There is a region of Nepal in the Himalaya called the Annapurna Sanctuary, and so there is obvious homage to that in the name of this exhibition. When I found myself there, ringed by mountains exceeding eight thousand meters, the literal roof of the world, I discovered a more personal meaning of the word. Being so far from home, disconnected, I discovered my own personal sanctuary, and had time to reflect on my own life and what I wanted from it. There is an immediacy to Nepal – it is very difficult to not be present when surrounded by mountain landscapes that demand your attention. I left Nepal feeling calm and more at peace with the world and my place in it. It turns out that not wanting to get anything out of life, to instead accept what happens as a matter of course, is a much better way forward.
I am still not a very good Buddhist, but at least now I have the memories and experiences from Sanctuary. The images presented in this exhibition reflect my time there, and try to encompass not just the landscape but also the people and animals who call the Annapurna region of Nepal “home”.