Blair M. Polischuk - Artist-Photographer

Classical musician and master photographer Ansel Adams once said that the photographic negative was the equivalent to a conductors "score", and that the handcrafted silver print was the "performance".

This analogy holds true for Blair Polischuk who, as a musician himself, has chosen fine art black and white photography as his career and primary form of self-expression.

Polischuk teaches film based black and white photography and printing at the college level. His studio called Silverwork Studio is located on Vancouver Island (Courtenay, B.C.), and offers classic film based black and white fine art silver prints and commissioned portraiture.

Polischuk's on going body of work is entitled Archetypes-Impressions of an Island. Over 10 years in the making, this collection of large format silver gelatin prints reflects the artist's passionate appreciation and understanding of the West Coast, specifically Hornby Island.

Plans are under way for this and new works to be published in a book of the same name.

At the Annual Print Competition of the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia, Blair Polischuk received the award in Figure Study for the image A Fine Line. This year's competition received 181 entries from B.C. and was judged by a selected panel of qualified photographers from across Canada and the USA.

A Fine Line (2005 Award Winner)

Canadian photography publication Photo Life has published a selection of images from Archetypes-Impressions of an Island for November 2005 release.

International fine art publication Black and White Magazine has published a feature article about the artist for November 2005 international release.

A word on technique

All of Polischuk's images are captured on black and white film in a variety of formats.

The prints are fiber-based silver gelatin and are individually hand crafted to order by the artist in a traditional wet darkroom. They are toned in selenium and processed for archival permanence.

The majority of Polischuk's images are created using a 4x5 inch large format view camera made of wood, brass, and leather.

Artist's Statement

"I am seduced by the interplay that occurs where water meets land, and the complete serenity that envelops oneself when this marvel is experienced up close. My current works are a study of this interplay and are intended to evoke a feeling of sensual tranquility." BP Nov. 2005