It was a few years ago that 17 year-old Tristan Deggan introduced his friend Emmett Sparling, a year younger, to photography. Now, the friends share their passion and process, and combine it with as much adventure as possible.
“Adventure is really the only theme of this exhibit,” says Sparling, referring to the upcoming show, Beyond the Edge, opening at the Gallery at Artisan Square on April 24. “Photography is how I step back from life. I recently hiked Mount Gardner with a friend and we went completely off trail and it took us forever to get back, and I think we only got two photos out of the whole expedition, but it really doesn’t matter.”
Deggan says his obsession with photography grew alongside an obsession with mountain biking. He’s spent half of every year of his life living in the South of France and until this year (he is spending Grade 12 at Rockridge) and with the exception of time spent at Island Pacific School, has been homeschooled.
“If I hadn’t been so bored, I probably would have never found these interests,” he says.
Both Deggan and Sparling say they are interested in all aspects and techniques of photography.
Works in their upcoming show come from adventures on Bowen, in Washington State, and in France.
