Byron Fichter is well-known locally for his love for photography. His worked has been showcased in exhibits, and he has garnered acclaim from both Canada and the U.S.
So it’s a little surprising to some that the local photographer didn’t find his passion for it, or own a camera, until 2011, when he was visited a gallery run by his favourite photographer, Peter Lik, during a trip to Las Vegas.
There hasn’t been any stopping him since.
A reception was held at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum on Friday night for Fichter’s exhibit One Man, One Camera, One Tripod. The photos were taken with a Nikon D800 during a backpacking trip through Costa Rica with a friend earlier this year.
Dozens of people turned out to view Fichter’s work and to congratulate him on the exhibit.
“I’m really excited that I got to do something different,” said Fichter.
Beach scenes, animal photographs and tropical photos are all part of the exhibit. The goal of the trip was to have a reboot in a beautiful country, and Fichter said he accomplished that.
“It was very secluded, with lots of animals and lots of scenery, and not a lot of time spent in cities,” said Fichter.
The main print, which is located on the EAGM’s south wall, measures 244 square feet and is the first thing people see in the exhibit. It’s a sprawling image of a beach titled Dreaming of You.
It’s also more than double the size of the largest photo he has worked with previously, which measured about 100 square feet. It was challenging, because he had to work with after-market software to enlarge the photo and maintain print quality. Five pieces are lined up together for the photo.
His uncle Blaine Fichter owns BK Creations, and so Byron Fichter approached him for assistance.
“I wanted to feel like you’re standing at the beach, so it has to be big,” said Fichter.
His uncle offered some options, and came up with a wallpaper-style in multiple sections, lined them up, and created something that Byron Fichter said looks great.
Fichter also pointed out a photo of two toucans together, saying it was his favourite in the exhibit. Staying at a hostel on the edge of a jungle, he heard a noise that proved to be four toucans.
“The thing about the toucan is they travel in packs … of three or four or maybe five. What happens is the first one will come, and they survey the area, and they are always communicating to the other ones behind. That one will move one, and the next one comes in.”
They’re rarely seen together and are usually 100 yards apart. So it was rare to get two together. He even locked eyes with one of them. He doesn’t view it as the most technically strong photo in the exhibit, but it’s still his favourite.
Fichter went on the trip with a friend who has backpacked throughout Central America. When he told her he wanted to go somewhere hot, tropical and beautiful, but also somewhere safe, she suggested Costa Rica.
“It was the natural choice for me to get out of my comfort zone, and really backpack through a country, and not stay in a resort or stay in a hotel.”
He came away marvelling at how eco-friendly the people were, and how forward-thinking they were with recycling.
“You couldn’t even get a plastic straw there, and it was weird to me,” said Fichter.
Fichter earned the opportunity to have an exhibit at the EAGM after finishing first in the Estevan Arts Council’s Ev Johnson Memorial Adjudicated Art Show last year. He used a Gasoline Alley entry to win.
But after he knew he wanted a different subject for the EAGM show, and he received the blessing from EAGM curator-director Amber Andersen.
“I told her I wanted to do something different, something off-the-wall, something with colour, something vibrant, something spiritual to me,” said Fichter.
Some of his Costa Rica photos have been posted on social media, but most of the photos from his exhibit haven’t been shared, so it was the first time many had seen the pictures.
Fichter describes his love of photography as a “crazy obsession,” and whenever he has downtime, he’s reading blogs, watching videos, talking to other photographers and working on his camera.
“I always knew I had a creative bone in me, and I just couldn’t find the outlet. Once I got into the photography, I really could find the outlet of what could drive my creative spirit.”
Fichter’s exhibit will remain on display until Jan. 18, 2019.
