Doug’s love of photography was born around 50 years ago when he was hitchhiking through Europe, his father's 35mm Ansco bellows camera in hand. He soon discovered he had a talent for turning the reality around him into evocative images, through subtlety of lighting and simplified compositions. But the most important lesson he learned was fine tuning a natural ability of capturing an image at the “decisive moment”.
Once back in Canada, Doug continued to pursue his passion for taking pictures, but university, family, and his business in Toronto took up most of his time. Doug enrolled in as many photography courses time would allow, joined the Toronto Camera Club and concentrated on taking portraits of families and school graduation portraits. Doug attended a week long workshop with Freeman Patterson, certificate courses at Ryerson University and attended the week long Maine Photography Workshops, where he was introduced to fine art photography.
Studying the History of Photography at Ryerson was a turning point for Doug. Through studying the work of famous photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Andre Kertesz, his interest in Street Photography was stirred. Even today, Doug considers Street Photography his most rewarding work.
Doug's first opportunity to pursue photography as a business occurred in 2004 when he moved to Prince Edward County. His photographs have been exhibited and sold at the Side Street Gallery in Wellington, the Regent Theatre in Picton and Arts on Main Gallery in Picton. He has also shown his photographs in Art in the County, The Prince Edward County Studio Tour and The Makers Hand in Picton, as well as assisting in the formation of the CLIC Photography Show that was held annually each summer in Picton.
Doug Johnson’s thought-provoking award winning fine art photographs capture the ordinary moments and objects in our day-to-day life and magically transform them into something special, providing a unique and whimsical view of the world around us.
Doug now resides in Cobourg, Ontario where he continues to pursue his love of photography, and in the process has been awarded with a Juror’s Award at the annual Art Gallery of Northumberland juried show, Best of Show at the Spark Photography Festival in Peterborough, and Best Photograph at the Uxbridge Juried Art Show.
Education
Ryerson University. Photography Certificate Courses. 1999-2004
George Brown College. Studio Lighting-Portrait Photography. 1997
Maine Photographic Workshops. One week of intensive study in fine art colour photography. 1996
Toronto Image Works. Portrait workshops. 1994
Freeman Patterson Photographic Workshops. One week workshop in environmental photography at Freeman’s country home in Shamper’s Bluff, New Brunswick. 1980
Graduated Bachelor of Arts Waterloo University. 1969
Famous Photographer’s School correspondence course. 1968
Shows and Awards
Cottage Life Magazine photography contest 1996. ( First and Second prizeGroup showing at the Gallery in the Garden, Sherway Gardens, Toronto, 2001.
Group showing at University of Toronto Faculty Club, 2002.
Prince Edward County Studio Tour 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Art in the County juried show in Prince Edward County 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 (Juror’s Choice Award).
Inspired by the Group of Seven, a juried show at Belleville Library Gallery. 2005
The Maker’s Hand, A juried fine art show in Prince Edward County 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Arts on Main Gallery, Picton, Ontario. Founding Member 2007 – 2014 (Chair 2012-2014).
Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville, Ontario “Through the Lens” , by invitation, January 2008, 2009, 2011.
Through the Lens, curated outdoor show at Black Walnut Gardens, Milford PEC August 2008.
Chameleon Nation Gallery, Kingston, Ontario. Juried show April 2009.
The Journey Through The Arts Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario. June, July, August 2009.
CLIC Photo Show, Picton, juried show 2010 (Honourable Mention), 2011, 2013, 2014.
SPARK Photo Festival, Peterborough juried show 2015 (Honourable Mention).
SPARK Photo Festival juried show 2016 (Best in Show and First Place)
Art Emporium By The River, Port Hope, solo show October 2017
SPARK Photo Festival Juried Show 2018
Art Gallery of Northumberland, Cobourg, juried show 2018
Uxbridge Juried Art Show 2019 (Best Photograph)
A Gift of Art Gallery, Newcastle. 2019
Art Gallery of Northumberland juried show. 2020
Memberships
Art Gallery of Northumberland
Northumberland Photography Club