Louis Helbig

Louis Helbig
Born Louis Helbig
November 1964 (1964-11) (age 52)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Education McGill University, London School of Economics
Known for Photography, artist

Louis Helbig OSA (born in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian aerial photographer who takes photographs from a two-seater aircraft that he pilots. He is best known for photographic projects entitled: “Beautiful Destruction – Alberta Tar Sands” and “Sunken Villages”; the latter has pictures of the villages flooded during the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway.[1]

Early life and education

His parents immigrated from Germany in 1961. He grew up in Williams Lake, B.C. where his father owned and operated a logging truck and exposed Helbig to aviation. Helbig is self-taught as a photographer. His first photographic forays were through his high school outdoors and camera club. Helbig was a member of Canada's national Nordic ski team, is a Canadian champion and represented Canada at the 1987 Nordic World Championships in Oberstdorf, West Germany. He obtained his pilot's license in 2000. Before turning to commercial photography and art in 2005, Helbig worked as a civil servant in Victoria, BC and Ottawa, ON. He has also worked a bush pilot.

Education

Photography & art

At presentation about Sunken Villages along the St. Lawrence River

Helbig's style has been described as teetering between documentary and abstract.[2] Helbig's approach whatever the subject is not to editorialize but to use his imagery to provide viewers the space, in their own imaginations, to reflect, imagine and think for themselves.

His work is held in the Ontario Government Art Collection.

He was elected to the Ontario Society of Artists in 2010.[3]

Exhibitions

Notable works

References

  1. ↑ , NPR, North Country Public Radio (March 13, 2013) Aerial photos reveal Ontario communities flooded 50 years
  2. ↑ Michael Whyte, Toronto Star, 2009
  3. ↑ OSA members page 3
  4. ↑ Beautiful Destruction – Alberta Tar Sands Aerial Photographs
  5. ↑ Sunken Villages
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/11/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.