WADDELL, Stephen (Vancouver, 1968)Stephen Waddell. Scotiabank Photography Award

“Stephen Waddell embraces the entanglements and conundrums inherent to photographic mediations. For decades he has reinvigorated street photography and reportage through keen observation and an empathetic eye for social subjects. Initially a painter and filmmaker, Waddell brings questions about the very notion of realism to picture-making. He often references pictorial histories, such as early photography or classical painting, acknowledging that observation is informed by recognition and an unconscious awareness of existing images.The subtlety of his photography is amplified by a painterly sensibility that emphasizes qualities of light. Waddell takes on the challenges of having single images carry dense meaning. Looking at one of his mise-en-scènes is a richly rewarding sensory experience, as close scrutiny animates uncanny details.