Fine Art Photography. Vancouver Island photographer, photography and photographic artist.

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Neil Fatin, Photography & Beyond
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Biography

Australian born in a small town called Norseman, Western Australia, with Australian/ Slovakian/Irish heritage. Neil immigrated to Canada 30+ years ago. He has had an on and off interest in photography as a hobby for the last 40+ years. His photographic interests are varied, but he did not have the time up until retirement to pursue this hobby with any seriousness. He is totally self-taught, picking up skills from personal experience, reading and taking a keen interest in, and an appreciation of, the works of other artists and photographers.

Neil A. Fatin
Neil A. Fatin

The Sidney Fine Art Show 2006 was the first event that he had entered any works for either adjudication or showing in Canada. Over the last few years he has broadened his photography to include photographic art. He has also experimented with a whole range of techniques to produce unique images and has entered works in this expanded media with success in the Sooke Fine Arts Show, the Sidney Fine Arts Show, the Cowichan Valley Arts Council Showcases of the Arts, the Ladysmith Fine Art Show, "Click 07" "08" "09" "10" "11" "12" (Nanaimo), Photo Salon (Nanaimo) Mid Island Photo Expos and the Nanaimo Arts Council Fine Art Shows (to name a few). He has received a number of awards and has had some of his work published. He also received an award in a world competition.

His wide travels provide an abundance of material and he always remains fascinated by the interplay of nature, life and light.

He continues to exhibit his work at various centres throughout Vancouver Island.


Artist statement

"We live in a truly remarkable world and if you know where to look, or stumble on a unique situation, you can use the camera to share those moments with others.

I continue to be inspired by the work of other photographers and what their eyes see. In addition, I always remain awed by what artists also interpret from the larger canvas of life and nature. Overlaying all of this are the subtleties of lighting throughout the course of the day, the weather and the seasons and the huge impact they have on the subject matter on offer.

The composition of the picture comes from the subject matter itself, there are aspects to a scene that just look right to the observer and over time one attunes themselves to this. There almost always seems to be a better way to present what one sees and sometimes this comes from a keen interest in what other photographers do.

So what do I interpret the term photographic art to mean? Having obtained the image, is there a better way to present it and overlay one's interpretation of the image that hit the negative or the sensor in the camera. Just as an artist will provide his or her interpretation of the image they have seen in reality or in their mind, the photographer can do this with processing as much as the artist uses mixes of colours and interpretive brush strokes to provide a final image.

At the end of it all, what I am trying to achieve is an image that I find interesting, will tell a story and will be captivating enough for others to take notice and enjoy. That is, to move from being self indulgent in ones work and hope the image is received by others with enjoyment or any other reaction other than a reaction of indifference. If the latter is the response, then I consider it a failure. Therefore, in essence the term photographic art to me means, using photography to obtain a reaction from the viewer. The snap shot is just that; it is a shot of something in front of the camera without the story telling, i.e.. a photocopy of what was in front of the lens.

One of my regrets is that I did not have the time during my working life to engage in photography in a more serious way.

There are countless possibilities with modern technology and the learning curve can be quite daunting, but as daunting as it is, it is also challenging and rewarding. It is one of the meanings of life..."


"Photography is Art"
~ Robert Bateman. October 11th 2012 Sidney Fine Arts Show - Keynote address.


   ~ Neil Fatin