Instructor
Vancouver-born photographer, Brian K. Smith, began capturing the world as a 10-year-old with a simple point and shoot camera. It was not long after that he was drawn to more sophisticated 35mm cameras and the magic of the darkroom – a world soaked in amber light where life’s fleeting moments could be reproduced in black and white.
Immediately after high school graduation, Brian attended the Professional Photography Program at Langara College, providing a solid foundation for a life-long career behind the lens. The nine to five has Brian capturing the essence of public healthcare as a medical/corporate photographer for Providence Health Care and Vancouver Coastal Health, based out of the historic St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver. He is responsible documenting medical & scientific procedures, operating room photography, studio portraits, publications, public relations, high definition video camera work, and video conferencing.
Brian has operated his own professional photography business since 1992, specializing in travel, humanitarian, portrait, event, and fine art photography. Using the varied geography and culture of the world as inspiration, Brian has travelled to more than 40 countries. Journeys through Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Myanmar, the Mekong River, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia (Borneo), China, and more recently, Tibet, contribute to the eastern influences woven throughout his work. This has provided him with material to host 26 fine art gallery shows of his photography. His work has been featured on the CBC, Rogers Television, Kodak Canada’s national magazine, and many other publications.
Brian is a member of the Professional Photographers of Canada and the Professional Photographers of Canada-BC. He is a Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) with an accreditation in travel illustration, nature, and scenic photography. Brian's awards include the 2008 Nikon Award Of Excellence (PPOC-BC) and Best Portrait of a Man 2010 (PPOC-BC). Recently, Brian became a member of the British Columbia Association of Travel Writers (BCATW). He is also an Association Member and active volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).