If I had to be someone else, anyone, in this big city – I might just decide to be Stephen Bulger. If you’ve never been to the Stephen Bulger Gallery on Queen, it’s attached to Camera bar and screening room and specializes in documentary photography. I have yet to stroll in on a sleepy Saturday and not be completely smacked with an overwhelming amount of empathy and emotion; be it happy, sad or enraged. Bulger’s exhibits are always slices of poignant history and upon leaving you feel a little bit better informed, or more closely in touch with the human condition. I find his work and curating style to be absolutely noble, earnest, beautiful and important. 

For Scotiabank CONTACT, the gallery is exhibiting vintage prints from The National Geographic Image Collection. While there, I found myself in conversation with an older gentleman who helped identify Toronto’s 1930 lakeshore. Beyond historic Canadian prints, there were photos from all around the world documenting a range of exploration, discovery, anthropology, aeronautics and portraiture from 1888 to 1940. 

Each photograph has such an incredible story to tell; if I had an extra $3500 lying around, I would consider taking a piece of history home with me.

The National Geographic Society’s mission is to “inspire people to care about the planet,” and that is succeeded at Stephen Bulger Gallery this month. (I hope he doesn’t think it’s too weird that I want to be him.)

Get inspired with Scotiabank CONTACT this month!  http://www.scotiabankcontactphoto.com/