Serial No: 3844422
The Pentax Spotmatic from the 1960s that started it all. It was an unexpected gift from my father and something that I didn't fully appreciate at the time. Several rolls of film were ruined in an effort to understand the craft of photography and I was unable to wrap my head around text book definitions or the advice of fellow photographers. From time to time I turned my back on that camera, but from time to time I would pick it up again and delve a bit deeper. Most of what I learned in the early stages was the fruition of self-exploration. Because of that I'd make a terrible teacher, but I was hooked. The sound of the shutter, the feeling of the film advance, the smell of undeveloped negatives, the visual appeal of developed positives. Loved it. From the start I was drawn to architecture and landscape work, mostly due to comfort levels as I was always able to return to a static object or location in an effort to take advantage of perfect lighting conditions or composition.
I never planned on documenting weddings. When asked to document a friend's wedding I foolishly agreed, failing to let them know that I'd never attended a wedding or photographed a large group of people. I had no idea what a set of wedding photos should look like or what the expectations would be. Despite the uncertainty I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, buoyed by the never-ending flurry of activity and incredible mix of emotion. I was hooked. I could no longer return to a particular location in search of perfect lighting conditions or favourable composition. I had to live in the moment and be part of a narrative.
My only goal at this point is to continue exploring, guided by the enjoyment that the results provide. SP 3844422 has a lot of life left in it. There is much to capture. Wind. Click. Smile. Repeat.
Who is Evan McMaster?
Proud father of two rapscallions and married to an amazingly supportive, badass, tattooed gal from Cape Breton Island. Doing what I love and enjoying every moment along the way.
I grew up in the small village of Lonsdale, Ontario and moved to Halifax in the fall of 2001 to attend Dalhousie University. My plan was to study biochemistry but dreams were crushed when I failed a number of science courses. My anthropology elective kept my GPA (and attention!) afloat and I decided to focus my efforts on this field of study. Four years later I graduated with a BA in social anthropology and a minor in environmental science. After Dalhousie I found myself in the United Kingdom where I completed a MSc in Ethnobotany at the University of Kent, in Canterbury. Studies were followed by an agricultural internship in Guatemala through the Canadian International Development Agency & Breaking the Silence, a social justice group located in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. Although addicted to learning and addicted to travel, the East Coast kept calling my name and I found myself back in Halifax. The pull of the ocean. The pace of life. India Pale Ales and donairs at Pizza Corner.
Throughout my travels there was always a camera at my side. I had to record. I wanted to remember. Although my studies and experiences varied I feel they’ve come together and laid the foundation for my career as a Halifax based wedding photographer. In recent months I’ve launched a side business as an automotive photographer as my passion for classic cars has grown - you can visit Patina Coast * here *.