Michael Bowie — It’s All About the Light
by Sally Hansen
Amateur photographers discover very quickly that lighting conditions are the determining factor in our ability to capture worthwhile images. Michael Bowie has spent a lifetime learning how to control and/or work with those conditions to achieve superb results. Today he applies his thirty years of experience as a film photographer and printer to his ongoing mastery of the continuously and rapidly evolving field of digital photography.
Michael and his partner, Janice Bowie, are the owners and staff of LUX Photographic Services Inc. at 11 Lake Ave. W. in Carleton Place. theHumm decided to feature Michael’s photographic expertise after viewing his photography at several exhibits, and after several other featured artists told us that they rely on Michael to reproduce their artwork to their demanding archival standards. Bowie has been providing high quality photographic services since incorporating as LUX in 1983. His trademark is excellence. His slogan is “It’s All About the Light”, and LUX is the Latin word for light.
Michael has always loved learning about photography. Even though he was a student at Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa when Almonte’s renowned art teacher Reva Dolgoy was enticing students into the arts, Michael didn’t have a camera, and he couldn’t draw. Luckily, when he left school he went to New York State and became an assistant to a golf course architect. There he was given a camera and told to take progress shots, and he embarked on a trial-and-error approach that convinced him photography was his passion. When he got back to Ottawa, he found a job in a camera store. He took a darkroom class at the YMCA. Then he enrolled in a two-year program at Algonquin College to become a photographic technician.
At the time he graduated, many government departments had their own photography labs, and Bowie had his choice of jobs. Fortuitously, he apprenticed with Malak (Karsh), one of Canada’s most influential photographers, developing his black and white prints. On an assignment to illustrate an annual report for Export Development Canada, the two visited ten cities in ten days, with twelve pieces of excess luggage. Michael vividly remembers that the power packs for the lights weighed 60 pounds each!
Let There Be Light
When they reached the Sydney, N.S., steelyards, Bowie learned a lesson he carries with him today. There was no light. He watched, mesmerized, as Malak set up and caught a truly magnificent shot of the silhouette of a worker outlined in sparks pouring molten metal against a black background. “It taught me that there was always a shot. As young and cocky as I was, I learned to shut up and watch.”
Bowie then did a three-year stint as a medical photographer in a teaching hospital in Ottawa. With their own equipment and darkrooms, the photographic staff documented surgeries, did public relations shots and created annual reports and educational materials. Although technically based, the work was very creative. In 1978 Bowie accepted an offer to teach evening classes at Algonquin, and eventually taught full time for three years. “It was a lot of fun, very hard work, and it didn’t allow enough time for me to do my own photographs.” In 1983 he decided to freelance, and LUX was born.
The man is a master at his art and craft. He has done black and white printing for the National Archives for 15 years. Twice a year he photographs the images for the colour catalogue for “Walker’s Fine Art and Antique Auction”. After looking through the catalogue, I can verify that he makes good on his claim that “I can photograph anything”. He even can photograph original artwork behind glass. I think I’ll sign up for a private lesson so I can enhance your enjoyment of the art created by our monthly “Art… and Soul” featured artists.
In 2003 Michael and Janice Bowie moved themselves, their young son and LUX to a wonderful house in Carleton Place where they have become pillars of the burgeoning artistic community. Janice applies her artistic talents to photographic restoration and design, and together they design and create historic plaques for the town, assist with fundraisers, and create posters and scan photographs for the Victoria School Museum (built in 1872 as the Town Hall for Carleton Place). They provide a gallery for their clients, and mount frequent photographic shows.
“A Fraction of Time, Surrendered to Eternity”
It is fascinating to browse through Janice’s catalogue of photographic restorations, and it brings home Michael’s primary admonition to photographers and to artists seeking artwork reproduction: “If you value your art and have invested huge amounts of time and money creating beautiful images and paintings, don’t rely on a print that will last two years — invest in a print that will last a lifetime”.
Bowie is especially concerned about the longevity and stability of new technologies in the digital field. He is concerned about the dyes used by high volume printers and sold for home printing, and refers me to
“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” (Aaron Rose)
According to Michael, the bottom line is not the technology but rather the “wonderful ways of looking at things” that make photography endlessly alluring to him. As a member of the Photography Matters group who meet monthly in Carleton Place, Bowie has just proposed the lowly toothbrush as the subject of their next creative shooting exercise. His point is well taken as I marvel at the variety of images currently on display in the LUX gallery resulting from the annual “Naked in the House” photo shoot. Ten photographers are given thirty minutes with a nude model (this year it was a couple) and allowed one camera, one lens and 36 exposures, film or digital. The show runs until February 26.
Anyone interested in photography or in having images reproduced or restored will enjoy dropping in at LUX and/or visiting their website. They are located at 11 Lake Ave. W. in Carleton Place, and can be reached at 253–2299 or vie email. The full range of services reflects the breadth and depth of Michael’s and Janice’s combined expertise, and the results celebrate their passion for excellence. Check their website for shows, and for workshops. Michael even offers one-on-one custom-tailored instruction, and darkroom and studio rental. His love for his art will make yours its best.