Candace Makowichuk: The Beauty & Mystique of Cemeteries
Article written by John Hardeman, IACC Member

They say that a successful photograph will tell a story; well Candace Makowichuk's mission working as “Artist in Residence for the City of Edmonton Cemeteries Assignment" tells of a life time of individual stories. Her presentation to a full house outlining her photographic processing adds to the history of the location of each Edmonton-run cemetery and each individual interned.  
 
Candace’s primary use of film photography somehow seems very appropriate for her work with the City. But it’s the Cyanotype and Bromoil that adds to the impact for each photographic image. The description and visual steps she included in her presentation showed her passion for capturing the history through a wide variety of shots, different styles of stones, and hundreds of symbols. In addition, her research on the meaning of each symbol will give great information on the historical importance for generations to come.

Images Alberta Camera Club has a history of inviting guests speakers who cover a wide range of genres, and Candace spoke about a new genre that was not yet covered in past presentations. I, as an enthusiastic photographer, found her presentation to be very interesting and it opened up more ideas on photography and the processing of images.
 
For more information on Candace’s accomplishments, please visit her website at candacemakowichuk.com/.

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© Candace Makowichuk

Candace © Clayton Reitzel

“I have always been interested in the “alternative” or historical photographic processes since the beginning of my art studies. Today I work with Cyanotype, Bromoil, Silver Gelatin, Gum Bichromate, and hand tinting. The processes I work with are just a few of the many invented through the history of photography. The majority of these historical photographic processes render one-of-a-kind images, which are impossible to predictably reproduce by hand. It is this unpredictability which fascinates me. You have only so much control over the final print; the rest is due to chemistry, the hand coating, and your support/backing (paper, fabric, etc.). The many steps involved all react to your individual style of work - and sometimes mistakes or accidents produce wonderful results! Many of these processes display the evidence of a human touch. This appeals to me as I become a part of it, it is physical. From the movements of processing film, to the movements of coating my supports, to the movement of processing my print, I am immersed in the physical component of producing an image. Also, I relish being in the dark room with low safe lights and the sound of water where time literally disappears. This is all very different from sitting in front of a computer to produce a final photograph. Through workshops and residencies in historical photographic processes I am pleased to contribute to the renewed interest in analogue photography – film and other non-digital processes. My work is represented in public collections within Alberta, private collections within Canada and exhibitions throughout the province.” ​