A true lens master

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/05/2020 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

East Kildonan photographer Bruce Hendricks has taken a place among his profession’s elite after capturing a series of rare honours.

Hendricks is the eighth person in history to earn the honour of becoming a fellow of the Professional Photographers of Canada, the youngest ever to win the Yousuf Karsh lifetime achievement award for photographic excellence and the youngest Manitoban in history to be named a master of photographic arts by the Professional Photographers of Canada.

Hendricks’ path began as a Grade 10 student at Kildonan East Collegiate when he enrolled in a visual communications course. He settled on photography because he knew every day would be different. Hendricks also sought out learning opportunities, eventually talking his way into an informal apprenticeship with a wedding photographer.

Armed with good grades and some experience, Hendricks thought he was ready for bigger things, including full membership in the same professional organizations now honouring him, but he was mistaken. While talented, Hendricks had more work to do.

“I was faced with my biggest decision, dismiss them, or swallow my pride, shut up and learn from these people,” Hendricks said. “Thankfully I took the second approach.”

Hendricks dove into his craft and worked hard, gaining experience everywhere he could. The persistence paid off, as his work caught the attention of his peers. The awards soon followed, with Hendricks winning peer-judged competitions and passing the stages he needed to become eligible for these rarer distinctions.

To achieve these distinctions at any point in a career is impressive, but Hendricks hasn’t yet turned 50, making him one of the few to reach such heights at this young an age. He’s had his eye on the peak for a while.

“Since I was 20 or 22 I’ve had the fellowship as a goal,” Hendricks said. “It’s a daunting task and that’s why there are so few people who have even attempted it, never mind qualified for

it.”
“It takes decades to earn these honours and I’m humbled and proud of it, but I’m in awe I got to this point,” Hendricks said.

While his knowledge grew most quickly in his early years, Hendricks said he is still learning, and is always on the watch for a new technique he can add to his toolbox. The education is now more incremental but it continues.

“Every little piece helps because after a certain point there’s no ‘aha’ moment that will make your work 1,000 times better than it was yesterday,” he observed.

The toolbox opens when Hendricks seeks to make every shot its best. Composition, positioning and lighting all play a role, as do mathematics, which Hendricks sees everywhere from how seeds nestle in a sunflower to how a seashell spirals.

“Your subconscious mind actually picks up on it and it’s comfortable to you — proportions and guidelines in images,” Hendricks explained. “Shape, lines, dimensions and patterns, that is my mantra.”

The trio of career achievements left Hendricks reflecting on how far he has come, His conclusions leave good advice for upcoming artists.

“Keep your head down, keep on moving and one of these days you look up and see how far you’ve come,” he concluded.