Powerful Moments in Context
Our cameras and lenses are physical tools that we use to capture the tangible aspects of an image. People, places, and things in a given moment in time. They take those aspects of the scene and convert it into a digital format that can later be viewed and reproduced. Our gear doesn’t do anything else and doesn’t define us as professional photographers. What defines us is being able to build a relationship of trust with our clients where they are comfortable around us. What defines us is being able to give our clients an experience, to create a space where powerful moments can happen. A space where we can capture not only the tangible elements of the scene, but also the intangibles; the emotions, love, and intimacy between people. The story of those images then becomes more than that of technical excellence; they represent something deeper. It’s about the story behind the image, the feelings at the time, or experiencing the connection between the people in them.
Duane Clemens
I’m fortunate because I have a job that I’m excited to do. I have an opportunity to create images that people love and are proud to show off to their families and friends. Being a photographer for me is much more than that though. There’s so many dimensions to what we do; from interacting with people, to coming up with new ideas for things we can provide to our clients, and everything in between. It never gets boring and our roles change on a daily basis.
I really love living in Fernie and the opportunities that are here for my wife and I. It’s fantastic that we are able to live in a place that has world-class hiking, mountain biking, and skiing right out our front door. I love that everything here moves just a little slower and life can be savoured.
Kevan Wilkie
I think my family is still laughing at me. Growing up, I am pretty sure that no one ever thought to put my name next to the word ‘creative.’ I definitely do not have one of those histories that goes: “I fell in love with photography before I was born….and that passion has just continued to grow for my whole life.” When I chose my initial career in university, a Social Studies teacher, most people thought that was a pretty good fit for me. And it was. Mostly.
Except that when I did discover photography, it was like a light went off in my head. All of a sudden I had the tools to become a story-teller, in a way that I had never encountered before. That sense of story has motivated me in a way that nothing else ever has. I love discovering the new narratives in my life, and in the lives of others, and I love growing in my ability to tell those stories. Sometimes I stop to reflect upon the blessing that photography has been to me and I am totally humbled – it has completely transformed the way that I see, and interact with, the world. Much like Duane and Karyn, Leah and I have loved being back in the Elk Valley – we realize how fortunate we are to live in such an amazing place and have a lifestyle that allows us new adventures on a regular basis!
Behind the Scenes with 6:8 Photography
Seeing is believing. Watch a short video of what it’s like working with Kevan and Duane from a wedding commission with Zoe & Quinn.