For over a decade, Ryan Walter Wagner has worked as a photographer in Vancouver. From headshots to portraits to events to content, he's shot a variety of photographs in different locations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to think about his craft in a new way.
While Wagner often shoots clients in his photography studio, Good Side, physical distancing didn't allow for in-person close-ups. Instead, he travelled to people's homes across Metro Vancouver and photographed them through their windows, on their porches, or on their balconies. Sometimes their windows were open, other times they left them closed. In some photos people smiled, while in others they looked somewhat sombre.
Wagner's portrait project aimed to show, "how we’re all adapting from the perspective of physical distance, and looking out to a weird world trying to find our “new normal."
"One day we were going to work, school, and enjoying the spring cherry blossoms, and the next we were forced inside and apart from almost everyone we knew," writes Wagner. "The next few months were spent adjusting our routines, trying to stay connected to those we cared about, and watching things change right in front of our eyes. We were more connected through common experience than ever, but often alone or isolated in our glass bubbles."And while it might seem unusual, Wagner says that people seemed quite comfortable with the experience. In fact, he notes that they opened up.
The Through the Window portrait program was created to capture this unique and challenging moment in time, and the candid moments are reflected in the pages of Through the Window. The 60+ page full-colour book — consisting of more than 100 photos plus narrative essays — will be available to own on Aug.1 and sold online and through various local book and retail vendors.
The book will be sold for $25.00 CAD (plus all applicable tax and shipping costs) and with a portion of proceeds being donated to the DTES Response Fund. Pre-orders are available .
This is Wagner's first self-published book of photography to date. Read his interview with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» HERE.
