Allen Lefebvre - As far as the eye can see

By ArtistsInCanada Interview November 18, 2002

} Allen Lefebvre: As far as the eye can see Reviewed by ArtistsInCanada The prairie landscape is a never-ending panorama of changing light and color, and Allen Lefebvre loves to explore and record it on film. First introduced to creative photography during high school in Humboldt during the mid-1970s, it has remained a lifelong passion - a way of interpreting and communicating his vision of the beauty of the prairie. A vision that revolves around the interplay of light and the landscape. Born in Flin Flon, Manitoba in 1959 and raised in Humboldt, he has made his home in Regina since 1983. His great-grandparents homesteaded in Saskatchewan in the early 1900’s and the family has remained rooted here through four generations. His artistic vision is simple: capture the variety and depth of the Saskatchewan landscape at it’s best, using the minimum of photographic tools and relying heavily on vision and the ability to ‘see’. “Rarely do I venture out to create a specific image. I prefer to prowl the backroads, exploring visually with an open mind and following my senses and intuition. I do not ‘make’ an image; I simply capture what is given to me. That may take the form of wide panoramas or intimate details, focussing on color and composition, and exploiting the best of the prairie light.” Allen acquired his photographic skills through the school of hard-knocks. Following several years with a commercial studio during and after highschool, photography remained his passion as his career followed other paths. Nature and landscape images have always been his primary interest, and despite considerable travel throughout Canada and North America he has chosen to continue to live in Saskatchewan. “I’ve never found a better place to live. And I love the way you can see the sun touch both horizons, often in an endless palette of color that can be either vibrant or pastel. You just don’t see that in the mountains or large urban centres.” Reflecting his interest in landscapes and the broad expanses of the prairie, Allen has recently been concentrating on panoramic images using a unique wide-angle camera with a rotating lens that approximates the angle of view of the human eye. 'I am constantly in awe of the power of the prairie sky, whether I’m spellbound during an incredible sunset, capturing the nuances of the earliest light of the day or finding shelter during a storm. I feel privileged to experience our vast expanses on a daily basis, and strive to capture these impressions on film.' Examples of these and other images can be found on his website at www.allenlefebvre.ca. _________________________________________________ Paul Constable is the Director of Artists In Canada. He is a Painter / Printmaker and Senior Graphic Designer for an Advertising and Communications company in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Paul Constable can be reached by email HERE. His paintings may be viewed at: www.ArtistsInCanada.com/pconstable. Your suggestions for future articles are welcome. _________________________________________________ © 2003 ArtistsInCanada.com

• Posted: 2002-11-18