Biography

Gerald received his education at the University of Toronto. His photographic training came through a variety of formal and informal venues, including courses at Humber College and Ryerson Institute of Technology; workshops with Fred Picker and Elizabeth Siegfried; and private study with Paul Hoeffler. “Fred simplified the technical stuff, Elizabeth showed me how to make platinum prints and Paul taught me everything else, including a love of jazz”. Mostly, however, Pisarzowski was self-taught.

Some of the other photographers that have and continue to influence him are such notables as Edward Weston, his son Brett, Morley Baer, Wynn Bullock, Paul Campanigro, Paul Strand, Eugene Atget, just to name a few. However, he’s most influenced by his friends and fellow photographers who he sees, shows his work to, and relishes and respects their criticism.

Gerald photographs throughout the year in both good and inclement weather, most times he’s out when no one else is, so the images that he makes or is drawn to tend to be unique - or at least ones that no one else is making when he is. His intention is to make interesting images, one’s that will garner a second look and maybe an hhmmmm! This maybe why he tries to remove a sense of scale from his images or tries to take rather ordinary scenes and imbue them with a sense of the extraordinary. Some things are mundane only because we choose to see them that way.

Pisarzowski started working in 35mm and then about 20 years ago moved to large format, initially 4x5, graduating to an 8x10 in the mid-90’s. While the majority of his work these days is 8x10, he occasionally uses the small format for specific projects that require a less formal approach.

About 20 years ago he was introduced to platinum/palladium printing-making. Platinum prints have long been admired for their long, rich and delicate tonal scale and unmatched archival quality by photographers and collectors. Gerald found that contact printing in combination with platinum/palladium best achieved the “feeling” that he was trying to express in his work. Since then he’s stayed exclusively with this approach. Recently, Pisarzowski has been able to make 16x20 platinum prints by scanning his original negatives and having inkjet negatives made from the digital files.

Gerald conducts workshops as well as demonstrations in the art and alchemy of platinum printing and landscape photography. He provides custom platinum print-making services for other photographers and has printed for such artists as Christine Davis, Ronald Hurwitz and for the estate of the internationally acclaimed Canadian photographer Richard Harrington.

Gerald has had a number of solo and group exhibitions in galleries in Canada and in the United States. His award winning work is included in a number of corporate and private collections as well as in the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography and the City of Toronto Archives. Recently, his work was published in Black & White Magazine for a Spotlight Feature in October 2005. Gerald is represented by the Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto.

Artist Statement

Photographing takes me to places that allow me to think positive thoughts. While it may not always be about feeling good or bad, it is about thinking of life in a positive way and trying to communicate that feeling to others through my work. I photograph throughout the year in both good and inclement weather, most times I'm out when no one else is, so the images I make or am drawn to tend to be unique—or at least ones that no one else is making when I am.

Some say that my work is optimistic, reflecting my view of life. I'm not sure about that, but my intention is to make interesting images, ones that will garner a second look and maybe a hhmmmm! This may be why I try to remove a sense of scale from my images or try to take rather ordinary scenes and imbue them with a sense of the extraordinary. Some things are mundane only because we choose to see them that way.

To visit Gerald's web site, click here.

To see Gerald's images in our online gallery, click here.

To contact Gerald via e-mail, click here.