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High Altitude photography | by Sophia Sorensen Beauty A few fortunate souls see the things that Paul Malon has seen; his adventuring pursuits take him to the pinnacle of many BC mountains. Through the lens of his camera, he captures these rare visions: jagged, snowdipped peaks against the backdrop of citrus sunsets, and other glimpses of undisturbed nature. Fortunately, he shares his images and allows others to vicariously experience the majesty of the Canadian wilderness. Looking at the photographs, it is easy to forget two things. First, that Malon has not trained for this calling. He was educated as a doctor, and the beauty of the mountains is in stark contrast to his daily routine of treating patients in the downtown eastside. Second, that accessing these distant corners of the province provides an additional challenge for Malon, as he is a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair. Malon's love of photography grew naturally out of a keen interest in mountaineering. The primarily self-taught North Vancouver artist became interested in photography while working in a hospital in East Hudson Bay. When he moved to Vancouver, he enrolled in his one and only photography course at Langara, at the time focusing solely on human subjects. Over time, his mountain trips provided the setting and opportunity for moving the focus of his camera away from people and towards spectacular scenery. Such images -- mountain ranges dominating the horizon, valleys overflowing with wildflowers, icebergs rising stoically out of the ocean -- are simple yet profound. He describes his images as "understated elegance" and strives to capture the subtleties of the frozen environment and atmosphere in a unique way. Although his emphasis is on nature, occasionally a sign of life crosses his path and pauses, if only for a moment. One such photo, of a wolf stopping to pose for the camera, was taken by Malon as he sat in his truck at the side of the road in the Yukon. Most pictures don't come about that easily, and when asked what he believes is the key component of his success, he replies, "patience." Being in the "right place" to showcase nature's fleeting moments is not easily accomplished. Malon's geographical focus on the BC Coastal range poses some risky issues. For any climber, reaching high-altitude spots in the range are difficult and often dangerous. Malon, unable to climb or hike, requires a unique solution to reach his destinations. At considerable cost and logistical challenge, he employs a helicopter to drop him at the ideal high-elevation points of many mountains. " M o s t of my (mountain) climbing friends are seeking the perfect climb and the experience of getting to the top and then turning around and descending," says Malon. "I get dropped at the top of a mountain and camp there." Many of his trips, often two weeks long, are solo, and his only connection to the world is by radiophone. Negotiating the terrain is an additional risk. Since use of his wheelchair is out of the question, he travels by toboggan, aided by an ice axe. Every move is carefully considered. Malon's work has received significant local, regional, and national exposure. He is often sought as an interview subject and has been featured on VTV's Vicki Gabereau Show. Interest In his work also generates requests for public slide shows; one of the few ways that the depth of his stunning images can truly be appreciated. Apart from personal fulfillment, Malon has benefited from his reputation in terms of commercial work. Recently, he received a commission as the photographer for the 2001 Necky kayak catalog. There have been other commercial ventures. In 1999, he and two fellow photographers published a calendar of lavish wilderness photos. His next venture is to publish a book of his work, along with a climber-photographer friend from Alberta. As for new photographic challenges, Malon will continue to "aim high" and gather memories from hard to reach places. CALL TO ARTISTS CityScape Community Art Space is looking for artwork (2D only) that expresses a passion for plants, flowers and gardens. The exhibition will be on display: June 21 - August 6, 2001 Submit your slides or photos, along with your biography and exhibitions list, to the address below. Deadline for submissions: 4pm, May 16, 2001 North Vancouver C o m m u n i t y Arts Council + C i t y S c a p e C o m m u n i t y Art S p a c e 335 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver BC, V 7 M 2 G 3 T: 988-1931 F: 988-2787 E: nvartscouncil@telus.net May I June 15