Portrait by Ann Ellis from her series I Want to SEE You

Bio

Nicolas St-Pierre is a Canadian photographer and storyteller based in Ottawa, Canada. He has been practicing photography ever since he was offered a Soviet-made Zenit camera by an Italian friend some 30 years ago. Lawyer by training, former reporter at La Presse (Montréal, Canada) and Foreign Service Officer and diplomat by trade, Nicolas dedicates most of his spare time capturing the places and people that he encounters through his professional and personal travels.

Nicolas' work has been exhibited in galleries in Ottawa and Montreal (Canada) as well as in New York City (USA), Charlottesville (USA), Mexico City (Mexico), Golshahr (Iran), Kirkkonummi (Finland), Beijing (China), Trieste (Italy) and throughout Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Sapporo).

It has also been featured in North American, European and Asian online and print publications, including The Guardian, La Presse, Street Photography Magazine, Réponses Photo, OPENEYE, Latent Image, Photo Life, Onbeat and Better Photography.

In recent years, Nicolas’ work has garnered awards and accolades from LensCulture, the International Photography Awards (IPA), the Independent Photographer, the URBAN Photo Awards and the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa. In 2022, his series "Where Have the Birds Gone?" earned him a 2nd place in the LensCulture Black and White Photography Awards. In 2021, Nicolas was the winner of the URBAN Book Award (Trieste, Italy) for his book also titled "Where Have the Birds Gone?".

Artist Statement

Legendary war photographer Robert Capa once said: “If your photographs aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough”. To me, these words are more than just photographical advice. They convey a fundamental truth about the medium itself. Ever since I picked up my first camera some 30 years ago, this little piece of equipment has become a wonderful tool to help me step out of my comfort zone, an invitation to explore, and a mean to build bridges between myself and the other. The camera provides me with both an excuse and an incentive to get closer, to connect emotionally and physically with those who cross my path and arouse my curiosity. Of all photographic genres, documentary, street and travel photography are those that appeal to me the most. Inspired by masters such as Josef Koudelka, W. Eugene Smith, Alec Soth and Alex Webb, I strive to freeze fleeting moments, uncover the extraordinary in everyday life and lead the viewer to look at the world with a fresh pair of eyes. 

Exhibitions / Expositions

• 2023: 60 New Discoveries in Contemporary Photography — LensCulture at Photo London, collective exhibition, Somerset House, London, UK;

• 2023: 2023 APEX Exhibition, collective exhibition, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2022-23: Our Changing Climate: a Visual Chronicle, collective exhibition, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville, USA;

• 2022: The Ice Fishermen of Petrie Island, solo exhibition, Amò Fish Burger, Trieste Photo Fringe, Trieste, Italy;

• 2022: WOW: Worlds of Women, collective exhibition, U. Veruda Hall, Trieste, Italy;

• 2022: Good Guys Lost, solo exhibition, Museo del Territorio, Cormons, Italy;

• 2022: Photographers for Social Change, 24 Hour Project collective exhibition, Gilan Cultural House, Rasht, Iran;

• 2021-22: Photographers for Social Change, 24 Hour Project collective exhibition, Idea Gallery, Tehran, Iran;

• 2021-22: Colours of Kolkata, solo exhibition, Last Train to Delhi, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2021: Where Have the Birds Gone?, solo exhibition, Biblioteca statale Stelio Crise, Trieste, Italy;

• 2021: Trieste Photo Fringe, collective exhibition, Vineria Grudina, Trieste, Italy;

• 2021: Second Annual Old Ottawa East Art Tour, outdoor solo exhibition, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2021: Photographers for Social Change, 24HourProject collective exhibition, Wohls Gård Cultural Centre, Kirkkonummi, Finland;

• 2021: A+ Exhibition (13th edition), collective exhibition, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2020-21: Par amour des grands animaux – Sur la route avec un vétérinaire de campagne, outdoor solo exhibition, Centre d’exposition d’art de Val-d’or, Val-d’Or, Canada;

• 2020: ICP Concerned: Global Images for Global Crisis, collective exhibition, International Center of Photography, New York City, USA;

• 2020: A+ Exhibition (12th edition), collective exhibition, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2019: Opal Issue 3, collective exhibition, House of Common, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2019: Documentado a la Humanidad, 24HourProject collective exhibition, Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo, Mexico City, Mexico;

• 2019: 24HourProject, collective exhibition, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109 NYC, New York City, USA;

• 2019: The Print Swap, collective exhibition, Foley Gallery, New York City, USA;

• 2019: A+ Exhibition (11th edition), collective exhibition, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2018-19: Japan Transforming – through Diplomats’ Eyes 2018, collective exhibition, Hills Café and Space (Tokyo), Meiji Jingu Gaien (Tokyo), Hyogo International Gallery (Kobe), Central Park (Nagoya) and Higashikawa Bunka Gallery (Higashikawa), Japan;

• 2018: A+ Exhibition (10th edition), collective exhibition, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; 

•2017-18: Japan – a Country of Contrasts – through Diplomats’ Eyes, collective exhibition, Hills Café and Space, Tokyo, Japan;

• 2017: Japan through Diplomats’ Eyes 20th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibition, collective exhibition, Canon Open Gallery, Tokyo, Japan;

• 2017: The Family of Man, collective exhibition, Afghanistan Art House, Golshahr, Iran;

• 2016-17: Japan: Scintillating and Serene, collective exhibition, Hills Café and Space (Tokyo), Central Park (Nagoya) and Hyogo International Gallery (Kobe), Japan;

• 2016: A+ Exhibition (9th edition), collective exhibition, Redwall Gallery, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2013: Havana Street, collective exhibition, Redwalll Gallery, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2009: Canadian Cameras at Work, collective exhibition, Nexus Cultural Center, Beijing, China;

• 2007: Delivering in Time of Need: the Evacuation of Canadian Citizens from Lebanon, collective exhibition, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2004: L’objet retrouvé, collective exhibition, City of Montreal, Canada;

Publications

• 2023: “What Makes a Photographer?”, Musée Magazine, August 29, 2023 (USA);

• 2023: “Group Exhibition – Community”, F-Stop Magazine, No. 121, August-September 2023 (USA);

• 2023: “Les pêcheurs sur glace de l’île Petrie”, Le Droit, February 18, 2023 (Canada);

• 2023: “The Ice Fishermen of Petrie Island”, OPENEYE: Le regard d’aujourd’hui sur la photographie, No. 30, February-March 2023 (France);

• 2023: “The Ice Fishermen of Petrie Island”, Edge of Humanity Magazine, January 7, 2023;

• 2023: “Monkeys and Magic: Lensculture black and white photography awards – in pictures”, The Guardian, January 4, 2023 (UK);

• 2022: “URBAN Unveils the City and its Secrets vol. 08”, URBAN Photo Awards, November 2022 (Italy);

• 2022: “WOW: Worlds of Women”, URBAN Photo Awards, November 2022 (Italy);

• 2022: “Portfolio”, OPENEYE: Le regard d’aujourd’hui sur la photographie, No. 25, February-March 2022 (France);

• 2021: “A Hová lettek a madarak? című album nyerte el az URBAN Photo Awards legjobb könyvének járó fődíját”, Punkt, December 7, 2021 (Hungary);

• 2021: “URBAN Photo Awards 2021”, Better Photography, December 2021 (India);

• 2021: “Everyday is Blursday”, Opal: the Ottawa Photography and Art Label, No. 4, Fall 2021;

• 2021: “Where Have the Birds Gone?”, URBAN Book Award, November 2021 (Italy);

• 2021: “URBAN Unveils the City and its Secrets vol. 07", URBAN Photo Awards, November 2021 (Italy);

• 2021: “#ICPConcerned: Global Images for Global Crisis”, International Center of Photography, October 2021 (USA);

• 2021: “The Longest Road”, Street Photography Magazine, February 2021 (USA)

• 2021: “Expo – Réflexions”, Photo Solution, January 2021 (Canada);

• 2020: “On Pause”, Latent Image Magazine, No. 18, September 2020 (Vancouver);

• 2020: “Group Exhibition – Staying Home Together”, F-Stop Magazine, No. 102, August-September 2020 (USA);

• 2020: “Group Exhibition - Open Theme”, F-Stop Magazine, No. 101, June-July 2020 (USA);

• 2020: “La Presse en Abitibi: Par amour des grands animaux”, La Presse, 19 April 2020 (Montréal);

• 2020: "Show of Hands”, Latent Image Magazine, No. 17, March 2020 (Vancouver);

• 2019: “Show of Hands”, Opal: the Ottawa Photography and Art Label, No. 3, Fall 2019;

• 2019: “Markets of Kolkata”, Latent Image Magazine, No. 16, August 2019 (Vancouver);

• 2019: “Group Exhibition - Open theme”, F-Stop Magazine, No. 95, June-July 2019 (USA);

• 2019: Tokyo Shimbun, January 6, 2019;

• 2018: “Concours de photos de l’APASE 2017”, Bout de papier, Canada, Vol. 30, No.3, summer 2018;

• 2018: スバル３６０で長距離ラリーに参戦、Nostalgic Hero: The Premier Japanese Classic Car Magazine, p. 88, Vol. 30, No.6, January 1st, 2018;

• 2017: Tokyo Shimbun, November 26, 2017;

• 2017: “The World Through Canadian Eyes” 2016 Photo Contest, Bout de papier, Canada, Vol. 30, No.1, summer 2017;

• 2017: “Vos 300 meilleures photos”, Réponses Photo, No. 300, March 2017;

• 2017: “Scintillating Japan 2016, through Diplomats’ Eyes”, Onbeat (Bilingual Magazine For Art and Culture from the Edge of the East), Vol. 6, January 2017;

• 2016: Tokyo Shimbun, October 23, 2016;

 2016: “Scintillating Japan 2016, through Diplomats’ Eyes”, Exhibition catalogue;

• 2016: "A Photographic Journey Aboard the Legendary Hershey Train”, Bout de papier, Canada, Vol. 29, No.3, summer 2016;

• 2015: Cover of the Canada-Japan Society Newsletter;

• 2013: “Foreign service union escalates walkouts after talks break down”, Embassy News, Canada (13 June 2013);

• 2012: “Showtime – The Colour Red”, PhotoLife, Canada (February-March issue);

• 2011: “Le concours de photos 2011”, Bout de papier, Canada (fall-winter issue);

• 2005: “Showtime – Baby Face”, PhotoLife, Canada (May issue);

Awards / Prix

• 2023: “Oblivious”, semi-finalist project, URBAN Photo Awards (Trieste, Italy);

• 2022: 2nd Place Series, LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards 2022;

• 2022: "The Ice Fishermen of Petrie Island", finalist project, URBAN Photo Awards (Trieste, Italy);

• 2022: “Good Guys Lost”, selected project, URBAN Photo Awards (Trieste, Italy);

• 2022: “Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 2017”, Editors’ Pick, Black & White Award, The Independent Photographer;

• 2021: “Where Have the Birds Gone?”, Winner, URBAN Book Award (Trieste, Italy);

• 2021: “The Longest Road”, semi-finalist, URBAN Book Award (Trieste, Italy);

• 2021: Winning entry, “Expo – Réflexions” Photo Contest, Photo Solution (Canada);

• 2020: 1st prize, “Vision 2020” Photo Contest, Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers;

• 2019: Semi-finalist, “The World We Live In – Celebrate Life” Photo Contest, PhotoLife / Photo Solution (Canada);

• 2019: Honorable Mention, International Photography Awards (IPA) One Shot / Street Photography;

• 2017: 2nd prize, “A Day in the Life” Photo Contest, Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers;

• 2017: Two selected entries, “Vos 300 meilleures photos” Photo Contest, Réponses Photo (France), March 2017;

• 2016: 1st prize, “Foreign Service Officers in Action” Photo Contest, Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers;

• 2016: 2nd prize, “The World Through Canadian Eyes” Photo Contest, Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers;

• 2016: Jury Special Mention, “Japan Through Diplomats’ Eyes” Photo Contest (19th edition), Tokyo, Japan;

• 2016: People’s Choice Award. “A+ Exhibition (9th edition)”, School of the Photographic Arts of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;

• 2015: 1st prize, “Thoughts of Canada” 85th Year Commemorative Photo Contest, Canada-Japan Society;

• 2012: Winning entry, “Showtime – The Colour Red” photo contest, PhotoLife (Canada);

• 2011: 1st prize, “Canada in the World” Photo Contest, Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers;

• 2006: Honorable mention, Child Photography Contest, Les rôtisseries St-Hubert, Canada;

• 2005: Winning entry, “Showtime – Baby Face” photo contest, PhotoLife (Canada).

Interviews, Press and Speaking Engagements

• 2023: Pretty Singles Looking for Soulmates: the Case for Photo Projects, guest lecture, Ottawa Camera Club, Ottawa, 12 September 2023;

• 2023: Where Have the Birds Gone?, feature article by Magali Duzant, LensCulture, 28 March 2023;

2022: Interview with Nicolas St-Pierre, podcast interview, Great Big Photography World (GBPW) Podcast, UK, 9 February 2022;

• 2022: Something Not Belonging to the Scene, print interview, URBAN Photo Awards, Trieste, Italy, 12 January 2022;

• 2021: “Nicolas St-Pierre: Old Ottawa East 2021 Art Tour Participant Wins Prestigious International Photo Book Award”, The Mainstreeter, Ottawa, Canada, December 2021 issue;

• 2021: Pretty Singles Looking for Soulmates: the Case for Photo Projects, guest lecture, RA Photo Club, Ottawa, 23 November 2021;

• 2021: Masterclass: Documentary Concepts, guest lecture, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa, Canada, 17 June 2021;

• 2021: Long and Short Form Photography Projects, podcast interview, Street Photography Magazine (SPM) Podcast, USA, 26 February 2021;

• 2020: Par amour des grands animaux, radio interview with Vanessa Limage, ICI Abitibi, Rouyn-Noranda, Canada, 22 October 2020.

Education  / Formation

• 2021: Telling Stories with Intimacy – A Documentary Workshop with Ed Kashi, Social Documentary Network;

• 2021: Studio Lighting II – Advanced Studio Techniques, class with Adrien Duey, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada);

• 2020: Printmaking I: Foundations, class with Michael Tardioli, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada);

• 2020: Telling Stories that Matter: Documentary photography as a tool for environmental and social change, class with Michael O. Snyder, Social Documentary Network;

• 2020: Masterclass: Capture to Print, class with Michael Tardioli, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada);

• 2019: Masterclass: Portrait Concepts, class with Adrien Duey, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada);

• 2019: Studio Lighting I: Foundations, class with Adrien Duey, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada);

• 2019: Istanbul Street Zine Workshop with Gerry Orkin and Stephen Leslie, Istanbul, Turkey; 

• 2018: Street Photography Workshop with Maciej Dakowicz, Kolkata, India;

• 2018: Street Photography Workshop with Maciej Dakowicz, Yangon, Myanmar;

• 2016: Magnum Workshop with David Alan Harvey, Magnum, Tokyo, Japan;

• 2012: Havana workshop with David Barbour, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada); 

• 2012: Masterclass: Documentary Concepts with David Barbour, School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (Canada).