There is only one word I can use to describe Kyle McDougall....genuine. A soft spoken man Kyle has a smile that wins you over instantly and his passion for all things photography becomes quickly evident. To hear Kyle tell it however... it wasn’t always that way.
Kyle is a self proclaimed contemporary landscape photographer from Ontario. In 2017 he spent 256 days to be exact…traveling across the American South West exploring the back roads and abandoned spaces, creating a body of work he has entitled “An American Mile”.
By doing this Kyle demonstrated yet another form of creative courage. The courage it takes to stop what was looking like an already successful career and stop...reevaluate where he was… and start down another road not knowing if it would lead anywhere. Changing direction is difficult at the best of times and yet despite the fear of failing Kyle chose to push on. Supported by his wife they sold all their worldly possessions and set out on an adventure that currently has Kyle creating on his terms and the results are proving to be extremely pleasing. Kyle exuded the courage to push himself out of the box of comfort he had created to start a new-ish career and create films that tell stories and connect with his audience on all the basic of levels. He is a true story teller. His still images offer up a story where you just want to know a little bit more of what was in the image and his films take you on journey into the lives of the people that some may see as misunderstood or forgotten. His cinematic approach sheds a warm light on a story well worth being told.
As well Kyle is another true educator. Kyle created Analogue—a YouTube video series that focuses on both the craft and technique of film photography. As well, Kyle is a newer member of OFFBEAT and he joins the group of people surrounding Dave Brosha, that offer up transparent learning with no hidden agenda.
But without a moment of creative courage Kyle may never have found his current path.
Kyle attests that there was no bright light that shone down on him to guide him...just a gnawing sense that he had to do something different. I really do feel that people that exhibit the sense of courage to change direction...make it a way of life... and once clarity strikes...the process to create becomes less cumbersome.
Genuine. The only word that fits for me. Kyle is simply a true genuine, gentle man...his amazing story telling will always be founded in the truth of finding his own creative courage.
Follow Kyle’s work here: https://www.kylemcdougallphoto.com
Next week I focus on Wayne Simpson one of Canada’s best portrait photographers