COMMUNIQUE ... editors: Beverley Cairns & Patricia Reimer

 

 

PROFILE

      __________________ Winter2010 

Janette Gajic

Photographer

 

 

 

 

 

With her show Scenic Landscapes of Elora & Fergus at the Wellington County Museum from  October 3, 2009 to February 21, 2010, Janette Gajic has further established herself as a photographer of historic and natural landscapes. She credits the exhibition of her works at the municipal building, Elora, through EAC’s Art In Public Places program with giving a great boost to her work as a scenic photographer. Recently she translated her work to a 16 month art calendar “Bridges of Wellington County’ to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her studio in Fergus. where she offers creative photography through state of the art digital photographic imaging.

     Janette’s interest in photography grew through her fashion modelling career, where she developed an awareness of shadows and lighting. When a teenager she won the title of Miss Brampton in a beauty competition . This success led tp the Canadian Beauty Pageant of 1985; where she won the “Sunburst’ regional Canadian division prize. An international fashion modelling career opened to her, with travels to Rome, Zurich and New York, mostly working with Zoran, considered the epitome in elegant, minimalist, zen-like high fashion design. She also worked with Kensu. Between modelling sessions Janette attended university and graduated with a degree in fine arts.

     Janette came to the Fergus-Elora area frequently from Greater Toronto, spending many memorable weekends and holidays here. Looking forward, she had always thought Fergus- Elora to be an area where she would like to establish a business. The final impetus came when her first child was 9 months old and she was pregnant with her second child. Crime was escalating in the city, and in one experience she had to wait 3 hours for a police response to a dangerous situation. Her husband, now a teacher with the Upper Grand School Board, led the transition to a more rural life, and Janette opened Grandview Photography. In Fergus, now more personalized as Janette Gajic Portrait Studio and Art Gallery

     Her studio on St. David Street, Fergus, is approached through the Elegant Affair and Bridal Boutique. This is a happy pairing for Janette’s many clients looking to record their weddings through the art of a quality photographer. Janette brings creativity and informality to these celebratory events, responding with sensitivity to the mood of the moment. Portrait photography has also been a mainstay. Essential in family portraits is to make all the generations feel at ease and to record the moment when the essence of the family is best expressed. Glamorous headshots  for professionals can be taken against a blue screen  for chroma-key photography, a technique which allows the background to be added later. .Janette does all the portrait photography for the Elora Community Theatre as well as their  posters and promotional shots.

        The advent of digital cameras changed the world of photography, Janette had to relearn her business six to eight years ago. She loves the digital possibilities: the sharing, the enrichment of mixed media, texts and layered photos and the simple retouch methods attainable in this media. There is no dark room. Developing is all done by sending the digital photographs to an online photo website.  A range of photos is then viewed online by the client and perhaps shared with others for comment, When a choice of photos to be printed is made and the size and number specified by the client, prints are made by Pictage Photo Services, the # 1 company in the world and
industry leader of online image hosting, printing and services for professional photographers. The prints are delivered to the client’s door, beautifully presented on quality paper or even, if requested, printed on canvas. Janette’s concern is that her client’s images have lasting archival value.

    
She has a strong interest in the teaching of young people and has worked with co-op high school students for many years.  A co-op student works with her from 12.30 to 3.30 every day for one semester of the year. Her students assist at weddings, doggie shoots, portrait sessions and learn a broad range of techniques including editing. In addition Janette teaches continuing education classes for the Upper Grand School Board, instructing photography for beginners and advanced courses in both film and digital work.  She also offers imaginative workshops in outdoor photography of the Elora Gorge, nightime photography and customized workshops for small groups. She encourages her students of all ages to print and critique their work.

     A new project of benefit to students will be a photography gallery open to the public in Janette’s office area.
 Gallery hours will be 11 am to 4: 30 pm  Opening night which will be  Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 from from 7 pm to 9 pm.   Submissions  will be taken taken from Thursday, March 11 to Monday, March 15th, 2010 during regular hours of business, with Friday opened until 7pm.  (Closed Sunday) There will be  Elementary and Secondary categories for photography which will compete for each grade level. JK to Grade 12..The gallery will run as a non-profit, submission fee will be $5.00 each framed photograph entered not to exceed 24 x 36 inches.The gallery will give students of photography an opportunity to display their work in a professional manner and to assess it objectively in a final presentation.

    Janette is very happy with her move to Fergus. Her husband Doug Gajic is also a creative instructor. Working for the Upper Grand School Board as a teacher of  biology and biotechnology, he has recently  been honoured by the Ontario Genomics Institute, awarded the 2009 Genomics Teaching Prize. Genomics is the study of genes within an organism.
   Janette is working with a publisher on a long term project which combines her photography skills with deep concerns related to infant speech development  This is her “baby animal project”  She is in the process of creating a picture book of baby farm animals conceived to help children learn to read.

    Prints and calendars of local scenes photographed by Janette Gajic can be seen at Cherry Hill Entertainment, in the old Fergus market building. She credits the owner, George Mochrie for
encouraging and supporting her scenic landscapes by selling and displaying them at Cherry Hill.  

 

View all aspects of Janette’s creative photography on her website  www.janettegajic.com . Email: info@janettegajic.com

Visit the studio and gallery at 155 St. David Street North, Fergus, Ontario,

 

 

              

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE

 

 

The newsletter of the Elora Arts Council is published four times a year. It is distributed by mail to EAC members. It is also available at information offices, libraries and numerous galleries and stores throughout the area.

The Communique has been in constant publication since the founding of the Elora Arts Council in 1985.

Featured in each issue is the Profile of a local artist, musician, performer, or craftsperson in the Centre Wellington area.

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