Bio
A professional photographer, author and filmmaker, Gabor Gasztonyi lives in New Westminster with his wife, artist Judith Copland, operating a photographic studio and art gallery.
His book “A Room in the City”, published by Anvil Press, 2010 with a foreword by Dr Gabor Mate, was a finalist for the George Ryga Award for Social Justice in Literature and the Alcuin Award for book design. The book is a photographic journey in the hotel rooms of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
In 2006 he was awarded the Nikon Prize for photojournalism in BC and in 2015 the Award of Excellence, Society of Canadian Artists, Montreal. Plus in 2015, 2016 and 2017 he won the Press Award from the Professional Photographers of Canada. Four times (2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022) Gabor has represented Canada in the Photographic World Cup in photojournalism.
Gabor has exhibited his photographic work in Canada and Europe. Including ‘Views from the South Bank II’ at the Surrey Art Gallery in 2015, featuring photographs of Sudanese immigrants to Canada and two selected solo exhibits at the Capture Photography Festival in Vancouver. In June 2016, his work was featured at the Alfred Fried Photographic Exhibition in Paris at Unesco Headquarters.
His documentary film, No Way Out, was nominated in five categories at the London International Filmmakers Festival, 2018. and won the best cinematography at the Harlem Film Festival in New York in 2019.
In addition Gabor has lectured at Emily Carr University and in 2018 received the Bernie Legge Arts and Cultural Award for the City of New Westminster.
“The WPC is truly a wonderful experience and I am very proud to be a member of Team Canada again.”
2022 – Reportage / Photojournalism
This image of a cowboy was taken at the Nemiah Rodeo in the Chilcotin region of British Columbia. This rodeo is at the heart of first nations culture and history in northern BC. The cowboy was just thrown from a bull in the rustic and picturesque rodeo grounds. The moment in time and feeling of the image reflects the essence of rodeo and offers a glimpse into first nations culture.
2020 – Reportage / Photojournalism
A man in his room at the Gastown Hotel. This was his first day and the room is empty. He had no belongings and that gave the image a strong sense of simplicity, allowing it to concentrate on the subject. It is a brooding and lonely image.
2018 – Reportage / Photojournalism
This is a photo of Harry Ashley in his room on Hastings Street. He is preparing materials for drug injection. He was an addict since childhood and a part of our documentary film.
2017 – Reportage / Photojournalism
A photograph of Victoria an addict at the Cobalt Hotel in Vancouver. There were three of in this tiny room and I was sitting on the edge of a windowsill. The light was poor although I was able to get a clear image of someone in distress.