For our third annual Booooooom Photo Awards, supported by Format, we selected 5 winners, one for each of the following categories: Portrait, Street, Colour, Nature, Fashion. You can view all the winners and shortlisted photographers here. Now it is our pleasure to introduce the winner of the Nature category, Grant Harder.
Grant Harder lives in Vancouver with his wife and two kids. Whether he’s photographing people or places his desire is to capture an honest image (as honest as a photo can be), and it’s clear he has a deep appreciation for nature.
We want to give a massive shoutout to Format for supporting the awards this year. Format is an online portfolio builder specializing in the needs of photographers, artists, and designers. With nearly 100 professionally designed website templates and thousands of design variables, you can showcase your work your way, with no coding required. To learn more about Format, check out their website here or start a 14-day free trial.
We had the chance to ask Grant some questions about his photography—check out the interview below along with some of his work.
It’s been almost a decade since our last interview, how has your approach to your work changed in that time?
Many parts of my approach haven’t changed. I am still looking for suspended moments with a certain quality of light while trying to operate with kindness and compassion. One major shift, though, is that when I was younger and earlier in my career, I wasn’t as free creatively. For example, I would never allow myself the option to use a long lens. I also shared everything without a second thought.
These days, I’m much more open to experimentation and keeping things loose—compositionally and otherwise. Because of that, I feel like I have way more tools in the toolbox, and the images I make carry a different energy. They feel like they have the potential to be more interesting. But strangely, I don’t find it nearly as easy to share new work anymore. I now tend to keep things way too close to the chest.
I can see some of that looseness here. Can you share a defining moment from your journey as a photographer so far?
Has it happened? My journey feels like a slow burn.
Can you describe a photo that you currently have somewhere in your home? What is it, who took it, and what do you like about it?
One photo we have up is in our kitchen above the oven. It’s a photo I took in Sicily of a neighbourhood street with a tree that is coming right out of the pavement. I’m not sure that I do like it. There is something interesting about the tension created between the lone surviving tree and the surrounding urban cityscape. The photograph was shot 10 years ago but it feels like last week.
Finish this sentence: “For me, photography is…”
It’s not the most exciting answer–for me photography is a way to creatively express myself. It’s also a wonderful way to engage with the world!
What’s the story behind your winning image? It’s quite painterly. What specifically are we looking at and how did you go about capturing it?
The New York Times Magazine sent me to Jasper, Alberta as part of a story on teens and their relationship to climate change. I spent a day with Lucy, a 16 year old, who lost her family home to the wildfires in 2024. Her grandparents, who lived right next door, also lost their home. Part of my day with Lucy consisted of going on a hike near the townsite of Jasper and on that hike is where I made this photograph. Rather than use a wider lens I chose the longest focal length I had with me which compresses the view, giving the burnt forest a more abstract feel.
Are you still shooting with your little Olympus point and shoot film camera? What camera or lens are you enjoying the most right now?
No, I don’t have the Olympus any longer! It experienced a lot of wear and tear and just stopped working on me. These days I mostly use a Canon R5—it’s fine!
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you?
Peace is Every Step. It’s the title of a book by Thích Nhất Hạnh. I could spend the rest of my life just thinking about the title. I recommend reading the book, however, if you only get as far as the title—you may have enough to go on!
Outside of photography, where are you finding inspiration these days?
These days, honestly, most of my inspiration comes from my two kids. The way children see the world is incredible—life is like an art project for them—but they aren’t trying to be artists—kids make stuff to make stuff. They are not considering anyone when they create but their own vision and they do not get hung up on how others might perceive their idea. It’s wonderful, inspiring and a good reminder to get out of my own way. Also, music! I started playing the ukulele a couple of years ago and I can’t believe I’ve gone most of my life without a dedicated practice of playing and singing. Singing! It’s wonderful. I had no idea. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Playing music is a great reminder that I don’t have to be an expert at something for it to be enjoyable.
What’s one thing you’d like to accomplish in the next year or so?
Creatively I have a short film I want to make, which is frightening to even type. I ran the idea past my 5 and 8 year olds and they are into it. If I can make something that they would find amusing and humorous then it would be a win. Unfortunately they don’t have any money to invest.
What about one thing you’d like to accomplish in your lifetime?
If the most important parts of my life are health, family and friends and these are a constant from now until my time is done then I would like to accomplish a steady nurturing, to and for, these three facets of life. I want to stay physically active and mentally curious and creative, whether that is making photographs, music or building a pirate ship from a cardboard box with my kids.
Wanna turn your art or photos into a book or a zine? Here’s your chance, we’re picking 9 people!
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