Biography - Jim Hardiman

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Jim Hardiman was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He met his wife, Judy, in Truro while they were both attending high school. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces directly out of school and served in many locations during a career that spanned 32 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel. After retirement in 2009, Jim and Judy moved back to the Truro area and where they currently live in Truro, Nova Scotia. Jim has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba.

Jim enjoys teaching others. He became a Scuba Instructor in 1981 and has taught many people how to dive. This interest in teaching extended into the Military as well. During his career, in addition to belonging to Operational Units, Jim twice worked at one of the Canadian Forces largest schools. The first time he ran one of the Companies (faculties) which included teaching. Later in his career, he ran the School as the Commandant. During this second tour he also was involved in teaching.

He is a self-taught photographer who has been making images since the early 1980’s. Jim does not have a specialty, nor does he have a favourite subject. He tries to portray what he sees and not necessarily what the camera with its limitations can capture. Jim is always looking for the unusual perspective and focuses on getting the light right.

With the advent of digital cameras, Jim has embraced the use of “post-processing” software. He has dedicated many hours to training on the applications and when employing them, works on getting the processing “just right”. As such, he has developed a great deal of skill in this area and enjoys teaching others.

Jim has won awards for his images in competitions in both Canada and the United States including several Best in Category in the Annual Truro Harvestfest Competition and first place for a colour photograph at the Orlando Camera Club 2010/2011 Annual Competition. He has completed the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, National Judging Course. He has shown his work in Galleries in Nova Scotia and Florida.

Selected Awards and Shows

Awards

2018 Awarded First Place “Monochrome” Month of August Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2018 Awarded First Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2018 Awarded Second Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2017 Awarded First Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2017 Awarded Third Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2016 Awarded First Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2016 Awarded Second Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2016 Awarded Third Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2016 Awarded Third Place “Colour A Category” Month of August Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2015 Awarded Second Place “Colour A Category” Month of December Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2015 Awarded Best of Show, Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2015 Awarded First Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2015 Awarded Second Place “Advanced Open” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2015 Awarded Third Place “Colour A Category” Month of August Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2015 Awarded Third Place “Colour A Category” Month of April Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2014 Awarded First Place “Semi-Professional” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2014 Awarded Second Place “Semi-Professional” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2014 Awarded Third Place “Semi-Professional” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2014 Awarded First Place “Colour A Category” Month of April Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2013 Awarded Second Place “Colour A Category” Month of February Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2013 Awarded Third Place “Colour A Category” Month of December Competition, Orlando Camera Club, Orlando, Florida

2012 Awarded First Place “Colour Category” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2012 Awarded First Place “Landscape Category” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2012 Awarded Second Place “Creative Category” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2011 Awarded First Place “Landscape Category” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2010 Orlando Camera Club 2010/2011 Annual Competition – First place for a colour photograph in B Color

2010 Awarded First Place “Creative Category” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

2010 Awarded Third Place “Colour Category” Image Makers Harvestfest Competition, Truro, Nova Scotia

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Shows

Group Shows: Juried

2015, “Insight”, Mayor’s Gallery at Orlando City Hall, Orlando, Florida.

2015, “Insight”, A Loft Hotel, Orlando Florida

2015, “Insight”, Jai Gallery, Orlando, Florida

Group Shows: Non-Juried

2014, “Art in Bloom” Truro Art Society Competition and Show, McCarthy Gallery, NSCC Campus, Truro, Nova Scotia

2013, “Let’s Heat It Up” Truro Art Society Members Show, McCarthy Gallery, NSCC Campus, Truro, Nova Scotia

2012, “Paint Nova Scotia”, McCarthy Gallery, NSCC Campus, Truro, Nova Scotia

Group Shows: Solo

2013 “Breaking Out”, McCarthy Gallery, NSCC Campus, Truro, Nova Scotia

2012 “Moments In Time”, Oceanside Gallery, Pictou, Nova Scotia

2012 “Moments In Time”, Edinburgh Gallery, Parkland Estates, Truro, Nova Scotia

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Artistic Vision

It started with science. The science in photography drew me in. The endless possibilities of self-expression and the art hooked me.  For me, photography is a perfect balance of art and science.

It is all about the light.  As a fine art photographer, the light is what I remember most from any shoot. It is ever-changing and this elusive quality can alter a subject or scene in just a matter of seconds. I strive  to use the light to convey that sense of place and how I felt as a witness.

I take liberties with the reality of what is in front of the camera.  I try to portray what I saw and not necessarily what the camera with its limitations can capture.  Taking the image is merely the beginning in the creation of one of my photographs.  I distill how I felt during that moment and gradually work it into the image.