James Rae

I have been photographing since first picking up a camera. It has been a passion, a way to find myself and connect with the world. Also an actor by profession, I must admit to looking for the subtext driving the drama of everyday moments, embodying momentary insight, moments in sight.

James Rae, a dedicated street and landscape photographer, uses both analogue and digital, creating truly emotive artworks. Rae’s art captures the narrative power of simple instants, revealing the beauty, irony and critical perspectives of our fleeting engagement with the world. He has exhibited and published his photographs both in Canada and internationally.

Born in Canada in 1953, James Rae completed a BA in Communication Arts and Theatre at Loyola in Montreal, then an MFA in Photography at Concordia in 1979. He has travelled widely, through Canada, the US, Europe, including extended periods in Paris and Berlin, India, Mexico and South America. As an actor, James has over 70 professional credits in film and television. About his overlapping pursuits he says, ‘I gravitate to the narrative component of a moment, the subtext beneath the surface, and of course to its theatricality.’ More of James Rae’s work can be seen at jamesraephotographer.com.