Every year, techlifetoday photographers Blaise van Malsen and Leigh Kovesy (Photographic Technology ’01) shoot thousands of images that tell the stories of the NAIT experience and show the impact of our students, alumni and staff in the community. We asked them to share a selection of their favourites to celebrate another remarkable year.
This Ironworker apprentice climbed the three storeys up this training tower not once but twice – freehand – so I could get pictures from different angles. It’s always so much fun photographing the ironworkers. (And not to worry – it might not look it, but he's safely secured by a cable and harness!) – Leigh Kovesy
Levi Biddlecombe (Culinary Arts ’11), chef and owner of Why Not Café and Bar, was a very accommodating subject. I enjoyed the shoot so much, my wife and I had dinner at Levi’s restaurant that same night. – Blaise van Malsen
Camille Louis, Aboriginal liaison specialist from NAIT’s Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre, sets up for a blanket exercise for Aboriginal Cultural Day. This event can be very emotional for people, so I was asked not to photograph the actual exercise. I think this image captures it without actually photographing the group. – Blaise van Malsen
Every year, NAIT International hosts Global Village where students from around the world proudly showcase their heritage. This year, the Bhangra dancers from India invited everyone to join them for a final dance. It was a colourful event to photograph! – Blaise van Malsen
I love the expression of pure joy on this Biological Sciences Technology student's face. She laughed the entire time she was driving the boat and I couldn’t help laughing too. The simple pleasures in life are so important! – Leigh Kovesy
Christine Sanford (Culinary Arts ’07), head chef of Biera, was a real pleasure to photograph. I had a hard time choosing my favourite from the series, but I settled on this one because I liked how the sunlight peeked through the window. – Leigh Kovesy
A beauty shot of NAIT’s newest building, the Productivity and Innovation Centre. Sometimes coming to work early really pays off. – Blaise van Malsen
This was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph Plumber apprentices in this particular lab. I love the lighting and colour in this shot. Everyone’s torches really heated up the room! – Leigh Kovesy
Convocation is a special time of year with a lot of heartwarming moments. This young girl was so proud of her mom it gave me a huge smile watching them celebrate with a hug. Being a mother myself, I can appreciate how hard it must have been to be a full-time student and mother. – Leigh Kovesy
I photographed Peter Burgess of the charity Freezing Father during a chilly nighttime shoot in January. The NAIT Baking Club helped out with the event, which raised money for the Stollery Children's Hospital. – Blaise van Malsen
I took this at the tipi raising ceremony during Aboriginal Culture Day this past September. These are the hands of Stewart Cook (Machinist '87), dean of the School of Applied Sciences and Technology. The juxtaposition of coarse rope against his finely tailored suit makes this image. – Blaise van Malsen
I had an opportunity to photograph an amazing group of Biological Sciences Technology students and instructors over several months as they prepared for an international biodiversity competition. Their project focused on improving housing for endangered species of bats. I took this image after their presentation to the awards committee. – Leigh Kovesy
I got to photograph Rosie Colangelo, student programs assistant, and Tim Ira, student programs coordinator, at NAIT's first-ever Ravercise, a glow-in-the-dark fitness class to support student and staff mental health and wellness. How could this image not be fun? – Blaise van Malsen
Enoch Cree Nation Chief Billy Morin (Civil Engineering Technology ’11, Bachelor of Technology in Technology Management ’13) was the subject for the cover of the spring techlife magzine, and he brought in this beautifully handcrafted headdress, which was a gift from his grandfather. It was an honour photographing him in it. – Leigh Kovesy