About Annie Tong
I have always been intrigued by the beauty of the ordinary, and have always looked to the ordinary, everyday life for my inspiration.
I understand more than ever that my photography is now and always has been about people, even when no one is there.
My portfolio has evolved into mostly portrait photography these days. Truth be told, I think it is because I am more interested in the photo shoot than the photograph. I am more interested in engaging with the subject than creating the artwork. If the photograph turns out to be special, I am more than happy to relinquish all credit.
Photography has opened many doors for me. I’ve always believed that, once inside, the least I can do is give it my best shot.
This image is from a photo shoot in a small Bangladesh neighbourhood. It was taken in February of 2020, in the weeks before the pandemic arrived and changed what everyday life felt like for all of us.
I invite you to read my post that talks about what it’s like to be photographing in Bangladesh during the pandemic.
I have always been intrigued by the beauty of the ordinary, and always looked to reveal this in my photography.
In recent years I’ve explored different themes within documentary-style portraiture. Until recently I had a full-time gig as the photographer for Sinai Health in Toronto Canada, spending most of my time behind the camera photographing essential workers throughout a network of health care facilities.
I’ve always been intrigued by the beauty of the ordinary, and have always looked to ‘the everyday of life’ for my inspiration. Whether as a traveler seeking to understand a day in the life of others, or in my role as a health care photographer seeking to reveal the ordinary elements of otherwise extraordinary circumstances of life, my photography strives to be both uneventful and familiar, celebrating the beauty of everyday life.
— Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival —
One year. 365 photographs. Sinai Health honours its essential workers at the CONTACT Photography Festival.
Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is one of the largest photography festivals in the world, celebrating contemporary photography in a month long festival in Toronto, Canada. The Festival’s core exhibitions are comprised of collaborations with major museums, leading galleries, and artist-run centres as well as site-specific public art projects.
This photo series of 365 photographs began as an Instagram project and evolved to month long exhibition in CONTACT Photography Festival representing Sinai Health. I am proud of every photograph, and thrilled that my work has been given a platform to honour the doctors, nurses, administration staff, caretakers, social workers and support staff of this important organization.
— Spectra 2019, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto Canada —
A Gallery 44 Members Exhibition at Artscape Youngplace, featuring the ‘Me’ series of street portraits from India.
Three of my favourite street portraits were displayed at the Spectra Photography Exhibition from May 20 to June 1 at Artscape Youngplace. The portraits were taken in 2014 while travelling India, and were my first exhibition dedicated solely to street portraiture. The portraits are all titled “Me”, and I have written a post that talks about how the decision on this title was also the sewing of the idea for The Everyday of Life photography project.
When you look hard enough at where you are in life it can appear as though a road lead directly here. (But this is very doubtful.)
I would even go so far as to say that the most important things that have shaped the way I see and live in the world, don’t even appear on the map. They have often been hidden within an unexpected turn of events, and often times seeming insignificant. The best I can do for you to round off this bio page it tell you about four simple things that have felt important, and that I think of fondly.
Gallery 44 . I have been an active member of Gallery 44 for the past several years and enjoy the community of photographers who continue to challenge and support one another. G44 is the quintessential artist run centre.
Photographer at Sinai Health. I was the photographer at Sinai Health from 2010 to 2019 and could never have imagined that a ‘full-time job’ could be so rewarding and would connect me to so many wonderful, caring people.
Sheridan College. Attending Sheridan College in the late 80’s was an important first step in my committing to photography as a profession. (Hello dear friends and classmates. I still have many photos from our time together.)
Assistant to Yuri Dojc. I don’t know how I ended up being Yuri’s assistant from 1991 to 1994, but working with this brilliant photographer has had a lasting impact on my career, not to mention a lasting friendship to this day.