News and Reviews
Focus and Frames: Dale M Reid’s Photographic Tapestry
"In the realm of contemporary fine art photography, one name resonates with creativity and bold expression -- Dale M Reid."
Recently honored at the C2A Awards, Dale shares insights into her artistic journey, triumphs, and the unique project that earned her accolades.
To view C2A winners book follow this link.
To read the interview follow this link.
Pride 2023
Please click the Diversity – Stronger Together link to read my thoughts about diversity and inclusion which were written for the 2023 Toronto Pride festival.
Mushroom Inspired Fashion by Dale M Reid
Breaking News – Paris, France, January 24, 2023
Mushroom Inspired Fashion Hit the Haute Couture Runway
My creative vision uses the mushroom's bizarre and varied shape, alien textures, and intricate detail combined with composition and lighting to present crisp images with a dose of abstraction. The abstraction makes unique images allowing the viewer to personalize the image based on their imagination and life experiences.
You my ask, "What is the connection between my handcrafted silver gelatin mushroom prints and fashion?"
First, I envisage the mushroom images wearing a gown, a cocktail dress, or a cape. A recent Karl Lagerfeld video sketching his fashion designs confirmed my vision.
If your vision is different, not to worry, the image is now personal.
For fashion designers, if any of the images resonate with you, let us discuss a collaboration.
Secondly, the fashion industry is investigating ways to producing more sustainable fashion. One example is swapping leather with mushrooms.
For more information of mushrooms in the fashion industry, here are links to two articles:
- A Fungal Biologist Explains Why Mushrooms Are Everywhere in Fashion Now by Sarah Braner
- You Aren't Tripping: Fungi Are Taking Over Fashion by Emily Farra
Presentation Order of Models
- Oyster Mushroom 53
- Oyster Mushroom 43
- Oyster Mushroom 42
- Oyster Mushroom 34
- Oyster Mushroom 40
What People Are Saying...
"With her extraordinary eye, Dale sees what most of us can't. She articulates her vision with such clarity, with such brilliance, the images are just stunning, and it's remarkable. I've known Dale for about 15 years, and she never refuses to show me any more such incredible images, it's mind-boggling. How she sees the angles of a mushroom or a flower, and shoots what she saw, then develops it in a darkroom (the old-fashioned way) none of this digital nonsense, and the results are awesome. That's why she's got shows in Canada, her home country, but also in Portugal, Spain, Miami, New York, and who knows where else? The most amazing thing about her photos is that they look like nothing else you've ever seen, because her work is unique on this planet."
~ Lee B. USA
"Probably wouldn't remember me from the Javits Center, but I will never forget you. You are so lovely and your talent, well there are just not enough words to express. I was so taken by your pears as my husband said your favorite fruit. After inquiring how you came up with the concept, I was even more in awe. Not to mention the roses, well..."
~ IGH, New York
"Dale Reid is a beautiful photographer. I love the way that she is able to dodge light in the darkroom to obtain the purity of the white seen in the cloud of fog floating over the hidden trails. The white tulips on a black background are not only classic they are breathtaking The 2 hugging pairs depict a warm embrace. The light captured upon the boats glimmered in the mist.
Dale is a true Photographer. One that is able to see the beauty that appears in the chemical bath as they wash into focus. The depth that Dale is able to capture is reminiscent of Ansel Adams. Thank you for sharing your gift with me."
~ Artfully Yours, Melissa Ayr
"I am finding your images unforgettable. They have stayed in my consciousness with their beauty, their playfulness, the elegance of your vision."
~ Maida, New York
"I was stunned when I passed your booth at The One of a Kind Show. Stunned by the beauty I saw. You take a simple pear and turn it into something that is truly beautiful. I was captivated and each piece told a story. The poise of each object gave it a character, and attitude and a personality. The object of your vision took on life and with such gave the viewer a story. I was not only inspired to pick up my old 33 mm Canon camera and to get back out there and starting taking pictures of what I saw as beautiful, but to share a piece of me. A picture can move mountains, yours move the world! "
~ Patricia. Oakville, Ontario
"Back in the 1900's I used to attend the One of a Kind Show in Toronto when my daughter was at U of T. It was always a highlight of my trip. I need to tell you that your display that I saw today in Vancouver has remained in my mind. There were two booths that particularly excited me. Yours was one and the other was a fibre art display. It was hard to move on from your display. Some of the images are still with me and I am enjoying looking at your website. What a gift you have. My father was a woodcarver and musician and he encouraged me. I have tried to do the same with my now grownup children. I encourage you Dale and look forward to seeing some more of your work next year."
~ Silv, Yarrow, B.C. (in the Fraser Valley)
"It was great seeing your work. Of all the pictures we saw, yours was the most inspiring both from a composition and technical point-of-view. I wish you much success."
~ M.D.
"A pleasure to have the honour of your comments. As an artist you have a vision and passion. My favourite is Liberty Street - View 1 - the lighting you have captured is outstanding."
~ D.W.
"As host of Muse 08 Carnivale, our 9th annual silent art auction in support of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, New Leaders of Sunnybrook Foundation owes a great debt of gratitude to community-minded individuals like you for making it possible to leave an impact on healthcare excellence. Your invaluable contribution of your artwork has helped us to make an investment that will improve the quality of life we enjoy in Toronto."
~ Angela Graham. Muse '08 Cabinet. New Leaders of Sunnybrook FoundationLetter of support and thanks. click here. ( *.pdf format )
The 'Colorful' Palette of Monochromatic Images: Dale Reid
by Prerna SM Jain. Art Dealer St.
May 2021
"I think that my mind has become much more open. I was a trained accountant, and you wonder that can a trained accountant become really creative."
~ Dale Reid
In 1826 when Niépce's heliographs first came to being, little did one foresee the future of still films that photography is today. The subsequent invention of the daguerreotype to modern photography has been nothing short of a miracle. With it, the monochromatic image has made its journey from its inception to the present date, evolving and transforming its visages to freeze our ephemeral moments. Photography, with its multifarious accents, continues to capture moments, along with our hearts.
To read the full article follow this link.
Buzz Magazine
February 2017
Contemporary fine art photographer Dale M Reid has gone through many transitions in life; from leaving the corporate world and entering the art world, to the discovery of inter-femininity and a new outlook on life.
"Last year was truly incredible with exhibitions in Toronto, New York. Los Angeles, Berlin and Chicago." Click here for article
Monochrome Photography Awards 2017
International Black & White Photography Contest
Dale M Reid Of Canada Was Awarded Honorable Mention In The Monochrome Awards 2017 Competition
London, UK 14 January 2018 – Photographer Dale M Reid of Canada was Awarded Honorable Mention in Fine Art for the winning entry Elegance Calla Lys Noir 2 at prestigious Monochrome Awards honouring Black & White Photography. The 2017 Monochrome Awards received 8942 submissions from 87 countries around the world.
Press Release - click here | Award Certificate - click here | w - Monoawards.com
12th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honors
Photographer Dale M Reid from Canada
Los Angeles November 14, 2017 – Professional photographer Dale M Reid of Canada was presented with the 12th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honorable Mention in the category Still Life at a prestigious Nomination & Winners Photo Show streamed Saturday October 14, 2017.
The live online gala was attended by over 11,000 photography fans around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the industry's most important event for black and white photography. 12th Annual Jury members included captins of the industry from The Armory Show, New York; Christie's, London; McCann, Singapore; GQ, New York; Hot Docs Film Festival, Toronto; Y&R, Malaysia; Sharon Calahan, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville; Bloomsbury Auctions, London; and Donald Schneider Studios, Berlin who honored Spider Fellows with 672 coveted title awards and 1034 nominees in 31 categories.
"Spider Awards 2017 proves once again to be a great challenge for the jury to select the best images of the year. Evry year this photographic competition increases its quality of content, reputation and prestige" said juror Angrea de Polo, Cultural Heritage Consultant at Fratelli Alinari Photo Archive in Florence. Curator and Arts Writer Paola Anselmi added "Congratulations to all the winners. A great deal of humanity and soul in this year's selection, maybe it is a sign of the times a promise for future awards and photography in general" "A truly amazing set of entries, so many deserving winners," added Marcel Wijnen, Creative Director at Anthem Worldwide.
"It's an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 8,121 entries we received this year" said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. Dale M Reid's "Oyster Mushroom 37", an exceptional image entered in the Still Life category represents black and white photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present her with the title of Honorable Mention."
BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.
Fine Art Photography Awards nominates Dale M Reid in 3rd edition of Fine Art Photograhy Awards
London, UK
April 16, 2017
In 2017 Fine Art Photography Awards received 6335 submissions from 89 countries around the world. Winners were selected by highly acclaimed panel of international judges, including: Tim Franco, Nadia Dias, Liza Van der Stock, Matilde Gattoni, Amélie Labourdette, Valery Klamm and Pierre Abensur.
About Winner:
Photographer Dale M Reid uses dark room techniques to imbue her botanical subjects with unimaginable personality and emotion. Reid's studies utilize different elements to produce sensual and whimsical portraits in high contrast with a keen eye for texture, form, and framing. Elegant white or black backgrounds highlight her subjects, allowing them to monopolize the photographs, filling the space with their unique voices and stories.
Once having to juggle her photography and finance careers, Reid was able to shape her distinct artistic voice, inspired partially by her life partner's diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, and her own experiences as a transgender woman.
press release - click here
nomination certificate - click here
11th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honors
Photographer Dale M Reid from Canada
5 November 2016
Los Angeles November 5, 2016 – Professional photographer Dale M Reid of Canada was presented with the Annual Black and White Spider Awards Nominee title in Fine art and Still Life at a prestigious Nomination & Winners Photo Show webcast Saturday, November 5, 2016.
The live online gala was attended by over 10,500 photography fans around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the industry's most important event for5 black and white photography.
11th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from National Geographic, Washington, DC; The Armory Show, New York; TBWA, Paris; Victoria Film Festival, Canada; Aeroplastics Contemporary. Brussels; Studio Hansa, London; Fratelli Alinai, Florence; Australian Centre for Photography; Young & Rubicam, Lima; and Anthem worldwide/Marque Branding, Sydney who honored Spider Fellows with 627 converted awards and 951 nominees in 31 categories.
"It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 7,556 entries we received this year," said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "Morning Reflections in the Fine Art category; and Can I Join In and Oyster Mushroom 27 in the Still Life category, represents black and white photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present her with the title of Nominee." Jury member Paola Anselmi, interdisciplinary curator and arts writer in Australia added, "As always it was a real treat to be part of the program. Congratulations to all involved and to all the remarkable photographers who gift us new insights into the world and ourselves." "A truly amazing set of entries, so many deserving winners," added Marcel Wijnen, Creative Director at Anthem Worldwide.
BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.
10th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honors
Photographer Dale M Reid from Canada
21 November 2015
Los Angeles November 21, 2015 – Professional photographer Dale M Reid of Canada was presented with the 10th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Nominee title in the category of Still Life at a prestigious Nomination & Winners Photo Show webcast Saturday November 21, 2015.
The live online gala was attended by over 10,000 photography fans around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the industry's most important event for black and white photography.
10th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from Bonhams, Random House, Aeroplastics Contemporary, Stockholm City Museum, Annenberg Foundation, Leo Burnett, FTM Art Advisory and Fratelli Alinari who honored Spider Fellows with 505 coveted title awards and 943 nominees in 31 categories.
"It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 7,686 entries we received this year," said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "Dale M Reid's five photographs, were exceptional images entered in the Still Life category, represent black and white photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present her with the title of Nominee." Jury member Diane Ruggie from Velocebella agency added, "The gallery of winners and runners up has true stopping power."
BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.
Trans Canadian Photographer Part Of Unique Chicago Event
Ross Forman, Windy City Times
3 December 2014
"Initially, the focus of Dale M. Reid's photography was related to landscapes (maritime, urban and seascapes), along with floral studies and still life. During the past four or five years, her subject material has switched to floral studies and still life shot in the studio.
In the still-life category, her recent series is the "Oyster Mushroom.
Due to the shapes and textures of the oyster mushroom, these images are more abstract and interpretative, she said. "I also shoot pears and the feel of those images tend to be whimsical, such as 'pears dancing in the rain,'" and more.
Reid, a transwoman who lives in Toronto, will bring her work to the Windy City for the 14th annual One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago, set for Dec. 4-7 at the Merchandise Mart. Reid joins more than 600 artists from across North America to showcase their imaginative, handmade creations."
To read the entire article - windycitymediagroup.com
9th Annual Black Spider Awards Nominations
18 October 2014
"It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 8,508 entries from 73 countries that we received this year. Your six exceptional images entered in the Still Life, Professional category, represent black and white photography at its finest and we are pleased to present you with the title of Nominee."
~ Basil O'Brien
Creative Director
Black & White Spider Awards
Click here to view the winners and nominees in the Still Life, Professional category.
The awards international Jury included captains of the industry from The Royal Photographic Society, FoMu Fotomuseum, Aeroplastics Contemporary, Torch Gallery, Stockholm City Museum to Fratelli Alinari in Florence who honored Spider Fellows with 298 coveted titles awards and 957 nominees in 14 categories.
You can view the 9th Annual Winners Gallery at thespiderawards.com.
Black & White Spider Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.
Reviewed in arte fotografico (Spain)
January 2014
Late last year, I was invited to have ten images from my mushroom series featured in the Spanish magazine 'arte fotografico' along with thirteen other international photographers. This edition of the magazine features still life images. This is a true honor and represents another significant development in my photography career.
» » Click here to download the exerpt from arte fotografico.
8th Annual Black Spider Awards Nominations
19 October 2013
I am pleased to announce that at the 8th Annual Black & White Spider Awards ceremony held October 19, 2013, I was honored with six nominations -- the most in the Still Life, Professional category. From the 9,456 entries received from 75 countries, my work received a high percentage of the overall votes, marking the third time that I have been recognized at this prestigious event. Click here to view the award.
Black & White Spider Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography. The Awards Jury represents the industry's biggest names and tastemakers, from TATE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, FRATELLI ALINARI, THE ART NEWSPAPER, CHEIM & READ of New York and more, who reviewed the entries online before making the nomination shortlist and honoring 246 title awards and 938 nominees in 14 categories. Images are judged on the basis of artistic merit, originality, subject and style. Click here to visit their website.
Preview: Food Art at Next Week's Affordable Art Fair in NYC
28 March 2013
Food has inspired artists for centuries. And lately, as food as become a hot topic on TV and in pop culture in general, it also seems to be more prevalent in the art world. So it should come as no surprise to find plenty of gastronomically inclined pieces on offer at next week's Affordable Art Fair. From photographs of mushrooms resembling tangled clumps of human bodies to colorful triptychs of ingredient pairings, the fair features art that will help you replace that college-era poster still hanging on your kitchen wall. Read more click here.
Snap, crackle, pop: Article by Serafin LaRiviere published in Extra
26 July 2012
Serafin writes: "Sometimes it seems that anyone can call themselves a photographer these days, armed with digital cameras, high resolution printers and some basic Photoshop ability. But skills like composition, lighting and perspective can't be replicated by computer software and still serve to set the trained artist aside from the dabbling hobbyist." Read more click here.
One of Top 10 Exhibits
May 2011
For the 2011 Contact Photography Festival, my exhibition 'Minus Color' was recognized by the Festival Director, Darcy Killeen, as one of the Top 10 Exhibits. Darcy's Top 10 are:
- Suzy Lake: Political Poetics (at UTAC)
- Robert Bourdeau: The Station Point (at Stephen Bulger Gallery)
- Dynamic Landscape (at MOCCA)
- Louie Palu: The Fighting Season (Kinsman Robinson Galleries)
- Alain Paiement: over here over there (at Brookfield Place)
- Geoffrey Pugen: Long Divisions (Angell Gallery)
- Lynn Cohen: Untitled Work (Olga Korper)
- Dale M. Reid: Minus Color (at Delight Chocolate)
- Kirsten White: I Will Follow (at MADE)
- Javier Lovera: Trompo (at Arepa Cafe)
24 January 2010
I am pleased to announce that at the 5th Annual Black & White Spider Awards, I was honored as a nominee for the category Still Life | Professional for my Pear Affair #2 image. This was a first time submission. While the image did not make it to the winners section, but to see my work included amongst top international photographers is one of the highlights of my photography career. To view the Still Life \ Professional nominees please click here.
Click here to see the Black & White Spider Award certificate.
Black & White Spider Awards is the leading international award honouring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.
Thousands of images are submitted each year with only a few hundred images making it to the Nominee status by consensus of the Jury. The Nominee shortlist consist of images that have received the highest percentage of votes overall and is the shortlist from which the winners are decided. The nominated photographers were selected by a who's who Jury Panel from the international photography community, including Tate Gallery (London), Sotheby's (London), Magnum Photos, The Amory Show, Hamiltons (London), Galerie Baudoin Lebon (Paris), Photo Life Magazine, Fratelli Alinari Photography Museum (Florence), and Sandra Byron Gallery (Sydney).
You can view the 5th Annual Winners Gallery at thespiderawards.com.
examiner.com
5 December 2009
"... returning artist Dale M. Reid spoke about her distinctive black and white photography in an artist demonstration at the Studio... These animated and dynamic compositions of pears, flowers and captured moments in the urban and natural landscape defy the restraints of tone to embrace a full range of values." Downloadable *.pdf click here.
14 October 2009
CBC National News story 'A Tale of Three Lives'. I was featured along with two other women that left the corporate world to pursue their passion.
The Toronto Star
29 March 2008
Spring 2008 One of a Kind Show & Sale click here. ( *.pdf format )
