Unsung Heroes - Photo Essay for Broadview Magazine

With 2023 soon coming to an end, I’m taking a look back at some of my projects from the year. While I did not manage to work on a personal body of work, I was able to shoot quite a few editorial features for some amazing publications.

This series emerged out of a conversation I had with my wife, Devon. In the spring she mentioned National Administrative Professionals' Day in Canada, and suggested we pitch a story to Broadview Magazine. The idea was to bring to light local church administrators and the tireless work they do around the clock, year-round.  

After a successful pitch to Broadview Magazine, we were on our way working on our first joint story to be published in the Fall of 2023. Writing by Devon, photography by yours truly.

UPDATE:

I am excited to announce that this work has been nominated by the National Magazine Awards of Canada in the category of Portrait Photography for 2024. I am humbled and equally excited about the news and am thankful to the people who were part of this essay throughout the process.

Creative team:

Writing / Still Life Styling: Devon Amiga

Art Direction: Carol Moskot

Features Editor: Alanna Mitchell

Assisting: Brian de Rivera Simon, Aous Poules

Participants:

Val Waldron, Alison King, Stuart Le Fevre, Connie Wardle

This project involved quite a bit of research and a good amount of correspondence with local churches. Once we secured our subjects, it was important to us to get to know them before the shoots, and do multiple site visits.

While planning these shoots, I kept one keyword in mind that aligned with the creative direction I was hoping to go in - theatrical. I wanted these environmental portraits to make the church administrators look heroic, graceful, and I won’t lie, a little bit mysterious. Due to the nature of their work, the majority of their administrative efforts are done “behind the scenes”, and that’s the feeling I wanted to convey in the final images.

Here are some favorites that didn’t make the final cut.

In addition to writing, Devon also created incredible still life scenes for found objects inside the churches we worked with.

Hit me up in the comments with your questions and thoughts – I’d love to hear from you and if you feel extra chatty – let me know who your Unsung Hero is!

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more published work from 2023. I’m excited for the new year and what it has in store for me. Hoping to meet some new people and work on exciting and impactful projects.

Happy New Year!

For editorial assignments/image licensing, please reach out at shlomi@shlomiamiga.com.