For more than 20 years, PhotoSensitive has been capturing powerful images to achieve social goals. On an afternoon in 1990, former Toronto Star photographer Andrew Stawicki dropped in on his friend, Peter Robertson, to let off some steam, and together they concocted a plan to change the world, one photograph at a time.
They believed an excellent photograph has the potential to effect change, to make a difference, to expand a viewer's field of vision. And they wanted Canadian photographers to have an opportunity to take the time, to get to know their subjects, to reveal stories, together, in a way that might make the world a better place.
Within a week, Andrew had recruited a diverse group of professional photographers, and PhotoSensitive was founded.
The idea was to bring together the talent of the group and harness the power of the camera to achieve social goals, and spur people into action. That desire has been achieved many times over in PhotoSensitive's journey, with the help of every contributing photographer and many people and organizations who believe in the work. By working exclusively in black and white, the photographers have created images that allow viewers to concentrate on the image rather than be distracted by colour. Each photographer brings his or her vision to a subject; the sum of these visions is what provides a compelling social comment.
Drawn by the power of the story and the need to share that story, the photographers capture images that have touched many. It is through the collective that one is able to see beyond the headline and examine the reality that lies beneath the surface.
