Gun Roze

This portrait of me was taken in 1993 for a series that featured people that choose to be bald.

I rephotographed the metal based original seven years later while living in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York. The location image was taken by myself from the rooftop of that walkup apartment. I decided the two images worked very powerfully together, personally representing where I had just come from, to where I had arrived. At the time I was managing a reputable pro photo lab on Bond St and being paid very well. I created this fused image in my private colour darkroom. I intensely felt like I was on “Top of the World” as I was living the social high life throughout NYC. This image now represents to me both my ego at the time and my sense of humour. All of this would come to a sudden stop when 9/11 happened.

Gun Roze is a Toronto born Fine Art Photographer. His fascination with photography began with his first gifted camera at the age of 8. Though he studied photography related courses, his most valuable knowledge was gained as a Master Analog Darkroom Printer for professional photographers during his devoted 35 year career. The demands for his expertise as a personal colour printer opened up work opportunities in Vancouver, San Francisco and New York City. Throughout this period Gun continued with his own photography and creative projects.

For his personal work, 2012 was a defining year for him. While living and working in NYC, he rediscovered 28 rolls of 35mm colour negatives in his archives. The film was shot mainly on the streets of Manhattan in 1982. This series showcases his first exploration into street photography and is titled “MANHATTAN 1982”. In 2013, three of the images were included in a prestigious NYC gallery group show focused on NYC life in the 80s. Two years later, 21 of these images were exhibited for his premiere solo show in Toronto at Akasha Art Projects.

The enthusiasm surrounding this discovery inspired Gun to return to street photography in NYC, though from a resident’s perspective. His daily practice is reliant on the easy access of his ever present point-and-shoot compact digital camera. With this dedicated method he has gained a solid following and reputation for his unique captures. Since returning to Toronto in 2015, Gun has continued with his daily approach to street-based photography and its detailed representation of his hometown’s various neighborhoods. To view a body of Gun’s work, please visit his website- www.shot-by-gun.com

Gun has recently self-published a quality hardcover photo book titled MANHATTAN 1982. A signed copy for $100 CDN (+shipping) can be ordered by directly emailing him gunroze@gmail.com