Tribute to an Icon: Tom Hanson

Image © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ottawa Sun-Tony Caldwell

Tom Hanson began his career freelancing for the Canadian Press in 1989. By 1992 Hanson earned the position of full-time staff photographer with CP. Born in Rochester, New York in 1967, Hanson's family would later relocate to Montreal where he studied at Vanier College, before moving onto Concordia University.

To call Tom Hanson the epitome of Canadian photojournalism may be an understatement. To some he is viewed as one of the greatest photojournalists to grace the world with his presence. Graeme Roy, director of news photography for the Canadian Press, claimed "Not everybody has that gift, has that eye to make something magical out of what a bystander might see as a pretty routine-looking situation." Hanson's attention to detail, and miraculous ability to capture the essence of the moment was certainly a driving force in his rise to be one of the greatest Photojournalists of our time.

In an abrupt, unfortunate turn of events, Hanson passed away March 10th, 2009. While playing hockey with coworkers in the media industry, Hanson suddenly collapsed around 10:00 p.m. after taking a shot on net. In an address to the House of Commons the following day, Stephen Harper stated "Tom was a talented photojournalist who distinguished himself both by the quality of his work and his character...Through his photos, Tom helped to chronicle our story as Canadians."

I chose to include Tom Hanson in my blog not only because of his legendary status in the photojournalism community, but also as a tribute and method of paying respect to the man and his legacy.

Hanson helps children open bags containing soap bubble toy kits, at an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Jan. 18, 2009
Image © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexander Panetta

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Untitled. "A rocker sits down on a street in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday Jan 20, 2005" Image © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson

Effectively employing a shallow depth of field with his shift focus lens, Hanson draws the eye of the viewer directly to his primary point of attention in the photo. A young adult rests upon a street-side bench, amid the blurred hustle and bustle of this busy Japanese street. The man, dressed completely in black, sports a heavy leather coat with metal studs and buttons - a classic symbol of rock and roll culture. The notorious reputation of a photograph to be worth a thousand words is evident in this gripping, story telling image. The blurred figures in the background symbolize the rocker's disposition toward the busy atmosphere. His neutral expression, combined with his undisturbed gaze, suggest a pensive state of mind. Perhaps our artist is combing through the structure of his latest hit song, or contemplating the apparent meaning of his next lyrical masterpiece. Resting by his side sits an idle bicycle, free from the shackles which are so prevalent in North American society. The evidence presented begs the viewer to question the two-wheeler's status; does it belong to the rocker, or a citizen confident in its unchained presence? This subtlety lends further evidence of Hanson's sensational ability to whisper words of wisdom and insight into the world expressed through his photographs.