David Leyes Came to Sarnia

By Shawna Lavoix

Every semester, the Lambton College Photography program has an “In the Photographer’s Studio” event. This year, the school broadened their audience to include the Sarnia Photographic Club and the students in area high schools who are taking a photography course.  With all these extra people who planned on coming, Lambton College took this event outside of the college’s photography studio, where it has been held for the last 5 years, to the Sarnia Lambton Library auditorium.

David Leyes (left) and Richard Beland (right) talking about David’s photo on the screen during the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario on February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix

David Leyes looking up at the crowd during the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the
Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia,
Ontario on February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix

Our guest speaker this semester was David Leyes who was being interviewed by Richard Beland, the coordinator of the Digital Photography program. This wasn’t David Leyes’ first time coming to the Inside the Photographer’s studio event, but it was an honour to have him back. He really gave the audience a good look into how he grew his business through networking and his personal belief that even though he didn’t go to school for photography it would have been a great benefit to his career.

David was energetic and entertaining with his funny behind-the-scenes stories. Both Richard and David kept the whole demonstration up beat with some friendly banter and kept it really informal. The two of them were friends in college and have kept in touch over the years, so the event was really light hearted. Emily Nutson, a graduate from the Digital Program, was excited to see David when saying

“It’s my second time seeing him and I still am hung on every word. He kept my interest and he was hilarious.”

David Leyes really seemed to inspire the audience. The crowd was asking very thought provoking questions to David. When one of the first year Digital photography student, Francesca Pasqualucci, was really amazed by the whole experience and declare

“That was cool! I learnt a lot!... If you’re going to start learning about anything, it’s best if you start learning about which questions to ask to get the most information.” 

David Leyes (left) and Richard Beland (right) discussing an image on the computer screen during the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario on February 20, 2018.

David Leyes looking out at the crowd when a participant was asking a question during the
“In the Photographer’s Studio”
event at the Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario on
February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix

This event was also special, specifically to the Digital Photography students, since some of the graduates from that program came that night to meet with David Leyes. It was great to watch students reconnect after they haven’t been able to see each other in so long. After the event, the graduates went with David to a restaurant to talk about their experiences with photography and catch up on good times. This event really brought the community together.

It was a very educational experience. The students from Lambton College and the photographers all around Sarnia really appreciated David Leyes for giving his time to talk about his photography.

David Leyes (left) is talking to a photographer while posing for a picture with Richard Beland (right)
 after the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the
Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario
 on February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix
 

Barenaked Ladies, Photo by David Leyes

Chris Hemsworth, Photo by David Leyes

Jim Treliving,  hoto by David Leyes

Tracy Spiridakos, Photo by David Leyes

Willem Dafoe, Photo by David Leyes