Roman Buchhofer: inspired by the beauty of Cape Breton Island
-by John Gillis

“I am an avid hiker, surfer and traveller. Facing the elements makes me feel alive, and being able to capture the stunning moments in photography that I often encounter gives me great joy,” Buchhofer told The Oran this week.

Buchhofer first picked up a camera in 2010, and he hasn’t been able to put it down since.

“When I was a teenager my family and I moved from Germany to Canada. Out of all possible places we ended up in Margaree. Although I only spent a few years of my childhood in Margaree, the area had a very strong effect on my life. The beauty of this place struck me deeply, and I started to grow more and more appreciative of nature,” Buchhofer said.

In the beginning he read a few books to understand the fundamentals and looked at the work of other photographers.

“I learned the most through constant practice. The great thing about digital photography is that taking risks is not associated with the expense of getting each roll of film developed. I think that it is easier now to develop an eye because of that,” said Buchhofer.

Buchhofer said he started with landscapes, and then long exposure photography became one of his favourite ways to create images that are “timeless and alive.”

“Most of my images are as I photograph them. I do not alter or edit them very much,” he added.

He enjoys using a tripod and using slower shutter speeds without blurring the image to create painterly effects.

“My grandfather was a photographer and a painter, so I’m not sure if that had an impact on me or not. I find photographing around sunset and sunrise with a tripod often yields the best results as the light creates the nicest colours, not just in the skies, but everywhere else,” Buchhofer added.

He says photographing people has become very gratifying as well.

“I have a lot of fun photographing weddings, especially with the amazing backgrounds we have in this area. I usually start early in the morning, from the time the bride gets her hair done and everyone gets dressed to around midnight when everyone is enjoying themselves on the dance floor. After selecting the best photos and editing them, I provide the couple with a DVD of all the photos of their special day,” he added.

Buchhofer now lives in Cheticamp where he has an Acupuncture and Massage Therapy Clinic. His landscape work can be found in various gift shops and art galleries in Cape Breton. He also says he is available to photograph weddings across Nova Scotia year-round.

Roman says he also hopes to place some of his prints in some Halifax galleries soon.

“It’s a bit of a sore point with me, but I’ve never seen much of the Cape Breton landscape portrayed in the Halifax galleries, and I’ve spent a lot of time there. I’d like to do something about that. This area is too beautiful to not be portrayed. There’s more to Nova Scotia than Peggy’s Cove,” he explained.

Buchhofer also says he’s looking forward to an upcoming trip to New Zealand. He also hopes to continue to fund his photography through his wedding assignments.

“It’s an expensive hobby, but I’d like to continue to work on my skills and do some training in altering and editing photos and buy some new lenses,” he said.

Roman has several enlarged photographs at his clinic that are for sale. If you are interested in seeing his work or would like to book him for a wedding you contact Roman at (902) 224- 5255. He also invites people to browse his website for a full portfolio of his work – www.romanbuchhofer.com.