Hunt and Gather is a definitive photography monograph by Canadian artist Stephen Waddell, published by the esteemed Steidl press. Spanning over two decades of work, the book showcases Waddell’s unique ability to find the “monumental in the mundane.” His subjects—often individuals lost in thought or labor within the urban landscape—are captured surreptitiously, avoiding the performative nature of traditional portraiture. With a significant introduction by art historian Michael Fried, the volume examines Waddell’s transition from painting to photography and his role in the Vancouver School’s “post-conceptual” movement. The exquisite printing quality of this clothbound volume highlights the subtle textures and light that define Waddell’s painterly aesthetic.
