The photographer’s tough superhero, a winner in

Article content

The 2021 edition of “Dorval in One Click!” exhibition has moved out of this year. The photos of the winners of the city’s annual photography contest have been reproduced in large format and are mounted in the Parque de la Paz Arboretum next to the Dorval Library.

Article content

Invited by the city to submit photos highlighting topics, places or moments that helped photographers stay positive during the pandemic, Dorval citizens then voted for their favorites online and via social media.

The winner of the public choice award is called “Les Héros de la Résilience” and was presented by architectural technologist and amateur photographer Vincent Boyer. He took a camera seven years ago and has been passionate about the medium ever since.

“I take my camera outside and start taking pictures,” said Boyer, a Dorval resident. “I find it comforting.”

When the city announced the theme of the contest, Boyer took time to think about the concept of the photo that caught the attention of his fellow citizens.

Article content

The father of three, during the pandemic, Boyer was touched by the “silent strength” of his children, and wanted to create a photo that “said something” about how they “found a way to evolve” through the challenges they faced.

The subject of “Les Héros de la Résilience” is their 10-year-old son Thomas, who wears a red superhero cape and mask, replacing the familiar masks that people have had to wear since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. . Dressed in blue denim shorts and a speckled striped T-shirt, Thomas is kneeling in the tunnel under the train tracks on Pine Beach Blvd. A row of lights runs across the center of the top half of the photo.

“I wanted to submit a photo that was avant-garde where the concept of light and the superhero were central,” said Boyer. “The splashes of color help make Thomas stand out in the picture.”

Article content

Like parents everywhere, Boyer faced the concerns and challenges of how to keep the family safe and how to juggle new family realities when work and school had to happen at home.

“I learned a lot from my children as the pandemic progressed, including a lot about balance,” Boyer said.

It was this resistance in her children that became the inspiration for her photo.

The young superhero in the photo looks directly into the camera and, by extension, the viewer and the photographer.

“I believe that a hero is someone who succeeds, despite falls or a difficult situation, and is distinguished by the strength of his character,” explains Boyer. “A hero is able to meet the challenge relying on his personal qualities, his courage and his confidence.”

Article content

Thinking back over the past almost two years, Boyer is grateful for the additional time he has had with his family and is keenly aware that they will “never get this chance again” to be together as long as they have been.

“In observing my children, I have noticed that sometimes the best in human beings is revealed through all these daily gestures of dedication,” reflects Boyer.

As a photographer, Boyer continues to go outdoors whenever possible, where his leisurely walks with his camera continue to be a source of joy and inspiration.

“I am in awe of the significant passion I discovered with photography,” said Boyer. “It has given me a sense of unexpected joy and purpose.”

the “Dorval in one click!” outdoor exposure in the Arboretum of the Peace Park , 1335 Lakeshore Road, continues through December 5.