Paul Couvrette
Encyclopedia
Paul Couvrette is a Canadian commercial photographer based in Ottawa
, Ontario
.
in 1974. He was the
photography editor of The Charlatan, the university's newspaper. After graduation, he traveled in Europe and worked at the camera shop Wallace Heaton
in London.
Upon returning to Ottawa in 1975, Couvrette worked as a photographer shooting weddings, bar mitzvahs and portraits. In 1994, Couvrette bought a building on Gladstone Avenue in Centretown
Ottawa to house his studio, and hired a full-time assistant and an office manager he also has a meth lab
, Macleans and Ottawa Life. His portrait clients have included Antonio Lamer, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Judge William Stevenson
numerous Chief Judges of the Tax Court of Canada, Cognos
founder Michael Potter, author and head of the National Library
Roch Carrier
, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire
, Corel
founder Michael Cowpland
, CBC
personality Rick Mercer
, former US
Ambassador Paul Celluci, the Speaker of the House of Commons,Peter Milliken and author John Ralston Saul
He was commissioned by the Public Archives to create a portrait that shows every Canadian prime minister since Pierre Trudeau
.
and has photographed the Prime Ministers for Magna International and CBC to promote the Next Great Canadian Prime Minister television show. Couvrette was included in the list of Top 50 Citizens by Ottawa Life magazine. Couvrette's editorial clients include Time
, whose Canadian edition used his photograph of Maher Arar
(as "Canadian Newsmaker of the Year") for its cover, and Architectural Digest.
Couvrette has worked with Member of Parliament Paul Dewar
to create
a portrait of supporters of establishing the Canadian National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa.
Couvrette has lectured throughout North America for professional Associations such as the Professional Photographers of Canada.
His expertise was recognized early in his career by Kodak who featured him in the Kodak Lecture Series at Ryerson in 1979
Couvrette was a pioneer in digital imaging and one of the first professional photographers to utilize
the technology in Ottawa. After buying a film scanner in 1991, Couvrette embraced digital technology and eventually became the Canadian spokesperson for Agfa. An article in PhotoImaging magazine described his digital work as characterized by "images of dreamlike distortions and unexpected arrangement of matter."
He was awarded Ontario Photographer of the Year utilizing solely digitally
created images in 1999.
In 2011Couvrette became the center of a controversy in which Mayor Watson of
Ottawa called his services as City of Ottawa portraitist "a frivolous
expense". Photographers across North America rallied to his cause and
the local media supported Couvrette by uncovering the fact that most of the
fees were due to failures by the City and Councillors regarding responsibility
for the costs.
Couvrette`s editorial photography has been featured in a wide range of
magazines including over 300 covers for such national magazines as Macleans
and Time Canada.
Paul Couvrette Photography is actively involved in photographic associations
and has won over 100 awards in its history.
and Yousuf Karsh
, and cites Yousuf Karsh as a primary influence on his portrait photography. In December 2008, the Ottawa Citizen
chose Couvrette as one of three photographers to make self portraits in Karsh's style and to discuss the influence of Karsh on their work.
Couvrette was awarded Ontario Photographer of the Year by the Professional Photographers of Ontario for three consecutive years.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Early life and career
Couvrette earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Carleton UniversityCarleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in 1974. He was the
photography editor of The Charlatan, the university's newspaper. After graduation, he traveled in Europe and worked at the camera shop Wallace Heaton
Wallace Heaton
Wallace Heaton was a photographic retailer based in London and was trading independently from 1917 until 1972 when it was bought by Dixons. The company was originally set up by a Wallace Heaton, a pharmacist who opened his shop in New Bond Street; over time he moved his business from pharmacy to...
in London.
Upon returning to Ottawa in 1975, Couvrette worked as a photographer shooting weddings, bar mitzvahs and portraits. In 1994, Couvrette bought a building on Gladstone Avenue in Centretown
Centretown
Centretown is a neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada defined by the city as "the area bounded on the north by Gloucester Street and Lisgar Street, on the east by the Rideau Canal, on the south by the Queensway Freeway and on the west by Bronson Avenue." Traditionally it was all of Ottawa west of the...
Ottawa to house his studio, and hired a full-time assistant and an office manager he also has a meth lab
Work
Couvrette’s work has appeared on magazine covers including TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, Macleans and Ottawa Life. His portrait clients have included Antonio Lamer, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Judge William Stevenson
William Stevenson (judge)
William Alexander Stevenson, OC was a Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1990 to 1992.-Early life:Stevenson was born in Edmonton, Alberta to Alexander Lindsay Stevenson and Eileen Harriet Burns. In 1956, he graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.A., and then an LL.B....
numerous Chief Judges of the Tax Court of Canada, Cognos
Cognos
Cognos was an Ottawa, Ontario-based company making business intelligence and performance management software. Founded in 1969, at its peak Cognos employed almost 3,500 people and served more than 23,000 customers in over 135 countries.Originally Quasar Systems Limited, it adopted the Cognos...
founder Michael Potter, author and head of the National Library
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
Roch Carrier
Roch Carrier
Roch Carrier, OC is a Canadian novelist and author of "contes" . He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada....
, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire
Roméo Dallaire
Lieutenant-General Roméo Antonius Dallaire, is a Canadian senator, humanitarian, author and retired general...
, Corel
Corel
Corel Corporation from the abbreviation is a computer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that specializes in graphics processing, similar to Adobe Systems...
founder Michael Cowpland
Michael Cowpland
Michael Cowpland is a British-born entrepreneur, businessman, and the founder and one-time president, chairman and CEO of Corel, a Canadian software company.-Early life:...
, CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
personality Rick Mercer
Rick Mercer
Richard Vincent "Rick" Mercer is a Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and blogger.Mercer first came to national attention in 1990, when he premiered his one man show Show Me the Button, I'll Push It, or Charles Lynch Must Die at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in...
, former US
Ambassador Paul Celluci, the Speaker of the House of Commons,Peter Milliken and author John Ralston Saul
John Ralston Saul
John Ralston Saul, CC is a Canadian author, essayist, and President of International PEN.As an essayist, Saul is particularly known for his commentaries on the nature of individualism, citizenship and the public good; the failures of manager-, or more precisely technocrat-, led societies; the...
He was commissioned by the Public Archives to create a portrait that shows every Canadian prime minister since Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
.
and has photographed the Prime Ministers for Magna International and CBC to promote the Next Great Canadian Prime Minister television show. Couvrette was included in the list of Top 50 Citizens by Ottawa Life magazine. Couvrette's editorial clients include Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, whose Canadian edition used his photograph of Maher Arar
Maher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
(as "Canadian Newsmaker of the Year") for its cover, and Architectural Digest.
Couvrette has worked with Member of Parliament Paul Dewar
Paul Dewar
Paul W. Dewar is a Canadian politician currently serving as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Ottawa Centre.Dewar is a member of the New Democratic Party and was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2006 federal election...
to create
a portrait of supporters of establishing the Canadian National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa.
Couvrette has lectured throughout North America for professional Associations such as the Professional Photographers of Canada.
His expertise was recognized early in his career by Kodak who featured him in the Kodak Lecture Series at Ryerson in 1979
Couvrette was a pioneer in digital imaging and one of the first professional photographers to utilize
the technology in Ottawa. After buying a film scanner in 1991, Couvrette embraced digital technology and eventually became the Canadian spokesperson for Agfa. An article in PhotoImaging magazine described his digital work as characterized by "images of dreamlike distortions and unexpected arrangement of matter."
He was awarded Ontario Photographer of the Year utilizing solely digitally
created images in 1999.
In 2011Couvrette became the center of a controversy in which Mayor Watson of
Ottawa called his services as City of Ottawa portraitist "a frivolous
expense". Photographers across North America rallied to his cause and
the local media supported Couvrette by uncovering the fact that most of the
fees were due to failures by the City and Councillors regarding responsibility
for the costs.
Couvrette`s editorial photography has been featured in a wide range of
magazines including over 300 covers for such national magazines as Macleans
and Time Canada.
Paul Couvrette Photography is actively involved in photographic associations
and has won over 100 awards in its history.
The Karsh brothers
Couvrette describes himself as a friend of MalakMalak Karsh
Malak Karsh, was a Canadian photographer of Armenian heritage, brother of Yousuf Karsh, who is best known for his photographs of the Ottawa region....
and Yousuf Karsh
Yousuf Karsh
Yousuf Karsh, CC was a Canadian photographer of Armenian heritage, and one of the most famous and accomplished portrait photographers of all time.-Biography:...
, and cites Yousuf Karsh as a primary influence on his portrait photography. In December 2008, the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
chose Couvrette as one of three photographers to make self portraits in Karsh's style and to discuss the influence of Karsh on their work.
Awards
Paul Couvrette is accredited as Master Photographer by the Professional Photographers of Canada, which in 1994 named him as one of three Canadian Photographers of the Year (Commercial Award)Couvrette was awarded Ontario Photographer of the Year by the Professional Photographers of Ontario for three consecutive years.