Photographer follows silver lining upwards

Christa Giula stands in the A113 Applied photography studio

Christa Giula stands in the A113 Applied photography studio


With chocolate brown hair, and eyes that light up like the same LED bulbs used in her photography series Portals, Christa Giula shines authenticity. It’s an attribute which is sure to get her far as things start to happen for the third year Bachelor of Photography student.

Last month her work, Portals, was featured at Toronto’s Spoke Club and New York’s Calumet Gallery. Her series, developed on the theme “escape,” was created last summer in her mentorship program with the Young Photographers Alliance. Giula and 72 other students were chosen from around the world to receive coaching from professional photographers and photo editors at YPA.

Giula at her New York Calumet Gallery Exhibition

Giula at her New York Calumet Gallery Exhibition

“Things are just kind of happening” Giula admits with a shrug. Photography was something she stumbled into. At an early age she remembers stealing her parents’ cameras, taking Polaroids to document everything.

It was as a hobby she explored and discovered the art. Only when friends encouraged her to make a career out of it, did the possibility of something more open up.

“Being around the same people all my life, people who have seen me grow and develop, is one of the reasons why I started. I never had people who doubted me.”

Giula was born and raised in Stoney Creek, Ont. Growing up she had a strong support group with her friends and family.

In her work, Portals, this positive encouragement materializes. Her photographs illustrate a window illuminated by light in the middle of nature. One of the pictures in the series was taken on the Hamilton beach strip, a location where she remembers holding photo shoots with her and her friends in high school.

The feeling of being trapped, whether it’s an abusive relationship, a mental illness or an unshakeable feeling of loneliness, is something Giula believes a large audience can identify with. In her artist statement, Giula talks about the need to escape being represented in that window of light.

But what makes the photographs magical is what happens in between the dark landscape and the bright windows. Look close enough and blurred silhouettes will appear. “It’s not about the destination, it’s what happens when life gets in between you and that place you’re going to. It’s about the journey,” muses Giula.

It is this positive attitude that made Dave Cox, a YPA mentor who worked closely with Giula, rave about her in a phone interview. He also praised her knowledge in photography, impressive organizational skills, focus, hard work ethic and technical ability to create what she was trying to achieve.

“Christa was always upbeat and optimistic, she never dwelled on negativity. When things would change, she always looked at it as a challenge.”

This perspective is what gives Guila an edge. “The way you react and the way you view it is everything. My grandma used to say, there are better days ahead, choose to be happy now and think on those things.”

Hope and promise. That is what the pictures speak about, and it’s what Giula’s future holds for her. To see Portals and more of Giula’s work follow her on her web site.