Barry Johnson's Biography
Métis Photographer | Social Documentary Artist | Vancouver-Based Documentarian
I’m Barry Johnson, a proud Métis photographer originally from Northern Ontario. My journey with photography began in the late 1970s, when I first picked up a Nikon FM and loaded it with Kodachrome film. Those early years taught me the power of light, timing, and patience — and sparked a lifelong passion for capturing the world through images.
In 1980, I moved to British Columbia and quickly found work with the vibrant network of community newspapers that flourished across the province. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, I held several full-time staff photographer roles, documenting everything from local events to human-interest stories. It was a golden era for photojournalism, and I was fortunate to be part of it.
But as the internet reshaped media and newspaper revenues declined in the late ’90s, photography jobs became scarce. With a young family to support, I made the difficult decision to step away from photography and pursue a more stable career in business and corporate IT. For the next 20 years, I worked in tech — but photography never left me.
Eventually, I returned to the craft with fresh eyes and a few second-hand digital cameras. What started as a quiet reconnection with my creative roots evolved into a deeply personal project: documenting the social fabric of my own neighbourhood in East Vancouver.
📍 The Hub: A Social Documentary of Broadway & Commercial Drive
Since 2018, I’ve been working on *The Hub*, a long-term documentary series focused on the Broadway and Commercial Drive area — a diverse, dynamic part of Vancouver undergoing rapid gentrification. I walk these streets daily, observing the rhythms of life, the changing storefronts, and the stories etched into the faces of local residents.
My Métis heritage and lived experience in the neighbourhood give me a unique insider’s perspective. I’m drawn to moments of quiet resilience, unexpected beauty, and the subtle tensions that shape urban life. Through photography, I aim to preserve the identities and stories of everyday people — those often overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream narratives.
🎯 Why Social Documentary?
My work is rooted in a tradition of Vancouver documentary photography that blends personal experience with social responsibility. I believe photography can:
- Create a visual record of social realities that might otherwise go unseen
- Offer insider perspectives that challenge stereotypes and dominant media narratives
- Encourage empathy by revealing the complexity of community life
- Act as a catalyst for dialogue and social change
- Offer insider perspectives that challenge stereotypes and dominant media narratives
- Encourage empathy by revealing the complexity of community life
- Act as a catalyst for dialogue and social change
Photography, for me, is not just art — it’s advocacy. It’s a way to honour the people and places that shape our cities, and to ensure their stories are not forgotten.
💔 A Personal Note
I’m currently living with advanced brain cancer. As my strength wanes, I’ve launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs of printing and mounting my photographic legacy. These images are my life’s work — and I hope to preserve them for future generations while I still can.
📷 Where to See My Work
You can explore my photography on my www.basajear.com and Instagram @basajear. My work has also been featured by the Vancouver Street Photography Collective, which praised my ability to capture surprising reflections and alternate views of the world.
Barry Johnson, 672-230-1645
barryjohnson@outlook.com
Instagram: @basajear