The Canadian photojournalist community is mourning the sudden loss of two of their own, Joe Bryksa and John Hryniuk.
A consummate photojournalist, Bryksa’s eye focused on capturing the moments and issues of his beloved Manitoba.
His career began at community papers before getting hired at the Winnipeg Sun and eventually at the Winnipeg Free Press staple, where he remained from 1994 to 2018.
Bryksa applied the same attention to detail to every assignment, whether a local hockey game or the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, a food shoot at a local restaurant or the struggle of six northern First Nations to access adequate sewage and clean water services.Bryksa’s empathy and ability to connect with subjects and his desire to share stories are evident in his everyday work, from reflecting the life of Manitobans down to his quirky side, captured in his obsession with images of squirrels in mid-flight.
He went out of his way to support fellow journalists and photojournalists, including the mentorship he offered, often without realizing the impact his support made in the lives of others.
Hryniuk had an eye all photographers wished for and a mind that found a unique way to reflect a story. His work revealed humanity in profound, relatable and sometimes quirky ways and garnered him international recognition.
His recent Pandemic Portraits series started as a bicycle ride to capture a few shots and grew to an extensive project that he hoped would convey “a variety of emotions, not the least of which included isolation, despair, distance, hope, love and resilience.”
He found his inspiration in photojournalist greats like Mary Ellen Mark and Diane Arbus, but, in an FFOTO interview, Hryniuk said his depression was an unexpected source of inspiration.
“Photographer Bryce Evans said it best: “You cannot see the light without the darkness,” said Hryniuk.
NPAC extends their deepest condolences to the Bryksa and Hryniuk families, friends and colleagues.
Diana Martin,
President, NPAC
