Ian McCausland is a lifelong Winnipegger who has worked as a professional photographer for over 30 years, and has produced award-winning images used for advertising and editorials at a local, national, and international level.
Ian is passionate about connecting with his community, helped form Help Portrait, a worldwide movement to provide images to those who can’t afford them at the holidays, and has been a TEDxWinnipeg volunteer for several years, producing many of the images you’ve seen of our previous speakers! In his free time Ian enjoys travelling, being in nature, and camping with his wife Lynda and 14 year old son Liam.
What motivates you?
My desire to connect with others, through my work and other interests. As well my desire to build and foster community, through initiatives like this event and others.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
In another life I think I would like to come back as a bike courier. I love riding my bike, and I’ve always admired their freedom, their stamina, and great sense of personal style.
What is your idea worth spreading?
Hitting a milestone like 50 years is a chance to reflect on the journey so far and to perhaps recalibrate for the journey ahead. 50 is not an end it’s a beginning!
What’s the best thing you’ve read in the past year?
I’ve joined a group on GoodReads focusing on dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction. Oddly enough, reading about various versions of the the end of the world has given me hope! The humans spirit is infallible, we’ll figure it out!
What is one of your favourite quotes?
A man’s work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened.
-Albert Camus
What would you most want to tell your 20-year-old self?
This is similar to a question I’ve posed to my subjects throughout my project except it’s aimed at their 25yr old self, half a lifetime ago.
I think I would tell myself to do the work. Merely talking about how you deserve the work is meaningless. The proof is in the doing. Show people your intention. Don’t worry about falling down, it’s part of the journey. You have an entire lifetime to get back up and fall down a few times.
What TED Talk do you think everyone should see?
Brene Brown’s talk on Vulnerability should be mandatory viewing for everyone, but especially men who are currently in their 50’s. Men in their fifties are the highest demographic for suicide. we’ve been raised to cling to the notion that we remain strong and silent. Brene’s talk changed my perception of what “being a strong man” is.