Darko Sikman Photography's photostream

I am a traveler and a photographer and I consider myself to be incredibly fortunate because I have somehow managed to spend most of the first decade of this millennium on the road (and on the sea). So far I have traveled through over 50 countries around the world on almost every continent (Antarctica still eludes me). Photography has always been my passion, so even though life chose to lead me through a labyrinth of unrelated careers and strange adventures, no matter where I was or what I was doing, some sort of camera was always by my side. The first camera to accompany me on my travels was of course a film camera: a Canon EOS Elan ii. Then in 2002 came my first digital camera, which was bought in Singapore (a Fuji something or other that had less megapixels than a typical phone camera these days and cost more than an entry level DSLR now) and thus began my mission to master the art of digital photography. Later, after having owned a number of different digital cameras came the realization that if I wanted to create great imagery I wanted to have the best equipment to help me, and so in 2009 I decided it was time for a Canon 5D MkII.

At this point in my life the time has come for a change of pace, (time to grow up I guess), and my wife and I have finally decided to settle down and make a home. We wanted a base from which we could still take more “normal” trips and have a place to come back to. As one of the most beautiful places in the world and officially “most livable city” according to The Economist magazine, Vancouver has always been on the top of the list for us too and the fact that we have some amazing and dear friends who inhabit it made it an ideal place to call home. So with a new wife and a new hometown I decided I also needed a new career to complete this new life.

Thanks to my constant travel and the lack of a permanent base it was difficult to pursue a formal education and so I was forced to get my photography education from books, magazines and some of the great photographers I met on the road. In the 90’s I worked for Toronto photographer Mir Lada and he introduced me to the magic of Photoshop. Digital imaging has come a long way since then so thanks to the internet and some of the many great photographers who are willing to share their knowledge on websites and photography forums I have been able to keep up to date. I recently obtained certification as an Adobe Expert for Photoshop Lightroom and am currently preparing and designing several digital workflow workshops. I am also studying hard to become certified in other digital software programs, which will allow me to become an even better teacher.

Naturally, being a constant traveler, my photographs were mostly travel related until quite recently. Occasionally though I also took portrait shots for friends and family and then a couple of years ago while I attended a friends wedding I found new inspiration for my images. Capturing all the beauty and happiness of a wedding day with my lens not only made the newlyweds happy since they got to keep all those great moments and memories frozen forever through my photographs but it also filled me with great satisfaction to witness and record all of the splendor and elegance of the events.

Now, let’s fast forward through several more countries and a couple of years as I began to expand my portfolio with wedding images from locations as diverse as cliffs above the ocean on the Indonesian island of Bali, regal estates in the English countryside and modern restaurants on the waterfront of Oslo as well as portraits of people I encountered on my travels; characters ranging from actors with Bollywood dreams to somber Buddhist monks.
All of the experience, passion and talent I have accrued so far will be coming with me to my new life in Vancouver and it is there that Darko Sikman Photography will reach a new level. Of course I’m looking forward to exploring Vancouver and the surrounding area with my camera – I have visited the city on many occasions but living there will give me new insights and greater access to the hidden corners of the city just waiting to be captured by my lens. But it is weddings and portraiture that will take the lead. My love for travel will always be there: Even with all the existing stamps on my passports there are quite a few places still on the bucket list and there are also some that I would love to revisit, but for now I am focused on the prospect of settling in and getting established as one of the top wedding photographers in Vancouver.

In the meantime, I need to finish this 9 month trip through India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, head to England for a few weeks of repacking and shooting, fly to Bali to shoot a wedding and a jewelry catalog and then we can begin the next chapter.
But that’s enough words for now. Enjoy the pictures.

Darko Sikman
Mirissa, Sri Lanka
February 21 2010