George Hunter’s Canada: Iconic Images from Canada’s Most Prolific Photographer

This remarkable book of photos from the National Film Board of Canada’s collection is an ode to both photographer and subject. It begins with a few pages describing legendary photographer Hunter, who died in 2013, and the legacy of his seven-decade career, including stories of him nearly falling out of an airplane and taking groundbreaking aerial photos of cities at night for the largest photo spread in Time magazine’s history. The rest of the book is devoted to his photos. Readers are taken on a stunning visual journey that spans the mid-to-late 20th century and reaches all corners of Canada, from Chapel Arm, Newfoundland, to Qamani’tuaq, Nunavut, with incredible shots of urban and natural landscapes. There are portraits of Canadians from all walks of life, including Inuit hunters, Albertan cowboys, Newfoundland miners, Winnipeg factory workers, and Regina golfers. Although Hunter’s name may not be widely known, many of his photos will be familiar, including those once used on $5 and $10 bills. Hunter said his mission was to show Canadians “a little of our country.... The more they see... the more they will appreciate it.” The book is a beautiful testimony to an evolving country and an accomplished artist. (Oct.)