Andrew Strain – Photographer

Grad year – 2002

Best teacher – Ian Gibson and Mo Basso were the most influential to me. Always enjoyed Gruntman’s math classes as well. We had a great group of teachers, I couldn’t single out one as the ‘best’.

Best friend – I was closest with Skylar Lebert in high school, but our core group of friends has stayed pretty tight. Lucky Sidhu, Ryan Bonnett, Jon Rogers.

Occupation – I worked in mineral exploration for 10 years during/after university, but I am a full time adventure photographer now. Schooling beyond high school – I did a year at OUC in Kelowna before transferring to UBC. I studied political science there for a couple years, but after doing geological field work in the summers, I realized that I was meant to be in the mountains, not behind a desk. I dropped out and haven’t looked back.

Studied photography – I’ve never studied photography in school – all self taught.

Parents – how long did you live in Oliver ? We moved to Oliver in 1995 after my mom (Charlotte) got married to Bill Thompson. They moved to Vernon after all the kids finished school – its their 20th anniversary this summer!

How many years of school in Oliver – Like, total? I was in Oliver for grades 6-12. Did 5 ish years of half-hearted post secondary before moving on.

When did the camera become important? I got my first camera in 2004, when I started doing exploration fieldwork. That turned into a DSLR a couple years later, and I started getting a few shots published shortly after. By 2010 I was a ‘half-time pro’, shooting snowboarding in the winters and doing geological work in the summers – the two careers complimented each other well. Now, I’m ‘retired’ from exploration and am shooting photos full-time.

Early shots taken in Oliver – I actually don’t have any – I shot a handful or rolls of film with my mom’s camera, at most. My friends were a lot more into it that I was.