A local filmmaker and photographer is releasing a new book.
Cloverdale's John Banovich is putting out a massive 450-page, 9 lb coffee table book filled with more than 300 images of his wildlife photography and the personal stories behind the photos and the animals.
Simply titled "Banovich," a special launch party will be held at Mason's Cloverdale Home Furnishings at the end of the March. Banovich will have a few book signings across the Lower Mainland, but he’ll kick them all off with the launch in Cloverdale eight days after the book is officially released on March 21.
“For me, this particular presentation [at Mason's] is very important,” he said. “It's at home. I've lived in Cloverdale since 1967. This is for family and friends. This is for my community.”
Banovich is “excited” about launching his book at Mason’s—with friend and store owner Derek Mason—and he's encouraging anyone who's interested in having a look at the book, or even those who just want to stop in and say hello after many years, to come on down to Mason’s for a chat.
“There's a special sentiment, for me, about Cloverdale, growing up here, that I’d like to recognize with this event,” he added. “I’ll let the publisher handle all the bigger events. They’ve got me going back east and other places, but Cloverdale is about friends, family, and locals.”
Banovich said books will be available for purchase through Masons, which he’ll sign for anyone who wishes, and he’ll also have some of his images printed on canvas.
“The book itself is very Canadiana,” he said. “It has a good sampling of images from across the country, most provinces and all the territories. It's wildlife and wilderness."
He’s also penned some personal reflections that have been included in the book.
"There's quite a few stories that tie a lot of the images together and bring relevance to the photos,” he explained. “There are stories behind certain animals that reveal a little bit about their personality, their character. I named some of them. Some of them I have long-standing relationships with—certain grizzly bears and woodland caribou and certain moose. These are animals that I have revisited year after year after year. And so there's some stories behind (the animals) that I share in the book.”
Banovich also reveals some of the tribulations he's gone through working in remote areas and offers insight into the rewarding aspects of being a wildlife photographer as well.
"What I'm hoping to do with this particular book, and this is the first of three, is to engage and inspire people,” he said. "I hope I can lead the reader on a bit of a journey."
He’s gone on a bit of a personal journey too as he's selected images for the book. He's snapped more than 96,000 pictures over the past 30 years and he’s spent a lot of time going through them and colour-grading them. The process has, in turn, forced him to revisit moments in time and reflect on his life and his art.
"The photography you see in the book is based on the art form itself," Banovich said. "In other words, I really want to capture moments that are tangible and real, that are genuine. My images are natural. I’m trying to capture moments that are not synthetic, or edited.”
As for the book launch, Banovich has the date circled on his calendar. He’s looking forward to being able to share the stories behind the images with those in attendance.
"I hope people see the book and get inspired and get excited about the outdoors,” he said. “I hope the book gives them a starting point—a launching point to get out and see some of what is out there.”
The book launch will be Saturday, March 29, at Mason's Cloverdale Home Furnishing located at 5765 176th Street in Cloverdale. The book launch will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Visit shepherdsterling.com/banovich to read more about the book.
"Banovich" by John Banovich, 450 pages, Shepherd Sterling Publishing, will be available on Amazon starting March 21.
