Posted on 7 May 2016

To you, sir, I raise my glass. pic.twitter.com/xGbvZX6BQG

— Charelle Evelyn (@CharelleEvelyn) May 7, 2016

Today I heard the sad news that photographer David Mah passed away. I will link to an official obituary when it is posted There is an official tribute over at the Citizen, but for now I will just share how his work inspired me.
Dave was a gifted photographer. His work for the Prince George Citizen elevated our understanding of the community.

The photo above won him a national award, and was arguably the primary catalyst for a real conversation about crime in this city. He would win more, for other dramatic shots. But all of his work held value. His gift for capturing the humanity of our community in a single shot was unparalleled.
 

His gift for capturing the humanity of our community in a single shot was unparalleled #cityofPG#davemahpic.twitter.com/7ax1oPzQ3E

— Andrew Kurjata (@akurjata) May 7, 2016

On a personal note, my first interaction with media was when Dave took photos of my sports team, when I was still in elementary school. There I was, name and picture in print.
In retrospect, that’s one of the things that helps me understand the value of telling the small stories, because I’ve felt that excitement.
I didn’t know him well, but those who did speak often about his kindness. I will leave it to them to tell that story.
I did try to interview Dave a couple times, about his photos and their impact. He declined, saying  he preferred to let them speak for themselves.
And they do. We’re lucky to have them, and we were lucky to have him.
Thank you, Dave. You will be missed.

Filed under: Prince George