[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bain_Richard.jpg” caption=”Richard Bain, photographer. Photo credit: Deborah McIvor”]Life as we know it at McMaster is about to be captured. By camera, that is. If you happen to hear the click of a shutter or hear a voice calling out, “Excuse me, would you like to be in a book?” it may be Richard Bain. Bain is an accomplished photographer who is working with the McMaster Alumni Association to publish a 'coffee-table' book of images of McMaster's community and campus. Bain will be visiting campus events and taking self-guided tours with his camera weekly until the end of January, by which time he estimates he will have taken over 1,000 photographs.

With spring blooms bursting around the campus, Bain has begun shooting on this, his ninth 'coffee-table' book and is pleased with the rich selection of vibrant images available for his work.

Bain calls McMaster a “jewel in Hamilton's crown”. “I'm hoping to capture not only the physical beauty of the University but the spirit or personality of the school as well,” says Bain as he pauses in the conversation to snap a quick shot of a passerby.

“This campus is incredibly beautiful and will be very easy to photograph. So far all of the people I've met up with while making my way around campus with my camera have been very, very helpful,” says Bain. “I really appreciate the cooperation and it provides me with an opportunity to get to know some of the people who live, work and study here. I can get a feel for the community I am presenting in the book.”

Bain's eight previous photo books have included one of Stratford (foreword by Christopher Plummer), Waterloo County (forward by the late Peter Gzowski) the University of Guelph (foreword by Roberta Bondar) and the University of Western Ontario (foreword by Kevin Newman).

This hardcover, full-colour book promises to be a wonderful keepsake for those who've had the pleasure of participating in the life of McMaster. It is scheduled to be released mid-April 2007 and will be available for sale through the Office of Alumni Advancement, as well as Titles Bookstore.

In the meantime, be on the look out for Bain around campus and if you want to be sure he captures your beautiful corner of McMaster, feel free to start up a conversation and let him know what impresses you about this unique and extraordinary campus. If you happen to be lucky enough to be included in one of his photographs, you'll be asked to sign a photo release, in compliance with the new Privacy legislation.

Anne-Marie Middel in the Office of Alumni Advancement would also love to receive emails from the McMaster community with any questions or suggestions of potential “shots” at middel@mcmaster.ca.