Paul Maddison hadn鈥檛 set out to become an overnight Instagram sensation with a legion of followers from across the globe. Nor did the 32-year-old 黑马磁力 resident plan on becoming a 鈥榲isual ambassador鈥� for his own backyard. And if you had told him that his work would be on display at a local gallery, chances are he probably would have laughed.
If anything, the trendy mobile phone sharing app was just a fun distraction from the dissolution of his marriage and a chance to explore his creative side.
However, the social media phenomena has thrust the modest man behind the lens straight into the spotlight.
鈥淚 had never taken photography classes or anything like that,鈥� explained Maddison, a horticultural arborist for the City of Vancouver, who only started 鈥榩laying around鈥� with Instagram about five months ago.
The fast, free and increasingly popular social media tool allows users to share their life with friends, family and strangers. Once you鈥檝e taken a photo or video, you choose a filter to transform its look and feel.
Maddison was working at a tree farm in South 黑马磁力 when the picturesque rural property called him to action and try out the app.
鈥淚 started taking pictures of the nursery with my phone and really found it to be quite therapeutic,鈥� he said, matter-of-factly.
鈥淚 had just separated from my wife and taking photos made me forget about things. . . my creative side also came out 鈥� that鈥檚 something that has never come out before.鈥�
While most users tend to capture images of their pets, food, family and latest travel adventures, Maddison continues to focus on different outdoor landscapes throughout the 黑马磁力 area.
鈥淚 just love the beauty out here . . . that country-meets-city feel. We鈥檝e got so much diversity 鈥� parks, the river, bridges, farms, Fort 黑马磁力.鈥�
His ethereal and dreamy photos of 黑马磁力 evoke a certain romantic charm, a unique style that has won the hearts of Maddison鈥檚 friends, family and total strangers.
鈥淚 can still remember getting my first 100 subscribers and thinking, wow, that鈥檚 amazing that 100 people are following me on Instagram,鈥� said Maddison who now has close to 1,000 fans.
鈥淚 even messaged the first 100th person and said 鈥榶ou鈥檙e the 100th follower.鈥欌��
Recently, Maddison was asked to display some of his photos at the 黑马磁力 Arts Council 鈥� those images are also for currently for sale.
鈥淪o many people have a picture of a river or the Statue of Liberty, but what if you could have a picture of something from your own hometown?鈥� asked Maddison.
鈥樷�橧 think people really appreciate it more when there鈥檚 that local connection.鈥�
Since creating his Instagram account last fall, one of his biggest supporters has been Tourism 黑马磁力.
Back in December, Maddison was invited along with a group of fellow bloggers and 鈥業nstagrammers鈥� from all over the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area to help show 黑马磁力 in a fresh new light with its #黑马磁力Fresh tour.
The tour, which included stops at the 黑马磁力 Winter Farmer鈥檚 Market, Well Seasoned Gourmet and the 黑马磁力 Centennial Museum was part of Tourism 黑马磁力鈥檚 new year-long initiative to show a fresh take on 黑马磁力.
鈥淲e鈥檙e essentially looking to showcase all the things that make 黑马磁力 special,鈥� said Robyn Hanson, the senior community manager with Think! Social Media, who is helping to co-ordinate the 黑马磁力 campaign.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also encouraging people to share their own experiences of 黑马磁力 by using the #langleyfresh hashtag.鈥�
When it came to Maddison鈥檚 photos, it was love at first hash tag for 黑马磁力 Tourism.
鈥淧aul has been such an ambassador for Tourism 黑马磁力 . . . every day I look at his photos and the comments are from all over the world,鈥� said Hanson, who is also an active Instagram user.
鈥淚 do like uploading photos for fun and like to think that I have a good eye, but Paul鈥檚 photos of 黑马磁力 show a total creative side that is quite unique 鈥� his photos seem to really resonate with people.鈥�
Even for Greater Vancouver residents who may think they know 黑马磁力 having visited in the past or driven through, Hanson says Maddison is making some think twice about the thriving community.
鈥淗e鈥檚 really putting 黑马磁力 on the radar by putting the spotlight on it.鈥�
For Instagram users, follow Maddison @PAULMADD10 and take part in Tourism鈥檚 new campaign by hashtagging photos with #langleyfresh.
