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180 panoramas

Marc Reardon was born in Hull, Quebec. His father was an irish origin canadian army officer and his mother a quebecois who's ancesters came from Lisieux, in Normandy and established themselves in the Champlain region around 1825.

One of his ancesters was Abraham Martin, the one who gave its name to the well known Plains in the city of Quebec.

From the age of 4 years old, his parents realize they have a rather unusual son: the little kid Marco makes his bed every morning and cleans his room alone, without being asked, as he likes when things are in place and that everything is clean!

Already the seeds of the future meticulous perfectionist photographer!

The military career of his father forces the family to leave for Europe in 1950 where they stayed until 1952.

Here, the eldest Sylvie, Marco right and Bruno the youngest pose in the Hanover zoo in Germany, accompanied by the mascot of the zoo.

Dressed in "leiderhosen", these small Quebecois already seem well integrated and ready for a stroll in the Black Forest.

Upon arrival in France, the little family houses in this cute little townhouse rented to a fabric merchant in Versailles who operates her sewing workshop in a wing of the house.

Often in the afternoons, the three children play in the alleys and gardens of the famous Château de Versailles located close to home.

Back to Quebec at the end of 1952.

Like all the other boys of his age, Marc Likes ice hockey and his heroes are Jacques Plante, Bernard Geoffrion, Jean Beliveau, Maurice et Henri Richard, Dickie Moore, Doug Harvey, Andre Pronovost, Claude Provost, Butch Bouchard.

He never misses a game on "Hockey Night in Canada" with his family on saturday nights.

Back from school, he trains with his schoolmates and they all play in a four-club league established by Marco himself!

At the age of 13, Marco gets as a birthday gift a "brownie" camera from his uncle. Then he is deeply passionate for photography. The stitching is strong and this trend will never end.

He installs, helped by his dad bricoleur, a small laboratory in the basement of the family home in Ste-Foy. Nothing can stop our two accomplices: a horizontal enlarger is built from wood from a box of oranges and the lens of a "View-Master" and they get old frames to make a ontact box, an amber acetate  wrapped around a light bulb becomes the safe light to see in the dark.

Very soon, all this becomes obsolete in the eyes of a Marc Reardon always  perfectionist and with his savings he buys his first 35mm SLR camera, a "Miranda" and a true brand enlarger "Opemus".

The dream finally became reality. He develops the films and photos of the parents of his friends and neighbors and his small laboratory, "Citadel Photo Service" of 55 Aberdeen, soon becomes the star of St-Dominique township.

In 1960, he wins the first prize in the national color photography contest organized by "Le Soleil newspaper" of Quebec with a still life entitled "The horn of aboundance".

The same year, he meets with photographer John Horvath who works at the photo department of the Faculty of Forestry and Geodesy of the University Laval. Then arises between the two deep friendship that lasts many years.

They spend almost all their leisure to search the surrounding countryside of Quebec with their photographic gear to bring back images of reptiles, birds, rocks, plants and bugs of all kinds. They also organize together many aquariums, vivariums, terrariums to house their great catches.

In 1961, he installs his first amateur studio in the basement of his family's house at 55 Aberdeen St in Quebec. His models are his sister Sylvie, his brother Bruno, his parents and freinds. He grabs also a few contracts from shops and grocery stores in his neighborhood.

His black and white photo lab still has its little succes. Friends and parents of schoolmates bring him their films for developpement and they order enlargements.

He reads and consults all that is bublished in photography, so all this knowledge will later help him enter the "New York Institute of Photography" through the front door.

Shooting with his Pentax S1a
(Photo: Jean Bouchard)

One of his first student seasonal jobs is as truck driver in the 6th Artillery Regiment of the Canadian Army at Camp Valcartier. His main task is to transport equipment and soldiers between Valcartier Camp and the Citadel in Quebec City.

He also acts as a staff car driver for officers who have to travel as part of their duties in the greater region of Quebec.

On his first scooter, a NSU Prima, used to travel from his home to Camp Valcartier.
(Photo: Rodrigue Pelletier)

As a gunner in the 6th Regiment of Field Artillery, Marc Reardon also participates in 105mm cannon firings that take place from the heights of Cap Diamant for the important anniversaries in the year. For example, Victoria Day, Canada Day and the commemoration of the armistice, 21 cannon shots were fired by a team of 4 including gunner Marc Reardon.

An intensive course of survival in case of war, the SMTP (Studient Milicia Training Program) is also part of his training as a soldier.

(Photo: Pierre Boivin)

While fully engaged in his passion for photography, he studies in college.

He also paints watercolors on "Du Tresor" street for five consecutive summers to pay for his courses and photographic supplies.

This is the "beatnik" era influenced by Jack Kerouac. Young intellectuals dress-up in black leather jackets walk in sandals, even bare feet. It sends a wave of liberation of morals, religion, social etiquette, and the birth of the "boites à chansons" brings this beautiful youth dreamy lyrics and poetry.

Freedom is for now. Anything goes, even the wildest dreams are possible. What a great time!

In 1964, Marc Reardon enters the faculty of Sciences in Laval University in Quebec City.

The year 1967 marks a determinant pivotal  in his life: his dream career as a photographer now becomes reality with his admission at the renowned New York Institute of Photography". 

He deepens his knowledge here with the best professionals of current photography, led by renowned photographer Laurence Esmond.

Towards the end of his course in New York, the General Electric Company offers him a position in his research laboratory, which post he refuses because he preferres to return to Quebec to begin his career as a freelance photographer.

With a 500C Hasselblad  and a Distagon wide angle lens

He graduates in 1968 from the "New York Institute of Photography" and returns to Quebec to base its first commercial photography studio, the Studio "Nadar" (in memory of the famous french photographer).

This studio later became "Camera 2" and finally "Abora" in 1998.

"Ivre d'image", auto-advertising in magazines and newspapers.

At that time, the world of advertising photography is booming and a tiny handful of photographers in Quebec share this very lucrative market.

Upon his arrival, Marco Réardon made his mark by creating important photographic campaigns for giant customers: Snow-Jet, Bombardier, Hydro-Québec, Bell Canada, SOQUEM, Simon's, Grand Pré Milk, Canadian Import, l'Auberge des Gouverneurs, Provigo, etc.

Since the opening of his first studio in 1968, the advertising photographs of Marc Reardon have been published in many magazines in Canada, U.S. and Europe. To name a few:

For the first time in its history, the Musée du Québec opens its doors to photographers in 1971. Six renowned photographers will be part of this group exhibition which will last 30 days, before departing for a pancanadian tour of the most important museums.

From left to right: Marc Reardon, Eugene Kedl, Hans Krieber, Marc Ellefsen, Luc Chartier and, seated, François Brunelle.

At that time, along with his work as photographer, Marc Reardon provides refresher courses to students in graphic arts from the Cegep de Sainte-Foy.

He also gives courses of camera behavior to models from modeling agencies "Elle", "Viviane" and "Au Feminin."

He also acts as a judge for many photo competition in Quebec, including the prestigious annual competition of the Ministry of Environment of Quebec.

Selfportrait with Hasselblad 500-EL

Many artists, politicians and famous sports personalities pose for him. To name a few:

During an opera rehersal at "Place des Arts" in Montreal

(Photo: Michel Verreault)

In 1978 he founds with his partner Jeanne-Mance Biron, the video module of his studio "Camera 2".

As producer-director, he created many advertising videos, documentaries and TV spots, and a large television series devoted to motor sport (Formula 1, Can-Am, Formula Atlantic, Jet-cars, motor racing circuit Sanair in Quebec and Oxford in the United States).

In 1983, he directed a 20 minute documentary film devoted to the legendary Madame Henriette Belley whose collection of 5 000 costumes moves into a museum on the Côte de la Fabrique (former "Empire" theatre)

Jeanne-Mance Biron with broadcast camera  JVC-3 tubes

The year 1984 marks a milestone in the career of Marc Reardon. His desire to travel and love of adventure carries him to Europe where he works in over 13 countries until 1996, when he returns to Montreal.

A few minutes after his departure from Dorval airport.

Shortly after his return to Montreal, he trades his film camera and color photo lab for digital cameras and a computer.

The immense artistic potential and technical possibilities of digital photography charms him.

He discovers shadow recovery system and uses the strengths of many image processing softwares to give his creation a new breath.

Alongside his work as a studio photographer, he teaches photography in private to serious amateurs and professionals who wish to perfect their shooting technique in the studio.

Hasselblad H3D with digital back.
(Photo: Hélène Caron)

In 2003, Marc Reardon offers his customers a brand new artistic tool: quality website design and search engine optimization (SEO) through his new module: Abora-web

Thanks to his technical knowledge of the algorithms of various search engines on the web, he inevitably ranks the sites he creates for its clients on top search engines like Google, Yahoo! and MSN.

Other webmasters even call on him for SEO services for their own clients!

You can visit Abora-web here: www.abora-web.com

(Photo: Hélène Caron)