Photographic Hero and Mentor Passes On
It is with sad news that I report the passing yesterday (August 29, 2010) of one of the great masters and mentors of Canadian photography– Courtney Milne. For those who did not know Courtney, he was a spiritual and artistic photographer with a passion to inspire wonder and impassioned living through photography. He was a great photo educator that helped raise photography to an art of internal expression.
For me, I ate up every book and article that Courtney wrote. I devoured his images with an insatiable appetite. Through his images and words I grew from a technician in photography to an artist — he was a part of my growing life as a photographer. I was lucky enough to be able to thank him directly for his contributions to my life when he came for a visit to my home a few years ago.
Courtney, thank you for all you gave to the world of photography. Your inspirations will be missed but have been passed on to the souls of those whom you touched with your work.
For more information about Courtney’s passing see here. And finally if you want an insight into how Courtney used photography as more than art but to help reveal life’s unfolding mystery, listen to This I Believe.
©Courtney Milne
Darwin Wiggett 
August 31, 2010 at 11:41 AM
This is sad news – I never met Courtney, but I found his images, words, and philosophy inspiring. The world is a richer place for his being a part of it.
– Jack
August 31, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Very sad news. I had the pleasure of meeting Courtney in Saskatoon about 20 years ago. I had taken a 2 day course with him and have very fond memories of that experience. There are still times when composing a shot that Courtney’s teaching comes to mind.
August 31, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Courtney gave a moving presentation a few years back at the Peterborough Library and shared some moving and amazing stories. He commented after his presentation that he had shared more than usual. Everyone in the audience that night was greatly moved. He served as a mentor to many Canadian photographers and as a giant in the world of photography. He will be greatly missed, as I am not only a lover of his images, but also of his philosphy on life. I am very saddened by his passing.
August 31, 2010 at 6:53 PM
I briefly met Courtney Milne at a bed and breakfast in the Cypress hills in Saskatchewan where he photographed some of my favourite locations so his books were special to me. Sad to hear of his passing but thankyou for passing on the news.
September 3, 2010 at 12:36 AM
I spent a week with Courtney Milne in 1986 in the Cypress Hills and Great Sandhills. I shot beside him on many of his images in his book Prairie Dreams. My wife said I came back a changed man. I have a lasting impression of a great photographer, who I know will be missed.
September 3, 2010 at 12:38 AM
[…] It is with sad news that I report the passing yesterday (August 29, 2010) of one of the great masters and mentors of Canadian photography– Courtney Milne. For those who did not know Courtney, he was a spiritual and artistic photographer with a passion to inspire wonder and impassioned living through photography. He was a great photo educator that helped raise photography to an art of internal expression. For me, I ate up every book and article … Read More […]
September 4, 2010 at 12:58 AM
I hope he’s in a better place! I saw his photo in the wheelchair with his wife that was in a recent magazine. He looked liked a really bright Light with his big genuine Smile, you could sense something really good about him.
Some people seem to really contribute to the quality of everybody’s Life and it sounds like his Soul was one of them!
The the Best,
Evan Spellman
September 6, 2010 at 9:10 AM
It is a pity that all the images of Mr. Milne are so puny on line. Whoever did the webpage seemed to have designed it for 1995 era data levels and I hope that someone puts his very beautiful images on something like picasaweb.google.com or similar so that the world can see a bit better and a bit more of this artist.
September 7, 2010 at 11:31 PM
[…] passing on August 29 until I got home the night of Sept 2 and read Darwin Wiggett’s blog post. I posted a reply to Darwin’s blog and reblogged his post later that same […]