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Today’s post is in memory of an incredible young photographer Gian Carlo Drueco. The world lost a beautiful person and photographer. My heart goes out to his girlfriend, friends, and family.

In his honour, here are some lovely words from his close friends, along side some of his stunning images.

Gian was my friend. He was honest, humble and talented as hell. I was truly lucky I could consider him a close friend. I know he was genuinely touched by the outpouring of love and support from an industry that he was so new to and from people that didn’t even know him. If I have learned anything from Gian and our friendship, it is to embrace every opportunity, to stay positive and to live life like you fucking mean it. My life was better for having known him and I miss him more than I thought I could.

- Helen Yousif

I met Gian when we were both just starting our journey in photography at Sheridan College 7 years ago, but I feel like I’ve known him for much longer than that. He was the first person to talk to me on the first day of class and even went out of his way to introduce himself as I was fumbling in my locker. That was very indicative of the way Gian was: friendly beyond words, eager to meet strangers, longing to make people feel welcome. And of those people he met, he would almost instantly become a meaningful part of their lives. Since then, he had grown into one of my dearest friends and someone who I admired both on a personal level and on an artistic one. Many of you only know Gian through his photography, but it was something he put so much of his thought and emotion into, you’ve no doubt at least got a sense of some part of him. His photographs drip with atmosphere; something I strive for, but have never been able grab a hold of the way Gian did. He was always looking for that new way of doing things; a new intangible that would set his work apart and it showed. It’s not often you can say that one of your closest friends is also one of your favourite artists in your field. I don’t think I ever said that to him; I hope he knew. With such a deep well of talent and a genuine excitement for the stuff around him, he was destined for big things. It would only be a matter of time before his break came along and his career blew up. I wish he had a chance to experience that. He deserved to have that chance. I hate that he didn’t.

For those that didn’t know him personally, he leaves behind a painfully gorgeous body of work. Work that I hope continues to find a new audience. For those of us that did know him, he leaves behind much more than that; he’s left us with a lifetime’s worth of genuine friendship, countless memories of great times spent together, more positivity than could possibly fit into one human being, stories of his truly unique sense of humour (not to mention a closet full of deep v t-shirts), … the list goes on. While we’ll never be able to fill the hole he leaves, we can count ourselves lucky in having those experiences to forever keep with us. His afterglow will last until long after we all make our departures too.

When I look back through the work he left behind, I’m overwhelmed with the sadness that we’ll never see what else he had in store; that I’ll never again get to watch the happiness that making photographs brought to him; that we’ll never get to share another drink and bat around new ideas and dream about the future. But more than any of that, I’ll simply miss my friend.

Gian, you meant more to me than I’m afraid you ever knew. Love ya, man.

- Gary Ogle

On Saturday August 25th a memorial will be held in Gian’s honour. Please click here for more details.
To view more of his work, please click here.

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