Chris Lund

Chris Lund was an important figure in the National Film Board Still Photography Division, and one of only two staff photographers to be continually employed over 28 years. Alongside Gar Lunney, he photographed Canada from the 40s to the 70s, capturing the country during a period of significant development and growth.

Lund joined the NFB in 1942, initially working as a lab technician. His regular contact with photographers sparked an interest in the medium and he began photographing in an amateur capacity. After six months, he was sent on his first assignment with the NFB. 

He believed in staging a scene in order to portray what he needed, but he was always careful to mask this in his images. When composing photo stories, he advocated using a lead picture to draw the viewer in, and presented the images in a visual sequence to represent the narrative of the story. 

Lund’s work forms an important part of the National Gallery’s collection, which includes a shoot documenting the construction of Expo 67 in Montreal.