PPOC MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2019
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ISSUE Allan Bailey - Photographic Artist POY | Gina Yesnik - Wedding POY | Louise Gingras - Commercial POY | Victoria West - Portrait POY Alph Leydon | CANADIAN IMAGING CONFERENCE & EXPO 2019
Who says you can’t have it all? SUMMER 2019 | GALLERIE MAGAZINE | 2
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V I STEK . C A
TA B L E O F CO NT E NT S
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Message from the Chair
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Allan Bailey, Photographic Artist of the Year
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Class Awards Images
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Gina Yesnik, Wedding Photographer of the Year
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Canadian Imaging Conference & Expo 2019
by Alph Leydon, MPA
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Louise Gingras, Commercial Photographer of the Year Victoria West, Portrait Photographer of the Year 2019 PPOC Award Recipients
Awards presented in Montréal, Quebec.
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My Road to Becoming a Master of Photographic Arts: A How-To Guide
by Chelsea Jones, MPA
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My PPOC
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About the Cover
by Charmaine Toews, MPA
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MESSAGE
from the Chair Happy Summer Everyone! In this edition of Gallerie we celebrate success and excellence of the 2019 Image Salon. As you flip through the following pages and oooh and Louise Vessey, MPA, SPA PPOC National Chair aww over the incredible imagery of your fellow members, realize that their success did not come easy. It was not from ‘luck’ or chance. These photographers put themselves out there. They practice, learn, experiment, and try new things. They are brave and push themselves forward technically and creatively to be the best they can be. A lot of dedication and hard work goes into their achievements. Most importantly they entered PPOC Image Salon! Congratulations to all the winners! One thing is for sure. You are not going to be an Award Winning photographer if you never build up the courage to put your images out there for the scrutiny of the judges (and everyone watching live online!). Our work can be so personal to us that it can actually hurt when our images aren’t accepted. I’ve been on both sides of this fence and felt the pride of success and that punch in the gut of 4 unaccepted! Congratulations and well-done everyone who entered! Whether you walked away with an award or not, I hope that you learned something and are inspired to come back with a new set for the 2020 Image Competition.
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Now is the time to start a folder on your desktop titled ‘Possible Competition Images’. Your future self with thank you for being that organized come January! Thanks to Charles, Gerry, the Judges and all the behind-the-scenes people who make our Image Competition possible. Lastly, we cannot proclaim our appreciation to the trades who support and sponsor our image competition enough! Thank you to Nikon, Technicare, Panasonic, and Sony for sponsoring our major awards. Please support and thank our sponsors whenever you can. Without the generosity and continued support of all of our Commercial Partners, our annual Convention and Image Salon would not be as successful as they are. Have a fantastic summer!
Louise Vessey, MPA, SPA
GALLERIE IS THE PREMIER MAGAZINE FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ACROSS CANADA. EACH ISSUE FEATURES AWARD-WINNING IMAGES, EDITORIAL INFORMATION, TECHNICAL AND FEATURE ARTICLES, ADVERTISING, AND MEMBER SERVICES. ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE WELCOME TO VIEW THE DIGITAL VERSIONS ON OUR WEBSITE. GALLERIE is published three times annually; - February (online issue) - June/July (print and online) - October (online issue) SUBSCRIPTION All PPOC members receive the printed issue directly to their doorstep. Online issues are available to all photographers. To be added to our email mailing list please contact the PPOC office (info@ppoc.ca) indicating your province of residence. Additional printed copies of Gallerie are $6.95, plus postage. Please contact the PPOC Office. SUBMISSIONS Articles and member stories are welcome, please submit them to the editor for consideration. ADVERTISING One single advertising package will secure your ad space in all three issues for the year. Double Page Spread Full Page Outside Back Cover Full Page Inside Cover Advertising Supplement Full Page Half Page Quarter Page
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“Let Me In”
ALLAN BAILEY
PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR
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By Allan Bailey, MPA
I CHOSE A DIFFERENT APPROACH COMING INTO NATIONAL COMPETITION THIS YEAR. I PUT ASIDE THE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW MANY MERITS I WOULD EARN, OR WHAT THE IMAGES WOULD SCORE. WHILE STILL KEEPING IN MIND WHAT A JUDGE LOOKS FOR, I CHOSE WORK THAT REFLECTS EXACTLY THE STYLE I LOVE TO PHOTOGRAPH. IT IS THE KIND OF WORK I WOULD SHOOT, IF CLIENTS AND MONEY DIDN’T MATTER, AND I COULD JUST GO WITH MY GUT EVERY DAY. I love the image competitions, and it’s by far my favourite part of being a member of the PPOC. Putting your work up against the finest photographers in Canada is a rush, no matter how many times you do it. Are you going to win big? Are you going to crash and burn? Just commit to your images, make them the best you can, and let loose. I love when I see other photographers step away from the norm, and go really outside the box with their entries. A lot of people say their favourite thing about the PPOC is the people they meet, and the friends they make. I have made a lot of very good friends within the organization, and some of them are people that I look up to as some of the most talented in their genres. You know what is even more fun than getting to be friends with the best? Competing with them. Competition breeds better photographers. I have always been drawn to creating grittier, darker imagery. I am the complete opposite of a perfectionist, and I enjoy things unfinished, and raw. I think this stems from my immediate love of TMAX 3200 from when I first started photography. I pushed that film so the grain was as big as I could get it. Forget about perfect sharpness, that film had a look and texture, that I still don’t think can be recreated in a digital medium.
“Lucifer”
“Expedition”
“Restraint”
Impact is always at the forefront of my mind when I’m creating an image. I want people to feel something immediately when they look at my work. That feeling can be shock, sadness, being uncomfortable, or joy…but I want it to be something that hits you right away. If you just glance at one of my images and then move on, I didn’t hit the mark.
“Expedition” was a self-portrait, taken on one of the coldest days that Edmonton has ever had. I have always loved the winter, and the cold has never bothered me. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to spray myself with water, and stay outside for a while in -50 temperatures.
“Lucifer” is a pet that belongs to a friend of mine. Despite the look of him, he was the sweetest animal you would ever meet. I wanted him to look ominous and terrifying, meanwhile, he was more interested in snuggling against my beard. One of the reasons I enjoyed creating this image, was because it showed a completely different side of him, that wasn’t at all reality. As photographers, we have the power to make the viewer see whatever we what them to see, that’s what makes it so much fun “Restraint” was created to let the viewer see different things. I wanted people to see struggles, mental illness, overwhelmed by responsibilities, etc. Sometimes I try to hit you in the face with the meaning, and other times I try to let you figure it out yourself. I’ve entered National Image Competitions since I was first eligible, back in 2011. 2019 was by far the most fun one yet, and I can’t wait for 2020. Try not to stress too much about what you submit, and what a judge may or may not say about it. Go with your first instincts, and take a chance, you never know what may happen.
Allan Bailey, MPA
“Hush Little Baby”
Photographe professionnel depuis 1999. Beaux-arts. Commercial. Portrait. Un amoureux de toutes les choses VW rétro. Accro au plaid. Si je suis derrière un appareil photo, derrière un établi ou si j’ai une clé anglaise en main, je suis heureux.
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“Let Me In” was inspired by my love of horror. I wanted people to get an uneasy feeling when they saw it. I think it would be effective with an adult as the subject but was much more impactful with a young child.
“Hush Little Baby” is an image of my youngest daughter, when she was in the Pediatric ICU, during the worst time in her cancer journey. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever photographed in my life, but I documented every aspect of it. You may look at the image and feel sadness, or worry. I look at the image, and see a little warrior, fighting like hell to stay alive.
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CLASS AWARD IMAGES
Architecture | Museum Blues by Jean Chartrand, MPA (PPOC-ON)
Animals | Magnificient Two by Robert Coates, MPA (PPOC-BC)
Group Portrait | E = MC3 by Catherine Petitclerc (PPOC-QC)
Industrial | King Air 3000 by Merle Prosofsky, MPA (PPOC-AB)
Experimental/Unclassified | Let Me In by Allan Bailey, MPA (PPOC-AB)
Child Portrait | Daddy, Will You Pleeeease Make Apple Pie by Cassandra Jones (PPOC-AB)
Editorial | Pristine and Steep by Paul H. Wright, MPA (PPOC-BC)
Fine Art | The Can Can by Chelsea Jones, MPA (PPOC-AB)
Wedding Portrait | Lost in Love by Sam Sciarrino, MPA (PPOC-ON)
Student Competition, Commercial | Silk Splash by Rana Bader (Fanshawe College, Ontario)
Student Competition, General | Confidence by Natasha Guillemette
Portrait & Wedding / Outstanding Image | Shadow Play by Wendy Lang
(Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)
(Fanshawe College, Ontario)
Portrait | The Last Frame by Jamie Bard Dubé, MPA (PPOC-AT)
Newborn | The Big Reveal by Stefan Malloch (PPOC-BC)
Press | The Eye of Jaws by Kristian Bogner (PPOC-AB)
Conceptual Illustration | Final Boarding Call by Darlene Fros, MPA (PPOC-ON)
Photojournalistic Wedding | WHO Farted? by Gina Yesnik, MPA (PPOC-SK)
Fashion | Apocalypse Avant Garde by John Wills, MPA (PPOC-ON)
Commercial | Time Stories by Louise Gingras, MPA (PPOC-ON)
Figure Study | Exsanguinate by Victoria West (PPOC-AT)
Terry Robertson Master Award | Stretching For Victory by Paul H. Wright, MPA (PPOC-BC)
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Picturial/Floral | Green Reverberation by Steve Pelton (PPOC-BC)
Kindred Spirits
GINA YESNIK
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
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FOR OVER A DECADE, AWARD WINNING WEDDING AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER GINA YESNIK HAS PRODUCED DYNAMIC, EMOTIVE IMAGERY THAT WILL BE CHERISHED BY HER CLIENTS FOR GENERATIONS. HER PASSION AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH EMBODY THE PERFECT UNION BETWEEN ART AND TECHNICAL PRECISION. HER STYLE IS INFLUENCED BY HER LOVE OF FASHION, CINEMA AND BEAUTY. GINA’S WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN NUMEROUS MAGAZINES AND PRINT SHOWS ACROSS CANADA AND THE US. GINA IS A PROUD MEMBER OF PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA.
“WHO Farted?”
“Strong Foundation”
“Swept Away”
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SUMMER 2019 | GALLERIE MAGAZINE | 11
She held the title of 2011 PPOC Portrait Photographer of the Year and has now also been awarded the title of 2019 PPOC Wedding Photographer of the Year. Her 22 years of experience covering weddings across the globe gives you the assurance that she will take the utmost care and attention to making your images as perfect as you hoped!
CANADIAN IMAGING CONFERENCE & EXPO 2019 MONTRÉAL, QC – APRIL 26-30, 2019 By Alph Leydon, MPA Images by Sébastien Lavallée, MPA ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE CANADIAN IMAGING CONFERENCE & EXPO SITS AT THE EPICENTER OF ALL THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA HAS TO OFFER. IT IS THE HUB OF THE WHEEL… THE GLUE THAT BINDS TOGETHER THE DISPARATE PIECES, PARTS, AND PERSONALITIES FROM ACROSS OUR NATION. FOR ONE WEEK EACH YEAR, IT LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY PUTS OUR ASSOCIATION ON STAGE, LIVE AND IN-PERSON, FOR ALL ATTENDEES TO EXPERIENCE, ENJOY AND IN WHICH TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES. THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE YOU CAN DO THIS… NO-WAY, NO-HOW… IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING THIS CONFERENCE ANNUALLY, YOU ARE MISSING OUT…
“WHAT IS IT?”, “WHY SHOULD I GO?”, “WHAT DOES IT HAVE?” YOU MAY ASK! LOL! …WHAT DOES IT NOT HAVE?
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Those of you who have attended the Conference already know… But for the others; those who perhaps are undecided… It has something for everyone and a lot for many. Whether you are a newbie to PPOC, a career member bedazzled in bling, or a long-standing member straddling the ‘Observer’ fence you will find something deeply rewarding and inspiring by making the annual pilgrimage to our National Convention. There is camaraderie, there is friendship, networking, education and socializing. It is intimate and expansive at the same time. You meet people whose work you’ve seen and who you may know from social media. The elements all tie together into a cohesive whole that is far mightier than the sum of the individual parts… Then there are the intangibles, the unexpected conversation at the bar that leads to a new friendship. The lunch meeting that brings a fresh business opportunity or the introduction to a group of colleagues with similar interests and goals, new partners on a project in the making. The surprise learning that comes from a workshop you only had a minor interest in. These are the chance encounters that can only happen when people get together in person and will often be the most valuable aspect of attending a conference. Some folks, it seems, are of the mindset that if they cannot attend the entire conference, it’s not worth their while attending at all! Nothing could be further from the truth. I spoke to several attendees who were there for a day or two at the beginning or in the middle or towards the end. One attendee went just for the Accreditation Judging on Saturday, another shot a wedding on Saturday and made the trek to Montréal on Monday for the Annual Awards Gala and more specifically to attend Jerry Ghionis’s day-long presentation on Tuesday. These attendees felt they got enormous value from their short attendance at the event. So, lesson learned… If you can’t attend the entire conference go for the part that may be of greatest interest to you. Don’t hold back… GO!
ENTERTAINMENT For those who have the stamina, there is entertainment and education almost 24 hours a day. On the entertainment side, there is the Welcome Reception on Saturday evening where it is always fun to meet old friends and to make new ones. For the first-timers, it’s a great opportunity to break the ice into the social side of PPOC. Most evenings after all the education is done for the day the Hospitality Suite is open till the wee hours and everyone is welcome. You will often find the most ardent and decorated members of our Association here and they’re always enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge with a newcomer. The Social Night is an event to behold and is an evening of fun, food, and frivolity where anything and everything goes… well almost! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…
EDUCATION You must be thinking “this all sounds like fun and games but where’s the education”? Education is at the core of this national event. It starts each morning at 8:00 AM with the Early Riser program and carries on throughout the day. This year we hosted several International presenters. Julia Anna Gospodarou delivered a compelling program on Long Exposure Fine Art photography, largely rooted in architecture. She is an awardwinning internationally acclaimed photographer, an accomplished architect, and author. Jerry Ghionis, widely celebrated as one of the top five wedding photographers in the world, educated and entertained, as only Jerry can… He’s an Aussie you know, and he can say things that the rest of us can’t and we love him for it. Jerry brought his ‘Next Level of Sophistication’ in wedding photography. A very engaging and practical learning experience.
EDUCATION
GROUP PHOTO Regardless of the genre of photography in which you primarily shoot there is always something to be learned from practitioners in other fields. We also had enormous breadth and depth of education from our own homegrown experts. The roster of subject matter was varied and intriguing from both an art and business perspective. Claude Brazeau, Don Komarechka, Marc Bailey, Brent McCombs, Maggie Habieda, Liette Chamberland and Francis Vachon covered such topics as Entering Photo Competitions; Marketing and Sales Techniques; Retouching and Digital Painting; Fashion, Business and Low Key Portraiture; Making a Successful Career in Niche Markets; Creating a Customized Business and Marketing Plan and the Legalities of Publishing your Images. In the weeks and months ahead lies the challenge of putting what was learned to work… There are always several add-on workshops in the first days of the conference. This year’s daylong Photo Safari of the sights of beautiful Montréal had to be cancelled due to the extremely rainy conditions. There were floods you know… Fortunately the participants were able to join those registered for the Christian Lalonde workshop which focused primarily on postproduction in the comfort of a dry conference room. For those who have their CPA or MPA and want to take their careers and knowledge to the next level, there is the added benefit of being invited to enroll in the Judging Certification Seminar. When you get the opportunity, don’t even think about it… sign up immediately. It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make… This year’s session was an information-packed two-day immersion workshop deftly orchestrated by our brilliant and humorous Kent Wong. He’s led this workshop for many years, and it shows. The team of presenters he brought to the table was nothing short of spectacular. Day One - Paul Wright on Diplomacy, Behavior and Judging Etiquette; Mary Ellen Nealis on The Complexities of Artistic Presentations and Charles van den Ouden on The 20 Second Judging Decision. Day Two - Andre Amyot on Impact, Emotions, and Storytelling; Alison Berk on The Art of Newborn Photography and Marc Bailey on The Many Faces of Portraiture. In between, there was much opportunity for practice judging and individual coaching. Meanwhile, Kent kept the whole procedure humming along like a well-oiled machine. Finally, certificates of completion were presented to the participants along with the opportunity to volunteer as future competition judges… A privilege and an honour, to be sure… Of particular note on the education scene and in the “NOT TO BE MISSED” category is the Accreditation Judging which takes place throughout the day on Saturday and is open to all attendees. Also available Saturday morning is a personalized critique of one’s Image Salon entries. Both of these offerings are invaluable opportunities for personal learning and will pave the way to success in future Accreditation and Image Salon applications.
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FUN NIGHT
THE EXPO The Expo is the place for the gearhead in all of us, so unless we are very strong of mind or credit card, we may want to leave our wallets in our rooms. Many of the exhibitors here are dedicated sponsors of our Association to whom we owe an immense expression of gratitude. It’s where we get to see, touch and feel so many of the new “toys” that enter our industry on a daily basis. It’s where we come face-to-face with the vows we made last year to print more and offer our clients a greater variety of albums and tchotchkes. So, we renew our annual vows and promise ourselves to act on them more diligently in the coming year. Most of all, this is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with key suppliers to our industry in a small group environment. It is a rare opportunity to get this level of specialized expertise in such a dedicated way. Highlights in this space were the lighting demos, the print demos and a print exhibition of all of the images that scored “EXCELLENCE” from the National image Salon.
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THE ANNUAL AWARDS GALA Most would agree that the Annual Awards Gala is the pièce de résistance of any National Conference. It is where achievements of the past year are celebrated and where a new PPOC year begins. Everyone is looking fabulous in their Sunday best and there is the buzz of excitement and expectation in the air. All accepted images from the National Salon scroll on the massive screens that flank the stage as the first course is served. The energy in the room is palpable amid the cacophony and chatter; drinks flow freely. It’s a wonderful time to share your experiences of the past few days with your fellow guests and to break bread with new friends. Ceremonies start with our National Anthem and introductions of the guests of honour. Next, a freshly minted group who have proudly achieved their Craftsman of Photographic Arts (CPA) are welcomed on stage. They are followed by those who have achieved their Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) designation. Amid much applause come recipients of MPA First Bar, Second Bar, Third Bar, etc… and this year, all the way through to the recipient of an MPA 12th Bar… an astonishing achievement. Service of Photographic Arts (SPA) recipients come next, then SPA First Bar and Second Bar. Greetings and messages are delivered by PPOC Québec chair Nathalie Mathieu, PPOC Canadian Imaging and Expo Co-ordinator Nelson Simard and PPOC Chairperson Louise Vessey. Service continues of a very tasty meal whose final course, I must admit, was my favorite…
Dark Chocolate and Praline Mousse with Hazelnut Biscuit and Saskatoon berries… A prelude to next year’s event perhaps! A loud banter onstage erupts amid our co-presenters Charles van den Ouden and Gerald David. It’s time for the Annual Image Salon Awards. The categories flow… Student category, Commercial and Industrial, General and Portrait categories. There is much cheering, whistling, and applause as the room overflows with the excitement of the moment. It’s finally time for the major and final awards of the evening, the moment that everyone has been waiting for. These are the Terry Robertson Master’s Award, sponsored by Spectra Visuel Inc. and the Photographer of the Year (POY) awards… Commercial Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Nikon Canada Inc., Wedding Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Sony of Canada, Portrait Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Technicare Premier Photolab and Photographic Artist of the Year, sponsored by Panasonic. The finalists in each Category are shown on screen and as the name of each WINNER is called a crescendo of applause ensues as the Artist takes the stage. And the WINNERS are? Well, you’ll just have to go to this link to find out… https://www.ppoc.ca/galleries/2019/2019_image_salon.php And with that, one year ends and a new year of PPOC begins…
SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR… Canadian Imaging and Expo - April 24-28, 2020 PPOC’s 50th Anniversary in Saskatoon, SK
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The Grand Cathedral
Becoming a PPOC member At the end of my course, I started attending the CMPQ events (Quebec Corporation of Master Photographers) without becoming a member. During one event, I had the chance of meeting internationally renowned photographers Joseph and Louise Simone. In 2012 or 2013, Joseph and Louise reached out to invite me to the first official meeting of the newly formed PPOC-QC, in order to recruit new members. That’s when I became an observer member of the PPOC.
LOUISE GINGRAS COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
I was very happy to join the association, and I wanted to volunteer right away with the PPOC-QC board, but to do that, I had to be an accredited member. So, I submitted my first accreditation for “Image Manipulation” in January 2014 and got it on the first try, with the mention “Overall Good Quality”. How excited and proud I was to officially be an accredited member! I was finally able to be part of the PPOC-QC board. At this point, I didn’t think about getting more accreditations or getting my CPA and MPA. I just wanted to be able to volunteer on the PPOC-QC board. To encourage members to become accredited, the board challenged us to get more accreditations ourselves. That’s how I tried the Commercial category… but wow, I went too fast, I wasn’t prepared and only 4 images got accepted out of 10. It was rough for my ego, but judges were absolutely right. I learned a lot.
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By Louise Gingras, MPA
I’M MOSTLY A COMMERCIAL, ARCHITECTURAL, EDITORIAL, PRODUCT AND ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHER. I ALSO DO GRAPHIC DESIGN, WEBSITE DESIGN, PHOTOMONTAGE AND RETOUCHING FOR SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO ARE PPOC MEMBERS.
My journey: After a 15-year career that I loved as a commercial partnership negotiator (buyer) in the world of retail sales, I needed a big change. After several meetings with a career advisor, I made the choice to go with multimedia (website design, graphic design, photomontage and retouching).
I jumped in with both feet! In 2007, when I still had a lucrative job, I went to see my bank to get a home equity line of credit large enough to allow me to quit my job, go back to school, start my own business and make a living. That was my unique income source for almost 2 years while being a single mother. So, I did my multimedia course at Collège Marsan in 2007-2008. Seeing the college studios full of photography equipment made me fall in love for photography. I had never had a camera, not even a point-and-shoot. That’s when I reached out to the photographer Alain Michon to know what camera to buy. He gave me great advice on gear and directed me to Photo Service to buy my first camera. All that was left was to learn photography! Not so easy! That’s why I also enlisted in the photography course at Collège Marsan.
“Time Stories”
Then, I took a long break from accreditations and started volunteering in other ways for PPOC: editing/graphic design for Gallerie Magazine for 2 years, content integration for the national website, and design for the Image Salon digital ribbon; which taught me a lot. I made a lot of friends and connections across Canada. Volunteering earned me enough service merits for my CPA, but I didn’t have enough print merits for my MPA.
That’s when I challenged myself… Since July 2017, I share a studio space with Claude Brazeau, MPA and Sébastien Lavallée, MPA. My two colleagues introduced us as two master photographers (them) and a graphic designer (me). That was bugging me because I didn’t have my MPA, lol.
Anecdote: it pays to get accredited! Those who know me well know that I don’t cook and that I almost always shoot in studio, so never in natural light. So, why not challenge myself with an accreditation outside of my comfort zone. I challenged myself to get accredited in food, with a new camera I didn’t know, in natural light, with food I prepared myself. I got my accreditation on my “For Ever”
“Born in Captivity”
first try with the mention “Overall Excellent Quality”. But the most important part is that, by getting outside of my comfort zone, I developed new skills that allowed me to show my images to potential clients and to obtain about $8,000 in contracts the first year.
First Award in 2018 In 2018, for my second submission to the PPOC Image Salon, I received my first “Best in Class” award in the Product Illustration class. Once you’ve gotten a taste…
In 2019, successful CPA/MPA challenge, and so much more! I did get both my CPA and MPA designation at the Canadian Imaging 2019 Convention. Successful challenge, I’m so proud! I must thank for Claude Brazeau MPA and Sébastien Lavallée MPA for bugging me and supporting me during these 15 months.
But the story of 2019 doesn’t stop there! On top of obtaining two designations, I was very surprised to receive the award for “Best in Class” in the Product Illustration Class, and one of my images was accepted in the PPOC Loan Collection. What a beautiful surprise!
And the cherry on top for 2019! I had the pleasure and honour of receiving the award for PPOC Commercial Photographer of the Year. Wow! I was so shocked! All of this started because I challenged myself… I hope my story will inspire you and will push you to challenge yourself and to push your limits!
Louise Gingras, MPA My website: English: http://dimensionfxmedia.com/ French: http://dimensionfxmedia.com/fr/ My accreditations and salon images: English: http://dimensionfxmedia.com/whats-up/ French: http://dimensionfxmedia.com/fr/quoi-de-neuf/ Photo credit: Claude Brazeau, MPA
SUMMER 2019 | GALLERIE MAGAZINE | 17
In January 2018, I decided to push myself and to get my MPA designation (Master of Photographic Arts). I thus challenged myself to get both my CPA and MPA at the Canadian Imaging 2019 convention. I had 15 months to get enough print merits from accreditation and competition. At that point, I only had 30 merits from accreditations and 180 merits from my first submission the Image Salon in 2017. That was 210 merits compared to the required 750 merits for the MPA designation. To get these merits, I submitted and passed 4 accreditations (food, commercial, animals, botanical), and got enough merits from my competition entries in 2018 and 2019.
“Exsanguinate”
I also didn’t realize the amazing value that comes with being part of a community that supports and challenges each other. Our small PPOC/AT family has gifted me with new friends and wonderful experiences, and my first national convention in Montreal this year connected me with photographers across the country. As someone who for years was skeptical of the value of the Association, I can honestly say that joining has been the best decision I’ve made in my career. I only wish I’d done it sooner! This year I’ve been very fortunate with how well my images have done in competition. I entered the same 4 regionally and nationally, and was thrilled to be awarded Portrait Photographer of the Year at both. I’ll tell you a bit about them. “Exsanguinate”, which means “to bleed out” in latin, is inspired by an old masters painting called “Dante and Virgil in Hell”. The model in the image is my husband, who I’ve teased about looking a bit like a vampire for years. He also happens to be in great shape. He is the only model in the image, they are both him. It’s a composite of 21 different shots. It was shot using a two light set up, one for fill and one for direction. I shot tethered to my computer to make sure that each part would line up correctly, and it ended up taking 3 different shoots to get it right, plus an extra shoot for the backdrop which was metalwork from a local church window. It took about 30 hours of editing to get it right. I was worried people would realize that both
VICTORIA WEST SUMMER 2019 | GALLERIE MAGAZINE | 18
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR By Victoria West
THIS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU, BUT UP UNTIL A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AGO, I DIDN’T CONSIDER MYSELF A CREATIVE. I THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS A GOOD BUSINESS PERSON WITH ADEQUATE PHOTOGRAPHIC SKILLS. I RARELY CREATED AN IMAGE I WASN’T BEING PAID TO MAKE AND I REALLY DIDN’T CHALLENGE MYSELF TO GROW MY SKILLS. MY FOCUS WAS ON BUILDING UP MY BUSINESS, WHICH TO A LARGE DEGREE DOES NOT HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH IMPROVING AS AN ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHER. HAVING LEARNED THAT LESSON A FEW YEARS PREVIOUSLY, I’D PUT CREATIVITY ON THE BACK BURNER AND WAS BUSY BUILDING A BRAND.
And then I joined the PPOC. I knew I wanted to compete. That’s why I joined. But I did not anticipate how much it would change me as a photographer in such a short time. Pushing myself for competition has reignited my drive to grow my skills, and those skills translate into better work overall, including for my clients.
“#Meat Too”
“The Wisdom of Innocence”
subjects were the same model, but when I sent it to my family and they asked if it was my husband and brother in law, I figured I was safe.
The model, my makeup artist Autumn, left the studio looking like she’d axe murdered someone. It was shot with a two light setup, for fill and side light. I asked my meat eating brother to bring his raw steak dinner in to be photographed and then composited it into the skin. “Lady Black Bird” came to me after I bought a faux feathered neck piece from the Halloween store and looked at my assistant Emily and thought it would suit her. We dressed her up and used a bird prop that I had. It was shot in studio, and then the background and flying birds were composited in from my personal stock image collection. I’m constantly shooting clouds, trees, birds, textures, anything that I might find useful later on. “The Wisdom of Innocence” inspiration also came from that same Halloween store. The wig reminded me of child Kirsten Dunst from “Interview with a Vampire”, beautiful but also a bit creepy. My niece Lucy modeled for me and did a great job pretending to hold the owl which was actually only about ¼ of the size shown. I photographed it separately and then composited it in so I could make it bigger. Fellow PPOC member Krista Powers convinced me to change the background from
“Lady Black Bird”
dark mauve to a lighter color. Then I photographed a bunch of hydrangeas from my yard and created a texture out of them and added it in. (Thanks Krista!) So that’s it! I’m so grateful and honoured for the POY title and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone in Saskatoon next year!
Victoria West Victoria West is a portrait photographer and runs a full time studio just outside Fredericton, NB. A proud member of the PPOC, her work has won international awards including a bronze medal for Team Canada at the 2019 World Photographic Cup. She lives with her husband, 5 dogs, and 1 unlucky cat.
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“#Meat Too”, is inspired by both the #MeToo feminist movement, and also the Animal Rights movement. Women being seen and treated as meat is the more obvious interpretation, but that meat is actually a part of someone, not a product, is the other. Plus, I really wanted to dump fake blood over someone, so that was fun.
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2019 PPOC DESIGNATION RECIPIENTS DESIGNATIONS PRESENTED IN MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC
CPA RECIPIENTS Back Row: Louise Gingras, Lisa Demaline, Jackie Standing,
Krista Powers Front Row: Marie Eve Séguin, Christine Giroux, Lisa Brice Unable to attend: Andrea Frappier, Marlene Palamarek,
Grant Withers
MPA RECIPIENTS Back Row: Chelsea Jones, Chris Thombs, Elisha Weger, Louise Gingras, Lois Nuttal, Cindy Duclos
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Front Row: Charmaine Toews, Susan Dykstra, Alph Leydon Unable to attend: Kim Coffin, Kamini Le Capelain, Paula Lirette
MPA 1 st BAR Vanessa Dewson, Michel Carrier, Jamie Bard-Dubé Unable to attend: Deborah de Ville
MPA 2 nd BAR Left: Paul Wright. Right: Jean Chartrand
MPA 4 th BAR
MPA 3 nd BAR
Unable to attend: Tracey Farrington, Mary Jensen, Lee Sanger, Jay Terry
Stéphane Larivière Unable to attend: Inge Skliros, Shelley Vandervelde
MPA 6 th BAR MaryEllen Nealis
MPA 7 th BAR
MPA 10 th BAR Unable to attend: Merle Prosofsky
MPA 12 th BAR
MPA 8 th BAR
Unable to attend: Mark Laurie
Marc Bailey
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Bruce Hendricks and MaryEllen Nealis
SERVICE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS 1 st BAR 2 nd BAR Alison Berk
Tina Weltz
SERVICE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS Gerry David
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Did you know
you can become a member of Canada’s oldest and most recognized professional photography association for as little as $26 monthly (plus tax) ? Apply to join today!
1-888-643-PPOC (7762) info@ppoc.ca ppoc.ca
2019 PPOC AWARD RECIPIENTS AWARDS PRESENTED IN MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Louise Gingras, Award sponsored by Nikon Canada Ltd
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Victoria West, Award sponsored by Technicare Premiere Photo Lab
PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR Susie O’Connor accepting Photographic Artist of the Year for Allan Bailey, Award sponsored by Panasonic
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Gina Yesnik, Award sponsored by Sony of Canada
MY ROAD TO BECOMING A MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS:
A HOW-TO GUIDE
By Chelsea Jones, MPA I JOINED THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA (PPOC) IN 2013 AND I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I FLIPPED THROUGH THE 2013 INSPIRATION BOOK. THIS IS A YEARLY PUBLICATION SHOWCASING ALL OF THE IMAGES THAT WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE YEAR’S PPOC NATIONAL SALON.
My jaw dropped. The images were amazing – they looked like a dream and were so much more than simple photographs. They shocked, inspired, told stories, and transported my imagination in a way that only art could. “I could never do that. These don’t even look like photographs – how did they make those?”
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My self-deprecating internal dialogue filled me with doubt; sure, I charged for photography, which is essentially the entry level definition of a professional photographer but did I belong in this organization? Am I an imposter? I felt I was way out of my league. This weekend at the 2019 PPOC Gala I was presented with my Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) because I am now able to create and compete in the “league” and quite confidently. I thought I would share with you my How-to Guide to becoming an MPA.
LESSON 1: Cut out the negativity. Whether you are part-time or full-time, it is absolutely possible to attain your designations although it will take dedication, calculation, and hard work. Being your own worst critic only works if that criticism is constructive and leads to improvement. In general, stop telling yourself that you aren’t good enough or that your MPA is an impossible goal. You need to believe in yourself; if I can do it, you can too!
LESSON 2: Be patient. Patience is a virtue that I do not have. That said, attaining designations, like your MPA, will take a few years. Be patient, and know that it is worth it in the end. The most rewarding goals are those that are long term. Patience is always a challenge, but it is necessary in this case. Speaking of goals…
LESSON 3: Goals, goals, and more goals. One of the great things about the PPOC is it has multiple milestones to achieve along your photography journey. This includes the approximately 63 different Accreditation categories, the Craftsman of Photographic Arts (CPA), MPA, Service of Photographic Arts (SPA), MPA bars, Fellowship, etc. There are ample opportunities to set goals that are feasible yet challenging. Be sure to set short- and long-term goals. Your first goal may be to become accredited. Maybe you are already an MPA with many bars; then you can still look at the Accreditations and create an Accreditation goal around a photography genre that you know little about or generally do not photograph. A goal can be about increasing interaction with the PPOC through volunteering and attending education events. It could also include business and financial milestones, marketing techniques, trying new photographic methods, and learning about new gear, to name a few. Whatever your photography goals are, make sure they are Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time Limited (i.e. SMART). SMART goals are clear; instead of simply stating, “I want to make more money,” a SMART goal would read, “I want to make 10,000.00 dollars in quarter 1 of 2020 by increasing my utilization of in-person sales tactics with the knowledge I learned at Canadian Imaging.” Also ensure you are writing goals down as there is a science to demonstrate this additional accountability makes us more likely to complete the goal. Communicating goals with others may also assist with accountability.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA (PPOC) is a diversified group of creative artists dedicated to the highest standards in professional imaging. We welcome photographers of all genres to join our community of dedicated professionals. PPOC offers photographers a way to rise to professional status. Educational opportunities, networking, direct member benefits and the ability to earn awards and designations will assist in your potential for growth and economic improvement. Did you know you can become a member of Canada’s oldest and most recognized professional photography association for as little as $26 monthly (plus tax)? Observer membership will entitle you to discounted pricing on educational events, access to a peer network upon whose knowledge you can draw, preferred rates with many of our industry partners, critiques of your imagery, and will open the door for you to submit for Accreditation in your chosen photographic field(s). You can even sign up for a Mentor to help you get the most out of your PPOC membership! Once you’ve achieved your Accreditation, you’ll be able to upgrade to full “PPOC Accredited Photographer” membership status, and will be listed on our “Search for a Photographer” feature on our website. You can promote yourself using the PPOC Logo and will also be eligible to vie for prestigious awards in National Image Competition, and to work toward earning the designations of Craftsman of Photographic Arts (CPA), Master of Photographic Arts (MPA), and Service of Photographic Arts (SPA). Are you ready to take your photographic career to the next level? Become recognized as a member of PPOC, stand out from the crowd, and take advantage of the benefits of membership! Create an Observer membership profile by following the links to join at www.ppoc.ca, and activate that membership with payment in full online, or by contacting us by phone at (888) 643-PPOC (7762) to set up a convenient monthly payment plan using your VISA or MasterCard. Apply TODAY!
LESSON 4: Claim those merits!
CONTACT 1-888-643-PPOC (7762) Phone: 519-537-2555 Info@ppoc.ca www.ppoc.ca
I know there are some amazing PPOC photographers out there who have enough print merits for certain designations but are now regretting not keeping track of their
MAILING ADDRESS: 209 Light St. Woodstock (Ontario) N4S 6H6 Canada
LESSON 5: Find your mentors. You are going to meet some amazing, talented photographers through the PPOC. What has hooked me in to the PPOC is that these professional photographers are some of the kindest, giving, enthusiastic, and humble people I have encountered in my life. They are willing to answer questions and lift up newer photographers. I would not be where I am without the mentorship I received through the PPOC both informally and formally through the Mentorship Program. The expertise within the organization is incredibly broad and eager to help the industry as a whole. I would encourage others to utilize the Mentorship Program as well as come out and network. Some of the best mentoring I have received was through hanging out informally or striking up friendships with other photographers. All you have to do is ask on social media or go to the PPOC website and apply for the Mentorship Program.
LESSON 6: Put yourself out there. It is terrifying to apply for your first Accreditation, submit a competition image, or walk into a room of talented photographers you have never met. I promise it is worth it. Know that the Accreditations and competition submissions are completely anonymous so if it misses the mark, no one will know it is your image. It is reasonable that you will not have success with every image and Accreditation. I certainly have had many failures but I now value those experiences. As long as you are learning and improving through the process it is a positive experience. Taking chances and risks will eventually lead to rewards with deliberate hard work and consideration of the feedback you receive. Putting yourself, and your work, out there gets easier over time; the first time is the hardest!
LESSON 7: Strategy. I am a competitive person. When entering the Regional and National competitions, I felt it was important to enter with a specific goal in mind. My goal has been attaining my MPA, so I entered accordingly to collect as many Print Merits as possible. Some may say, “that is a terrible idea, you should enter the proper categories to be eligible for a Photographer of the Year (POY) award in case all 4 of your images are scored Accepted or higher.” I agree this method is a good strategy, however, I wanted to make sure I was collecting the maximum points regardless of the categories and classes. I consciously made the decision to enter the images I felt were the strongest and had the best chance of admittance into the Regional and National Salons regardless of categories and classes. Now that my goal has shifted away from the MPA, you
better believe I will aim for a POY and pay more attention to categories and classes. Until now, this was not my priority. Know your priority and be strategic.
LESSON 8: Keep photography a passion. This can be challenging. Life is busy, and, at the end of the day, many photographers need to photograph to put food on their table. If you are passionate about fine art photography and the 56th lawyer of the day walks into the room for their business headshot, it might not seem that inspiring… In my opinion, photographers need to be deliberate in keeping photography both a career and a passion: - Take out your camera on a day you are not working
- Try a 365-day photography challenge
- Try something more experimental and break the rules of composition and lighting
- Find inspiration in other artforms and photographer’s work
- Go on a “shoot out” in your area
- Try a collaboration with other talents that brings you out of your - Try to achieve different Accreditations comfort zone outside your usual genre - Attend an educational or social photography event
- Enjoy nature with your camera in hand
These are just a few suggestions that will help with keeping the inspiration and passion for the art of photography alive. Without it, we will not create our best work which is what is needed for our livelihoods as well as competition.
LESSON 9: Volunteer. Obviously volunteering for the organization is needed for Service Merits. I can very honestly say volunteering has had so many other benefits. It has introduced me to great people who have become friends and have provided mentorship. It has given me skills that carryover to other Board memberships, event planning, marketing, and in other areas of my life. It exposed me to judging and competition which led me to learning more about photography in many genres as well as how competitions worked. It has allowed me to learn about the photography industry as a whole. Through this I have met vendors who I use in my business today, learned about software, and improved my communication skills.
LESSON 10: Watch judging. Being exposed to judging in Accreditations as well as the Regional and National competitions through volunteering, live attendance, and viewing live streams has taught me so much about what makes a great photograph. It has also helped me with naming images, storytelling through imagery, and how the variation in the lived experiences of the judges will affect the score of an image. The more I watched judging, the better my images became, and the more I understood the process. If you can attend judging live in your area, it is definitely worth attending.
LESSON 11: It isn’t the end. Someone asked me, “what does it mean to have achieved your MPA?” It means I am now onto the next goal and pushing the yardstick ahead! The more I learn the more questions I have and the stronger my drive to improve my craft and my business. I am now a mentor with the mentorship program and I will continue to give back to newer photographers through that as this practice also improves my work. I am starting to judge Accreditations and hope to improve my skills in this area. I will continue to compete, make goals that involve regional and national awards, work towards more Accreditations, and I eventually hope to attain a Fellowship. I want to be a better businesswoman, marketer, photographer, and provide my clients with a better overall experience. I want to keep up with the ever-changing industry. There are more aspiring photographers to lift up and inspire as my mentors did for me. The PPOC is an organization that allows me to have success and meet milestones while still humbling me – the reward and challenge is what keeps my drive and passion for photography going. My MPA means I have only just begun.
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volunteering time and educational events attendance. Service merits adds up quicker than you think, especially if you are fully involved in the PPOC. Make sure that you are claiming your Service Merits every year as you cannot claim further back than one year. Be clear with your Board how many merits different roles and tasks are worth upfront. Use the PPOC website as a resource as well as your regional Merit Chair. There are often seminars available on merits as well. You can also speak to your mentor…
MY PPOC MY INTEREST IN PHOTOGRAPHY STARTED YOUNG. I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAMERA WHEN I WAS JUST 9 YEARS OLD. I STILL ENJOY LOOKING AT THOSE FIRST PRINTS – PICTURES OF MY FRIENDS, MY PETS, MY HOUSE – THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME AT THAT TIME. I THINK THAT IS WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY IS REALLY ALL ABOUT FOR ME – CHERISHING THE PEOPLE AND PLACES YOU LOVE BY CAPTURING THEM IN A MOMENT OF TIME. I CONTINUED TO ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGH MY SCHOOL YEARS BY WORKING ON SCHOOL YEARBOOKS, TAKING A PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE, AND GETTING A PART-TIME JOB WORKING IN A PHOTO LAB. I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT COLOUR AND EXPOSURE BY PRINTING EVERYONE ELSE’S SNAPSHOTS. My first full-time job was working for a college doing graphic design, photography, darkroom work, and website design. I could not believe my good fortune to find a job that saw me spending days at a time in the darkroom and photographing events on campus. I held that job for 8 years and I learned so much. I took some evening photography courses during that time and my colleagues and students of the college started hiring me to photograph their weddings and families. My photography business just took off. By the time I started my family, I determined that I would just focus on my photography career and not return to my day job, even though it had been a wonderful place for me.
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In 2008, about 8 years after I photographed my first wedding for pay, I decided it was time to get serious and join PPOC. I had been watching Marlene Fast and Adeline Loewen, both PPOC members at that time, and was convinced that I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. Within a month of joining I received my Active status and started attending the monthly education events in Manitoba. I was so shy! I barely talked to anyone. I was intimidated being in the same room as all these big-name photographers that I had heard of. At breaks, I would go to the bathroom or get a cookie and sit in the corner, too nervous to go and talk to anyone. Marlene Fast would often come over and say hi. She did such a good job at making me feel welcome even though I was pretty sure no one else knew my name. I entered the regional Image Salon a couple of times early on and realized that I had a lot to learn before I would be successful, but I did not quit the Association. I kept showing up and learning, and absorbing whatever I could. In 2012 I earned my first two Accreditations and claimed my first print merits. What an amazing feeling! I was so proud and felt so accomplished. Later that year I was approached to let my name stand for the Manitoba Board. I was pretty sure that there was no chance that anyone would vote for me, so I cautiously agreed. To my surprise, I was elected and began my term on the Board in January of 2013. I did not have a clue what I was getting into, but it turns out it was the best thing that I could have done. I got to know that group of people on the Board so well! I felt involved, included, and invested. By working hard to help the Association plan events and work to make things better I got more out of the Association than I ever had before. It gave me the push to get out of my shell and help other new members feel welcome and included at events. That fall I decided to give Image Salon another try. Lo and behold, I won Photographer of the Year for Manitoba! I couldn’t believe it. When judging had finished, I was pretty sure I was the only one who qualified and I remember going out of the room to call my husband. My heart was racing. I was ecstatic! The next day at the Awards Banquet when my name was called, I honestly felt like I might as well have won an Academy Award. I had tears in my eyes while I gave an emotional thank you speech. Everyone clapped and stood to their feet. There are few moments I can recall in life where I have felt as validated and proud as I did at that moment. I was interviewed by the CBC for an article, my photograph appeared in the local newspapers, and people were congratulating me all year long. What a feeling! It motivated me to finally enter the national Image Salon for the first time in 2014.
I spent another year on the Manitoba Board and 3 years as Image Salon Chair for Manitoba before rejoining the Regional Board. I got to know more people, learned even more about all the work that many volunteers do, and enjoyed many car rides with Marlene Fast to attend meetings and events (we live about 1 mile from each other). 2 hours of driving and talking with Marlene for each event was worth the cost of my membership right there. She has a wealth of wisdom that she freely shares and is definitely someone I consider a mentor to me. In the fall of 2017, the position of National Director for Manitoba became available and I finally had all the qualifications needed to let my name stand. I was excited about a new challenge and working with members across the country. Just 6 months after joining the Board I took on the role of Treasurer. It is a role I deeply enjoy and I have learned so much in the last year. Budgeting, taxes, finance, and bookkeeping are all interests of mine, so it was a natural fit for me. I get the privilege of working with Louise Vessey, a Board Chair that gives so much of her heart and soul into the Association. I also have worked with dedicated National Directors from other regions that have shown their commitment to serving the members and overcoming challenges together so our Association can once again grow. So, here I am, the shy photographer from 10 years ago that had so much to learn and had so little confidence. My business has grown, my photography has improved, I have earned 10 Accreditations, received my Master of Photographic Arts, and now I have so many wonderful friends in this network of photographers that we are so lucky to be a part of. Each year I feel more and more invested in this Association. I think I would have long quit photography if I hadn’t had the education, support, and motivation that I have received from this Association. And now I am not afraid to stand in front of you all and answer tough questions from members at an AGM because I know that we are all in it together. We are a big family of hard-working, driven photographers that want the best for each other and for our profession. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that?
Charmaine Toews, MPA Charmaine is a portrait photographer in Mitchell, Manitoba. She is currently the Treasurer on the National Board of Directors and has earned 10 Accreditations along with her Master of Photographic Arts. She was the 2013 Photographer of the Year in Manitoba and earned her Manitoba Fellowship in 2017. She is a proud mama to three children, ages 9, 12, and 14 and has been married to the love of her life for 20 years. She is active on the Parent Councils at her children’s schools, volunteers at her church, and enjoys traveling as much as possible.
ABOUT THE COVER CREATIVITY OFTEN HAS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. THIS IMAGE WAS MADE WHILE ON HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE AND VISITING CHURCHES. AS AN ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPH IT IS NICE BUT LACKED SOME KIND OF DRAMA. I OFTEN EXPLORE VARIOUS OPTIONS TO EXPRESS MY VISUAL VOICE USING PHOTOSHOP AND THIRD PARTY PLUG INS.
Part of any creative process is to explore ideas and experiment with software plugins and of course draw upon the years of working with images. Light, contour and shadows are the elements that bring life and depth to an image. I felt that some sort of “light” from the alter would give a sense of depth and drama. I was amaze by all the lines, curves and diagonals I discovered, and more, all of them convergent toward the most important part of the church, the Heart.
I had hundreds of photographs to look at and reviewed each one of them for only two seconds each, based only on impact. That narrowed down the selection considerably. I did a second much more aggressive edit looking for images that had IMPACT or WOW factor. I looked closely for compositional strength and of course the strength of drama in lighting. I did not pay attention to this image right away but it kept coming back in my head. Last year (six years later) looking for competitions prints, this image finally attracted my attention, and I decided to take a chance and started creating different versions. I started by correcting the perspective of the church in Photoshop and that correction opened the door for a different vision. Everything in this image was beige, brown, black, cold and flat. I had to give it a warmer ambiance by adding contrast and colour correction. Churches are mysterious places, quiet, peaceful serene and beautiful. I wanted to include all those specific emotional qualities to this image.
Lines, curves and diagonals converging toward the Heart of the Church.
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Original image.
I used “Life Force by Photofrano” which is found in Topaz Studio. What is fun with topaz is I never know what I am going to get! It can change my image dramatically, in ways I never thought could be possible. It opens doors to alternative visions of an original image. This brought my creativity to a higher level! At the beginning, I need to do a background copy. The effect always looks too strong, but by reducing the opacity I will see the new image start to reveal itself. I play with it by using different effects and adjustments until I am satisfied. I make sure to save all my versions with the applied treatment. It is common to go back and rework images and there is so many options it is easy to get confused. Never flatten and save or crop and save unless I am completely certain that the treatment I have applied is exceptional. There are so many options. To make this faster, when I like a specific effect, I click on the little heart and it will be saved in the Favorite folder in the program. Most of the time I only look at the 175 different effects I have pre-selected. Because we tend to ignore photos we took years ago, it would be a good idea to have a look at old images that are sleeping in our hard drive for so long. Photoshop, Lightroom and plugins have evolved and it is easier now to do what was impossible a few years ago. You may have forgotten some wonderful master pieces that you could transform for sharing, hang on your wall or sell as art!
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Final image.
Liette Gilbert, MPA, SPA From my passion to my profession As a self-taught photographer, it was during her first job as retoucher that she realized a passion for photography. Since then, she has continued to improve her knowledge by following and interacting with international photographers at conferences throughout Canada and the United States. Ms Gilbert has been one of the most renowned photographers in Quebec and Canada. Her work has won numerous awards including the coveted Yousuf Karsh Lifetime Achievement Award. Today, she pursues her passion and art by devoting herself more to her artistic creations. Her new limited edition series on horses, gained tremendous following in galleries across Canada.
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