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from Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine January 2023 issue

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DANIEL STEWART’S INFRARED SERIES FEATURED IN JANUARY RVAC SHOW

REVELSTOKE-BASED ADVENTURE SPORTS AND COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER DANIEL STEWART’S EXPLORATION OF THE WORLD IN INFRARED, CALLED INFRARAD, FEATURED IN FIRST 2023 AT THE REVELSTOKE VISUAL ARTS CENTRE

BY AARON ORLANDO Revelstoke photographer Daniel Stewart’s series of 20 infrared adventure sports and landscape acrylic images, InfraRAD, will be featured in the main hall at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre’s January show.

Revelstoke-based Stewart works as a photographer for Selkirk Tangiers, works closely with professional athletes like skier Sammy Carlson and snowboarder Dustin Craven, and is often featured in mountain adventure publications. In 2020, he took an interest in infrared photography, but the images he saw didn't reflect the outdoor action sports genre he works in, so he took a deep dive into the genre to explore how he could use infrared to capture his world.

Forms of infrared photography have been around for over a century, and the genre has come in and out of vogue. Infrared was often used to solve technical issues, such as for aerial photography that could penetrate cloud cover, or for military applications such as camouflage detection.

Artistically, its look has been in and out of vogue, such as during the psychedelic era in the '60s and graced album covers from recording artists like Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead.

One reason it's not as prevalent in contemporary digital photography is modern digital camera sensors filter out the infrared spectrum, so expensive conversions or conversion kits are needed to make it work. technology company focusing on infrared photography. They convert cameras and offer drop-in filters that help the digital sensors translate the input into an infrared spectrum.

Even if you have the conversion kit, one reason they’re not prevalent in action sports, Stewart learned, is the technical challenges of shooting action, including the need for complex manual focusing.

For Stewart, creating the exhibit has been a challenge and a journey. He has worked full-time as a commercial and action photographer since 2016, facing the challenges of making a living in a craft where paycheques aren't consistent. “Photography is my livelihood now. I have been very much focused on surviving," he said.

Allowing himself a sojourn into infrared allowed him to refocus on photography as a creative outlet. “It has been very scary,” he said.

But with encouragement from those close to him and encouraging results from his experiments, he pressed on, shooting kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, biking and landscapes. The results have been personally rewarding and gained recognition. Two infrared (and one regular) images were selected for inclusion in the Red Bull Illume contest and resulting photo book, one of the most prestigious selections in the adventure sports photography world.

His infrared exploration was an artistic departure that allowed him to reclaim the creative space. “It was almost like learning about taking photography all over again but getting super creative,” he said. “It seems like everywhere I brought it forward it’s turned into something

bigger than I thought it’d be. Infrared photography has allowed me to take photography back in the way that it’s a creative outlet.

The exhibit features 20 images printed on acrylic to help make the focus and images pop. Stewart has partnered with Armada Skis and Nitro Snowboards to create a pair of skis and a board with photos from the series to be featured in the exhibit.

The exhibit at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre features an exhibit opening on the evening of Jan. 5 and the show runs until Jan. 29. The exhibit features works by Jamie Kroeger in Gallery One, Sabrina Curtis in Gallery Two and works by Susie Kathol and Jenny Liski in Gallery Three.

Photos from left to right:

Revelstoke-based adventure sports photographer Daniel Stewart. Photo: Aaron Orlando/ Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

Daniel Stewart often works with pro snowboarder Dustin Craven, pictured here in this sequence in the Revelstoke backcountry. This season, Craven will compete on the Freeride World Tour and is returning to the Natural Selection Tour, which stops in Revelstoke in 2023. Photo: Daniel Stewart

Infrared photography expresses a spectrum of light beyond what the eye can see. In this photo from the Shelter Bay area, the chlorophyll in the tree shows up as a dark red hue. Photo: Daniel Stewart

NAVIGATING THE NEW YEAR AND NEW NORMAL

The past few years have turned everything we know upside down. Health and wellness are no exception. Our social, emotional and physical health has taken a tumultuous ride and normal as we knew it is a thing of the past. To start this new year, we reached out for some advice on navigating this new normal.

We asked some of Revelstoke's health and wellness professionals what the past few years have taught them about health and wellness and what advice they would give about navigating the year ahead.

By Nora Hughes

Didié Hamel-Jolette Manual Osteopathic Therapist and Athletic Therapist Keystone Health

On a smaller scale, an injury could have a “COVID” effect on your life and force you to be isolated for some time. More than before, you may realize the importance of social connections in your life, and physical activities can be a way to cultivate those cherished bonds.

Many folks in Revelstoke are hardcore when it comes to outdoor activities, and it may be one of your ways to enjoy life. At New Year, perhaps you will take time to reflect on what are your new objectives or adventures you want to achieve in 2023? Well, well, I have two pieces of advice for you crazy gals and fellas.

First, include friends or family in your objectives; it’s way more fun together!

Second, think about the steps to get there and how you can gradually increase your capacity. Many kinds of research show that spikes in training load put you at greater risk of injury. Detraining during a certain amount of time can be as detrimental as overtraining. Training hard and doing your activities “consistently” will help you to create positive physical adaptions and stay healthy and active with your friends. In other words, plan well your shoulder seasons!

Dr. Kim Niddery, ND

Naturopathic Doctor, Revelstoke Osteopathy & Wellness

You are unique. Your lived experience is unlike anyone else’s. How you arrived here today is completely different from the next person. You have a unique set of needs, emotions, beliefs, characteristics, idiosyncrasies, and genetics. Nothing in this world is a one size fits all, and this is especially true when it comes to your health. Your health is the most valuable thing you own; without it, your quality of life changes.

These past few years hit a little differently and in a variety of ways. One common thread for most was the toll it took on our nervous system. These years highlighted the need for nervous system support, not only in a burnout phase, but much earlier in order to foster resiliency. Our nervous system affects our energy, sleep, immune system, hormones, mood, cardiovascular system, metabolism, reproduction, and brain. The approach to best support your nervous system is as unique as you and how you experience the world. Revelstoke has many amazing practitioners with unique skills to help you achieve optimal health. I encourage you to curate a personalized healthcare TEAM. Surround yourself with people who want to see you thrive and work to optimize your unique health.

Shannon Morton

Interim Physiotherapist, Keystone Health

If COVID years taught me anything, it’s that health and wellness are not something that just happens but rather something that we must be mindful of. Over the last two years, we’ve all had to adapt to the new normal, which for our very active community included finding new ways to keep moving when our main outlets were shut down. My advice moving forward into the new year is to keep an open mind about what health and wellness look like — it’s different for everyone. Talk about your health and wellness with your support system, as it helps to remove the stigma and allows us to speak more freely about how we are really doing. Finally, my last piece of advice about navigating the new normal is to explore multiple activities that move and excite you. Movement is medicine, and that includes dance parties in the kitchen!

Lindsey Harris

Registered Clinical Counsellor, Keystone Health

I have learned to live in the present moment, unable to predict the future in these unprecedented times. I came to accept that plans could be postponed or cancelled at a moment’s notice. This enhanced my gratitude for all I have been able to do, during the past few years and especially this year, where community events such as arts, sports, and social gatherings are back to normal. I experienced a deepening of connections with my friends, neighbours, and community through mutual support.

Moving forwards, my advice would be to adopt or continue mindfulness practices, such as meditation, yoga, and practicing gratitude, to help with being grounded and increase resilience for the inevitable challenges in life. Consider including movement you enjoy, bonus points for it being outside, extra bonus points for including connection with people, if that feels good for you. Examine your needs for social interaction and see where you’re at. Do you need more social time? Less social time? Or simply different social interactions? Everyone’s needs are different and there are plenty of opportunities locally to engage with people in a variety of ways. Give yourself permission to stay home sometimes if that is what you need.

It has reinforced the concept of connection. The health and well-being of one person, one group, or one community has a huge impact on the whole of humanity. In order to find true health, we need to consider the collective because individual health is not sustainable unless we are all taken care of. Our philosophy at Jade Wellness is to strive for strong personal health so that we may allow healing to occur for the patients we work with. Those people then have the capacity to spread health and happiness to those around them. Wishing everyone love, wellness and connection in 2023.

Nancy Hillier

Physiotherapist, Keystone Health

A constant in life is change, and adapting to change can be challenging, especially when the change creates restrictions outside of our comfort level. The past few years have opened my eyes more to the importance of what compassion is, and has made me more aware of how to meet people where they are. My profession is viewed as being very movement and physiologicalbased, with an emphasis on these components. I feel that an emphasis on selfcompassion, self-awareness and learning what our bodies need (meditation, art, music, sitting in nature, sitting still, etc.) to heal aside from performance/ movement progression is as important as the movement component. Wellness is a state of being and changes. Practice self-compassion; take a moment to listen to your bodies and take a moment to feel. This will help you understand what helps you mentally, socially and physically.

Noelle Bovon

Writer, Counsel & Therapeutics, and owner of Balu Yoga & Wellness

Emotional and mental health are directly related to what is happening below the neck. It's not a mind-over-matter problem; it's the collective of our whole system. If we're not taking care of ourselves; mind, body and spirit (soul) — our entire emotional system can collapse.

We understand that staying physically healthy requires being active most days; the same applies to our emotional well-being. We need practices for emotional health, which can include healthy food, meditation, counselling or therapy, yoga, time outdoors, breathwork, etc. Yet we do not have to do ALL the things. Not everything works for everybody, even if it works for most people. Our inner systems are all different, which means just because it works for one person doesn't mean it heals everyone.

Remaining soft and gentle with ourselves is essential to supporting our process. Coming together in community to practice yoga and other modalities that create connection is important. Keep company with like-minded people, people who prioritize emotional well-being. Be mindful of those who push their ideals and dogma onto you, and connect with those who work at it without being preachy.

The last three years have shown us that disconnection makes us unhealthy. Supporting both mind and body is a non-negotiable. Look at yourself as a whole and create habits that support your well-being. Being kind, patient, and gentle with ourselves are gifts of such high magnitude; remember to tend to yourself and seek help when you need.

William Jarrige

Osteopathic Practitioner, Revelstoke Osteopathy and Wellness

While the culture within and between medical and paramedical practitioners is continuously evolving to find new ways of being inclusive and working with one another, these last few years showed us again the importance of being healthy and staying healthy. Continual education and a multidisciplinary approach to your own health is key to achieving this. As an Osteopathic Practitioner, I do my best to share my knowledge in my areas of expertise to my patients. When I feel that something is outside of my scope of practice or my knowledge is limited, I do not hesitate to refer my patients to other great practitioners that we have in town. My advice for this new year to my patients is to continue to explore what our practitioners offer, learn who is the right fit for you, and don't wait until there is a problem or the end of the year to book in your appointments. Find the balance that works for you.

Erin Potter

Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Jade Wellness Co.

Shota Ida

Physiotherapist, Keystone Health

The past few years have been challenging for us all. My takeaway regarding the new normal is to focus on building strong connections and supports in all domains of health and wellness. Physical, emotional, and social health are all equally important, and each domain can impact the others both positively and/or negatively. Focusing on having a balance and taking care of all aspects of what we define as health and wellness are what will help us navigate the new normal. We are lucky to have so many wonderful wellness professionals located in Revelstoke who are willing to listen, connect and provide great education and care to us. To summarize, my advice would be to utilize the resources we have in Revelstoke to take care of all aspects of health and wellness as we have all realized, over the last few years, how interconnected each domain is.