Maureen Tubman THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE

“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” - Jordan Belfort

I didn’t think I was good enough to be a photographer with ShowChampions. Until a friend gave me the same advice I dish out to others: “Just apply, what’s the worst that could happen?” My job interview was the Calgary Stampede, believe it or not. I had just a few days to prove myself, learn, grow, and give them a great impression. It went well. Very well!

It was 2016, and the world’s most trusted livestock photographer put ME at the “Super Bowl of Cattle Shows” Hereford backdrop. I had to leave it all on the table! Exhaustion in a place of bliss can teach you plenty if you let it. You either win or you learn. Within a few short months I had completed all 16 days of the National Western Stock Show, 20 days of the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, and three weeks of the largest livestock show in the world in Houston, Texas.

Soon thereafter I was hired for Farmfair

I can’t tell you how much I learned, but my skills and abilities were tested by long days photographing hundreds of animals, multiple species, and dozens of show rings. One thing is for sure: your confidence better grow, or you can fade into the background quickly. People trust that you are in control and know exactly what to do. I grew quickly by taking on every challenge that I was introduced to and by learning to receive feedback and critique. There is always something new to learn.

The opportunity doors kept opening, and I kept walking through. Sometimes people don’t see the opportunity as it lies right in front of them. You have to know when to say no, and when to say yes…on repeat. I try to live as if I won’t have the opportunity to experience things again, as often we don’t. Saying no one time can shut down an amazing relationship you could have had for 20 years. I photograph with that in mind. I photograph as if it is the last chance…

When the first show season cooled off, I found myself in an awkward place. I was in the middle of a very trying personal time, in a new city, newly divorced, and struggling to find an employment opportunity. I am sure I applied for 50 jobs that summer and was called for one interview. I was discouraged.

Luck is when opportunity and preparation meet. That’s when Allan Browarny, the CEO of ShowChampions, asked me about my editing abilities. I had my own business as a portrait photographer prior to ShowChampions, so I was fluent in postprocessing photographs. I demonstrated my talents at the time to Allan, and the rest really is history! I quickly became the senior editor for Mr. Browarny. The Browarny name is affluent around the globe, and now I was the one carefully placing that name on each photograph and delivering to clients from Alberta to Brazil, New Mexico, Australia, Chile, Thailand, and more.

That year was completely wild and equally fantastic! I was soon travelling for on-farm photoshoots, having photographed my first cattle dispersal that fall. I travelled with and assisted Allan on select on-farm photoshoots, learning how he handles customers, business, video, and photoshoots. I knew I always had to take every ounce of intel I could. It is akin to being able to travel with and play alongside Gretzky in his day. There can be many exhausting and uncomfortable moments, but it sure is rewarding! Allan and I travel and work well together. We soon took on many international and on-farm photoshoots together, building the ShowChampions brand wherever we saw opportunity. Doing so has built many once-in-a-lifetime relationships and friendships. Since 2016, these are some of the events and places I have had the pleasure to work:

• National Western Stock Show (5 times)

• San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo (5x)

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (5x)

• Canadian Western Agribition (6x)

• Farmfair (6x)

• Calgary Stampede (6x)

• Sydney Royal Easter Show, Australia (3x)

• Royal Highland Show - Edinburg, Scotland

• Mexico’s National Brahman Show & Congreso Ganadero de las Estrellas

• Monterey California County Fair

• Toronto Royal (3x)

• Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, B.C, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba

I am sure it was my parents; they encouraged making something great with mediocre ingredients. That’s what our culture was about. Descendants of Ukrainians, my Mother and Father made sure I knew how to “do things well.” It truly takes the same amount of time to do something well as it does to do it poorly. I was raised in East Central Saskatchewan on a multi-generation mixed farming operation. Teamwork and getting the job done no matter the circumstances are something we in the livestock industry can all relate to.

I purchased my first camera when I was in my early teens, sending multiple rolls of film to the city with my Mother on a monthly basis. Like anyone with new gear, I photographed everything as it was, learning to make it look its very best. With much trial and error I discovered how to find the “beauty in the beast.” I am a self-taught photographer who benefited from the best mentors I could find. We are very privileged to live in the age of the internet. Google was and still is my university. The subject does not matter, but there is always a way to make it look its best. My high school art teacher instilled in me that all art is a matter of light and perspective. A great metaphor for life, too!

Presentation of your subject is the first and major thing to consider— being prepared, having help, and keeping everything clean. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Do the very best with what you can at that moment. You will invest so much of your time and money sourcing genetics, marketing, breeding, feeding, fitting, etc., but it all comes down to the final presentation, which is the photograph. You don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. It is so important in this competitive market that you grab the viewer’s attention as quickly as possible. A photograph is single-handedly almost always the thing that will draw customers to your farm or ranch to view the animals.

When photographing cattle, consider the setting and backgrounds. Animals up against a fence or structure will become lost. It is said that the background will suck all the power out of the animal. Keep distractions behind the animal(s) at a minimum. If you must have a fence, the less fence the better. It is understandable that not all cattle are used to an electric wire, but if you can at least keep the cattle from standing up against a background they will look more present and stronger. I find that distractions in the background are just that: distractions that will prevent the viewer from focusing on the main character, your animal.

Photoshoot day can certainly be stressful. However, it is my job to make sure the client has an enjoyable experience. It comes with the territory that there is a lot of work, expectations, and money wrapped up in photo day, but a crew that does not jive well together just does not pull the best out of the scenario. I cannot stress the importance of having keen photo pen help with great cattle sense and knowledge of animal energy. Be sure to set expectations, be clear about what it is you need, and practice patience. A great photographer is truly like an orchestra conductor. When I shoot, I am acutely aware of what the animal is going to do next, where the photo pen help is at, how to direct said help, and where I need to be to get the shot.

Sunshine is the ideal lighting to photograph animals. It brings out the dimension, shape, and muscle of cattle and brightens up the whole scene. Green grass or any type of colour in your scene can really make a difference in the final outcome. I like to utilize contrast if I can.

Marketing photos, group shots, and stock photos are equally important. You want photos that show off your program in its entirety: a great group shot of your bull pen offering; cow-calf pairs in the summer with a big calf at side its mother on green grass; herdbull photographs; scenic images of your ranch; really any great image that entices the audience and might encourage customers to visit or purchase from your program. A great stock photo or scenic image showing off your groups of cattle can really go a long way in instilling the perception of your program and selling your genetics! I do always encourage people to hire professionals. It is an opportunity to have the job done efficiently, professionally, and allows you to focus on what you do best in your day to day. Having that extra network of people to discuss and showcase your program is also a benefit.

When I am not travelling, my favourite place to be is with my son Wagner and spouse Ryan at our home near Saskatoon. Ryan is a professional auctioneer in the cattle industry, and we spend a lot of our time at cattle sales and industry gatherings. Wagner enjoys speed skating, building Lego, and has recently taken up archery. We do have some commercial cattle, and we enjoy the falltime as it allows us to spend some spare time in the barn preparing sale heifers. That is truly our hobby. Our life is very full, but when we manage to be together it sure is special!

Maureen Tubman

www.showchampions.com

Photographer & Photo Editor - 306-730-7822

Saskatchewan, Canada