O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E C A N A D I A N A S S O C I AT I O N F O R P H O T O G R A P H I C A R T
SPRING 2011 • $7.95
Canadian Camera Conference 2011 2010 Competition Winners An African Photo Safari Saskatchewan's Fieldstone Ruins Living With Loons
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Vol. 12, No.1 • Spring 2011
Contents
Sheena Wilkie
Editor-in-chief 14220 71 Ave. Surrey BC V3W2L1 E-mail: editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca
Allen Bargen
Publishing Editor
Jozef VanVeenen
Art Director E-mail: info@tikit.ca
Allen Bargen
Roger Partington
Sheena Wilkie
Advertising Manager E-mail: roger@coherentb2b.com
CANADIAN CAMERA (ISSN1206-3401) is published quarterly by the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, Box 357, Logan Lake BC V0K 1W0. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission of the publisher and author. All photographic rights remain with the photographer. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors. Articles and photographic portfolios are welcomed from all CAPA members. All articles should be submitted to CANADIAN CAMERA, c/o the editor-in-chief. If you wish material to be returned, include a suitably sized envelope with adequate return postage affixed. CANADIAN CAMERA and the editor assume no responsibility for loss or damage to material, regardless of cause; however, every effort will be made to return material supplied with SASE. CANADIAN CAMERA reserves the unrestricted right to edit, crop and comment editorially on all submitted material. SUBSCRIPTIONS: CANADIAN CAMERA is distributed automatically to CAPA members. Individual copies are available for $7.95. Library subscriptions cost $35.00 for four issues. For further information, contact CAPA National Headquarters, Box 357, Logan Lake BC V0K 1W0. Tel.: 1-250-523-2378 E-mail: capa@capacanada.ca Canadian Mail Publication Agreement #1665081
2 4
Message from the President Phototalk
6
Club Focus 6 Photo Fredericton Inc.
8 Welland Camera Club Celebrates 50 Years CAPA News Canadian Camera Conference 2011 CAPA 2011 Annual Digital Competition CAPA Competitions An African Photo Safari Saskatchewan's Fieldstone Ruins Living with Loons “Categorically Yours” - White Wedding CAPA New Members
10 12 Jacques S. Mailloux 14 16 Kris Klus 24 Larry Easton 28 Mark Lachovsky 32 36 36
London Camera Club
Michiko Nishijima - Past President
THE COVER Ata Safar "Hydrangea", Burnaby Photographic Society
Printed in Canada by
CAPA is a FIAP-affiliated organization.
www.capacanada.ca
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Message from the president
Allen P. Bargen
CAPA Officers & National Council Members
Founded in 1968, CAPA is a nonprofit organization for photographers, including amateurs, professionals, camera clubs, and anyone interested in photography. The aims of CAPA are to promote good photography as an art form in Canada, and to provide useful information for photographers. CAPA accomplishes this through interaction with individuals and member camera clubs and by distributing slide sets, evaluating photographs, running competitions, and publishing the quarterly Canadian Camera. CAPA also sponsors Canadian Camera Conference, an annual summer weekend of field trips and seminars held in a different city each year. CAPA is a member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP).
CAPA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Allen P. Bargen, FCAPA VICE PRESIDENT William ( Bill ) Lloyd SECRETARY Michael Breakey, FCAPA TREASURER Len Suchan, FCAPA PAST PRESIDENT Jacques S. Mailloux, FCAPA
CAPA DIRECTORS ATLANTIC ZONE Leo Allain QUEBEC ZONE Volunteer Opportunity ONTARIO ZONE Rod Trider PRAIRIE ZONE Larry Easton, FCAPA PACIFIC ZONE Larry Breitkreutz, MCAPA DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGING Dr. Bob Ito, FCAPA DIRECTOR OF CCC Volunteer Opportunity DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS Judy Higham, MCAPA
CAPA Membership Services Lee Smith Box 357, Logan Lake BC. V0K – 1W0 1-250-523-2378 E-mail: membership@capacanada.ca Web site: www.capacanada.ca 2 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Photographers have a unique opportunity to affect our communities in dramatic and exciting ways, as creators of historical images of the everyday life and activities we see all around us. Many photographers, doubtless most of us, take hundreds of pictures of the things that surround us, images of our main streets, photos of the key events of the day, perhaps a local parade or the dedication of a new building or monument. Over time these shots of a ‘moment in time’ become relevant to the community as memories of what once was; a window back in time so to speak.
Last year, as part of a community involvement project with the city of Richmond, I was asked to put together a group of photographers to document the events around the 2010 Winter Olympics. Members of the Richmond Photo Club rallied to the cause, and over the next three weeks, we took thousands of images of the events and people who came to visit and participate in the games. These images are now part of the City Archives and are a permanent record of what we all saw. So I send a challenge to each of you to do something similar in your communities. Get to know the people who run the archives for your city, and get involved in events that document the city and your part of it. Our effort, now a part of the city’s history is accredited to the individual
photographers who were part of the team. Any similar activity could initially be set up as a field trip to get things rolling. I suspect that in a short time, we could start to see some quite exciting articles for our magazine on “Our Town” as an added benefit. The big news for this article is that we are quickly approaching the Canadian Camera Conference in London during the Canada day weekend from June 29th to July 3rd 2011. You will find full details on the conference elsewhere in the magazine and on the website as well. Go to www. capaconference.com for event details and access to accommodations. London is a beautiful city and our hosts, the London Camera Club has an exciting and fully packed four days of events planned for
us... This is your opportunity to join hundreds of photographers from across the country to visit this historic area and participate in this educational and informative event. We are well along on the complete redesign of our website, thanks to CAPA member Adam Weston, an expert in web design and implementation. You will soon be able to log into the new site, and explore its new features. Our website will showcase the photography of our members, and their activities. We are adding easy links to the social media of your choice, much improved member galleries and link pages. There are dynamic and interactive areas for members to voice opinions and catch up on the latest events. A newly designed Calendar will give you access to a place where you can post your upcoming events, and a secure easy to access members only area will hold the information we keep for your eyes only such as member discounts, and events. In time we will populate it with other things you told us were important, like an active blog, educational articles and tutorials, a how to area and many more similar things. If there is a feature you would like us to add, please send a message to me and I’ll give it to the group for consideration.
I’m looking forward to meeting you at our 2011 Conference. See you in London soon. g
Allen P. Bargen, FCAPA President president@capccanada.ca
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CAPA Judging Course
Are you interested in learning how to evaluate and score photographic images or becoming a trained Judge? CAPA is pleased to offer a brand new course that will teach you how to look at an image, comment on its strengths and opportunities, and how to correctly score it at Club and CAPA competitions. You will quickly learn how to; Identify The Strengths and weaknesses in a photograph See the message the photographer intends Spot the criteria that makes a photograph great Understand the Techniques used to create the image Set aside your own personal bias when evaluating Apply a fair and impartial score to an image Understand what judges look for in your photography Discover new rules for evaluating photography Know why it's ok to break rules for great photography Qualify to become a CAPA Certified Judge Courses are now being planned and implemented across Canada. For more information on how to register for a course, or to find out if one is being offered in your area, please contact Allen Bargen at
www.capacanada.ca Tel.(250) 523-2333
president@capacanada.ca or phone 604-270-1137
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phototalk
Sheena Wilkie, Editor-in-chief
Does every photo need to be pretty? Recently at a dinner with a couple of other photographers, the question was asked "Does every photo need to be pretty?" Since then, I've given this question a lot of thought and asked the opinions of some of my photographer friends.
The obvious answer from most photographers is "no, of course not". And yet, the work of many famous photographers of the past and the present would be unlikely to win a club competition. Particularly within the photo club circuit, the photos that rise to the top tend to be aesthetically pleasing depictions of pretty sunsets, pretty flowers, pretty people, etc. Let me make it perfectly clear, I enjoy making and viewing those images as much as the next photographer. I am not "anti-pretty". However, I do feel strongly that photographs that aren't classically beautiful can also be great. If you look at the broad photographic world and the even broader art world; in museums, galleries and editorial use, there is a wide audience for genres and subjects that may invoke a more intellectual response and may require more of the viewer. Why is it so different in photo clubs and communities? More important than asking why we love images that are pretty, I think we should examine why we exclude the good and interesting work that's not. I don't think it's actually very surprising, if you think about it. Images that don't produce a visceral impact and require some deeper thought and consideration are often harder make, harder to critique, and harder to evaluate or judge. I say this as a CAPA judge with firsthand experience. And many of these images do not stand on their own, but require a certain amount of context. For example, 4 - CANADIAN CAMERA
a documentary series may not convey very much at all to the viewer without some explanation of the story being documented.
You might be wondering, “If people are enjoying the photos, what's the problem?” The way I see it, it's not so much a problem as it is a lost opportunity. You might be wondering, “If people are enjoying the photos, what's the problem?” The way I see it, it's not so much a problem as it is a lost opportunity. I think that if we look to broaden our horizons, by giving voice to photographs that challenge our ideas and sensibilities, it can only add dimension to our clubs and photography. That's something I'd like to see. OK, so what might these "nonpretty" photos be? The genres that don't get a lot of play in photo communities, such as photojournalism, documentary, social and urban landscape. When we do see these, they are much more likely to be from somewhere exotic, like Africa
or Thailand. Themes that you'll almost never see explored, like those around age and death, environmental damage or catastrophe, and daily life in our cities and neighbourhoods. Don't think that the only alternatives to pretty are ugly and banal. Subjects that may seem inaccessible, uncomfortable, or even boring can result in images that might be described as "clever", "intriguing", “thoughtful” or "atmospheric". What are we likely to get out of photos that aren't pretty? Taking photos that make people feel something out of the ordinary, or invoke serious thought about a subject or idea they rarely consider brings different and sometimes deeper rewards to the photographer. Consequently, it's usually more difficult. It's a challenge to notice and reflect back aspects of our lives in a way that is more compelling than a lovely setting sun. But that is another benefit for those who seek to be challenged and grow. Similarly, viewers may be surprised at how experiencing photos which push them to think in new ways about new things can be very rewarding as well. If you have any thoughts, photographs, or an article about photography that might be seen as “non-pretty”, I hope you'll submit it. I'm interested, and I know that there are so many stories to be told. We’d like to tell yours. g Sheena Wilkie MCAPA www.phototalk.ca
SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES, PORTFOLIOS AND NEWS ITEMS CAPA Members… We need submissions for upcoming issues. Canadian Camera is YOUR magazine! We welcome your articles, news items, portfolios and reviews. We do reserve the right to accept or reject material as we see fit. We will make every effort to achieve a balance of views, subject matter and geographical representation of our members. So please, submit an article about that last photo trip you took or that last nice lens you purchased. You never know, you might just get your name in print.
How to send material • Please write your article in Word format or plain text • You may mail your article and high resolution images on a CD/DVD • CD/DVD returns require a SASE suitable for return mail • You may send your article and low res photos by email to editor-in-chief@ capacanada.ca • High resolution photos can also be submitted by FTP (instructions available upon request)
• Please don’t format the text of your article. No bold, underline, bullets, indenting, or special characters • Photos must be JPG format (No RAW, TIFF, PSD, etc.) • Do not resize, final photos must be full resolution • If photos are scanned CMYK is preferable to RGB • Photos must have simple descriptive filenames and include the photographer's name, e.g. Susan_ Brown_barn_swallow.jpg
CAPA_HA.MEDOC_7x4.9_CMYK_May10_FINAL.ai
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10/05/10
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• We may not use all of the photos you submit, therefore: • Your article should not contain notes about where to place a photo • Your article should not contain wording specific to a photo • You may list your files and suggested captions after your article text • Please include your phone number, e-mail address and CAPA membership number
When to send it • Summer Issue April 20, 2011 • Fall Issue July 20, 2011 • Winter Issue Oct. 23, 2011 • Spring Issue Jan. 19, 2012 These dates are for time-sensitive material only. Submitting an article and having it accepted does not mean it will come out in the next issue.
Where to send it Canadian Camera
c/o Sheena Wilkie, Editor-in-Chief 14220, 71st Ave., Surrey, BC V3W 2L1 E-mail: editor-in-chief@capacanada.ca
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Club Focus
Photo Fredericton Inc. “We provide a forum for members to exchange ideas and improve their photographic knowledge, techniques, and creativity.” Photo Fredericton is a non-profit club composed of photographers from Fredericton and surrounding areas. It has been active since it was founded in 1978 and has been a longtime CAPA club member. Photo Fredericton hosted the CameraCanadaCollege in Fredericton twice (1984, 1993) and we also hosted the CAPA Competitions for judging three times in the past. Occasionally, our club has organized public presentations by Freeman Patterson, Andre Gallant and others. The number of club members has been growing in recent years and is now nearly 100 in a population of 86,000 in the Greater Fredericton area. Photo Fredericton meets twice each month from September to May. One evening is for a presentation program devoted to learning and/or entertainment. We enjoyed invited presenters such as Andre Gallant, Stephen Scott Patterson, John Sylvester, Maurice Henri, and the 6 - CANADIAN CAMERA
students of the New Brunswick Craft and Design College. The topics of the presentations are varied in order to meet our members’ interests. The other evening is to offer club members the opportunity to share their work by participating in competitions. Digital images are projected for critique and judging. A variety of competition themes encourage members to look at things in a different light. We also provide help for those who wish to convert film images to digital files. As part of the Photo Fredericton membership, members receive full access to our website including their own personal image gallery, articles and discussions by members, web competitions, information on photographic events, and much more. Photographers at all levels, from beginners to advanced, are welcome. Members are also invited to bring interested guests, several of whom have subsequently joined us.
Ph o t o Fre d e r i c t o n o r g a n i ze s photographic workshops for members on regular basis. Many members attend and enjoy these workshops lead by some advanced photographers in the club. The members are also encouraged to participate in photographic field trips throughout the year. Whether it is photographing hot air balloons in the town of Sussex, walking the beaches and shores of the Bay of Fundy, photographing fishing villages, boats and shorebirds, or visiting botanical gardens, these one-day and overnight field trips offer avid photographers a chance to practice their skills in an atmosphere of comradeship and relaxation. Our club also participates in the “Scavenger Hunt Competition” among several photo clubs in New Brunswick. This team activity challenges each
participant to work with a good eye and to use their photographic skills on specific assignments. Finally, the club exhibits its members’ prints at the Fredericton Playhouse Galleries in April. It is
pho togr aphic design
a great opportunity to introduce our club and to show the members’ photography to the public. We always receive good reviews and the theatre welcomes us to put on this exhibit every year.
www.photofredericton.ca Past President (2008-2010) Michiko Nishijima
FlashBender
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Club Focus
Welland Camera Club celebrates 50 years of photographic excellence with André Gallant on April 16, 2011!
“Colour Slide Camera Club Proposed” – This was a headline in the Evening Tribune on February 14, 1961. The story told of how photography had become one of the most popular of all hobbies throughout the world, and until comparatively recent years, black and white prints were the only ones available to amateur photographers. However, with the advent of colour film and 35mm cameras, photography had taken on a new and more important place in the lives of photographers, and it was safe to say that there were more pictures taken on colour film than on black and white, in home movies, colour slides and colour prints. 8 - CANADIAN CAMERA
Interested people were invited to call ‘Red’ Clements or Don Feduck, and if the response warranted, a Colour Slide Club would be formed. Approximately 40 people responded, and thus, on February 22, 1961, the Welland Colour Slide Club was formed. The first meeting was held in May 1961 where a slate of officers was elected to guide the club through local, national and international competitions. Impressive headlines were regularly seen in the Welland Tribune over the years. "Colour Slide Club Receives PSA Charter", "Colour Camera Fans Take Armchair Trip to Europe", "Welland Slide Club Gains First Place in PSA
Work", "Wins Medal in World-Wide Contest", "Welland Club Wins CPAC Colour Slide competition" and the list goes on. 1966 proved to be the first of several outstanding years for the WCSC, when it set a record in winning top place in four out of six national and international colour slide competitions, including the CPAC Patterson trophy and the Rienke Nature trophy. In the PSA pictorial competition, the Welland Club took top honours, competing with 52 clubs across the USA and a few in Canada, and beat out the second place club by 22 points. In the PSA Nature competition, the Club made a creditable showing as well, placing sixth. The talent of the members from the Club were showcased in the local papers. In April 1970 Len Trumble was invited to present a nature program at the renowned Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. He had bird pictures published in various magazines throughout the world. In 1964, one of his bird slides was judged fourth out of 150,000 entries at a competition in Japan. 1970 was also a high point for three of the club members in world competition sponsored by the Pentax Company in conjunction with Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan. Janice Healey,
Clifford Healey and Len Trumble each had two slides advancing to the finals (which included over 200,000 entries from 86 countries) where they won from first to fourth prize in several categories. In 1971 Janice Healey had her image of ‘Argiope Aurantia’ published in the National Geographic magazine (Vol.140, No.2 August 1971) as part of an article about spiders. Since the inception of the Club members have contributed to and won many National and International awards. The skills displayed by the local photographers are second to none and members are often asked to present a teaching program or program of interest to other camera clubs or facilities such as the local libraries and Senior Citizen Centres in the Niagara Peninsula. The Welland Camera Club has always been actively associated with the Niagara Frontier Regional Camera Clubs which was founded in the same year as the Welland Club. WCC has been an active member with CAPA over the years, and after a short
capa@capacanada.ca www.capacanada.ca Tel.(250) 523-2333
period of non-affiliation, has taken up membership again in recent years, allowing our members to compete with some of the best. With the heavy interest in digital cameras the Club switched up from slides to digital in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. The WCC has grown significantly in the past four years and presents some amazing programs for digital users to learn from. With 2011 being the 50th Anniversary
year, arrangements have been made to celebrate with world-renowned Canadian photographer André Gallant (www.andregallant.com) who will present a one-day seminar on April 16, 2011.
Further information regarding this excellent opportunity can be found at www.wellandcameraclub.com/
Canadian Association for Photographic Art and Expedia CruiseShipCenters, STONEY CREEK
ICELAND & GREENLAND EXPLORER AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 17 - Days
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Accessorize your accessories We’re much more than a camera store. At Vistek, we carry a wide assortment of photo and video accessories you won’t find anyplace else. In fact, we carry accessories FOR your accessories. Take lenses. Along with our myriad array of lenses, we carry a wide spectrum of lens filters from Lee, Hoya and B+W. Other popular accessories for accessories? Gary Fong’s Lightsphere or Lastolite’s Ezybox Hotshoe portable softbox, both essential strobist accessories. No matter how small or inexpensive, accessories can have a huge impact on the final image. You’ll discover an almost endless selecs Great accessories
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CAPA News
Election Of CAPA Officers And District Representatives For The 2011-2012 Term This notice is published in accordance with the bylaws of the Association. All elected positions are open to CAPA individual or family members in good standing. Members interested in standing for the following positions should send a request to the Nominations Committee nominations@capacanada.ca. Please include your membership number and expiry date along with details of your regional and/or national service to CAPA and any positions held in camera clubs or other relevant photographic experience. All responses must be received by May 31st, 2011.
Members in good standing who are interested in serving as a CAPA volunteer should contact the President at president@capacanada.ca or capa@capacanada.ca
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CAPA OFFICER POSITIONS POSITION NAME STATUS President . ..................................... Jacques S. Mailloux Vice President................................ Richard Shapka Treasurer........................................ Len Suchan Secretary........................................ Michael Breakey Past President................................ Allen Bargen....................Non-elected position
All Board positions that must be filled after the nomination deadline date or between elections are filled by appointment by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS POSITION NAME STATUS ATLANTIC ZONE Halifax............................................ Joyce Chew Fredericton..................................... Michiko Nishijima Prince Edward Island..............................................................Volunteer Opportunity Newfoundland................................ Allison George QUÉBEC ZONE Québec...................................................................................Volunteer Opportunity Montréal.................................................................................Volunteer Opportunity ONTARIO ZONE Guelph-Kitchener........................... Thelma Beaubien Belleville-Bancroft.......................... George Gordon Kingston......................................... Bruce Gunion Kawartha Lakes............................. Tony Crocker Toronto West..........................................................................Volunteer Opportunity Toronto East................................... Ann Alimi Niagara.......................................... Virginia Stranaghan Brantford/Norfolk County................ Karen Stoyles Southwestern Ontario..................... Bill Hall Barrie.....................................................................................Volunteer Opportunity PRAIRIE ZONE Edmonton....................................... Mufty Mathewson Lethbridge...................................... Tom Buchanan Saskatchewan South...................... Lynn McCaslin Saskatchewan North...................... Jim Barnsley Manitoba................................................................................Volunteer Opportunity Nunavut.................................................................................Volunteer Opportunity PACIFIC ZONE Lower Mainland (shared)................ Judy Higham Lower Mainland (shared)................ David Bromley Lower Mainland (shared)................ Richard Knotts Lower Vancouver Island................. Dr. Linda Baker Mid-Vancouver Island..................... Mark Margerison South Interior................................. Lynda Miller West Kootenay.......................................................................Volunteer Opportunity East Kootenay................................ Karen Crawford Northern BC................................... David Watson Yukon Region................................. Rusty Reid Liaison Canadian Chinese Community....................... Jenny Wong USA & INTERNATIONAL Western USA.................................. Jean Timmermeister Central USA.................................... Mark Southard Eastern USA................................... Henry Winkleman Iran................................................. Masoud Soheili Hong Kong, China and Macau........ Frankie Ng Liaison with the Canadian Chinese Community....................... Jenny Wong Liaison with the Photographic Society of South Africa................... Hannelie Swanepolie
Announcement I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Rod Trider to the position of CAPA Ontario Zone Director, effective January 1st, 2011. Rod replaces Bill DeMeester, who is retiring at the end of this year. He and Bill will get together when convenient to transfer information and files. Rod is a photographic based artist and master printer who has combined his passion for life, travel and photography to create both traditional and unique photographic art works. From photojournalism to experimenting with new techniques of processing and printing to create fine art prints. Although Rod started photographing the world around him in 1975, it has been within the last few years that he has focused exclusively on his photographic art. With over 20 year in the computer industry, including 4 years with Epson Canada, Rod has now been a full time photographer and master printer since 2005. He is both a GTCCC and CAPA certified judge and is currently chair of judges for the GTCCC. Rod says, Rod has also been active on the executive of The Beach Photo Club (Toronto) as well as The Artists Network. He “If someone stops regularly provides seminars on printing, photography, Photoshop & Lightroom to photo and arts organizations, to ponder one of along with regularly judging at the club, regional and international level. my works for just Whether shooting locally or half way around the world, Rod strives to create works that will inspire otha moment, I have ers to explore the world around us, to look at things a little differently. succeeded” Rod and his wife are currently opening a second home in the Ottawa area, where she has transferred for her career. Rod will divide his time between Ottawa and Toronto where he works. He can be reached at Rod.Trider@advancedimages.ca at any time. After January 1st, please use his CAPA address ontario@capacanada.ca which will forward to his personal email address above.
Rod Trider Recent Shows & Exhibits PopArt, Hangman Gallery - Jan-Feb 2010 The Art Expo - Metro Convention Centre - Feb 2010 F8 - Women’s Art Gallery - Apr 2010 Contact, Dominion on Queen - May 2010 Contact, Sherbourne Heath Centre - May 2010 RAW - Riverdale Art Walk - June 2010 Artists Network Group Show - June 2010 Beaches Art Fest - June 2010 India - Hangman Gallery, Solo Show - Aug 2010 Artisans at The Distillery - Sept 2010 The Velvet Divide - HangMan 7 Group Exhibit - Oct 2010 Trees Near & Far – Cobalt Gallery Oct 2010 Creation – Queen Gallery – Dec 2010
Member The Beach Photo Club CAPA Visual Arts Ontario The Artists Network CAPA & GTCCC Accredited Photography Judge Portrait & Wedding Photographers International Hangman 7 Queen East Photo Collective
Rod’s contact info: 20 Firstbrook Road, Toronto, ON. M4E 2L1, Phone: 416-707-2175 Please join me in welcoming Rod to CAPA as our new Zone Director for Ontario. Allen P. Bargen, FCAPA
capa@capacanada.ca www.capacanada.ca Tel.(250) 523-2333
You’ve just bought a new digital SLR. Now, only one thing can come between you and great pictures:
A cheap filter. The truth is, an economy filter will seriously compromise the quality of the pictures you take with your new DSLR. Trust the optical perfection of German-crafted B+W filters. The most important accessory you can have next to your camera.
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Canadian Camera
Conference2011 June 29th - July 3rd
“A Celebration of Photography" The Conference includes: Renowned keynote speakers Ellen Anon www.ellenanon.com "Making Your Images Matter" Keynote Presentation “Nice Shot, What Now?”(Lab) “Understanding Visual Intensity; The Key to Making Better Images in Camera and in the Digital Darkroom”(Lab) Nevada Wier (www.nevadawier.com) Keynote Presentation
Notable presenters Colin Smith www.colinsmith.ca “Photoshop CS 5” (Lab) “Adobe Lightroom” (Lab) Joseph Rossbach www.josephrossbach.com "Professional Field Techniques for More Dramatic Pictures” “Techniques for Making Dramatic Landscapes at Night” Deborah Sandidge www.deborahsandidge.com “Creative Expression Through Photography” “Creative Techniques With Infrared Photography”
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Allen Bargen www.allenbargen.com “In Search of a Better Photograph – Part 1 and Part 2”
Ian Plant www.ianplant.com “Chasing the Light” “The Art of Composition”
Michel Roy www.michel-roy-photographe.com “Portraiture – Lights and Shadows, the Modern Way” “Shoot DSLR Videos Like a Pro”
Ethan Meleg www.ethanmeleg.com “Best of the Bruce” “Confessions of a Crazed Photographer”
Rob Stimpson www.robstimpson.com “Photographing in Remote Places” “The Arctic and the Antarctic”
• Computer labs on CS5, Lightroom, Nik software, Proshow Gold and Proshow Producer. Check out our presenters web sites. They are sure to inspire you.
Julie Waterhouse www.juliewaterhouse.ca “Story Telling Using Visual Design”
• Workshop topics include Creative Photography, Portrait Photography, Landscape and Nature Photography, Infrared Photography.
Sheena Wilkie www.sheena.ca “Web Design for Photographers” “Photographic Embellishments – Design Tools for Photographers” (Lab)
• Among the other attractions are a Trade Show, CAPA Exhibition, Field Trips, Barbeque, Awards Banquet and Fireworks to photograph on Canada Day, July 1st
Mark Southard “Photoshop Elements” (Lab) Paul Sparrow http://home.cogeco.ca/~psparrow/ “Proshow GOLD” (Lab) “Proshow PRODUCER” (Lab)
Photo by David Robinson
The London Camera Club, on behalf of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, is proud to host Canadian Camera Conference 2011
CCC 2011 will be held at Fanshawe College, London, Ontario.
Registration Early Bird On or before May 31, 2011 CAN $300.00 On or after June 1, 2011 CAN $350.00
Attendees will stay at the beautiful, new Fanshawe College Residence and Conference Centre. Single, double and suites are available within the quads To make your reservations contact the Fanshawe College Residence and Conference Centre - Carolyn Mitchell, phone: 519-452-4440 ext. 5002 or fax 519-453-2309.
These fees include all labs, presentations and all meals
Schedule • Wed. June 29th Field Trips, Meet and Greet Keynote Speaker: Ellen Anon Sponsored by: Nik Software (www.niksoftware.com) • Thurs. June 30th Workshops and Labs Keynote Speaker: Nevada Wier • Fri. July 1st Workshops and Labs BBQ and Fireworks • Sat. July 2nd Workshops and Labs Awards Banquet, Audio/Visual Extravaganza • Sun. July 3rd Field Trips
For Information Contact Bill Lloyd at: vice-pres@capacanada.ca Watch the London Camera Club website www.londoncameraclub.on.ca and the CAPA website www.capacanada.ca for ongoing information about the presenters, programs, events and registration.
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CAPA 2011 C A P A
2 0 1 1
A N N U A L
D I G I T A L
C O M P E T I T I O N
Annual Digital Competition
For the first time ever in its seven year history, contestants will have a choice between two themes, similar in concept, but completely different in rendition. Your assignment is to provide our judges with Shadow Play – or – Silhouette images that are exceptional, awe inspiring, or simply stunning! Look around you, drive around town or through the countryside, and find those shadows that seem to take on a life of their own, or even induce you to daydream! Or turn the familiar form of an object, a plant or a person into an exceptional silhouette, still a photograph and not a graphic design. Play with the light, use it, manipulate it, paint with it. Let your imagination run wild, brush up on your technique, review your camera manual to find out how best to use the controls on your equipment, and go for it, snap that picture!
The Annual Digital Competition is the only CAPA competition with merchandise prizes. The announcement comes early in the year, to give you time to go out and get your best shot. Yet, if you find later on that you get an even better shot, you can easily submit this new entry in place of a previous one. As in previous years, the first three winners will share the bounty, which will be revealed in the summer edition of Canadian Camera. In addition to our three winners, ten (10) CAPA Honour Award Ribbons will also be awarded. This competition is open to CAPA Individual and Family members only, who are permanent Canadian residents. So, if you belong to one of our many CAPA clubs, we encourage you to join as an Individual or Family member. By taking part in this competition you will have a chance to win one of three fabulous prize packages.
Legal Terms: With proper credits to the photographer and a reference to the CAPA 2011 Annual Digital Competition Prize, winners give CAPA, Sony of Canada Ltd. and Adobe Systems Canada Inc. the right to publish their winning photograph in Canadian Camera and on the CAPA Website, and use them at any CAPA, Sony and Adobe exhibition, publication, promotional or educational event. Entry into this competition implies acceptance of the
above practice, unless refused in writing by notifying the Chair of this competition. CAPA recommends that the photographer obtain a model release for presentation and publication purposes, prior to submitting an entry, and have these available if requested. In case of legal challenge, the photographer agrees to hold CAPA, Sony of Canada Ltd. and Adobe Systems Canada Inc. harmless, and assume all liability or injury that may arise from entry into this competition. Photographers retain all creative rights to their art.
your mind and submit a different entry up to the very last moment! E-mail and regular mail entries will NOT be accepted, and will NOT be returned. The Rules and Guidelines governing this competition are posted on the CAPA Website and can be downloaded and printed for your convenience. E-mail enquiries should be sent to Jacques@CAPACanada.ca. Make sure you include the title of the competition and the word CAPA in the Subject line, or your message may be tagged as spam and not reach its destination.
How to Enter:
Contestants may enter one image per theme, or both in the same topic. The themes are Shadow Play and Silhouette, as detailed above. Participation is limited to 2 Entries per member, both on topic. You can submit either colour or B&W images. Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop and other software is permitted. Keep in mind though that we are looking for digital photographs and illustrations originating from photographs that have been produced with taste and imagination. Remember, CAPA is all about photographic art. And art should be created with care and love. Judging will be carried out in Ottawa in early October, and the results will be announced on the CAPA Website shortly thereafter.
All entries must be submitted electronically no later than midnight (Pacific Standard Time: GMT-8:00) September 30th, 2011, through our Website at www. digitalcapacanada.ca. If you participated in a previous year, you need not register again; you can use the same login and password. For new participants, all you need to do is register using your CAPA Member Number (i.e. 28999) and a valid e-mail address. Please make note of the password the software will generate for you. All participants will be confirmed as members in good standing and living in Canada against our database, before their entries are accepted and judged at the end of the competition. Your registration will also make it possible for you to change
Competition Chair: Jacques S. Mailloux
EVENT SPONSORS
We are deeply indebted to Roy Hooper of the Camera Club of Ottawa for hosting the CAPA Digital Website as well as providing and fine-tuning the software that makes it possible for contestants to submit their entries electronically. 14 - CANADIAN CAMERA
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CAPA Competitions Digital Nature Club Competition 30 October 2010 Host: Chilliwack Camera Club Gold Certificate Trillium Photographic Club, Burlington ON Silver Certificate Foothills Camera Club, Calgary AB Bronze Certificate North Shore Photographic Society, West Vancouver BC Botany Certificate Dave Barcroft, Sarnia Camera Club Judy Higham, Chair Digital Nature Competition competitions@capacanada.ca
Certificate of Merit 2nd Don Noakes, Kamloops Photo Arts Club "Fraser Crane"
Certificate of Merit 1st Connor Stefanison, Lions Gate Camera Club "Dowitcher Drop"
Peter Holmes, North Shore Photographic Society, "Short-eared Owl"
Dave Dearborn, Foothills Camera Club "King Penguins"
Certificate of Merit 3rd Bob Walling, Trillium Photographic Club, " Screech Owl"
Dave Seldon, Trillium Photographic Club "Grebe Feeding Chick"
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CAPA Competitions Digital Nature Individual Competition 30 October 2010 Host: Burnaby Photographic Society, Burnaby BC Gold Medal John Lowman, Burnaby BC Silver Medal John Lyon, Kimberley BC Bronze Medal Jorn Hansen, King City ON Judy Higham, Chair Digital Nature Competition competitions@capacanada.ca
Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit 1st John Lowman, Burnaby BC "Arctic Bliss"
Certificate of Merit 2nd Eileen Depeel, Abbotsford BC "Bald Eagle at Eagle Fest"
Botany Certificate Satya Danu, Vancouver BC "Agave"
Silver Medal John Lyon, Kimberley BC "Male Western Bluebird Landing"
Bronze Medal and Certificate of Merit 3rd Jorn Hansen, King City ON "Upland Sandpiper"
Paul Armstrong, London ON "Snowy Owl"
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CAPA Competitions Digital Open Club Competition 30 October 2010 Host: Foothills Camera Club, Calgary BC Gold Certificate Trillium Photographic Club, Burlington ON Silver Certificate Toronto Camera Club, Toronto ON Bronze Certificate Welland Camera Club, Welland ON Bruce Gunion, Chair Digital Open, Altered Reality, Theme Competitions gunion@sympatico.ca Certificate of Merit 1st Dave Seldon, Trillium Photographic Club "Egret Squabble"
Certificate of Merit 2nd Robert Nowland, Kamloops Photo Arts Club "Out of the Rain" Certificate of Merit 3rd Toni Wallachy, Toronto Camera Club "Come Sit By Me"
Lisa Horvath, Trillium Photographic Club "Caribbean Girl"
Claudette Gravel, Toronto Camera Club "Milk Is Not Enough"
Paul Turton, Welland Camera Club "Grey Squirrel"
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CAPA Competitions Digital Open Individual Competition 30 October 2010 Host: Harbour City Photography Club, Nanaimo BC Gold Medal Pamela Joe McFarlane, North Vancouver BC Silver Medal John Lyon, Kimberley BC Bronze Medal Ann Alimi, Toronto ON Bruce Gunion, Chair Digital Open, Altered Reality, Theme Competitions gunion@sympatico.ca
Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit 1st Pamela Joe McFarlane, North Vancouver BC "Glorious Bloom" Certificate of Merit 2nd Jessie-ann Sled, North Vancouver, BC "Rufous Hummingbird"
Bronze Medal Ann Alimi, Toronto ON "The Great Violinist" Certificate of Merit 3rd Murray O'Neill, Coquitlam BC "Landing"
Silver Medal John Lyon, Kimberley BC "Foxtails"
Colette Phillips, Middle Cove NFLD "The Unknown Aikidoka"
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CAPA Competitions Print Open Club Competition 30 October 2010 Host: Abbotsford Photo Arts Club Gold Certificate London Camera Club, London ON Silver Certificate Delta Photo Club, Delta BC Bronze Certificate North Shore Photographic Society, West Vancouver BC Geoff Brewster, Print Chair geoffbrewster@gmail.com
Certificate of Merit1st Lenora Shier, North Shore Photographic Society "Singing Marsh Wren"
Certificate of Merit 3rd David Robinson, London Camera Club "My Grandfather's Watch" Karoline Cullen, Delta Photo Club "Cranberry Swirl"
Laszlo Podor, Photo Guild of Nova Scotia "Peggy's Blues"
Bill Boswell, London Camera Club "New York Public Library Hallway" Ata Safar, Burnaby Camera Club "Hydrangea"
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CAPA Competitions Print Open Individual Competition 30 October 2010 Host: Abbotsford Photo Arts Club Gold Medal Jim Ainslie, Edmonton AB Silver Medal Robert Hansen, Surrey BC Bronze Medal Zbigniew Gortel, Edmonton AB Geoff Brewster, Print Chair geoffbrewster@gmail.com
Certificate of Merit 1st Carol Coleman, North Vancouver BC "Wait For Me, Mom"
Bronze Medal Zbigniew Gortel "Into A White Hole"
Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit 3rd Jim Ainslie, Edmonton AB "Trees"
Silver Medal and Certificate of Merit 2nd Robert Hansen, Surrey BC "Fort Casey Stairs #1"
Christina Bombaek, Kelowna BC "Dee Lake"
Marion McCristall, Langley BC "Grandpa's Evening Stroll"
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CAPA Competitions Greeting and Note Card Competitions 15 November 2010 Host: Carol Coleman, North Shore Photographic Society Carol Coleman carolcoleman@shaw.ca
Best of Show "Autumn" Note Card, Deborah Hall, Woodstock ON Prize: Corel PaintShop PhotoPro X3
Honourable Mention "Boutique" Note Card, John Lockyer, Victoria BC
2nd Place "Glowing With Age" Greeting Card, Deborah Hall, Woodstock ON Prize: Corel Painter4 Essentials
Honourable Mention "White Ghosts" Note Card, Deborah Hall, Woodstock ON
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Honourable Mention "Waterlilies in France" Note Card, Marion McCristall, Langley BC
CAPA Competitions
Honourable Mention "Spirit of Kamloops #2141" Note Card, Robert Nowland, Kamloops BC
Honourable Mention "A Year Wiser" Greeting Card, Lauren Nicholl, North Vancouver BC
Honourable Mention "Lavender" Greeting Card, Marion McCristall, Langley BC
Honourable Mention "Christmas at Prince of Wales Hotel" Greeting Card, Janet Kempster, Brantford, ON
Honourable Mention "A Christmas Trillium?" Greeting Card, Janet Kempster, Brantford ON
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An African Photo Safari By Chris Klus
As a young boy I watched TV programs about the African wilds and promised myself that someday I would to go there. Last year, having just retired, I finally made the decision to do an African safari; not only to do photography but to see some of the last surviving relatively virgin wilderness left in the world. After much research, I chose Kenya because of it’s numerous of wildlife parks and nature conservatories with large numbers of wild game and a well established tourism industry. Tourists from all over the world come each year to view an encyclopaedia of African animals in the wild and to witness the spectacle of hoards of wildebeest migrating from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in south eastern Kenya. You’re never 24 - CANADIAN CAMERA
too old to try some adventure and to perhaps, for some of you, also fulfill a lifelong dream. Lying along the Indian Ocean, Kenya is on the equator in east Africa, bordering Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. From the coast on
the Indian Ocean the low plains rise to central highlands that are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in the east. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa, growing tea, coffee and flowers. There are some 30 million Kenyans, 2.5 million of whom live in the capital city—Nairobi. The predominant languages are English and Swahili. Tourism accounts for almost half of the Kenya’s GDP. One of the key things that need to be considered when planning a wild game safari is the type of tour that is best for you. A number of tour companies have safari tours in Kenya and offer a range of tour packages. Participatory camping, which involves helping in the setting up of camp and preparing of meals each
night of the tour, is the most physically demanding and usually have baggage restrictions which means not much more than a back pack and a sleeping bag. Basic tours typically provide permanent camp sites and prepared camp meals and with the Comfort tours you stay in local hotels and guest houses. There are also some high-end tour packages where you stay in three and four star lodges and resorts. As well, you need to be aware of the group sizes. Typically, the cheaper and more physically active tours have large group sizes of 12 to 14. But small group tours can be found that have no more than six in the party. Prices obviously vary depending on the type of tour and time of year. In Kenya the rainy season is from March to May. The
most popular, and most expensive, travel time is in October and November when the migration is at its height. The shoulder season—June to September— is the cheapest time to travel. I chose a high end tour staying in lodges and permanent tented camps. Though the advertised group size was a maximum of six, luckily we were only three on this tour. So, what is a wild game safari like? All the tours start in Nairobi, with you checking into your hotel and meeting up with the tour operator, the tour guide and the rest of your party. The next morning you head out in your jeep or van, specially outfitted for offroad travel and with roofs that can be raised for you to stand and watch the wildlife, for the first leg of your
tour. The roads in Kenya are, to say the least, challenging. Though there are a few stretches of freshly paved four lane highways, most major roads are in want of repair. The official speed limit on major roads is 80 kph which is optimistic as with pot holes that rival the best in Canada and speed bumps that are placed in the most unusual spots—like in the middle of a highway—it’s hard to average above 70 kph. The secondary roads are sand and gravel, or at least had gravel put on them some time in the distant past, and with the wash outs from the rainy season can be very rough and bumpy and as much fun as a carnival ride. Expect to be jostled and bumped and marvel at the skill of your driver as they manoeuvre around craters and washCANADIAN CAMERA - 25
outs at breakneck speeds. All this to say that getting to your destination is usually a lot longer than the distance would imply. A 250 km drive can easily take five or six hours. If you’re on a comfort tour, when you arrive at your first location you’ll be greeted with a loud Karibu Kenya (welcome to Kenya) and given a cool wet towel and a glass of mango or passion fruit juice. The porters will escort you to the check-in counter and take your bags to your room. Your room will most likely have a spectacular view of the savannah and may have a balcony with camp chairs for quiet evening sit-abouts. Meals will typically be in an open dining hall and will be a large buffet with many choices of meats, vegetables and fruits. Shortly after 26 - CANADIAN CAMERA
lunch, you’ll have your first game drive. You’ll head out on dirt trails into the savannah and usually within minutes you’ll spot wildlife, whether impalas, gazelles, dikdiks (a small antelope only 18 inches high), giraffes or other ruminants. The guide will usually stop nearby to let you photograph them. Though you can get quite close to these animals a camera with a long lens (at least 70mm and preferably 300mm) will give you frame filling photos. I took with me a newly purchased Sigma 150500 mm with vibration reduction--quite heavy but it did a great job. The guides have mobile radios and communicate with each other on the plains usually in Swahili sharing what animals are being found. One afternoon, our guide received a message and then said to us
“Hang on. You’re in for a surprise.” He then took off at breakneck speed hurtling along the trails, manoeuvring around pot holes and slowing down only slightly for bumps. We quickly discovered why there were so many hand holds in the jeep and grabbed onto one as we bumped and weaved along the trail. A few minutes later we turned a corner and came to a stop beside the other jeep parked on the side of the trail. The occupants told us to shush and pointed in the direction of young female cheetah that had just made a kill of a young gazelle. She was still panting and trying to catch her breath. Instead of biting into her kill she kept looking around anxiously and our guide explained that she was looking out for lions or hyenas that often follow them to
rob them of their kills. We stayed there very quietly for about 10 minutes rapt in the spectacle of animals living in the wild. It was a magical and memorable experience for all of us. One day I asked our guide if we could visit a Masai tribal village that was just outside the Samburu game reserve. He made arrangements with the tribal chief for the next day. I had brought candy and colouring pencils for the children and presented them to the chief's son who gave it to one of the women to distribute to the children. We were greeted by the young warriors with a dance and then the women formed a group and chanted us into the village. They were dressed in fabulously coloured clothes and the women scores of beaded necklaces symbolizing their wealth. I said
to the chief's son that they didn't have to dress up for us and he said in perfect English "Oh, don't worry sir. We always wear these. Masai people love colourful clothes." We had a wonderful time being guided around the village, speaking with the people and playing with the children-mouths full of candies. Most tours will include a visit to the Masai Mara—a huge expanse of plain stretching from the Serengeti to Lake Victoria. It is home to huge numbers of wildebeest or gnus that migrate the Great Rift Valley each year in search of fresh grass and water. Mixed in with the wildebeest are large herds of zebras and gazelles and constantly following the herds are large predators—lion, leopards, cheetah and hyenas. Driving through this scenic vista makes you
imagine what Eden was like or what the Canadian prairies looked like before the buffalo were decimated. If you’re lucky your guide will order box lunches from the lodge and you’ll spend a whole day on the Mara having a picnic lunch on a hilltop overlooking the majestic plains and watching the sun set over the hills as you drive back to the lodge that evening. Unfortunately human encroachment and climate change are greatly affecting these wild lands and they may not be here very long—at least not as virginal as they are now. So, for a fabulous adventure, muster up your energy and plan a wild game safari in Kenya. It will fill your senses and leave with memories to last a lifetime. Oh, and great photographic moments too. g CANADIAN CAMERA - 27
Saskatchewan’s Fieldstone Ruins By Larry Easton Stone has been the building material of choice from the dawn of mankind to modern times. Ancient examples are Stonehenge in England and the great pyramids of Egypt. On the prairies, North American Indians used stone for effigies, medicine wheels and holding teepee and ceremonial lodge hides in place. When settlers came onto the southern prairies in part of the Northwest Territories (what is now Saskatchewan), they often found fieldstone readily at hand in the fields they would be farming. Many of the new settlers came from Europe and the British Isles and had the masonry expertise for fieldstone construction. At the same time, few trees were available for building log shelters, so the choice was often one of necessity. Fieldstone buildings in Saskatchewan began to appear in the late 1800’s, extending in a rough band from the southeast corner of the province, west to the Assiniboia area and
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then diagonally toward Rosetown and west. The north perimeter extends west along the Yellowhead highway toward Turtleford area. Some stone structures exist in the Maple Creek vicinity. High concentrations are near river valleys, particularly the Qu’Appelle Valley from the Manitoba Saskatchewan boundary to Last Mountain Lake. In March 2005, I received a request from two acquaintances, Margaret Hrynuik, an Architectural writer and Frank Korvemaker, Heritage Advisor/Construction Historian/ Writer, to photograph the province’s fieldstone buildings. Both had seen some photographs
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I had already taken. Their proposal was to produce a book on fieldstone buildings, both occupied and abandoned, of schools, places of worship, rural farmhouses and buildings, and urban homes and ruins across Saskatchewan. This was the beginning of a journey around Saskatchewan where my wife and I photographed over 200 stone structures; accumulated in access of 2500 images and travelled over 12,000 kilometres. The coffee table book features over 200 present-day images and some archival images and stories of 48 of Saskatchewan’s most impressive stone buildings along with the history and
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stories of the original owners. The book, Legacy of Stone – Saskatchewan’s Stone Buildings was released in November of 2008 and went on to receive the Saskatchewan Book of the Year Award in 2009. The photos in this article are some of the ruins and abandoned buildings. Most stone buildings on the prairies unless maintained, would eventually fall into ruin. Many of the farm homes were abandoned through the 1950’s to 60’s and have succumbed to the extremes of weather and vandalism.g
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Living with Loons By Mark Lachovsky
As soon as the ice starts to melt, creating open water channels, the loons come back home. Even with the water temperature hovering just above freezing, the adult loons fly in to stake out their territory. Loons are very territorial, returning each year to familiar nesting grounds. I have been fortunate to be able to live, part time, with a family of loons that have returned to the same lake year after year. Heading out to visit my friends in my kayak, the loons realized that I am not a threat and got comfortable having me around. This allowed me to view an 32 - CANADIAN CAMERA
amazing display of natural behavior up close. With camera nearby at all times, the countless thousands of images taken provide a unique view into the lives of these stunning creatures. The first job upon arrival is to revisit the old nesting site to check if it is still the desired location to set up home. The adult pair will fix up the nesting site and
take time to visit the surrounding areas, enjoying the swimming and fishing. By early June, a pair of eggs is in the nest and the parents take turns protecting the nest. Three weeks of incubation results in two lovely fuzzy little ones. Although I have not been able to see the hatching, I was fortunate enough to get to see the one-day-old loons. It is an incredible sight, as at one
day old, they tumble into the water and start to swim immediately, though not very gracefully. Loons are very sociable with the parents taking turns keeping the young warm in the nest, providing fishing lessons and shuttle rides on their back. While loons are normally very shy and quickly dive deep under the water when any humans are close by, with little ones
to protect, at least one adult loon will stay above water. As time went on, the family got so used to my presence that they actually left me to babysit the kids for a bit while the adults went fishing. Although the loons usually have two babies each year, the rate of survival was not optimal. Most years, only one survives; and some years none. Aside
from natural causes, there are a variety of threats to the little creatures, from land, sky and under the water. Crows, seagulls, snakes, raccoons, and muskie are all possible predators. Another dominant threat is man! Fishermen who cut lines and leave hooks and sinkers create serious hazards. The loons mistake the shiny objects for little fish and end up swallowing these CANADIAN CAMERA - 33
objects, which often proves fatal. One year, I witnessed the after effects of this; an adult with a hook and sinker stuck in its beak as it constantly shook its head to rid itself of this time bomb. I reached out for some professional advice and assistance from biologists and naturalists. As it turns out the hook is easily broken down by the gastric fluid of the Loons but the lead 34 - CANADIAN CAMERA
sinkers are the killer. Though this Loon did rid itself of the line, which was the last time I saw its young one. Perhaps it was the young one that ended up swallowing the lead weight while feeding from the parent. Another year saw both babies suddenly gone. I could tell something was wrong that particular morning by the strange noises the adults were
making and they way they hung their heads. Clearly they were distraught. They were looking for their young on the shore where they may have been sent for safe keeping only to succumb to a land-based predator. It was a truly sad moment to witness the parents having just lost their children. That is why I try to maximize my time with the family in the first couple
of weeks after the babies spring free as often the life span of the young is cut short. Waking up early in the morning, before the wind starts to blow, allows for the capturing of images on the mirrorlike lake. I have worked hard at being able to stay perfectly still, grab my camera, rest the telephoto on my knee and work the paddle carefully to stay in position.
Movement must be minimized as the cristal clear reflection on the water can be ruined by ripples from shifting in my kayak. In terms of equipment, I put my Nikon D300s and Sigma 120-300 2.8 lens in a water resistant camera bag that lies on the floor of the kayak. I push it away when not in use and can use my feet to bring it close to me. On some
occasions I will use a monopod if the Loons are not moving too much. The other important elements I bring along for each journey with the Loons include water, snacks and a hat. In the end, my persistent patience pays off as I am rewarded with witnessing some incredible natural behavior and being able to capture them with my camera to share with others. g CANADIAN CAMERA - 35
WINTER 2010 CAPA NEW MEMBERS
“Categorically Yours”
Eleanor Ovtscherenko, "Getting Ready"
Len Suchan photo
January 18, 2011 Atlantic
Quebec
Colette Phillips NL D. Thomas NS
Marc Latreille Marc Pepin L. Hugh Ward
Ontario Dean Askin Arun Bala Brian Barker Melanie Beckmann Colette Dery Gaetan Dery David Evans Joan Gerber Jorn Hansen David Hemmings Moe Laverty Geoff Lewis Julia Lio Stephen Marklew Manfred Meilinger Kathryn Murray Dennis J. Pajot Natalia Shields William Smith The Oakville Camera Club Michel Soucy Mohammad Mehrdad Tavakkolian Jocelyn Ubaldino Sonia Valana Bonnie Verbeek Sharon Wilkinson
Prairie Lance Drozda SK Judy Long SK Pat Roque AB Wendy Royer AB Carol Rusinek AB Florence Yeung Photographic Arts Society of Alberta AB
Pacific Jamie Allport Gerry Alston Tena Andersen Ingrid Bird Jim Bird Kevin Bradshaw Denis Brossard Bruce Carey Wendy Carey Robert Clark Carole Davis Carol Dingley Phil Dyer Zdenko Erceg Jim Evans Rick Gammer Gloria Gifford Richard Hallman Howard Hargitt Eileen Henschell Judy Higham The Darkroom Group David Hopaluk Robert James Hopkins Peter Hovestad Pam Irvine Maureen Kimoto Richard Knotts Marcel Laforce Libby Lovis Clive Lunn Ewan MacKenzie Carol MacMillan Nancy MacNab Karen Massier Inge Riis Mcdonald Doug Mclean
Ken Meisner Raisa Mirza Carolyn Moore Ryan John Murphy Jane Murray Donna Nesjan Robyn Nicholson Jeff Pascoe Monika Paterson Don Peterson Elfi Redpath Rick Ruppenthal Jan Sampson John Saremba Jutta Schulz Michael Schulz Ian Smith Leanne Sonoda Brenda Stewart Frieda Van Der Ree Oceanside Photography Club David Voth Ursula Wedmann Joyce Zeghers
USA & International Abolfazl Hasan Khani Iran
Donations David Maguire L. McCaslin J.T. Tse Dr. D. Hobden
capa@capacanada.ca • www.capacanada.ca
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