2009 Best Feature Album – John Ratchford
Award winners, Featured members July 21st, 2009
Feature album is an award designated for an album created for anything other than a wedding. It is a highly competitive and difficult award to win. This year’s winner must have the secret as he’s won it two years running now. Read his words and enjoy a sample of the album images and you can see why it is deserving of such a distinguished award.
This year at the PPOC convention in Regina, I won Best Feature Album for the second year in a row with two consecutive cancer survivors. Sometimes these things just come to you and you have a chance to say yes or no to the opportunity to allow your art to contribute in a much different way than putting smiles on peoples faces.
This year’s album was of my work with Shauna MacLean, a breast cancer survivor from Cape Breton Island. When she approached me with the project, her breasts had just been removed and the scarring was severe. She was about to start treatment and after doing some graphic images of her naked chest where her breasts once were, I agreed to document her treatments. Neither of us knew exactly why, other than the hope that this work would free and and empower and bring awareness to this hideous disease.
Shauna went on to be the public face of the Cape Breton Cancer Center, and our images fueled the most successful fund raising campaigns in the history of the Center. Her images allowed her to travel across the country as she met other women afraid to face breast cancer. And we are not done yet, our studio has spearheaded our own fund raising campaigns and this has lead to many other projects of similar merit. Our studio is recognized as a community leaders with our artful approach to bringing awareness and donations to various causes.
It has all been very wonderful and the best part, Shauna is doing well, enjoying her husband and her son as any woman should!
See a slide show of the whole album here: Feature Album of the year 2009
To contact John for more information on his work go to:
Ratchford Photographic Studio
208 Commercial Street
North Sydney, NS B2A 1B7
Phone: (902) 794-8880
Toll Free Phone: (866) 794-8880
Fax: (902) 794-4982
E-mail: john@ratchfordphotographic.com
Web site: www.ratchfordphotographic.com
Facebook: John Ratchford
Popularity: 37%
July 21st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
All I can say is, no wonder. Amazing work and a great cause. Thanks John.
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:43 am
Amazing job John. You certainly do our profession proud! Such a beautiful book and a beautiful strong woman.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
This is so amazing. Thank you for capturing her journey and sharing it with the rest of us. Your album is beautiful and reveals the true essence of this disease. She is a strong and courageous woman who is to be admired for helping to bring awareness to this disease. Congratulations John ~ you two collaborated beautifully!
July 30th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Absolutely amazing. I am at a loss for words!
July 30th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Congratulations John! As I have said to you already, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I love your work, but I also love your energy. You are a “good guy”, a gentleman, and a professional with a heart of gold. Your photo essay about Shauna’s cancer struggles and survival is incredible and will help others recognize just how amazing this woman, and many other women who suffer from cancer, are just as incredible. May your future bring you much joy, happiness and great success! =^.^=
July 30th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Johh, You captured such a sensitive issue in such a beautiful manor. What a priceless memory and gift to leave her family with.- Kerri
August 1st, 2009 at 2:29 am
As photographers we have the choice to empower and educate and not just take pretty pictures, I have wanted to do something more powerful and important for a while now so I am filled with joy knowing that you have made a difference with your art. Congratulations, this award is so well deserved.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
As the subject of the Feature Album I have to say that working with John was an absolute gift to me and my family. This album gave me back my dignity and helped me in my cancer journey more than I could ever explain. As for John, he is an amazing person as well as the ultimate professional-I could never put into words what this project has done for me and I truly believe that if this helps even one person then it has been well worth the struggles I have had in the course of my illness. Thank you John for this wonderful gift…..love Shauna
August 5th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Shauna – wow, thanks for commenting on the blog and I’m so glad to hear you’re doing well. Thanks for allowing John to share your story with us!
August 15th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
John this album coverage is amazing! I always admired your photography, but even more what you give for the cause.Photography is a gift and you share it well with a heart of gold! Bravo!!