Monday, July 22, 2024

Giving a Hand - by Vince Kehn

Early in February 2021 my daughter invited me to test some recipes for an upcoming cookbook project for the Quadra Island Children’s Centre. A Taste of Quadra Island: Island Cookery III was going to be the third fundraising cookbook in 30 years for the Quadra Children’s Centre. Recipe testing led to suggestions of taking some photographs of cooked dishes. When I submitted some shots of the food I had cooked and styled, the committee was impressed. They asked me if I would be interested in doing photography for the project. Their idea was to have volunteers cook some recipes, then have them photographed in their houses or outdoor environs. They also wanted any photography to have a strong sense of place, as Quadra Island is special that way. I said I didn’t do food photography. As I thought about it, my early years cooking in the hospitality industry and my life long love of cooking really did make me an ideal candidate for taking on food photography. So I said yes, I would take on some of the photography. This morphed into doing the feature photography and curating and editing of all submitted photographs from other volunteers.

Monday, July 8, 2024

Strike a Pose: Stay Limber with Yoga for Photographers

*Stock image from Canva                            Hey there, fellow photographers! Whether you’re capturing the joyous moments of a wedding day, family portraits, or a long day of event photography, you're in for a treat. If you haven’t yet experienced the aches and pains of carrying your gear or, heaven forbid, considered cutting your career short due to injuries and the physical demands of the job, lucky you! But don't worry—today, I want to share a secret weapon that keeps us nimble, injury-free, and ready to snag those perfect shots: Yoga!

Monday, June 24, 2024

Behind the Veil - By Heather Fryer

                                                                                                        Every few years, I embark on a deeply emotional project focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) issue. My latest project, titled, Behind the Veil, aims to shed light on a topic that society has often skirted around - the plight of Indigenous women who have gone missing or have been tragically murdered in Canada. Society has been good at keeping this information hidden behind a veil of secrecy. My aim is to help pull back the veil through awareness and art. Learn more about MMIW here.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Composition in a Nutshell...

In any creative expression, be it woodworking, music, painting, sculpture or photography, the more adept you become with the tools of the trade, the better you can express your creative side. Michelangelo was talented, yes, but he also knew how to mix paint, chip rock and sharpen his chisels. He also understood composition.   

Monday, May 20, 2024

Telling Your Animal’s Story - By Lisa Brice

Every dog has a story and a skilled photographic artist can weave a narrative with images capturing the true spirit of an animal through their lens. This can be accomplished with knowledge and understanding of the animal.  Watching for cues such as a happy wagging of the tail, stressed with panting, timid, or scared with the ears back will determine how the how the story will be told.  Dogs are great at finding joy in the simplest of things, catching a ball, a treat, and just laying down in the moment. The action to capture the uniqueness can happen in two ways, with a flash or on a camera with a very fast shutter speed.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Featured Member - Terril Bodner -How to Capture the Northern Lights.

Terrill Bodner is a self-taught photographer with a sincere passion for all things photographic - beautiful light, big and little people and animals, and beautiful spaces, both indoors and outside. She has been an Accredited member of Professional Photographers of Canada since 2011 and has won several awards and has work in the Loan Collection. She earned her CPA (2015), MPA (2016), and SPA (2022) while growing her business and meeting other photographers who have become friends over the years. She enjoys the challenge of pushing herself to try new things, and has thirteen accreditations including Night Photography and has volunteered in several positions on the BC Board since joining  PPOC.

Saturday, April 20, 2024

PPOC -The Hidden Gems of Volunteering

 Thinking about volunteering with the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) but not sure if it's worth it? Let's explore the ins and outs of volunteering with PPOC to see if it's the right fit for you. You might think that the PPOC's success is all about the stunning photos its members share, but did you know that volunteers play a huge role in making it all happen? They're like your buddies ready to catch you if you fall while walking a tightrope—it's an adventure with some risks, but definitely worth considering!

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Why Are Digital Files So Expensive? Let's Talk.- Submitted by Deb Stevenson

Why Are Digital Files So Expensive?  This is a common question that many professional photographers get asked. It's a digital world where digital images are plentiful and likely take up the bulk of the memory on your smartphone.

But if you're considering hiring a professional photographer, you're looking for more than adding pictures to your camera roll or sharing them on social media.

It's a milestone moment, like adding a new pet to the family, celebrating your senior dog or finally getting some print-worthy photographs of you and your furry friend that weren't taken using a selfie stick. Whatever the reason, you've decided to hire a professional photographer. You envision some beautiful wall art, a gorgeous keepsake album or a folio box to commemorate your experience and preserve your memories. The uniquely personal touches that make your house a home.

So, you spend more time than you care to admit googling photographers in your area and narrowing your list down to a few. You love their work; they seem the perfect fit to work with you and your pet. But the photographer charges a lot for their products, so you ask about digital files to save a few bucks. They're how much?? Say what now? But I don't need to get prints or an album. I just want some digitals.

Stefan Malloch - A Journey to Qualified PPOC Judge: Reflections on Six Years with the PPOC

In the realm of photography, the path to mastery is a winding road marked by countless clicks of the shutter, endless hours of editing, and a realization that learning is forever. For many photographers, reaching the pinnacle of their craft means more than just capturing stunning images, it's about becoming recognized and respected by peers, and perhaps even becoming a judge who can inspire and guide others on their own photographic journeys. My adventure to becoming an Accredited Professional Judge with the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) has been a transformative journey, marked by moments of humility, unexpected growth, and the unwavering support of an incredible community.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Stefan Malloch CPA - Exponential Growth as a Photographer; My Journey in Photo Competitions

Photography has always been a passion of mine and over the years, I have honed my skills and developed a keen eye for capturing the “perfect shot”, whatever that is. There are so many factors in what is considered “a great photograph.” It was not until I started entering photo competitions that I truly saw the impact it had on my growth as a photographer. Participating in photo competitions, specifically with the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) and others, has helped me improve my skills and advance my career.