Speakers Series – March 2026 – Benedict Brain

CAPA presents via YouTube Live : Benedict Brain

English presentation : March 18, 2026

Pacific 4:00 PM – Mountain 5:00 PM – Central 6:00 PM – Eastern 7:00 PM – Atlantic 8:00 PM (Canada)

Theme/topic of the presentation: The Art of Seeing

Summary:

This talk draws on Benedict Brain’s long-running Art of Seeing column in Digital Camera World magazine. Over seven years, the column has explored how photography can help us look more closely at the world and find meaning in what we see. The talk highlights the power of storytelling, the value of creativity, and the importance of being a mindful and ethical traveller with a camera. Rather than focusing on technical how-tos, it asks deeper questions about why we make photographs and what they reveal about us.

Available to Individual CAPA members via the members only section of the website.

Please login, go to Members > Education Links > Speakers Series, copy and save the YouTube link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio

Benedict Brain is a UK-based photographer, writer, and author. An award-winning journalist, he writes the monthly column The Art of Seeing for Digital Camera World magazine. His first book, You Will Be Able to Take Great Photos By the End of This Book (2023), has been translated and published internationally (Spain, Germany and Bulgaria), with a US edition released by Prestel, and his second book, A Camera Bag Companion, followed in 2024.

Benedict judges major photography competitions, founded Potato Photographer of the Year in 2020, and lectures internationally on the art and craft of photography. His practice spans personal projects, editorial assignments, and teaching through workshops and enrichment programmes.

Enjoy a selection of his work below.

Linda Treleaven awarded MCAPA

Linda Treleaven has been a member of CAPA since 2012 and has also been an active member of the Images Alberta Camera Club since 2008. 
 
Linda has held a variety of roles in IACC.  She was board secretary for 6 years and the Competition Chair for 6 years.
 
She has chaired a Macro SIG group and has presented a workshop on Macro Photography for her club.  She has also done workshops on portrait lighting and has presented a member showcase. 
 
She actively participates in CAPA Competitions, both individually and with her club.  She has received several Silver Medals and Honours Awards.

She is currently the CAPA representative and promotes CAPA and her club at every opportunity.

It is with great pleasure to award Linda with the Maple Leaf Honours Distinction. 
 
Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work for CAPA.

Speakers Series – Feb. 2026 – Darlene Hildebrandt

CAPA presents via YouTube Live : Darlene Hildebrandt

English presentation : Feb. 18, 2026

Pacific 4:00 PM – Mountain 5:00 PM – Central 6:00 PM – Eastern 7:00 PM – Atlantic 8:00 PM (Canada)

Theme/topic of the presentation: How to do Travel Photography Like a Pro

Summary:

If you’re like many photographers, you like to get out and about and see the world because it provides a great opportunity to see and photograph new things.


But have you ever gotten home and been disappointed with the images you captured on that once-in-a-lifetime trip? If so, you’re not alone. But there are some things you can do to prepare yourself.


So, this session is all about making sure you come home with better photos from your next adventure.

We’ll cover topics like:

  • Equipment (what to leave home, what are must-haves)
  • Handy travel accessories for photographers
  • Lighting (why quality of light and shadows matter)
  • Photographing people (the dos and don’ts)
  • Night photography
  • Composition tips to add impact
  • How to photograph iconic locations in a unique way
  • and more . . .

Come ready to learn!

 

Available to Individual CAPA members via the members only section of the website.

Please login, go to Members > Education Links > Speakers Series, copy and save the YouTube link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio

Your instructor for this class is Darlene Hildebrandt, a professional photographer of 37 years, and photography educator since 2011.

Besides being a portrait photographer, and photo editor, she’s also quite well-traveled – having been to 37 countries and 6 continents.

She brings her experience as a photographer, and passion as a world traveler together, to provide you with some stunning examples to inspire you and solid tips that you can apply to your photography.

 
Portfolio of travel images: https://gallery.digitalphotomentor.com/Travel 

Enjoy a selection of her work below.

World Photographic Cup 2026 – Canada has 7 images Top 10 in the World

Team Canada is proud to have 7 images in the World Top 10. These images are now up for medals at this year’s World Photographic Cup (WPC). The photographers of these exceptional images will travel to Iceland April 25th to represent Canada at the 2026 World Photographic Cup awards ceremony.

“This achievement reinforces what we already know—Canada is home to extraordinary creative talent. We are proud to share this moment as a team, united by camaraderie, passion, and the journey to the podium in Iceland.” Jillian Chateauneuf, WPC Team Canada Co-captain

Please congratulate the following Canadian photographers:

Manpreet Sokhi – Burnaby BC, Category: Portrait Illustrative
Andrew Hiorth – Vaughan ON, Category: Portrait Natural
Andrew Hiorth – Vaughan ON, Category: Wedding Open
Rabih Madi- Laval, QC Category: Wedding Open
Geoff Gabriel – Toronto, ON Category: Reportage/Photojournalism
Jacquie Matechuk – Cochrane, AB Category: Nature Wildlife
Michelle Valberg – Ottawa, ON Category: Nature Wildlife
Michelle’s image also earned the WPC Best of Nation award for the highest scoring Canadian image

Read more by clicking here

Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia Winter & Spring Events

Celebrating its 78th year as a club, the Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia is pleased to extend an invitation to join us for our Fred & Edie Greene Speaker series. There is no charge to attend these webinars, but donations to support the speaker series are gratefully accepted.

Monday, January 12, 2026

Black & White Photography with Nikon Canada takes place on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM AST. Daniel Germinario from Nikon Canada will discuss everything from the fundamentals of black and white photography to the gear you can use to master it.
Join us and learn how to improve your Black & White Photography with Daniel.

You can register by clicking here

 

Sunday, February 15, 2026

By Path or Paddle- Photographing the Natural World with Peter Baumgarten takes place on Sunday, February15, 2026 at 7:30 PM AST. An avid outdoor enthusiast with a passion for wilderness camping, canoeing and kayaking, Peter Baumgarten is a professional photographer and educator living on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario.

Join us as Peter discusses the challenges and joys of outdoor photography and the techniques he uses to “get the shot”.

You can register by clicking here

 

Monday, March 9, 2026

Multiple exposure photography with Marianna Armata takes place on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM ADT. A graphic designer, illustrator, and photographer, Marianna enjoys sharing her passion with photo clubs through online presentations and hands-on workshops.

Join us as Marianna discusses both in-camera and post-processing to generate multiple exposure imagery.

You can register by clicking here

 

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Setting Boundaries with Kas Stone takes place on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM ADT. Kas is a professional photographic artist who is inspired by the wild coastal scenery. In this webinar, she will discuss the careful considerations used to determine how best to crop an image and the impact that it would have on the visual design and storytelling of the image.

You can register by clicking here

Jan. 2026 Judging Program News

Judging Program

Basic Training for New Judges

Part 1 of Basic Training for New Judges — the Introduction to Judging Course — is open for registration through the new CAPA Learning Centre.
The Introduction to Judging Course costs $185 — with a 35% discount for CAPA individual members! A good reason to join CAPA BEFORE registering for the course.

Part 2 of Basic Training for New Judges — the Judging Practice Workshop — will be open for registration shortly. We are in the process of finalizing dates for the first two workshops which will be listed on the CAPA Learning Centre. These workshops are only available to those who have competed the Introduction to Judging Course.

 

Basic Training for New Judges Calgary – July 17th & 18th, 2026

Special In-Person Session for attendees of the 2026 Canadian Photography Conference.

Join us in Calgary for a two-day, instructor-led version of Basic Training for New Judges! Normally offered online, this exclusive in-person session lets you complete both parts of the program in one immersive in-person setting over two days.
Early Bird Price: $150 Regular Price: $170

Further details and registration through the Conference Website.

 

National Judges List

The current National Judges List was issued in early December; the next update will be in early March. CAPA Clubs can access the latest list of Certified and Apprentice Judges by logging in and going to Members > National Judges List.

 

If you have questions or would like further information, please contact the Director of the Judging Program at judgingdirector@capacanada.ca. — we’re here to help!

London Camera Club – Jan. and Feb. 2026 – Upcoming Presentation

Speaker: 7-9 PM EST

January 22 (7-9pm EST) Artist Talk: Witnessing Conflict – Louie Palu’s Lens on Global Struggles

January 29 (7-9pmEST) Artist Talk & Speaker session
Katie Oates, guest speaker, & Saeid Sadeghi, featured artist, Framing Reality – Exploring the World of Photojournalism

February 5 (7-9pm EST) Artists’ Talk
Alexander Sviridov: Shaping Vision – The Art and Soul of Fine Art Photography

February 12 (7 -9 pmEST) Speaker Night:
Julie Gayler : The Language of Light – Fine Art Photography Through Creative Lighting

The fee is $12 CAD

You can have more info by clicking here.

 

Note: If no guest link, registration has not yet opened. Registration closes 24 hrs before the event.

Jan. 2026 Competition Updates

Effective January 1, 2026 – New AI Editing Criteria & Authentication Standards

All competition entries must now meet our updated Editing Criteria requirements.
These standards are designed to maintain the integrity of CAPA competitions by prohibiting the use AI-generative technology and ensuring that only authentic photographic images are accepted.

Full details are available by clicking here

Pre-Screening Process:

Our pre-screening committee will review all submitted images to verify that camera and editing details are present in the image metadata. Only images containing the required metadata will advance to judging.
When metadata is incomplete or missing, the pre-screening committee will contact photographers directly with instructions on how to properly save and resubmit their images with the necessary information.

Resources for Clubs and Photographers:

To assist photographers and camera club coordinators with compliance, we have developed CAPA Club Compliance

Full details are available here: (English) (French) 

On December 11, 2025, CAPA and the North Shore Photographic Society co-hosted a YouTube session titled “AI & the New CAPA Competition Rules,” where I presented an overview of the updated authentication standards.

You can view this Youtube video by clicking here

Updated AI Summary – Safe & Flagged (Prohibited) AI Tools

This webpage now includes details on the following post processing applications:

  • Adobe Photoshop Elements 2026
  • Affinity Photo
  • Aiarty
  • Capture One
  • Freepik
  • Foto
  • GIMP
  • Lightroom
  • Luminar Neo
  • ON1 Photo Raw
  • Photoshop – Version 27.2
  • Picmonkey
  • Snapseed
  • Topaz Labs
  • Windows Photo

Clarification on Lightroom/Photoshop Presets

Regular presets are fully compliant with our standards. They’re saved combinations of development adjustments (exposure, contrast, color grading, etc.) that modify existing pixel values. Whether a photographer moves the sliders manually or applies a preset that moves them automatically, the result is identical – no pixels are added, removed, or generated.
 
Use of Presets In Post Processing
 
Lightroom and Photoshop presets are permitted in our competitions as they adjust existing pixels rather than generating content. See CAPA Eligibility Criteria for complete details. 
 

Updated – CAPA Eligibility Criteria: NEW – Previously Awarded Image 

An image, or substantially the same image, that has previously received a CAPA Award (medal, medal certificate, merit award, or honourable mention) in any CAPA competition or salon is ineligible for entry into any future CAPA competition or salon. This restriction applies across all competition categories and types.

2025 Monochrome Competition

2025 Monochrome Competition

2026 Competitions Now Open For Uploading

Oakville Camera Club – Jan. 2026 – Upcoming Presentation

OCC Presents an online presentation, at 07:00 pm.

 

Jan 19 Virtual – Moving Images with Andrea Sirois.

Registration by clicking here


Feb 2 Virtual – Night Photography with Monika Deviat

Registration by clicking here

The fee is 10$

 

More information  by clicking here

Tanner Sussi awarded ACAPA

This document outlines Tanner Sussi’s application for CAPA honours, detailing her service, competition results, presentations, and judging experience.

Service and Club Involvement

  • Tanner has been a member of the Langley Camera Club since 2019 and previously a member of the Surrey Photography Club for three years.
  • She served as the Lower Mainland District CAPA Representative for three years, promoting CAPA membership and providing presentations to clubs.
  • Tanner has led discussion groups and special interest sessions, fostering community engagement and skill development among members.

Judging and Competition Achievements

  • A certified CAPA judge since February 2020, Tanner has judged numerous competitions across Canada, including significant events in Saskatchewan.
  • She has received multiple accolades, including 3rd place merit in the My Canada competition and recognition in the Four Nations Honours.

Exhibitions and Publications ​

  • Tanner’s work has been published in the Spotlight magazine and exhibited in various galleries, including the Surrey Art Gallery and the Langley Arts Council Gallery.
  • She has actively participated in community exhibitions, showcasing and selling her photography.

Endorsement

  • Sheena Wilkie, FCAPA, commends Tanner for her dedication to photography, her role as a CAPA representative, and her ability to inspire and educate others in the field.

Canadian Photography Conference 2026

2026 Canadian Photography Conference - Calgary, Alberta, Canada- July 13-16, 2026

 

Mark your calendars – July 13-16, 2026!

Attend Your Way – In Person or Online

For the first time ever, the conference is going hybrid!  If you can’t make it to Calgary, you can still join virtually with live-stream access and 12 months of on-demand recordings.

The Live-Stream option also allows real time translation through YouTube Live and Google Translate for attendees whose primary language is not English.

Click on this link to visit the the Canadian Photography Conference 2026:

Https://www.CanadianPhotographyConference.ca 

Stella d’Entremont
President, CAPA

Image Editing Nights – Jan. 2026 – Special Guest Editor

Darlene Hildebrandt – Luminar Ambassador

In this don’t-miss session, Darlene will tell you why she has incorporated Luminar Neo as a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop and how she uses it in her workflow. You’ll see why she finds some of the tools indispensable and how Luminar Neo can speed up your photo editing workflow and take your images to a new level.


It can also be used as a stand-alone editor so if you’re considering switching from Adobe, you’re new to photo editing, or you’re just curious about Luminar Neo; you will see it in action. Luminar Neo does many things that you cannot do with Lightroom and it’s faster and easier than using Photoshop (which has a steep learning curve, especially for beginners).

Darlene will show you how to make photo editing fun and you’ll see the power of Luminar Neo for portraits, landscapes, street photography, and more. Come and see for yourself.

Link to Description page of the Image Editing Night.

New Westminster Photography Club – Jan. 2026 – Upcoming Event

Public Exhibition: The Art of Seeing Small runs Feb 1 to March 26, 2026

Members of the New Westminster Photography Club are working on submissions for a two month exhibition at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, BC.

Five or so members will be presented a range of photographs within the theme of The Art of Seeing Small. The exhibition will hang in the gallery space, adjacent to the Auditorium.

More info by clicking here

New Westminster Photography Club – Jan. 2026 – Upcoming Presentations

 

Tickets for non-New Westminster Photography Club members are $5 and the links are all listed in the information below.

Jan. 6, 7pm – Zoom

Members talk about and show their edition processes for Black and White Photos.

Non-members are welcome to attend, will be listed on Eventbrite, but contact Peter, our Programs Director for any questions.

More info by clicking here

Jan. 20, 7pm – In Person

Glenn Marcus, a frequent traveler, talk about the Art of Travel Photography. He will discuss his approach to the planning and taking of travel photos.

Non-members are welcome to attend, contact Peter, our Programs Director for any questions.

More info by clicking here

Dec. 2025 Judging Program News

Basic Training for New Judges Update

Introduction to Judging Course: Since launching just one month ago, the Introduction to Judging Course has seen strong interest, with over ninety photographers registering for either the English or French version. Sixteen participants have already completed the course. We’re pleased to see engagement from across Canada—including the Northwest Territories.

As with any new offering, we encountered a few minor growing pains. For those who experienced registration challenges, thank you for your patience as we worked to get everything running smoothly. Over the coming months, we’ll continue refining the course to ensure the best possible learning experience.

For more information or to register, visit the CAPA Learning Centre at https://www.capacanada.online/

Judging Practice Workshop: Development of the Judging Practice Workshop is nearing completion. Dates for upcoming workshops will be announced in January. These online workshops will run in both the Central and Eastern time zones, to accommodate participants from across the country.

Judge Certification Program

Congratulations to Joy Ruffeski who recently completed the Judge Certification Program and qualified as a CAPA Certified Judge.

Changes designed to improve the training experience are coming to the Judges Certification Program. Details will be announced early in 2026.

National Judges List

The current National Judges List was issued the beginning of December; the next update will be in early March 2026. All CAPA Clubs have online access to the latest list of CAPA Certified Judges and CAPA Apprentice Judges. Go to the CAPA website, Members > National Judges List. You must be logged in to your club’s account to download the list.

If you have questions or would like further information, please contact the Director of the Judging Program at judgingdirector@capacanada.ca.

North Shore Photographic Society – Jan. 2026 – Upcoming Event

Save the Date! The North Shore Photographic Society presents the 41st North Shore Challenge on Zoom on Saturday, March 7, 2026, @ 7 pm Pacific.

Interested in discovering stunning photography? Each year, between 250 and 300 talented photographers from BC and Yukon eagerly submit their best work to a special competition called the North Shore Challenge, organized by the North Shore Photographic Society (NSPS). The North Shore Challenge is considered one of Western Canada’s top photographic competitions and has a long, respected history dating back over 40 years.

The North Shore Challenge features two exciting parts: individual submissions and club submissions. This year, a panel of six friendly judges will carefully evaluate all the amazing images in a single judging session. To keep things fair and enjoyable, the highest and lowest scores will be set aside, so each image is scored based on the remaining four scores.

The top-scoring image from each individual, along with club-submitted images, will be showcased on March 7th, 2026. The results will be announced during this exciting, live, online event.

In the first half of the show, you’ll be treated to top images from individual photographers. The results and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold medallists will all be revealed at that time. Following the presentation of the images, a unique portion of the North Shore Challenge will occur. Each of the six judges will comment on the winning and other favorite images, adding a truly personal touch to the experience.

In the second half of the show, all the remarkable club-submitted images will be displayed, and the results and Bronze, Silver, and Gold medallists will be announced. Following the showcase of club-submitted images, each of the six judges will provide comments on the winning and other favourite images.

The event wraps up with the presentation of the North Shore Challenge trophy to the winning photography club and the Best in Show announcement for the top-scoring image (either by an individual or from a club-submitted image).

Submission deadline for images is Sunday, January 18, 2026, @ midnight. All submissions include a ticket to the online Zoom session.

Even if you don’t plan to submit images for the North Shore Challenge, plan on attending the showcase on March 7, 2026. Showcase tickets are available until noon on March 7.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 7th, 2026, and join us live for this inspiring celebration of photography. Tickets and details are available on the NSPS website (nsps.ca) under the North Shore Challenge 2026 tab.

The fee is $10 CAD

You can have more info by clicking here.

Dec. 2025 Competition Updates

Competition Clarification

Updated: CAPA Eligibility Criteria

To address enquires about using AI-generative systems to preforming photo post processes, we have updated our Eligibility Criteria to include the following provisions:

Post-Processing

All editing, manipulation, and post-processing of the image must be performed personally by the entrant. This work cannot be delegated to or performed by any other person(s) or AI-generative system.

Updated: Photographing Homeless Individuals

Our competitions now allow images of people experiencing homelessness, infirmity, or crisis, in line with common international photojournalism and documentary standards. 

Such subjects are acceptable only when photographed responsibly and ethically, with respect for consent, dignity, privacy, and safety, especially for vulnerable individuals. 

We encourage photographers to address social issues in creative ways that do not exploit personal suffering and to approach any such imagery with empathy, respect, and care.

Our Competition Q&A webpage has been updated to reflect the policy revision.

Effective January 1, 2026 – Updated Competition Editing Criteria 

CRITICAL- All photographers review these provisions prior to submitting images into all our 2026 photo competitions.   You can view these updated provisions by clicking here

2025 Nature/Wildlife Competition

2025 Monochrome Competition

New 2026 Competitions Now Open

World Photographic Cup Team Canada 2026

It is with immense pride that we announce the photographers whose images will represent Canada in the 2026 World Photographic Cup – an Olympic-style global competition.

Congratulations to the following photographers, including some CAPA members, for being part of the official submission:

Commercial: Wayne Fisher ON, Thomas Hopkins AB, Gary Stasiuk BC

Illustration/Digital Art: Andrew Hiorth ON, Bob Friesen BC, Anita Teljeur BC 

Nature Landscape: Steve Pelton BC, Bernard Brault QC, Jacqueline Harbidge AB 

Nature Wildlife: Jacquie Matechuk AB, Michelle Valberg ON, Jérémie Leblond-Fontaine QC Portrait Illustrative: Manpreet Sokhi BC, Andrew Hiorth ON, Karen Ceraldi BC 

Portrait Natural: Railene Hooper AB, Alexander Sviridov ON, Andrew Hiorth ON 

Reportage/Photojournalism: Geoff Gabriel ON, Bernard Brault QC, Kristian Bogner AB 

Sports: Lee Milliken BC, Nick Didlick BC, Dave Holland AB 

Wedding Open: Madi Rabih QC, Andrew Hiorth ON, Sean LeBlanc AB 

Wedding Reportage: Madi Rabih QC, Lee Milliken BC, Steve Edgerton AB 

Each photographer’s work endured three rounds of curation to earn a place on Team Canada. From all corners of the country these photographers collectively embody a wide spectrum of styles, techniques, and vibrant creativity.

Canada’s images can be viewed here: www.wpcteamcanada.com

Rae McLeod awarded MCAPA

Rae McLeod has been a CAPA member since 2010 and a member of the Saskatoon Photography Club since 2016.  

He has enjoyed medals and honour awards in many competitions since 2021.

He joins in many club activities and supports the club in many ways and is always helpful to other members of the club, whether it is technical or just providing an image critique.  He has held the role of club treasurer since 2024 and has enjoyed the  involvement of being on the executive board.

He, in conjunction with a fellow club member has put on a speed lite flash clinic to help members with this much misunderstood piece of equipment.    He has also hosted a couple of learning sessions in his home to help people become more familiar with the dynamics of strobe lighting for portraits.

It is with great pleasure to award Rae with the Maple Leaf Honours Distinction.

Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work for CAPA.

Sincerely

Lorna Scott, FCAPA

Chair of Honours Committee

Canadian Association for Photographic Art.

Speakers Series – Jan. 2026 – Jacquie Matechuk

CAPA presents via YouTube Live : Jacquie Matechuk

English presentation : Jan. 21, 2026

Pacific 4:00 PM – Mountain 5:00 PM – Central 6:00 PM – Eastern 7:00 PM – Atlantic 8:00 PM (Canada)

Theme/topic of the presentation: THE COMPASSIONATE LENS

Summary:

The Compassionate Lens is an inspiring and deeply human exploration of what it truly means to photograph wildlife ethically. Through powerful stories from the field and compelling imagery from around the world, Jacquie Matechuk reveals how compassion, patience, and awareness form the foundation of unforgettable wildlife photography. This presentation goes beyond rules and techniques, inviting photographers to rethink their presence in the natural world and rediscover the privilege of earning an animal’s trust.

Attendees will gain behavioural insights,  practical tools, and ethical guidelines that elevate both their craft and their connection to the wild. Whether you’re photographing bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, foxes on the tundra, or birds in your own backyard, The Compassionate Lens will challenge, encourage, and inspire you to create work that honours the living subjects behind every frame.

Available to Individual CAPA members via the members only section of the website.

Please login, go to Members > Education Links > Speakers Series, copy and save the YouTube link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio

Based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, Jacquie Matechuk is a Canon Canada Ambassador, certified bear guide, and ethical eco-tour operator whose work bridges wildlife, travel, extreme-sports and conservation photography. With every expedition she answers a calling—to create visuals that give voice to wildlife and wild places in need of advocacy.

Jacquie travels around the globe and works with conservation groups such as the CCPC to yield imagery and video that go beyond the moment, telling the stories that matter. That commitment to story-telling has earned her numerous honours including a World Photographic Cup gold medal, International Visionary Award Winner, Nature Photographer of the Year, Canadian Commercial Photographer of the Year, and a Master of Photographic Arts designation, to name a few.

Today, Jacquie brings all her experiences together with one purpose: to leverage her craft and her platform to educate and advocate for the places, people and wildlife striving to co-exist.

Enjoy a selection of her work below.