Prairie Zone March2025 Zoom Presentation

Prairie Zone presents via Zoom : Don Campbell

English presentation : March 13, 2025

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: My Approach to Capturing Images

Summary:

Highlighting the unique wildlife, adventures and cultures of the 114 countries he’s visited.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting  

Speaker's Bio

Don began his photographic career in grade 12 when a local TV station, CHBC-TV in Kelowna, BC, had neglected to put a photographer on staff to capture images of products for local advertisers. Instead, they went to the high school for a kid. Don picked up a Bolex 16mm camera at the station and began shooting newsfilm.  He then persuaded them to buy an Image Auricon camera that recorded optical sound on the film and began shooting documentaries.  After his undergrad work at UBC, he started a film production company in Vancouver and shot industrial films, as well as far too many television commercials.

Don moved to Calgary, where he is now based, to design and run a motion picture production program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, for fourteen years.  While there, he took a sabbatical to complete a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from York University in Toronto.

In the mid-90s Don and his wife, Val, began to travel extensively, and to specialize in wildlife photography, a passion that continues to this day. Don has visited 114 countries to date, photographing wildlife in all of them. His style is evolving, and he prefers to react to what he sees and find a way to frame it effectively rather than to exercise the high level of control necessary for producing TV commercials.

While teaching, Don moved away from the concept of ‘composition’, which is what painters do when working with a blank canvas, where they can place things wherever they like, to ‘framing’, which is the process of photographers and cinematographers when deciding on how to position the frame to capture images of what is already in place. He discovered the work of his students noticeably improved when he taught the concept of framing rather than composition.

Don is a member of the Cochrane Camera Club and CAPA.

There are unique and interesting stories attached to some of Don’s images below.

London Camera Club – Feb.2025 and March2025 – Upcoming Presentation

Speaker: 7-9 PM EST

 

Feb 20 Kas Stone – Reality vs Artistry vs Deception in Photography

You can register by clicking here.

 

Feb 27 Jacquie Matechuk, MPA – “Survival Instincts, Lessons from the Wild”

You can register by clicking here.

 

Mar 6 Marlis Butcher – Visiting Remote Qausuittuq National Park

You can register by clicking here.

 

Mar 20 Gareth Jones – Midjourney AI

You can register by clicking here.

 

Mar 27 Matt Huras – Capturing Compelling Wildlife Images

You can register by clicking here.

 

Workshop:

 

Advanced-level Lightroom Classic course

All sessions are on Zoom on Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm EDT/EST

$20 for LCC members. $40 for guests

Session 1 – March 5, 2025
Session 2 – March 19, 2025
Session 3 – April 2, 2025
Session 4 – April 16, 2025

 

You can register by clicking here.

 

Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia – March2025 – Upcoming Presentation

Celebrating its 77th 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.

Sunday, March 2, 2025

The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary with Lynn Fergusson takes place on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM ADT. An adventurer at heart, Lynn is a multi-genre photographer from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Specializing in wildlife and landscape photography, Lynn also enjoys the challenge of ICM and abstract photography.

Lynn will share with you her journey to photograph the majestic grizzly bears in the Khutzeymateen. The webinar will take you through the planning, preparation and experiences of photographing in a remote location. The presentation will be based on Lynn’s experience in attending one of John Marriott’s Photo tours last May to the Khutzemateen on board the Afterglow I with Ocean Light Adventures, as well as the experiences when remaining on board to participate in a trip run by Ocean Light Adventures with a new group of people.

You can register by clicking here

 

Monday, March 10, 2025

Exploring Scotland – from land, sea, and Skye with David Clow: takes place on Monday, March 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM ADT. A certified judge for the Ontario Council of Camera Clubs (O3C) and the Canadian Association for Photographic Arts (CAPA), David has been an avid photographer for more than 50 years, photographing everything from nature & architecture to portrait/studio photography. In 2022, he added drone imagery to his list of interests, producing both professional quality videos as well as still photography. Come join us as David shares with us his journey to Scotland and the rural island landscape of the Isle of Skye.

More of David’s work can be seen at: www.lightrenderings.com.

You can register by clicking here

February 2025 Competition Updates

Strategy To Address Generative AI in Photography

We have documented our current strategy on addressing Generative AI through keeping pace with technological advancements and education photographers on what artificial intelligence is accepted in our photo competitions.

You can review this document here – (English) (French)

February 1, 2025 – CAPA Stance on Artificial Intelligence in Photo Competitions

This document has been updated to include the most current details regarding about what artificial intelligence features are approved in photo competitions and what are not.

You view this document here –  (English) (French)  

2025 Ontario Zone Competition

2025 Photojournalism Competition

This competition is now open for the uploading of images.  

You are strongly encouraged to review the competition details before  uploading your images into the competition details and ensure your submitted images fall within one of the noted themes.  Competition closes on March 15, 2025 (midnight).  You can view this competition webpage here. 

2025 Curves and Lines Competition

Competition is also now open for the uploading of images.

Prior to uploading any images into this competition, it is recommended that review the competition details and ensure your submitted images fall within one of the noted themes. Competition closes on March 30, 2024 (midnight). You can view this competition webpage here.

Speakers Series – March 2025 – Dave Conlon

CAPA presents via YouTube Live : Dave Conlon

English presentation : March 19, 2025

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: Anyox, BC – Travelling to Canada’s Largest Ghost Town

Summary:

Anyox, British Columbia is a true ghost town with a rich, hidden history. Once a bustling mining hub in the early 1900s, Anyox was abandoned in 1935 after a devastating fire and the Great Depression which drove down the demand for copper. Today, Anyox is a relic of the past, with crumbling buildings and rusted machinery frozen in time. In May of 2024, Dave of Freaktography.com travelled across the country and visited Anyox with full, unlimited access to capture and photograph what is left of this forgotten piece of Canadian history.

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

Please login, go to Members > Zoom & YouTube Live Invitation > Speakers Series, copy and save the YouTube link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio


Freaktography is the pseudonym of Dave Conlon, a Canadian photographer who specializes in urban exploration, capturing the beauty of abandoned places and buildings.

He is known for his unique perspective and skill in capturing the essence of these forgotten structures through his lens.

Freaktography’s work is characterized by his ability to find beauty in decay. He is particularly drawn to abandoned buildings, factories, and other forgotten places, where he finds inspiration in the remnants of the past.

His images capture the decay and disrepair of these buildings, while also conveying a sense of the history and stories that these structures hold.

Enjoy a selection of his works below.

Speakers Series – Feb. 2025 – Ron Pitts

CAPA presents via Zoom : Ron Pitts

English presentation : February 19, 2025

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: My Fine Feathered and Furry Friends and More …

Summary:

An artist’s perspective on wildlife photography. Heavy on the creative. Light on the technical. The ongoing challenge of making the familiar, unique. Getting the most from an image while staying true to story. Enjoying the eurekas of simple discoveries. Favourite techniques; slow exposures, “panoranimals,” composites, motion blur, tripoding, titling, dumpster diving, soft focus (sharp overrated), and noise (bad name, nice effect), among others. Plus, brief segments on promotional graphics, some funnies, and framing tips, including the secret to the bestest, fastest, cheapest, and safest way to wrap and protect your frames.

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

Please login, go to Members > Zoom & YouTube Live Invitation > Speakers Series, copy and save the Zoom link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio

Ron Pitts’ professional background is in graphic design and computer animation.

He started as a motion graphics director in the 1980s at Bajus Jones Film in Minnesota.  In 1990, Ron and several colleagues founded Windlight Studios to produce long-format series animation. They sold the company in 1998 to Nelvana Studios, Toronto, and moved to Canada to help develop Nelvana’s CGI department.

Nelvana produces animated series for children’s television and was acquired by Corus Entertainment in 2000.  Ron worked on shows like Miss Spider, Care Bears, and Handy Manny, among others, and was one of the directors on the two-time Emmy Award winning Rolie Polie Olie series.

His wildlife photography began in 2004 after moving to a home in the country with an acre pond out back that attracted an inordinate number of animals and birds. He saw there was art to be had, bought a used (and still uses today) 600mm, and began shooting.  Ron ran a small gallery, soloed in venues, and participated in exhibitions around Ontario winning numerous awards, – quite often “People’s Choice Awards.”

In 2010, Corus asked Ron to set up three in-house galleries for the artists at their new headquarters on the Toronto waterfront, where he curated quarterly employee exhibitions – overseeing more than 200 feet of display.

Ron travelled Canada and the US for wildlife opportunities.  He came east for the fall sandpiper migration in the Bay of Fundy, loved the Maritimes, and when he retired from Nelvana in 2018, made Nova Scotia his new home.

He became a member of ViewPoint Gallery in 2021, exhibits monthly, and for the last two years has been doing its promotional graphics.

Enjoy a selection of his works below.

Prairie Zone News January 2025

People in the News – Elevated Skills Levels:

After reviewing results from our previous three competitions and the 2024 Salon, we have updated the skill-level classifications for the Prairie Zone. These changes are now reflected across all Zone competitions. Congratulations to the following photographers who have been promoted from Novice to Intermediate level in the Prairie Zone:

  • Diane McKinnon
  • Colleen Sayer
  • Linda Treleaven
  • Olivia Dolinsky
  • Ottmar Philippp
  • Rae McLeod
  • Robert Royer
  • Vincent Morban

Watch for their images in Canadian Photography and become inspired.

Prairie Zone Competition is coming up in April. Closing date is April 15th. It might seem a little early to tell you this but the snow might not be around.

You can get more details by clicking here.

Upcoming Prairie Zone Event on Tuesday, March 11:

Meet Don Campbell, Photographer, from the Cochrane Camera Club, presenting “My Approach to Capturing Images”

The CAPA Prairie Zone will be inviting all Prairie Zone members to an online presentation by Don Campbell. In 1973 Don moved to Calgary, to design and run a motion picture production program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He continued this for fourteen years and while there, he took a sabbatical to complete a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from York University in Toronto. In the mid-90s Don began to travel extensively, and to specialize in wildlife photography, a passion that continues to this day. He has visited 114 countries, photographing wildlife in all of them. His style is evolving, and he prefers to react to what he sees, and find a way to frame it effectively.

More details to follow in the next few weeks

Prairie Zone Photographers of the Month:

A few other people who live in remote parts of our vast country, responded to my request for their bios and images. Further submissions are welcome, it’s great to see the diverse array of images from all areas of the Prairies:

Hugh Fraser lives on a lake in northern Manitoba and belongs to the Manitoba Camera Club.

He’s currently the Competition Committee chair for MCC. Hugh specializes in aurora, nature and landscape photography.

He has lived in Northern Manitoba since 1953 residing at Thicket Portage, Mystery Lake, Moak Lake and Thompson. Hugh’s current home and studio is at Setting Lake. His photography has taken him to parts of Canada and the southwestern United States.

Hugh continues to focus his creative energy on the area where he was raised and has spent the majority of his life, the Thompson Nickel Belt. He has photographed throughout the belt from Wabowden in the south to the Odei River in the north.

Some of his images are below.

Cheryl Lalonde – My name is Cheryl Lalonde and I am a pharmacist working in Saskatoon SK but live in Martensville SK (very close to Saskatoon).

I first fell in love with photography when I was on vacation at the age of 12 and found a camera someone had lost in Banff national park. It had no film in it and although we tried to find the owner, we did not. I bought some film and it became my first camera. I took a photo at Lake Louise and my parents made such a fuss about it looking like a postcard that I was so proud of that image.

Anyway, fast forward through high school, university, getting married and I still had not gotten out of auto mode. My husband and I took a trip to Vegas and entered a Peter Lik gallery and my photography passion was reignited. I loved his images printed very large and they made me feel like I was standing right there with him when he took the picture. My husband and I bought one for ourselves as an Anniversary gift. While we were choosing the image we wanted the salesman casually stated that I would never be able to take an image like Peter. I never replied but in my mind I thought, challenge accepted.

That was when I really began to learn how to take an image. There was so much more to it than I thought but I loved capturing beautiful Landscapes. I began taking online courses and learning every bit I could about taking a properly exposed image and how best to develop a RAW image. Landscapes are my first love but I now enjoy many genres of photography. I now love taking waterdrop photography, macro, and some portraiture as well as Landscapes.

Here are some of Cheryl’s images:

David Kay: My photography is my form of art. I use photography to capture the light, colours, patterns, and contrasts I see in nature. I highly value nature and want to communicate that value through my images. On a personal note, I feel a significant spiritual presence while moving through wilderness areas. I love nature and gain balance in my life partly because of my time in nature.

I’ve worked as an instructor in the Adventure Tourism at Lakeland College (AB) and in Physical Education at Grande Prairie Regional College (AB). I’ve displayed my images at:

  • Beaverlodge Art & Cultural Centre (Small gallery, June 2023)
  • Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie (Wall gallery, October, 2023)

and published in Our Canada 2022, October-November. Immersed in Alberta’s Natural Beauty and Our Canada, 2023, June-July. United in Spirit, Appreciating the Inner Gifts of Powwow.
 
In case you missed it, two Prairie Zone members submitted articles to Canadian Photography. Please read them:
 
Mufty Mathewson wrote My Life with Cameras in the Fall edition. Mufty was awarded her HonFCAPA, has written several other articles for Canadian Photography, and has been a CAPA member for many years.
 
Darlene Hildebrandt wrote Quick Guide: How to Find Good Light for Portraits at Midday in the Winter edition. Darlene is a professional photographer in several genres, who currently prefers Street and Travel photography but still considers herself a people photographer, first and foremost. Darlene shares her skills through articles on her website, Digital Photo Mentor (https://www.digitalphotomentor.com/)
 
Thanks to both of you for contributing.
 

Allan Reich

Prairie Zone Director
Canadian Association for Photographic Art

FIAP Distinctions 2025

CAPA is Canada’s representative to the Federation Internationale de L’Art Photographique (FIAP), which is a federation of approximately 86 international photographic organizations. Each year CAPA submits applications for some of its members to receive FIAP Distinctions. These Distinctions recognize an individual’s success in international photographic exhibitions with FIAP patronage.

If you are a member of CAPA and have participated in photographic exhibitions with FIAP patronage you may qualify for a FIAP Distinction. CAPA will be submitting applications for Distinction to FIAP on April 1, 2025. If you are interested in finding out more about FIAP international exhibitions or the FIAP Distinctions please contact David Laronde, FIAP’s Liaison Officer in Canada at davidrlaronde@gmail.com

London Camera Club – Jan.2025 and Feb.2025 – Upcoming Presentation

Speaker:

Jan 23 7-9 pm EST Mitchell Brown : Firefighter photography

You can register by clicking here.

 

Feb 6 7-9pm EST Matt Shannon – Tools beyond your Camera, Lens & Tripod

You can register by clicking here.

Workshop:

Intermediate Lightroom Classic course

All sessions are on Zoom on Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm EDT/EST

$20 for LCC members. $30 for guests

Session 1 – January 8 2025
Session 2 – January 22, 2025
Session 3 – February 5. 2025
Session 4 – February 19, 2025

You can register by clicking here.

Contact Robert Zakirson at rzakrison@gmail.com

January 2025 Judging Program News

National Judges List


The Judges List is now online! All CAPA Clubs have online access to the latest list of CAPA Certified Judges and CAPA Apprentice Judges. Log in to your club’s account and go to Members > National Judges List. You must be logged in to your club’s account to download the list.

The CAPA Judging Program is made up of multiple components. Last month we talked about the Training Component.

Another component of the Judging Program is Monitoring. The monitoring program is a means of maintaining the Judging Standards and to provide ongoing improvement to the Judging Program by observing the judging process as it applies to CAPA competitions. The program is carried out in cooperation with the Director of Competitions, and with the help of certified judges having extensive experience judging CAPA competitions.

 

There are three elements to the monitoring program:


1. The Director of Competitions provides each judge of a CAPA competition with an analysis report on both the competition’s results and judges’ scoring, to assist them in self-evaluation of their judging performance. This analysis report will also go to the Director of the Judging Program.

2. The Director of the Judging Program or a named designate reviews all CAPA competitions in order to ensure that Judging Standards are being maintained and identify trends or anomalies in judging that may require a more in-depth review.

3. The Director of the Judging Program or a named designate conducts periodic evaluation of individual active judges to ensure that Judging Standards are being maintained, offer feedback to help individuals refine their judging skills, and identify training needs. These are conducted randomly or when a potential problem has been identified.

Next month we’ll look at the Support Component of the Judging Program.

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

January 2025 Competition Updates

Updated (January 1, 2025) CAPA Stance on Artificial Intelligence

We’ve expanded our Artificial Intelligence guidelines to include several new photography enhancement tools. This update, effective January 1, 2025, now addresses:

 

New AI Tools:

  • Adobe Photoshop’s Neural Filters
  • Additional text-to-image Generative AI applications
  • Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Raw’s “Enhanced” feature
  • Reflection removal tools in both Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Lightroom

 

Special thanks to Greg Aldous of the London Camera Club for his valuable input regarding the Photoshop Neural Filters.


This policy revision supersedes our previous version from December 13, 2024.

You can view this new document here (English) (French)  

 

A hyperlink to this document is also included in the Editing Criteria Section for each of our forthcoming photo competitions.

 

Competitions Open For Uploading of Images

 

  • 2025 Ontario Zone Competition – closes on January 15, 2025

  • 2025 Fine Art Competition – closes on January 30, 2025

  • 2025 Quebec Zone Competition – closes on February 15, 2025

  • 2025 Colour Competition – closes on February 28, 2025

Image Editing Nights

Mystical Fanal Forest by Darlene Hildebrandt

Join us for our CAPA Image Editing Night series. This supportive evening is dedicated to refining your photographic vision. Whether you are looking to learn new technical skills or tell deeper stories, our discussions are structured to help photographers:

  • develop and strengthen impact in their images
  • improve composition and overall design
  • review the technical quality of the image
  • learn advanced editing techniques for post-processing

We invite you (Individual CAPA Members) to bring your images and participate in the conversation designed to nourish your growth and explore the creative potential with your images.

Monthly, on the second Thursday, at 6:30 pm Mountain time. 

  • Sept 11, 2025
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • Nov 13, 2025
  • Dec 11, 2025
  • Jan 8, 2026 – Special Guest Editor
  • Feb 12, 2026
  • Mar 12, 2026
  • Apr 9, 2026
  • May 14, 2026

For information on how to submit an image go to the Members > Education Links > Image Editing Nights

Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia – Feb.2025 – Upcoming Presentation

Celebrating its 77th 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, February 10, 2025

Layers & Masking Demystified by Hazel Meredith APSA, HonNEC takes place on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM ADT. Hazel Meredith is an award-winning photographer and a sought-after teacher, speaker, and competition judge. She and her husband, Dave, produce the “Virtual Creative Photography Conference” with attendees from around the world. Hazel loves the creative aspect of photography and postprocessing, especially the use of textures and software to create unique images. She has written two eBooks on working with textures, and released two creative courses.

Hazel is actively involved with the photographic community and has received honorary distinctions from several organizations. In the Fall of 2020, she was the recipient of the Ashbrook Award for Digital Imaging Instruction from the Photographic Society of America.

Learn why layers are important – and useful – when working in Photoshop. In this webinar, Hazel will review the various types of layers and how they can make your workflow easier. She will also show you how to apply masking to a layer – a task many feel intimidated by. It’s easier than you think!

To view more of her work visit: www.MeredithImages.com

You can register by clicking here

Oakville Camera Club – Jan. 2025 – Upcoming Presentation

OCC Presents: AI in Photography with Sheldon Boles (Online Presentation)

On  01/20/2025 at 07:00 pm

No fee

Guests are welcome.

 

More informations by clicking here.

December 2024 Competition Updates

Important Update: AI Guidelines in Photo Post-Processing

Due to recent advances in AI-powered photo editing software, we’ve revised our CAPA position on artificial intelligence in photography. The updated guidelines provide detailed clarification on which AI features are acceptable and which are prohibited in our competitions.

You can view this document here (English) (French)  

*You can also find this updated guideline in all Competition Editing Criteria sections.

Updating Advanced & Intermediate Skill Levels In All Zones

We’re currently reviewing and adjusting all Zone Skill-levels using results from:

  • 2024 CAPA Salon 
  • 2024 Four Nations
  • 2024 Pacific Zone
  • 2024 Nature
  • 2024 Black & White

Advanced and intermediate skill level updates will be completed by December 15, 2024.

Please review all competition details before submitting images to any zone competitions.

Updated CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage

This webpage has been updated and now include details on “image-to-image AI” as shown below in bold:

Images that have been created or modified using specific AI generative techniques are not permitted for submission into our competitions. This includes:

In-painting (where AI fills in generated elements not captured by the photographer or removes and replaces elements from a photograph with AI-generated content);

Out-painting (where AI extends beyond the original boundaries of the photograph using generated elements); and

Image-to-image AI (where AI transforms an entire photograph based on text prompts or style references)

Text-to-image (generated images from scratch based on text entered into a prompt description)

These restrictions apply whether or not text prompts are used in the AI generation process.

In the area of Generative AI images, there are three categories:

Text-to-Image:

  • Generates images from scratch based on text entered into a prompt description 
  • Complete creative freedom but less control over the specific details produced by the system

Photo Enhancement – Fill / Expand Boundaries:

  • Modifies existing photos by filling or modifying specific areas or expanding the boundaries of the photo 
  • Focuses on blending with existing content
  • Maintains consistency with original image (photograph)

Photo Image-to-Image:

  • Transforms an entire photo based on text prompts or style references
  • Preserves basic structure while changing style, content, or attributes
  • More control over output compared to text-to-image

2024 Black & White Competition

2025 Quebec Zone Competition

This completion is now open for the uploading of images.  Key point that entries will only be accepted by Quebec residents. Competition closes on February 15, 2024 (midnight).

You are strongly encouraged to review the competition details before uploading your images into this competition.  The details of this competition can be reviewed here.

2025 Colour Competition

Competition is also now open for the uploading of images.

Prior to uploading any images into this competition, you are wise to review the competition details and ensure your submitted images fall within one of the noted themes. Competition closes on February 15, 2024 (midnight).

You can view the competition by clicking here.

London Camera Club – Jan.2025 – Upcoming Presentation

Speaker:
January 9 Mike Grandmaison Ontario Naturally: Impressions of a Land 7- 9 pm EST.

You can register by clicking here.

Workshop:
Intermediate Lightroom Classic course

All sessions are on Zoom on Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm EDT/EST


$20 for LCC members. $30 for guests


Session 1 – January 8 2025
Session 2 – January 22, 2025
Session 3 – February 5. 2025
Session 4 – February 19, 2025


You can register by clicking here.

Contact Robert Zakirson at rzakrison@gmail.com

Education Dec.2024 Update

The “Elevating Your Photography” is an educational presentation that is aimed at small to medium sized CAPA photography clubs. Its origins came from discussions of the CAPA Education Committee early in 2024. It was first delivered to the Cowichan Valley Photo Club in late April of this
year.

The presentation takes a fresh at how to improve one’s photography by concentrating on Composition and creating images that engage with the viewer. It avoids looking at composition, as an application of the “Rules of Composition”. In fact demonstrates that many of the great photographers (both current and in the past) feel that a rule-based approach is counter-productive and does not result in strong images. Several common rules are debunked in the presentation. Considerable time is spent on that most challenging aspect of photography’ creating images that the viewer develops a strong connection with. The presentation is filled with many images from Manfred Mueller’s collection of works.

To date, this hour-long presentation has been shown to nine different photography clubs (two in person and seven via video conference) from
coast to coast. The reaction to these presentations has been overwhelmingly positive and we want to thank the CAPA clubs that have taken advantage of the offering.

We look forward to developing more content in the future.


Kind regards,
Dan Sigouin on behalf of the Education Committee.

Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia – Dec.2024 and Jan.2025 – Upcoming Presentation

Celebrating its 77th 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.

Creative Cellphone Photography by Stephen Scott Patterson takes place on Monday, December 8, 2024 at 7:30 PM AST

A photographer and photo-educator, Stephen has had several solo print exhibitions. He continues to create new images with his Camera as well as his iPhone 14 pro, and sees both as equally valid artistic devices, citing visual creativity as the more important aspect of artistic expression, over whatever device is used to create the photographs.

In this webinar, Stephen will discuss the differences in compositional approach, working with RAW files, focusing, working in bright daylight, slow motion photography, multiple exposure and much more.

You can register by clicking here

Studio Pet Photography with Larry Cowles takes place on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM ADT.

Larry Cowles HonPSA, GMPSA/P, EFIAP/d3 is a retired Electrical Engineer with a passion for Photography and specializes in Portraiture. He has been active in PSA since 1983, earning over 15,000 acceptances in exhibitions, winning hundreds of awards from 100 countries and was the first person to obtain GMPSA/P, PSA’s highest level. Larry has held various offices in camera clubs, councils and PSA Chapters, including chairman of the Color Projected Imaged Division, Vice chairman of the Print Division and past Vice President and Managing Editor of the PSA Journal.

While Larry’s program is centered around taking images of pets in the studio, he will also talk about using natural light. Many of us have pets that are part of our family and we want to have portraits of them like any other family members. They also make great subjects for competition images. Larry will discuss techniques of how to get your pet to look at the camera, compositional tools and developing a pet photography team to create great images.

You can register by clicking here

CAPA Judging Program Overview

The CAPA Judging Program is made up of multiple components.

The three primary components are Judge Training, Monitoring and Support.

Judge Training, which is developed in coordination with the Education Committee, covers all subjects related to the judging process. It includes:

• Basic Training for New Judges Course (BTNJ)
This course (currently under development) will be open to anyone and is a pre-requisite for entering the Judge Certification Program. Participants will be given a certificate recognizing that they have competed the course.

• Judge Certification Program
This is for CAPA members who wish to continue their training to become a CAPA Certified Judge. After completing the BTNJ course, individuals may apply to participate in this program. During this phase of their training, participants will be referred to as CAPA Apprentice (CA) Judges.

• Refresher Training for CAPA Certified (CC) Judges
In order to maintain their certification, CAPA Certified judges are required to complete refresher training prior to the end of their certification period. This training is designed to confirm maintenance of judging skills and review trends and recent changes related to judging.

• Supplemental/Advanced Courses and Seminars
These offerings will be based on changing trends, expanding on the BTNJ course and other subjects relating to judging

In the next Newsletter, we’ll look at the Monitoring and Support components.

 

Course Development

Some of the Judge training will be via on-line, self-paced learning. We are looking for individuals with expertise in this type of training to assist the working group that is updating course content.

If this is an area in which you can help, please contact the Director of the Judging Program at judgingdirector@capacanada.ca.

Prairie Zone News for November 2024

This month we’ve had three Clubs join CAPA – Moose Jaw Camera Club, Cochrane Camera Club and St. Albert Photography Club. Welcome to all clubs and club members. It’s great to have you as part of our community! Bob Royer and I had the privilege of joining the St. Albert Photography Club meeting last week. Thanks for the hospitality! I visited with the Regina Camera Club last month as well. Thanks to Larry Easton (a very long time CAPA member) for his time and engaging conversation over coffee.

This month the Prairie Zone sent out a note to some members who are from places that most of us have never heard of. Places like Martensville, SK, Tiger LIly, AB and Oakbank, MB. Canada is a huge country and as part of CAPA, we’re all joined as a nation, by our love of photography. I asked for people’s stories and interests, and some responded. Here are two people’s responses (more submissions are welcome):

 

  • My name is Sherrianne Talon and I’m a PPOC accredited Fine Art photographer and instructor at Red River college where I teach professional photography. I live near Oakbank, Manitoba. I love Fine Art nature and landscapes. I’ve been a professional photographer for over 25 years. I lived in Australia for 16 years and ran a photography business where I did portraits, weddings, commercial, photo restorations, fine art, corporate, landscapes and everything in between. Teaching now allows me to concentrate on my first love, fine art landscapes. To be able to create photos of places that evoke feelings of peace and appreciation of nature, is something I am grateful for every day. Four of my favourite images are shown below.

 

  • Wanda Knoss from Rockglen, Saskatchewan. I live in the middle of Saskatchewan close to the Montana border. I ranch with my husband and family. We raise commercial cattle. Saskatchewan is full of inspiration and wonderful ‘scapes so it’s easy to be inspired.
    I’ve been at this for some time. I have many interests – landscapes, HDR, macro, flora, still life, abstracts, rusty goodness and lately ICM. I shoot with an older Canon 5D Mk111, Olympus OM-D, and my IPhone Pro Max 16. At one time, I belonged to the Group of Ten photography club out of Assiniboia, SK and the Regina Photography Club. Here are three of my images: