We’ve leaned on Tania for Focus Fridays enough times to realize that she might be the Okanagan’s resident Bird Whisperer. Not that her other subjects aren’t cool — she’s got great landscapes, macros and lifestyle shots too — but a quick trip through her Flickr pages reveals her main area of interest. This is a passionate birder with strong photographic skills and a love of beauty.

Most of us pay little attention to our feathered friends — we might occasionally enjoy their songs or flashes of colour without having any idea what we’re seeing or hearing. Since I started following Tania’s photos a couple of years ago, I’ve learned a lot about the birds that frequent our valley. I notice them more now, marveling at their infinite variety and amazing ability to survive cold winters or long migrations. Thankfully Tania has not yet migrated away, and she was kind enough to answer a few questions about her pursuit.

What got you started in photography, and how long have you been taking photos in the Okanagan?

Hummingbirds got me started — I became fascinated by them and wanted to capture their beauty.  I started with a point-and-shoot camera and from there my passion for photography bloomed.  I wanted better photos of them, so I made the decision to upgrade to a DSLR about six years ago.

Favourite locations in the valley?

My favourite location in the valley is Hardy Falls Regional Park in Peachland — I never go home disappointed.  The park offers so much beauty year round, from the waterfall and creek to the smallest wildflower; not to mention the abundance of birds and wildlife.  It is one of the best places to visit for autumn foliage and winter landscapes.  Some of my other favourite places include Okanagan Lake Provincial Park in Summerland and No. 22 Road/Black Sage Road in Oliver.

Influences or artists/photographers you admire?

There are so many photographers that I’ve met through Flickr who I admire and am influenced by.  Some of them are brilliant bird photographers, while others have amazing landscapes.  I have a long-time Flickr contact named Mark Baldwin from Illinois who takes the most stunning landscape shots — I have learned so much from his photography.

Another person is a local Okanagan photographer and friend, Ron Racine — his bird photography is amazing.  Just looking at his photographs I know that he has extreme patience when it comes to birds. I can’t forget to mention Doug Brown, a bird photographer from Vancouver whose photographs blow me away.  I always hear myself saying, “wow, how did he do that?”

What kinds of responses do you most commonly get when people see your photos?

I get a lot of  positive responses when people see my photos.  I’m so honoured and amazed by how many of my friends and acquaintances take the time to look at my Flickr photostream.

What do you love about photographing birds and wildlife?

I love the challenge.  It’s easy enough to take landscape or wildflower photographs, but birds and wildlife don’t sit still!  I guess you could say I like the challenge of the hunt.

Any comments on what types of photographic gear you use and appreciate most?

I use a Nikon D7000 camera with a Nikon 80-400mm lens for my bird and wildlife photography. I love the sharpness and colour quality that I get from the D7000 — upgrading to the 80-400mm lens was the best choice I’ve made. I can get close to birds and wildlife without actually getting close, and it’s small enough to carry. When I see a macro or landscape shot I want to take, I will switch lenses, and then switch right back to the 80-400mm; you never know what might cross your path.  For my macro shots, I use a Nikon 200mm fixed macro. For landscapes, I use a 18-55mm or 17-35mm wide angle lens, depending on the scene.

Where do you see yourself going with your photography in the next year or two?

I have been successful in selling some photographs for publication (mainly the tourism industry) and I always donate photographs to non-profit wildlife organizations. In the next year or two, I would like to start selling prints of my photographs or selling to wildlife/nature magazines.

Thanks to Tania for answering our questions and sharing her work. You can find more of her photos on Flickr:

• Photography Through Tania’s Eyes
• Gallery of bird shots initially selected for this article

In Focus features interesting Okanagan photographers and their work each month(ish). Individual photos are also featured each week on Focus Friday. The author primarily picks stuff from the I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr — if you have suggestions or ideas for photography features, please pass them along to jhiebert@gmail.com.

Caillum’s photography caught my eye when we posted his shot of the Adra Tunnel last year, and I’ve been impressed with the stuff he’s shared since then. This winter, his landscapes switched over the U.K., where he was living and working for a few months. I thought it might be interesting to hear about his experience abroad and get him to reflect on his local photography as well.

Caillum covers a broad range of styles and approaches with his pictures — instead of going for a cohesive theme, I’ve collected a representative sampling. That said, there are common threads that run through all of his work: a love of landscape, great attention to detail, willingness to experiment, and an eye for unique moments. You can tell that this artist is committed to his craft. It’s time to put Caillum Smith In Focus.

How long have you been doing photography in the Okanagan?

I first began fooling around with a film camera about 4 or 5 years ago but took things a bit further when Dad bought me a dslr as a “go to university” bribe.  I soon dropped my studies in pursuit of satisfying my photographic endeavors.

 Favourite locations or subjects in the valley?

I love incorporating the valley itself into my photos, whether its the subject or the background; our little pond nestled between the mountains is simply breathtaking from both the shores and the peaks. I think the Kettle Valley Railway above Naramata and Okanagan Mountain Park are among my most photographed locations because of their close proximity to where I live and my familiarity of the mountainside, but the Vaseux Lake area and Similkameen are equally spectacular. My favorite spots are the ones I have yet to find.

Influences or artists/photographers you admire?

I leech most of my inspiration from a few local photographers; Greg Gaspari’s rich, detailed wildlife and landscapes, Tania Simpson’s informative and playful images and Jeremy Hiebert’s unusual perspectives have been a steady source of inspiration. 500px.com and Chip Phillips from Spokane have plenty of inspiring images for those rock bottom days.

What kinds of responses do you most commonly get when people see your photos?

Most responses are concerning the brilliant, saturated colors and scenic views.

Living in the U.K. was very progressive in several ways. Traveling allows you to encounter unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations forcing you to constantly adapt, defining character in the process which in turn is exposed through art. Not having a vast wilderness easily accessible was a big change for me and my first two months in the U.K. passed by without a single photo taken. I had expectations of what types of images I wanted to create, usually outdoor/nature intended, and not being able to meet these expectations put me in a situation where I was able to implement new techniques and styles into my work such as portraiture and low light urban. I also had a lot of time to learn more about post processing.

Brands, models and new, high tech gizmo gadgets only do so much. If you want nice photos stand in front of nice things. A few gadgets in my bag that I do appreciate are my polarizer, remote intervalometer for low light situations, my tripod regardless of its inconvenience and my work horse 10-20mm wide angle lens.

This summer I will be selling prints at several local markets and there is a possibility of showing at some local exhibits so keep your eyes open for that.

Thanks to Caillum for sharing his images and thoughts with Awesome Okanagan. You can find more of his stuff here:

• Preserved Light
• Preserved Light on Flickr
• Preserved Light on Facebook

In Focus features interesting Okanagan photographers and their work each month(ish). Individual photos are also featured each week on Focus Friday. The author primarily picks stuff from the I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr — if you have suggestions or ideas for photography features, please pass them along to jhiebert@gmail.com.

Penticton artist Drew Makepeace is used to hearing the word “quirky” when people encounter his photographs. His unconventional views of industrial scenes, back lanes and suburban landscapes tweak your expectations and make you look again to try to figure out what might be going on.

Finding compelling patterns and beauty in unusual subjects is part of the attraction — Drew also brings a whimsical, almost comical sensibility to his images, seeing the interest and humour in places we’d pass by without a second glance. Awesome Okanagan puts Drew’s pictures and process In Focus this week.

How long have you been doing photography in the Okanagan?
I’ve been doing it since I moved to Penticton in 2004.

Favourite locations or subjects in the valley?
My favourite subjects are things that are man-made. Therefore my favourite locations tend to be urban or suburban locales.

Influences or artists/photographers you admire?
Stephen Shore and William Eggleston both come to mind, mainly for their ability to find banal scenes that can be turned into evocative art when photographed. I also admire the abstract paintings of Mark Rothko and the fluorescent light sculptures of Dan Flavin.

What kinds of responses do you most commonly get to your abstract photos?
The most common word people use is “quirky”. I’m not sure what that means, but if it means “unusual” then perhaps they are not off the mark. I try to avoid trite subjects like flowers and scenery, and instead concentrate on back walls, back lanes and the various objects that one finds there.

I’d like to hear about your experience with gallery shows. What are the benefits and pitfalls?
I’ve had a couple of photographic exhibits in small galleries, and also a number of shows in coffee shops. The benefits of shows are exposure, and the potential, however small, of selling a work. There aren’t really any pitfalls, but it’s important to have a clear understanding with the gallery owner of how sales will be handled. I also think it’s important to make your framing and mounting clean, consistent and simple so that it doesn’t upstage your work.

You’ve resisted the pull to DSLRs and bags full of lenses, instead going with a higher-end point-n-shoot — why have you taken that approach to gear, and do you plan to stick with it?
There are two main reasons I’ve stuck with a point & shoot camera. I like the compact versatility of it. For example, my Canon SX-10 has a 28-560mm zoom, which obviates the need for a big bag o’ lenses. The other reason is that I make exclusive use of the vari-angle LCD screen. It enables me to frame extremely low shots without lying on the ground, and very high shots that I simply wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. Recently, some SLR cameras with vari-angle screens have come onto the market, so I may very well upgrade in the future.

Where do you see yourself going with your photography in the next year or two?
I’m starting to feel like I’ve thoroughly mined the back lanes of Penticton and nearby cities of all their subject matter. I want more, which means I’ll need to go further afield. I can also see myself tending towards more abstract work – I think that’s a natural progression for many artists.

Thanks to Drew for sharing his thoughts and his work. Check out more of his stuff online:

• Drew Makepeace home page
• Drew Makepeace on Flickr (and sets)
• In Focus Gallery

In Focus features interesting Okanagan photographers and their work each month(ish). Individual photos are also featured each week on Focus Friday. The author primarily picks stuff from the I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr — if you have suggestions or ideas for photography features, please pass them along to jhiebert@gmail.com.

We’re switching things up here a bit for this month’s In Focus. Our beloved local landscape is still featured, but with some added action and flair. Matt Butterworth‘s mountain biking videos and photos are getting noticed outside the Okanagan, and for good reason — this is top-notch work, showing off some amazing locations and riders. If the riding at Silver Star is half as fun as Matt’s videos makes it look, it must be pretty special:

Silver Star Bike Park Ep. 2 2011 from Matt Butterworth on Vimeo.

A lot people have bought DSLR cameras in the past year or two that can shoot video. Most of us won’t use it much, or use it for shaky, clunky clips of our friends. Matt’s use of his DSLR inspires us to learn to do this stuff properly, and to see how much fun it could be to make great video. Here’s another one, with a nifty, moody vibe:

Through the Fog :: Anthony Evans from Matt Butterworth on Vimeo.

Although it was his videos that caught my eye, I was also impressed by Matt’s still photos. As you can see in the videos, he’s got a great eye for composition and light, integrating the beauty of the landscape into his action shots. It’s not easy to convey intense motion when you’re freezing motion, but he’s nailing it — I love the energy in the photos below. He was also kind enough to answer a few questions about his creative pursuits.

How did you start doing photography in the Okanagan? 

I started out like most people who shoot action sports. Just out having fun with my buddies and taking photos/making videos to document the good times!


Influences or artists/photographers you admire?

A standout few are Sterling Lorence, Dan Barham, Harookz, and Jordan Manley. All bike or ski shooters, most from magazines I’ve been reading since I was young like BIKE or Decline. Film wise I’d have to go with ROAM or more recently Life Cycles.

The quality of your videos is unreal. It’s obviously mostly about skill, but what what gear are you using to shoot and edit video (cameras, lenses, dollies, software, mics, etc)? 

The last year or so I’ve been shooting on my Canon 7D, it’s a great camera for stills and video. It has a variety of lenses spanning from a super wide fisheye to a 200mm telephoto. I’ve got a 1m long slider mounted on my tripod made by a company called Glidetrack, its pretty awesome for dynamic side to side shots.  Since the start I’ve been editing on Final Cut Pro, and lately I’ve been spending a bit of time in Adobe After Effects.

Action photography is probably the dream job of many, and it looks like you’re well on your way to making it a career. Any tips or advice to aspiring photographers who want to shoot sports? 

Do it because you love it. If you want to make loads of cash this isn’t the right genre of shooting for you! But if you love spending your time outside with good friends, shooting what you are passionate about, this is the greatest job in the world.

It seems like the Okanagan hasn’t had the same high-profile reputation in the mountain biking scene as Whistler, Kamloops and the Kootenays. Is this changing? How would you characterize the riding scene here? 

The sport is really growing rapidly in the Okanagan. With the new mountain bike skills park thanks the local bike club MTBCO and  world class lift access riding at Silver Star, the only direction for the riding scene in the Okanagan is up.

What is inspiring you right now? Any short-term or long-term goals for your photography?

Right now my main focus is just making a living doing this stuff! I’m working on a bigger film project which I’m hoping to release this fall or next spring, so keep your eyes peeled, it’s gonna be sick! Since the beginning my big goal is to get a cover shot on a well-established magazine. Mags have always inspired me and kept me pumped up to go out and capture great moments, so I hope one day my work can do the same for some aspiring shooters out there.

More of Matt’s stuff on the web:

• Vimeo videos
• butterworthphoto.ca

In Focus features interesting Okanagan photographers and their work each month(ish). Individual photos are also featured each week on Focus Friday. The author primarily picks stuff from the I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr — if you have suggestions or ideas for photography features, please pass them along to jhiebert@gmail.com.

Yes, Kim is an Awesome Okanagan contributor, and as was the case with the article about the Kuhls, I’m queasy about featuring photographers who do commercial work because it looks like favouritism or advertorial. But my introduction to Kim’s photos came years ago on Flickr, and her unique photographic style and verve made it an easy decision to put her stuff In Focus this month.

Anyone with attractive friends and a thousand bucks for a decent camera can take some good pictures immediately, and over a few months, they might get a few great shots. Looking through Kim’s pictures, I see a progression in skill and engagement that can only be developed through years of sustained effort and passion — compelling portraits that stand alone, admired even when you don’t know the subjects. It’s art, with a measure of playfulness that makes it fun and accessible. She was kind enough to answer a few questions about her pursuit of great images.

How did you start doing photography in the Okanagan?

It was the summer of 2008. I bought the Canon XSi and began photographing like mad. I photographed everything I possibly could, and began one of those 365 projects where you take at least one picture a day for an entire year. I was hooked after that. This is one of the first photographs I ever took.

Influences or artists/photographers you admire?

I admire people and I admire life. The conversations and interactions I have with people inspire me, and really, this is the root of my photography. I could write a novel about the many photographers I love. To name a famous photographer, it’s for sure Annie Leibovitz. Some of my inspiring photographer friends are Ashley Batz and Kaare Iverson.

You’ve captured some wonderful faces. Any tips for aspiring portrait photographers?

I focus on three things: the emotion, the story and the light. The emotion and the story probably play off one another, but they are very distinct on their own, so don’t assume both elements are in a photograph. The emotion is the feeling and the story is what sets that feeling. Light is key, too, and is one of my favorite aspects of photography. I’m a firm believer in using natural light. Back light your subject whenever possible.

The wedding/family/portrait business keeps getting more crowded. Any thoughts on the difficulties and opportunities in the business of photography in the valley?

It’s true, the Okanagan is very saturated with photographers. It becomes overwhelming if you focus on competing and how to get the next gig. I put my focus on my personal work. I photograph what I want to photograph and nothing else. I knew that becoming a wedding photographer would be a good way to receive more exposure and make a good pay check, but I’ve never really wanted to photograph weddings.

The more you shoot your natural style, the better it will get. People who like your style will eventually find your work and you’ll begin to build a name for yourself. It’s a slower start, but so far has been entirely worth it.

What is inspiring you right now? Any short-term or long-term goals for your photography?

Knowing that this world is so big and I’ve seen so little of it inspires me. I know there is so much more life out there to shoot, and I must find a way to photograph it all. A short term goal I have is to buy a new camera. Mine was stolen last year and I’ve since been using film and borrowing my boyfriend’s camera. A long term goal is to travel and photograph the world.

You’ve taken some great portraits of guys — in your experience, what are the differences and similarities between photographing men and women? 

In some ways, there are no differences between photographing men and women, but in other ways, they are entirely different. I find guys are most comfortable getting their picture taken when they are with friends goofing around (the candid moments). All of the men I’ve photographed have been great, but for the most part the seem more nervous when they’re with their partner (ie: engagement shoots). That being said, a lot of times the woman is nervous, too. When shooting anyones portrait, you have to learn as a photographer that it’s your job to make your subject comfortable and in their most natural essence. I spend a lot of time getting to know my client. The relationship we build before hand makes the photo shoot more relaxed and natural. My next personal challenge is to start photographing men in a more fashion-esque way. I feel like I get women’s fashion a lot (and therefore female portraiture), but to be honest, I’m still learning a ton about how to photograph a man in his most natural element. A lot of the women I’ve photographed are my friends, so in many ways, they’re easy to photograph.

More of Kim’s stuff online:

It’s been inspiring to see unique images emerging from Kelowna photographer Jason St. Pierre since he got into night photography a couple of winters ago. Anyone who has taken photos at night in winter in Canada knows that this has to be a labour of love — it’s not easy or comfortable.

More of Jason’s stuff online:

As a masters student in human geography, Jason Drury brings a fascinating analytical approach to his photography. Not that it’s dry or scholarly — there’s often a real sense of humour and whimsy in his pictures — but there is often more to an image than first meets the eye. This approach is rooted in his research interests in landscapes (including ours), as well as how people represent and interact with them.

I first dug into Jason’s pictures as part of a project to assemble individual galleries of work in our I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr. His unique abstracts filled that first gallery, but it could have just as easily focused on epic landscape shots or urban grit from all over the continent. The range and quality of his pictures imply deep curiosity and a great eye for patterns.

This week he was kind enough to answer a few questions about his learning and creativity for Awesome Okanagan.

How long have you been doing photography?

I’ve been getting more involved with my photography, at least in the Okanagan for about two years now. I’ve always had a camera of one sort or another, but recently I’ve been able to explore my vision and perception of the world with the dedication and process I think it deserves.

Any favourite locations in the valley?

Considering I live in downtown Kelowna, I would have to say that it is my favorite location to shoot just for the ease of access it affords me. I enjoy wandering the alleyways and industrial areas at night, and in the day shooting from the hip on the streets. There are so many other spots I know I need to explore some more however, and I have only touched the surface of everything around here.

Any influences or photographers you admire?

One of my favorite photographers would have to be Edward Burtynsky. His representations of landscapes transformed by humans really speak to me. Especially as a student of human geography I’m interested in the ways that humans interact with, change, and think of the places they live.

More…

Could you tell us a bit about your research and how it affects your photography?

My Master’s research as a human geographer has to do with the way that landscapes are represented, particularly by the tourism industry in the Okanagan. We often take the meanings attributed to places and that are transposed onto them for granted.

As natural resource based economies and industries left places in the province like Kelowna, these places had to promote themselves in ways they hadn’t before in order to draw money back to their regions. The Okanagan has many physical attributes that are easily idealized and sold for tourists to consume.

In my photography I try to not to idealize the landscape as much as possible. But I must admit that it can be very hard not to do so.

Living in the western world we are ‘trained’ to ‘see’ landscapes around us in particular ways that originated in the era of classical landscape paintings and portrayed notions of the sublime landscape. After all, who can ignore amazing plays of light on the hills around you, or the saturated colors of the clouds left by the setting sun?

For more of Jason’s photos, visit his Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42373177@N07/

In Focus features interesting Okanagan photographers and their work each month. Individual photos are also featured each week on Focus Friday. The author primarily picks stuff from the I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr — if you have suggestions or ideas for photography features, please pass them along to jhiebert@gmail.com.

There are dozens (hundreds?) of photographers doing portraits and weddings in the Okanagan. I was reluctant to feature one for two reasons: a lot of them are doing it exceptionally well, making it difficult to choose, and also because drawing attention to one looks like commercial favoritism. On the other hand, I thought it might be interesting to get a glimpse into this genre and learn something new.

Simon and Deborah seem to be taking a unique path, shooting a wide range of different subjects and styles, sharing their work, participating in online communities, and working together as a couple. These two obviously love the Okanagan, and would be taking pictures here even if they weren’t making a business of it.

Instead of a cross-section of different styles, I opted to feature a number of their black and white portraits. There’s a wonderful timeless quality to many of them; a sense that the picture has value even when you don’t know the people portrayed. I get the impression of authenticity, and of stories being told, whether the shots are posed or not. They were gracious enough to answer a few questions about their photographic journey so far.

Q. Favourite locations in the valley?
A. Linden Gardens is where it all started for us and we still shoot there regularly. The scenery changes by the week and it’s such a refreshing place to be, on many levels. Plus the coffee is great. It’s a place where we are relaxed and can experiment with many different styles and subjects.

We also loved living on the sunny east side of the valley and would get great results on our sunset photo-walks after dinner.

Q. Influences or artists/photographers you admire?
A. Tara Morris’ work totally blew us away when we first saw it! Her work with natural light and her gift for capturing familial bonds and wonderful expressions is still the benchmark for us. We also appreciate her keen focus and how she has carved herself a specialty niche, both in her style and in her subject matter. She could no doubt expand into other fields and styles, but her work stays true to her strengths and what she is most passionate about.

Yousef Karsh was a master who also influenced us.

Stephen Wilde was always Simon’s favourite mountain biking photographer. In a segment chock-full of amazing photography, Stephen’s work shifted away from pursuing the highest technical quality and headed straight–on to grittier images that were full of emotion, a sense of place, real experience and a more artistic vision. His style was distinct.

Flickr, of course is an awesome source of learning and inspiration. There are too many to list, but the best part is the variety of styles that you can draw inspiration from. We also find working with other types of artists to be inspiring, for example fashion models and musicians.

Q. You’ve captured some wonderful faces. Any tips for aspiring portrait photographers?
A. Thank you! Start with people you know and are comfortable with. This will make for more natural expressions and take some of the pressure off. Practice a lot. Also, do a lot of research about styles, lighting, philosophy, etc but develop what you learn into your own unique style, because that is what will set your work apart.

Another tip I thought of for the question regarding aspiring portrait photographers — shoot a lot of frames. It only costs you a little more editing time. The higher the stakes and larger you feel the challenge is, the more frames you should take. If it means deleting 30 images to get that one perfect expression, who cares?

Q. The wedding/family/portrait business keeps getting more crowded. Any thoughts on the difficulties and opportunities in the business of photography in the valley?
A. Great question! The market is hyper-competitve for sure and that drives down prices. From the outset we recognized that we would have to focus on taking deeply meaningful photographs that would have intrinsic value to our clients AND develop a distinct style.

We also recognized that while technology has opened the door to more amateur photographers than ever before, there was, more importantly, a larger – almost insatiable – demand for images in our society than at any other time. Images are everywhere now and they are powerfully used to sell and promote and commemorate. For example, a couple getting married now may reasonably expect to get 100 – 250 high quality images. A few generations ago, most couples may have expected a few, or even just one.

The opportunities are there…but a photographer may have to reduce their expectations of income, look for opportunities where there is less competition, consider auxiliary services like teaching workshops or editing services, or specialize in a niche segment.

More from Kuhl Photo on the web:

• http://www.kuhlphoto.ca/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuhlfoto/

In Focus features interesting Okanagan photographers and their work each month. Individual photos are also featured each week on Focus Friday. The author primarily picks stuff from the I Love the Okanagan group on Flickr — if you have suggestions or ideas for photography features, please pass them along to jhiebert@gmail.com.