Members’ Biographies

My interest in photography really increased when my first grandchild arrived about 25 years ago. Since then I have become the family photographer and am expected to chronicle as many special moments as possible. I have always loved being outdoors and close to nature and have found that photography has made me much more aware of the amazing beauty and detail in all that surrounds us. I enjoy the composition more than the technical aspect of photography, but am learning more of the latter from so many knowledgeable and helpful LCCC members.

I love photography because it's made me see the world in a different way. I now notice details in things around me - light, texture, colour, shapes. And I love it when I can say to myself "Wow, I can't believe I took that!". It's extremely satisfying.

Got my first DSLR in 2006. A few sayings have influenced my images over the first years of my current photography life: take enough pictures and you're bound to get a good one; if you don't like your images, move closer; it's not what you're looking at that's important, it's what you see; and finally, less is more. The first one is mine, the middle two belong to people who are much better photographers than I am. And the last one is from a local artist but I think equally applicable to photography. Best thing I've done so far is join the Lanark County Camera Club. Wonderful atmosphere and great learning opportunity. Second best thing I've done is take some courses at Algonquin College ... forced me off the dreaded "P" and onto the much more creative "M". Third best thing I've done is try to follow the sayings that guide my images.

I am a retired (2014) professor of Biology, who moved to the shores of Otty Lake south of Perth in 2019.  I started doing photography back around 1967, and from around 1970-on was mainly doing macrophotography.  I had little time for it (other than for work) during most of my career, and had more interest in video than still images from the late 1980’s on.  In the last 2 years I've become quite active on iNaturalist, which requires some form of documentation (image &/or audio recording) to post an observation.  Here is a link to my observations (warning - some images are poor, but the only one(s) I could obtain for the organism): iNaturalist.org/observations 

(Note – click on ‘grid’ for the gallery; images in the iNaturalist gallery view are auto-cropped, click on the image for the full view)

I have a Nikon Coolpix P950 primarily for bird photography, as well as a Sony Alpha 7R Mark III for closer range, plus I use a Panasonic HDC-TM900 high definition video camera for shots recorded through compound and dissecting microscopes.  Much of my macro work involves organisms less than 1 cm in length.

While I'm interested in photography and strive to do the best that I can, my primary motivation is to record nature and artistic expression is of secondary concern.

My photographic love affair started about 50 years ago with a bang – a Pentax SLR, bulk BW film, processing and printing, school yearbook photo editor for 4yrs, shooting a couple of modeling school students and a lesson or 2 from a professional. University interfered and after a graduate degree as a wildlife biologist I ended up in northern Ontario taking lots of photos of flora and fauna. With a couple of medium format cameras in tow I started a storefront photo studio for the off hours. Moving, traveling, work and family took over and there was a long lull with periodic bursts of intense picture taking especially during my polar bear research days and while traveling.

I have fully embraced the digital world with a steep software learning curve. My passion is portraits in all forms. I have started a fledgling photography business (www.greenwoodsphotography.ca) to pursue that passion but always keep an eye out for wildlife, landscape and other interesting opportunities.

As a kid, I always loved viewing the photographs taken by others but never seriously considered taking up the camera myself until I was much older. When I did decide to start, digital photography was beginning to take over from film and I jumped on the bandwagon early on, although I still have my original film SLR. Over the years I've transitioned through various models to my current DSLR (Nikon D5300) and superzoom (Canon Powershot SX720 HS) units. My favourite combo at the moment is my DSLR with Nikkor 50mm lens. After being inspired by one of the club's guest speakers, I have been experimenting with converting my photo images to new artforms using the various processing apps now available for mobile devices. My current favourite tool to use is iColorama, an iOS app. I find the creative possibilities are endless which I love.

For more images see:
https://www.facebook.com/ShadowmicePhotography

My name is Helen McKay. I live in Smiths Falls and love photography after a long day at work. I do nature and animal photos mostly. I use a D7100 with a 300 and 400 mm lens to shoot birds. I have traveled to Washington, London, Paris and Wales. I love being outdoors and being out at community events. I spend spring to fall in my kayak doing wildlife to relax. I joined the club 11 years ago. The club has lots to offer to all levels of photographers. They have creative ideas for photo shoots, up to date techniques, courses and fun monthly themes.

I was not blessed with my mother’s talent for painting. But photography enables me to capture images in light of what my mind wants to reflect. Using various software, I can then create scenes that reflect moods and emotions. My interests are various and my technique… a work in progress. Shooting through the lens of my Canon 5D Mark lll, who knows, you might be my next subject!

In my early twenties I bought a 35 mm Konica SLR camera and ventured into the world of photography. Initially shooting with color film I soon started using Kodachrome slides for most of my shots. Setting up a darkroom allowed me to develop my own black and white pictures.

Closer to my retirement and with the advent of digital cameras, my interest in photography was piqued again. My wife bought me a digital camera and I was smitten. I love to capture nature whether it is wildlife, landscapes, flowers or anything that has to do with our beautiful surroundings. I also love to experiment in the studio capturing smoke, splash photography, macro, as well as venturing into more urban photography. Learning to see the beauty that surrounds us and trying to capture it, is what keeps me reaching for my camera.

Being part of the Lanark County Camera Club is a most enjoyable experience, meeting and learning from fellow photographers in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

There was always an interest in photography for me but, as with so many others, time and other interests pushed photography to the back burner. With the introduction of digital cameras my curiosity was peeked and I started on a journey that is leading me down many different roads. My perspective on my surroundings has completely changed. I try to look for the different angles with an eye open for the unique. I truly believe that photography is proof that one can view the world in many different lights allowing you to focus your creativity through your lens.

At age 8, my father bought me a Kodak camera that introduced me to photography.  Frustrated with the quality of instamatic photos when my sons were young, I eventually purchased a 35mm Canon AE1 and enjoyed experimenting with film and slides for over 20 years. The advent of DSLRs enabled active recording family events, vacations, landscapes and gardens. Photography encourages me to pause and reflect on the natural world.  LCCC is giving me new outlets and challenges me to look in new directions to improve my photographic skills. Moving forward, I want to explore more with mobile/ iPhone photography.

I have been interested in photography for as long as I remember but never pursued it until about the year 2011. Soon after buying my first DSLR I discovered a passion for wildlife photography. My photography interest and style continue to grow. The Lanark County Camera Club is a great venue to share my images and knowledge and learn from other club members.

I have been interested in photography for many years, having a Kodak Brown box as a child. I like shooting most kinds of images, but I enjoy action and sports photography the most. I also like to enter photo contests, and I have won some prizes in doing so. Otherwise, I am purely a hobbyist, and a long time (20+ years) member of the Lanark County Camera Club.

My interest in photography started while I was growing up in my hometown of Harrington Harbour, Quebec. At that time it was with a box camera, probably a Brownie. Most of the photos were of friends and family. Because I lived in a remote area I had to wait weeks to receive the developed film only to find all photos were a disaster. My interest waned and I did not use a camera much until I spent several summers in the Arctic using a Pentax 35mm SLR. There have been lots of changes with cameras and I am now using a Nikon D300. The ability to take as many pictures as I want and then filter through them, keeping those that I would like to share, is a real bonus with Digital SLR cameras.

Being a part of The Lanark County Camera Club is rewarding. I have made many new friends and enjoy learning and sharing information with the members.

I've been taking pictures since building a shoebox pinhole camera back in Grade 7. My first 'real' camera was a Kodak X15 camera that I took everywhere and developed the B/W film in my school's darkroom. I've owned a number of film and digital cameras over the years - Nikon F4, Minolta XE7, Canon AE1, Canon Powershot, Sony Cybershot, among others. My current go-to camera is a Nikon D700 with my trusty 28-300 Nikkor lens although I'll have to admit taking a greater proportion of pictures with my Motorola G4 Play camera phone - mainly because it is the camera I have on-hand when I need it. I enjoy street photography, shooting people, landscapes, wildlife/nature photography and especially enjoy capturing the sites of the different cultures I visit.

I have always loved taking pictures, but a busy family life put this interest on hold. I bought my first point & shoot camera in 2005, but I was very frustrated by its limitations. Since I decided to invest a few more dollars in this hobby, I needed to learn more about the barrage of available features on my new camera and the accessories that could go along with it. By chance, I was invited to attend meeting at the Lanark County Camera Club to see if I would be interested in joining. From the first meeting, I was amazed at the multitude of experience that the members have and how they, so generously, share their knowledge. My skills improve with every meeting I attend. It's a great club!

The 1st camera that I could call my own was a Kodak Brownie.   Many of my images were memorable 'Kodak moments’  that came alive in front of my eyes as I learnt how to make that film breathe in the darkroom.  I was hooked!   It took me a long time to move into the digital world; took the plunge in 2011 and I haven’t looked back. Thanks to the exposure LCCC has provided;  I have tried a lot of new photographic techniques and genres but macro photography still remains my favourite.

Facebook: Wendy Wood
Flickr: wenderfullyfun