Canadian fine art landscape and wildlife photography blog featuring the work of New Brunswick photographer, Tracy Munson.
My 2018 National Image Competition Scores
Again this year, I have 3 images accepted into the Professional Photographers of Canada National Image Salon Competition (and "Silent White" received a Merit). Not quite as good as last year, but still a huge honour/achievement!
From the PPOC website:
"One of the cornerstones of the Professional Photographers of Canada is the PPOC Annual Image Salon. This juried exhibition showcases the best of the best. Within this Salon Exhibition, you will find the most creative, the newest and most cutting-edge, and finest technically executed images produced by our members...
From those submitted images deemed worthy of inclusion in the final Salon Exhibition, those which stand above the rest are awarded scores of Merit, and the small number which are deemed to be truly exceptional images are awarded the prestigious score of Excellence."
Woohoo! I Am A Nationally Accredited Bird Photographer!
The ten images that were accepted towards my Professional Photographers of Canada Accreditation in Ornithology/Bird Photography.
Press Release 2018/02/17
The Professional Photographers of Canada is pleased to announce that:
Tracy Munson ,
has just earned an accreditation in Ornithology/Bird Photography, at our Accreditation judging in Winnipeg, MB. Accreditation is the first elevation above the general membership level, and is achieved by submitting samples of the applicant’s photography to a PPOC Board of Review for Accreditation. Accreditation demonstrates that the photographer is capable of delivering above average quality photography in a chosen category. In assessing Accreditation Submissions, the judges will consider the following criteria: Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Centre of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Image file quality, Technique and Story Telling. Along with other service and print merits, a minimum of one Accreditation is required to qualify for a Craftsman of Photographic Arts and two accreditations are needed for a Master of Photographic Arts. For more information, please contact: Tracy Grabowski, MPA,SPA Tracy Grabowski Photography 11313 - 69 Street Edmonton,AB T5B 1R8 780 413 4550 tracy@tracygrabowskiphoto.com
Tanya Thompson PPOC Executive Director T: (888) 643-PPOC (7762) F: (519) 537-5573 e-mail: exec.director@ppoc.ca
13 REASONS TO JOIN A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSOCIATION
I've never been much of a "joiner", but there is no denying the benefits I have found in being a member of the Professional Photographers of Canada. Here is an article that I wrote for Improve Photography, about some of the reasons for joining a professional photographer's association.
13 Reasons To Join A Professional Photographer's Association
Improve Photography readers come from all over the world. Chances are there is a National Professional Photographer's Association of some sort in your neck of the woods, wherever that may be. If you are serious about your photography, you should consider joining it. Some benefits, like member discounts and access to resources, are immediately obvious.
National Image Salon 2017
My head is still reeling from the Professional Photographers of Canada 2017 National Image Salon. Somehow, I had 1 Accepted image, 1 Merit image, and 1 Excellence image that went on to get a Judge's Choice, a Best in Class (Pictorial/Floral) and to be added to the Loan Collection. After a lifetime of under-achieving, I'm really not sure where to go from here!
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TORONTO PHOTOGRAPHER SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL EXHIBITION May 1, 2017: Ottawa, Ontario – Toronto photographer Tracy Munson , has had 3 images selected for inclusion in a national exhibition.
Tracy’s image ‘Evening Paddle’ in the Pictorial/Floral class, won the prestigious Best in Class award at the Professional Photographers of Canada’s 2017 annual competition; a national exhibition celebrating the best of Canadian professional photography. It also won a Judge’s Choice Ribbon and was selected for inclusion in the Professional Photographers of Canada’s 2017 Loan Collection.
A panel of master photographers judged the best works submitted by professional photographers from across Canada and only accepted outstanding images into the 2017 National Image Salon of the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). The salon was exhibited this week during the International Photo Conference, the annual conference of the PPOC held this year in Ottawa, Ontario.
In addition to demonstrating the makers’ ability to make outstanding images for their clientele, inclusion into the salon earns the maker merits toward several designations offered to PPOC members, including the prestigious Craftsman of Photographic Arts and Master of Photographic Arts. The competition features entries from across Canada in 21 different classes, including press, portrait, architecture and fashion.
“Photographers must show extraordinary talent to win an award among such illustrious company,” said Charles van den Ouden MPA, Chair of the National Exhibition Committee. “We were thrilled to see so many inspiring entries in the competition this year. The salon images clearly demonstrate the exceptional skill and quality that professionals bring to the medium of photography.”
Note for Editors: For more information please call Tanya Thompson, PPOC Executive Director: (519) 537-2555 or email her at: exec.director@ppoc.ca.
To arrange an interview with the photographer, please contact:
Tracy Munson 191 Humberside Avenue Toronto, ON M6P 1K7 (647) 955-9548 info@tracymunsonphotography.com”
To see more of the incredible photos from the PPOC 2017 National Image Salon, see the gallery below.
Salon Galleries
One of the cornerstones of the Professional Photographers of Canada is the PPOC Annual Image Salon. This juried exhibition showcases the best of the best. Within this Salon, you will find the most creative, the newest and most cutting edge, and finest
Two Out Of Twenty Ain't Bad
I'm so pleased to announce that I had 2 out of the 20 winning entries in the Friends of the Ontario Greenbelt Photo Contest (with over 800 submissions). The photos will be on display at the prestigious McMichael Canadian Art Collection until mid-June, after which the exhibition is expected to go on the road. One of my photos was even featured in the Toronto Star article.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2017
WINNERS OF GREENBELT PHOTO CONTEST CELEBRATED AT MCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION
Winning photos celebrate water in its many forms and iterations as the Greenbelt grows to protect urban river valleys
The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, the Professional Photographers of Canada and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection announced the winners of the Second Greenbelt Photo Contest at a special event at McMichael.
Selected by a jury of professional photographers and creative employees from the three participating organizations, the winning photographs captured the beauty of the lakes, rivers, and waterways of the Greenbelt. The water theme was chosen to celebrate the province’s plan to add 21 urban river valleys and 7 coastal wetlands to the Greenbelt.
The winning photographers are:
- General Winners: Ellen Cameron (Island Lake and Mono), Julie Chan (Bruce Peninsula National Park), Jeff Dickie (Edelweiss Park), Nigel Hart (Little Dunks Bay), Hanifa Mamujee (Morning Star Mill – Decew Falls), Michael Manett (Humber River and Etobicoke Creek), Tracy Munson (The Grotto and Cyprus Lake), Bob Noble (Caledon), Vartkes Peltekoglu (Terrace Creek Falls and Grindstone Creek), Heather Petre (Fifty Point), Tom Stephens (Fifty Mile Creek)
- Overall Winner: Shari Chambers (Bruce Peninsula National Park)
- People’s Choice Winner: Peter Dusek (Island Lake Conservation Area)
Between October 30, 2016 and January 10, 2017 over 800 submissions were received, photographing stunning waterfalls, still lakes, rivers and streams, and people enjoying recreation and respite in the Greenbelt. All the winning photographs can be found at greenbelt.ca/photo_winners_2017.
"PPOC-ON is thrilled to have been a part of another successful Greenbelt photography contest and contribute to the judging and selection process," said Jean Chartrand, MPA, Chair of PPOC-ON. "The diverse winning photos showcase not only the beauty of the Greenbelt, but also the talent and artistic expression of the photographers."
“It’s such a pleasure to see the new exhibition of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation's Photo Contest at the McMichael,” said Anna Stanisz, Associate Director, Creative Learning & Programs at McMichael Canadian Art Collection. “This year’s theme of urban rivers and wetlands strongly resonates with our gallery. Located on the ridge of the Humber River Valley, the McMichael’s public programming consistently acknowledges the environmental and cultural importance of the water system to our communities. Moreover, just last fall, the McMichael redeveloped a natural wetland area on the grounds in collaboration with Toronto Region Conservation Area and Humber College that will continue to be planted this spring by students and members of the community.”
“The Greenbelt protects the vital natural and agricultural resources in our region, and water is perhaps the most precious resource of all,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. “These winning photos, and all 800 submissions, showcase the beauty and importance of protecting water in the Greenbelt and beyond. The Foundation congratulates the winners and thanks all the photographers for their excellent submissions.”
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About the Greenbelt:
Ontario’s Greenbelt is the solution for fresh air, clean water, and a thriving economy with healthy local food and active outdoor recreation. At 2 million acres, it’s the world’s largest permanently protected greenbelt, keeping our farmlands, forests, and wetlands safe and secure. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation works to help keep farmers successful, strengthen local economies, protect natural features, and promote sustainable growth. Learn more at greenbelt.ca.
Contact:
Erica Woods
Communications Manager
Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
Office: (416) 960-0001, ext. 306
Mobile: (647)834-5657
ewoods@greenbelt.ca
10 Pieces Of Photography Equipment You Shouldn’t Be Caught Without
When I first started my photography journey, I bought a lot of unnecessary stuff (okay, crap). Here's my list of essential photography equipment, so you can spend your money more wisely than I did.
10 Pieces Of Photography Equipment You Shouldn't Be Caught Without
You've taken the big leap and purchased your very first interchangeable lens camera, congratulations! I know you've already done a ton of research figuring out whether to go mirrorless or DSLR. Not to mention the overwhelming choice in brands and sensor sizes.
iPhone RAW Photos - Now It's For Real
IPhone owners rejoice! The iPhone can now shoot true RAW files (and create RAW HDR .DNG files!) Check out my article, originally published on Improve Photography for more details on how serious photographers can take advantage of this development.
iPhone RAW Photos - Now It's For Real
If you've read my previous articles, you will know that I am a big fan of mobile phone photography. Or, perhaps you have seen some of my iPhone photos in those articles and not even realized that they weren't taken with a "pro", interchangeable lens camera.
Photo Contests: Opportunity or Exploitation
Not all photo contests are created equal and some are outright scams. Check out my article, published originally on Improve Photography for the lowdown on when to enter.
Photo Contests: Opportunity Or Exploitation?
Photographers today are faced with a barrage of choices as to how and when they will share their photos. To post a photo anywhere online is to risk it being stolen, but if you don't share then your work will never be seen.