Canadian fine art landscape and wildlife photography blog featuring the work of New Brunswick photographer, Tracy Munson.
Focus Camera Club Awards
When we moved from Toronto to rural New Brunswick last year, one of the first things we did was join the Focus Camera Club in Moncton.
My image, of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, won the 2019 Ken Dunphy Landscape Award at the Moncton Focus Camera Club.
When we moved from Toronto to rural New Brunswick last year, one of the first things we did was join the Focus Camera Club in Moncton. It has been such a great experience and helped us to get out, meet people and make lots of new photography friends. The club is quite large, very active and the members have been extremely welcoming and span all levels of expertise in photography. I highly recommend it to anyone in the Greater Moncton Area, who has an interest in photography. One of the best things about the club is that the monthly contests all have 3 groups: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so you’re always competing against photographers with a similar level of experience.
Left: the Ken Dunphy Landscape Award, Top Centre: Best New Recruit (Advanced), Bottom Centre: Advanced Photographer of the Year, Right: A second place Merit from CAPA. Photos courtesy of Paula Lirette.
The Focus Club year runs from September to June, like the school year, so the year end award ceremony was a couple of weeks ago. As you can see, I brought home some bling! My image from Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta (top of this post) won the Ken Dunphy Landscape Award. Then I won both Best New Recruit and Photographer of the Year in the advanced class. Finally, a representative from CAPA (Canadian Association For Photographic Art) was there, to present me with my 2nd place merit for photos of New Brunswick in the national competition “Our Country”. My winning image (below) will also be included in a gallery exhibit in 2020 at the National Museum of Photography in Drummondville, QC.
My image, “Cliffside Camping”, from the Hole in the Wall Campground on Grand Manan Island took 2nd place for photos of New Brunswick in the CAPA “Our Country” contest. Sadly, these amazing cliffside campsites have since been closed. I’m so thankful that we got to spend 10 glorious days there, watching whales and seals right from our campsite.
Next year, I’ll be speaking to the Focus Camera Club about Infrared and HDR photography.
Wildlife Photography Accreditation
I’m so excited to announce my sixth accreditation through the Professional Photographers of Canada, this time in the Wildlife Photography category. My submission was accepted with an overall quality of “Good” (which is better than merely “Accepted”).
These are the 10 images that made up my successful Wildlife Accreditation submission.
2018 Photographic Artist of the Year
Now that the Professional Photographers of Canada National Image Competition is done and awards have all been announced, I can finally share my winning images from our PPOC Atlantic Regional competition in the fall. All 4 images were also accepted into the 2019 National Image Salon, and “Flight of the Harrier” scored merit.
The big news is that I won Atlantic Region Photographic Artist of the Year, which I still can’t believe, 6 months later! It was extra special for me because all of my winning images were created within about 20 minutes drive of my new home in beautiful Albert County, NB.
My image “Enchanted” shows Dickson Falls in Fundy National Park, NB. It scored excellence and won the Bruce Berry award for Best Overall Image, Best Pictorial/Floral, and a Judge’s Choice Award.
“Flight of the Harrier”, captured on the Shepody Marsh scored merit at both the regional and national image competitions. Regionally, it also won Best Fine Art and a Judge’s Choice Award.
“Snow in June” is an infrared image, and it really was taken in June. Albert County locals will recognize the scene, just off Hwy 114, behind the Sawmill creek Covered Bridge.
Last, but certainly not least, my “Bookends”, Stompin’ Tom (Persian) and Trillian (Sphynx). Their portrait now hangs proudly above that same bookshelf.
Animal Portraiture Accreditation
I’m happy to announce that I have just received notice of my fourth Professional Accreditation through Professional Photographers of Canada, this time in Animal Portraiture. Here are the 10 images that were accepted, along with the press release from PPOC.
Press Release
2018/10/20
The Professional Photographers of Canada is pleased to announce that:
Tracy Munson ,
has just earned an accreditation in Animal Portrait, at our Accreditation judging in Edmonton, AB.
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
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