We sincerely thank our external judges for their adjudication and comments in our Novice, Intermediate and Advanced digital and print competitions. Their comments on our images are a valuable learning opportunity for all participants and will help our club members in all their photographic endeavours.
Images and judges’ comments are available at the Victoria Camera Club website:
https://www.victoriacameraclub.ca/Competitions/CompetitionResults.aspx
Gilles Vezina: Nature
Gilles is a Gatineau/Ottawa based photographer specialized in dance, event and travel photography. He is also at ease with nature, portraits and sports photography.
Gilles has led numerous interest groups and photography workshops. Gilles likes working with individuals and groups to improve their photographic and artistic abilities. During the pandemic, he developed his skills and knowledge in video making and editing.
He is a member of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) and became a Certified Judge 2010.
More information about Gilles and his photography is available on his website:
Sue Olsen: Open
Susan’s serious pursuit of photography started with a series of courses at Metro College in Edmonton and continued through to a photography certificate program at Langara College in Vancouver.
Over time, Susan’s art has taken shape – she no longer sees herself taking a photo but creating an image. Sue loves the studio where she engages in dance photography and creative portraiture. She also likes wildlife, waterscape, water drop and close-up photography. Her work has been displayed and juried in local competitions and Photo Club shows.
Susan is a member of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) and became a CAPA Certified Judge in 2021. She is currently the Vice President of the Richmond Photo Club and their Competition’s Chair.
Susan’s photography can be found on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skolsen1406
Leah Gray: Theme (Architecture)
Leah Gray, FCAPA, PPSA, AFIAP, BPSA is a Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) Certified Judge as well asa Photography Society of America (PSA) judge. She is the past Chair of the Victoria Camera Club (VCC) External Competitions Committee and past webmaster of VCC and CAPA.
Leah Gray has accumulated over 800 acceptances for her images in International Photography Exhibitions including 17 gold medals and 6 Best in Show awards. Leah’s wildlife image “Siblings” won the year-end god medal and best-in-show in the PSA Nature and Wildlife division from International Exhibitions world-wide in 2018.
Interests range from wildlife and landscape photography to sports, travel, macro, studio and creative images. Leah teaches photography with her partner Steve Smith.
“Photography is the culmination of planning, technique, vision, composition and perception, brought together in one instant – with a little (or more) editing.” – Leah Gray
More information about Leah and her photography can be found on her website: https://spirithills.ca/
Leah’s photographs can also be viewed at: https://www.instagram.com/spirithill.ca
Rick Shapka: People
After a business career, Rick studied photography at Focal Point and art history at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. He creates photographs of landscapes, wildlife, action, people, macro and abstracted images which he often prints. Rick’s print skills have been honed with workshops in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rick makes photographs wherever he travels, including Europe and western and southwestern USA.
Since Covid, Rick has taken his third Hummingbird workshop at Bull River BC, followed by a marine mammal trip from Port McNeil and grizzly bear trips to the Khutzeymateen.
Past service on the executive of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) has led to his initial interest and ongoing education as an active CAPA Certified Judge (since 2011). Rick judges for many photographic competitions.
Some of the images on Rick’s website have been printed for a recent group show at ArtSea in Sidney BC along with three other photographers. More information about Rick and his photography can be found on his website: http://rickshapka.smugmug.com/
Cheryl Bramble: Altered Reality
Cheryl joined the local Kelowna camera club in 2011 and that’s when photography became a Passion. For 5 years she was the club’s Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) Representative and also the Competition Chair, responsible for the club’s submissions to external competitions.
Commitment to continually improving her skills led Cheryl into joining CAPA in 2016. Cheryl received her Judge’s Certification in 2020. In February 2021, she was appointed the Assistant Director of Competitions, and she is also a member of CAPA’s Competitions Team. In January 2024, she was honoured to be appointed as a judge for the inaugural CAPA Digital Salon. Cheryl considers her involvement with CAPA and its members both an honour and a privilege.
Mike Byrne: All Print Categories
Mike is one of the co-founders of Clock Tower Images in Victoria. Growing up in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, he has always pursued outdoor activities. As a natural extension, he started to produce outdoor adventure films and videos. Mike leads international photography workshops with an emphasis on wildlife. He has spoken at Victoria Camera Club’s competition nights regarding the judging of prints as well as conducting workshops on the use of flash in photography.
More information about Mike and his photography can be found on the Clock Tower Images website: https://clocktowerimages.com