February 2025 Internal Competition Judges
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
Leah Gray: Nature and All Print Categories
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
Karen Stoyles: Open
Karen’s association with the Western Photographic Circle (WPC) since 1987 has given her significant motivation in the pursuit of technical excellence in photographic art through a monthly peer review of prints from many talented fine art photographers from the Lower Mainland.
Karen has been judging at camera clubs, photographic salons and various photographic competitions for over 25 years. She always likes to take the time and encourage photographers with helpful suggestions and positive comments.
More information about Karen and her photography is available on her website: https://www.kastoyles.com/
Gregg Eligh: Theme (Human Interest)
Gregg is a now retired commercial photographer, having worked in Vancouver, Toronto and Victoria since the 70s. His commercial work has been directed towards advertising, editorial, catalogue and corporate assignments.
Occasional teaching, coaching and workshops further developed Gregg’s skills and knowledge as well as contributing to his ‘community’. “Imagination is better than knowledge”.
More information about Gregg and his photography can be found on his website:
https://www.elighphoto.com/
Robert Laramée: People
Robert studied photography with the School of Modern Photography. He joined the RA Camera Club (Ottawa) in 1975 and was a member for nine years. During that time, he managed the club darkroom for several years. Moving to a new house to raise a family, he put photography on hold for nearly twenty years. Robert rejoined the RA Photo Club in 2002.
Retirement gave him more time to devote to photography and he started studying at the School of Photographic Arts Ottawa in 2006, where he completed a Part Time Studies Certificate in Analog Photography in 2009.
Robert has taught digital photography for the City of Ottawa and currently teaches at Académie des retraités de l’Outaouais. He also runs workshops and recently started private coaching and mentoring. As a photographer, he shoots landscapes and architecture; in the studio, he does tabletop photography and portraiture. He became a Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) Certified Judge in March 2016.