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
Richard Robesco: Nature
Born and raised in Montreal, Richard has been an avid photographer since he was a young teenager. He started his working career in the early 1970’s as a filmmaker and television program producer and worked on hundreds of documentary films mainly for the National Film Board. He moved to Ottawa in 1980 and continued his work as a TV producer. He was hired by the Government of Canada as Director of the Government Film and Video Centre in Ottawa, producing up to 800 new programs per year for federal government departments and agencies. This led to a 30-year career as a government executive, from which he retired in 2013.
After retirement, Richard then enrolled in the Diploma Program at the School of the Photographic Arts, Ottawa (SPAO), graduating in 2015. He started his full time photo-based art practice shortly after and has held several solo exhibitions in and around Ottawa and Gatineau. He has participated in many group exhibitions, receiving several awards, and has seen his work published in books and magazines.
Richard is also currently the Vice-President of the Management Board of the Daïmôn Production Centre which is an artist-run media production centre in Gatineau, Quebec. Richard became a CAPA Certified Judge in 2022 and received his full certification in 2024.
More information can be found on his website: www.richardrobesco.com
You can also view his work at: https://www.instagram.com/richardrobesco/?hl=en
Leah Gray: Open
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
Larry Breitkreutz: Theme (Transportation)
Larry has been an avid photo enthusiast for over 40 years. He enjoys the inspiration and challenge of all types of artistic images, whether created with the camera, with software, or with brush and paint. With his camera and computer software he creates award winning impressionistic images of a world often overlooked by the casual observer.
Larry is a Certified CAPA Judge, and teaches Photography Courses for Surrey Recreation. He has been a member of CAPA for many years, where he has served as Pacific Zone Director, as well as President.
Kathleen Frombach: People
Kathleen is from the “Land of Living Skies” Saskatchewan, and is the Membership Coordinator for the Regina Photo Club. She is happily retired after a career as a Medical Social Worker.
Kathleen has been captivated by photography since she received her first camera at the age of nine. She enjoys all genres of photography, focusing on street and travel. She always has a camera close by.
Kathleen is a Certified CAPA judge as of April 2023.
Wes Bergen: Altered Reality
Wes has been a keen amateur photographer for over 50 years. He has been a member of the Lions Gate Camera Club since 1969. Wes has also been a member of the National Association for Photographic Art (NAPA, a precursor to CAPA) as well as CAPA.
He has had numerous acceptances and awards in international competitions, and has sold many of his images for use in calendars, tourism brochures and other publications.
Wes taught Photoshop courses at local school board continuing education departments for about 10 years. He has written columns in Lions Gate Camera Club’s Photolog and in CAPA’s Canadian Camera magazine on digital photography and Photoshop. He is a frequent judge and presents workshops at local photography clubs.
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