Author Archives: gabephotoclub

Coats Marsh Field Trip – May 8

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Enjoy some local photo fun on Gabriola Island on Friday, May 8, when we head to Coats Marsh Regional Park for our next field trip.

View of a pond with forest on the other side and blue sky with cumulous clouds in the background.
Coats Marsh © Vicky Scott

We will meet at 10 am in the parking area at the end of Stanley Road. (Take South Road to Coats Drive and head uphill towards RavenSkill Orchards; turn left onto Stanley Road, which abuts the south end of the orchard.) 

We’ll walk the trails around Coats Marsh, and for those who are inclined, follow up with social time/lunch at Gabriola Golf Club. 

If we have rain prior to the walk, waterproof footwear would be advised; otherwise, it the weather remains mostly dry, running shoes should be fine.

Club members and other friends are welcome to participate. Please let us know ahead of time if you are planning to join in, so we can keep you apprised of any last-minute changes. 

“A Journey Across Mongolia” – May 20

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With special guest presenter, Julian Elliott

We’re excited to welcome guest speaker Julian Elliott, who will present a photographic journey across Mongolia, from the famous Steppe landscape to the eagle hunters of the Altai region in western Mongolia.

A Kazak Mongolian eagle hunter with his eagle perched on his right arm.
A Kazak Mongolian eagle hunter and his eagle © Julian Elliott

Julian is an award-winning professional freelance landscape and travel photographer, as well as an occasional writer, who constantly travels the world. He says he is “basically a nomad traveller”.

Much of his time is spent in South-East Asia and Central Asia, capturing landscapes and cityscapes along with the various cultures that inhabit these regions. He also travels and photographs in Europe.

Julian has won numerous photography awards and his photographs and stock footage have been sold in over 40 countries through Getty Images and other agencies, for use in magazine spreads and other commercial uses, corporate websites and TV broadcasts.

You can see more of Julian’s work on his website.

The meeting will be held via Zoom, on Wed. May 20 at 10 am PDT. The link will be sent by email to all Gabriola Photography Club members on the Friday prior to the meeting. Make sure your membership is up to date so that you receive this info.

A note to non-members of our Club: you’re welcome to attend this event as a guest; contact us by May 18 to sign up.

Legacy – Honouring the Work of John Poirier

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On until June 5, 2026

John was an inspirational photographer, skilled in film, digital, black & white and colour. His primary subjects ranged from the natural environment and human culture of northern Canada, where he lived and worked for many years, to the energy and beauty of Gabriola’s forests and sandstone shores.

John shared his photographic knowledge with generosity and humility. He took part in most of our shows and club meetings, right up until a week before his death a year ago. More often than not, we learned something valuable from the little gems of wisdom he quietly shared with us. We remember him with great fondness, and this show is our attempt to honour his memory. (Photo by Bill Pope.)

Our thanks to John’s wife MJ and daughter Anne for lending some of John’s wonderful work to this show and for keeping his website accessible. It’s definitely worth a visit.

From some of our Club members who are participating in the show:

John’s eye for subtlety and meaning were gifts which he freely and humbly shared with all of us. His insights were much appreciated.
–Laurence Lee

John saw the world with amazing perception and expressed what he saw in the art of photography. Walking the trails of Gabriola, you could bump into him, his tripod and camera slung over his shoulder, and if you were lucky there would be a brief chat. Under the sometimes gruff exterior he was curious and kind, sharing his knowledge with thought and care. We are better for his discerning eye.
–Sally Bullas

John inspired me with his vast collection of work, and I appreciated how knowledgeable and happy to help he was. I loved to hear his comments, always kind and encouraging.
–Linda Blokhuizen

John shared his knowledge with a gentle, humble approach. I learned a lot from him, both at club meetings and in our personal conversations. He was highly skilled, inspiring and encouraging the rest of us to love and practice photography in whatever way best suited us.
–Laurie MacBride

“The Nature of Impact” – April 1

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With special guest presenter, Martin Ross

We’re excited to welcome guest speaker Martin Ross, to present “The Nature of Impact: Demystifying the Wow Factor in Nature Photography”.

A gannet in flight against a dark blue sky, hovering with wings outstretched and legs extended.
© Martin Ross

Martin is a wildlife and sports photographer based in Cranbrook, BC who delivers nature photography presentations widely in BC, Alberta and beyond. A long-time individual member of CAPA, he is a national award-winning photographer, a very active remote member of the Lion’s Gate Camera Club in Vancouver, and lead photographer with the Cranbrook Bucks (part of the BC Hockey League). He has honed his upbeat presentation skills through many seasons of work as a park naturalist with Parks Canada and BC Parks, through studies leading to a Master of Education degree, and through a career in international education. His presentations are relevant for photographers at all skill levels.

Close up of two sea otters in the water, likely a mom and pup.

Martin describes impact as an elusive quality that separates eye-catching images from ordinary ones. Yet, as obvious as impact can be, he says it often defies explanation and simply slips through our fingers as we attempt to analyze an image. “This presentation looks beyond the smoke and mirrors of impact and reveals the very practical, underlying elements that work together to create the wow factor of great nature photographs – with applicability to photography in general.”

–Photo © Martin Ross 

You can see more of Martin’s work on his website.

The meeting will be held via Zoom, on Wed. April 1 at 10 am PDT. The link will be sent by email to all Gabriola Photography Club members on the weekend before the meeting. Make sure your membership is up to date so that you receive this info.

A note to non-members of our Club: you’re welcome to attend this event as a guest; contact us by March 29 to sign up.

“Wildlife Called Her” – on now, until April 17

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Sharron Palmer-Hunt outdoors in the sunshine, smiling and wearing sunglasses, with her camera in her hand.

This exhibit features a collection of beautiful canvas prints by the late Sharron Palmer-Hunt, Past President of Gabriola Photography Club and avid wildlife photographer.

As a leader and a cherished friend, Sharron dedicated much of her time, energy and commitment to the betterment of our Club, and her legacy will continue to inspire us all.

Sharron was a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation, using her lens to tell stories that touched our hearts and opened our eyes to the wonders of the animal kingdom and the importance of preserving biodiversity. She was also a member of Gabriola’s Eagle Monitoring committee and served on the board of GROWLS (Gabriola Rescue of Wildlife Society) for many years.

Sharron was our first Club webmaster, developing our website and tending it faithfully until health challenges intervened. You’ll find many of her beautiful wildlife images on this site.

Let us remember her with gratitude for the joy and inspiration she brought into our lives. We sincerely thank her husband, Peter Palmer-Hunt, for collaborating with us to produce this exhibit and for providing this collection of Sharron’s canvas prints.

25% of proceeds from sales from this exhibition will be donated to GROWLS, and another 25% will be donated to Gabriola Photography Club.

Silhouette of Sharron standing by her tripod with her camera mounted on it, with sunlit hills in the backgroundl
Sharron preparing to photograph nesting eagles ©️ Linda Blokhuizen