Eyes on Nature – on now, until November 8, 2024

As an ongoing project, Gabriola Photography Club curates the art display space downstairs at the Gabriola Medical Clinic on Church Street, Gabriola Island. Club members take turns having solo exhibitions or taking part in group exhibitions.

Six members of Gabriola Photography Club have joined together to present our latest exhibition. Each of us is drawn by something a little bit different in our nature photography.

Linda has been pulled in by the splendour she sees in a bird’s outstretched wings and the details of its feather composition, with each feather adding to the overall effect of grandeur.

For Ian, photography is about having fun, and he’s been doing that recently from a bird blind in his garden. He’s also enjoyed using his macro lens to discover the uncommon beauty in some of our “common” backyard plants and fungi.

Corinne is fascinated by the variety of colour and forms in rocks, so she jumped at the chance early this year to explore the rock formations of Monument Valley, Utah, to try to capture the essence of this spiritually powerful place.

Nature never ceases to fill Sher with wonder and delight, no matter the season. She embraces the transition from fall to winter, when migrations bring beautiful new visitors to our region.

As a lifelong boater with her roots firmly planted on the west coast, Laurie is passionate about the natural environment of this place  – both land and sea – and the amazing, complex web of life it supports.

John says his photographs record moments when his perception of the natural world is at its strongest, when he experiences a wonder based on a sense of the energy and processes that underpin our planet’s ecosphere.

We hope you’ll enjoy and appreciate the diversity of life and the beauty of the natural landscapes we have chosen to highlight in this exhibit.

October 18 Photo Walkabout: Coats Marsh

We’re back on Gabriola Island for our October Walkabout, this time heading to Coats Marsh Regional Park.

Meet on Friday, October 18 at 9:00 am at the end of Fisher Road (off Hess Road).

From there, we will walk the trail to Coats Marsh and then loop back along the stump trail. We highly recommend you wear waterproof footwear.

Coats Marsh contains environmentally sensitive wetlands along with Douglas fir forest. Photo opportunities that morning might include marshland plants, birds, trees, autumn colours and whatever other nature scenes catch your eye.

After the walkabout there will be an option to meet for coffee/lunch at the Golf Club.

Photo © Romeo Rossi

As always, this is a weather-dependent event. You’re welcome to simply show up, but it’s much better if you can let us know ahead of time if you plan to attend, in case of any last-minute changes.

September 5 Photo Walkabout: Saysutshun / Newcastle Island

We’re heading off Gabriola for our September Walkabout, to Saysutshun / Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park.

Meet on Thursday, September 5 at 8:30am at the Gabriola ferry terminal, to take the 8:45am sailing as a walk-on passenger. From the Nanaimo side, we’ll walk to the Saysutshun / Newcastle ferry (see below for ferry info).

Once we get to Newcastle Island we’ll mainly hike the trails that follow the shoreline, but we’ll also include Mallard Lake and the smaller swimming lake. You may find items of interest to photograph on the boat ride over to Newcastle as well as on the island itself, including on and around the dock, the totem pole, heritage building, architecture, canoe and kayak rental area, scenes along the trails, the beach and numerous different landscapes…there should be many photographic opportunities, in other words.
Photo © Romeo Rossi

This will be a full, day-long trip with no pre-set time limit. Pack water, snacks and a hearty lunch. Upon returning to Nanaimo, there will be an option to meet for dinner at the Pantry at Port Place.

As always, this is a weather-dependent event. You’re welcome to simply show up, but it’s much better if you can let us know ahead of time if you plan to attend, in case of any last-minute changes.


Saysutshun ferry info:

Adult fare: $15. Senior: $12. Credit card, debit & cash accepted at the ferry dock.

Ferry departs Nanaimo every half hour from 9am to 8:30pm. Returning: ferry departs Saysutshun every half hour from 9:15am to 8:45pm.

Sat. August 24: Great Gear & Gadgets Sale

This event is open to the public and takes place outdoors, in the Village – an easy walk from the Gabriola ferry terminal for anyone coming from Nanaimo as a foot passenger.

We’ll have a wide variety of lightly-used photographic equipment on offer, in exchange for a donation to Gabriola Photography Club. Hope to see you there!

August 17 Photo Walkabout: Skateboard Park & the Commons Walk

Our August walk is in the heart of Gabriola’s Village, where we plan to catch some action and practice our photography skills!

Meet at 2 pm on Saturday August 17, outside the skateboard park at Huxley Community Park.

For the first hour we’ll watch the skateboarders in action, while we focus on panning, freezing the movement and finding interesting angles for our compositions.

During the second hour we’ll walk to the Timber Frame at the nearby Gabriola Community Commons, photographing whatever details catch our eyes.

We’ll carry on along the boardwalk in the upper Commons grounds, wander through the Labyrinth and then through the trails, before returning to Huxley Park.

We plan to finish at 4pm with the option of meeting at either Mad Rona’s or the Skol Pub for some social time.

As always, this is a weather-dependent event. You’re welcome to simply show up, but it’s great if you can let us know ahead of time if you plan to attend, in case of any last-minute changes.

A cement skateboard park, with a young boy skateboarding in a lower level area, and an adult man in the hgher foreground area., with one foot on his  tipped up skateboard.
Photo © Romeo Rossi