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.

May 16 Photo Walkabout: Sunset at the Galleries

This month we’ll walk the beach from Taylor Bay to Malaspina Galleries, in time for sunset.

Meet at 7 pm at the parking area at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park (AKA “Twin Beaches”).

It will be low tide, so we’ll walk along the sandstone shoreline to Malaspina Galleries, where the view – and the photo opportunities – can be amazing.

We’ll return to our starting point via the roads. Be sure to bring a flashlight for the return walk!

Though you’re welcome to simply show up, we suggest you let us know if you plan to attend, in case of any last-minute changes.

Sunset viewed through an opening in the sandstone shoreline overhang at Gabriola Island's Malaspina Galleries
Photo © Corinne Flaws

Stalking Shadows & Stealing Light – on now until June 13

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.

Well bitten by the Photography bug at an early age, it has really only been with the advancement of DSLR cameras that the bug has ‘developed’ a life of its own under Sher Falls’ pseudonym ‘dragonflydreams88’.

In today’s digital domain, much of Sher’s work evolves as she applies new layers, textures, treatments, and ideas until she is satisfied the artistic metamorphosis is complete.

Dark image of woman with long hair, holding camera up to her eye

“Stalking shadows & stealing light at every possible opportunity with my camera, I’ve become keenly aware of the beauty that surrounds me…I love experimenting with different techniques, transforming those captures into a work of ‘heart’. The creative possibilities are endless…my passion, obsession, addiction…I look forward to the possibility of sharing my vision and interpretation of the world through my lens…

Hope you enjoy the view!”

-Sher Falls, AKA dragonflydreams88

Planning in Nature Photography – May 15

With special guest presenter, Liron Gertsman

From the Rocky Mountains to the rugged coastline, the Pacific Northwest’s wild spaces are home to an incredible diversity of life. At our club’s meeting on May 15, Liron Gertsman will be taking us on a virtual journey through our incredible region and beyond, with a focus on the techniques that go into planning a successful photoshoot in nature.

An award-winning nature photographer and photojournalist, Liron aims to educate and shed light on environmental issues and the importance of conservation. His work has been exhibited in some of the largest museums in the world, including the Natural History Museum in London and the Smithsonian in Washington DC. You may have seen him on CBC’s “The National”, heard him on Radio One, or seen his work in Canadian Geographic, Audubon Magazine, The Guardian, GEO and other publications.

His work has been widely recognized, sweeping the professional category of the 2022 Audubon Photography Awards, winning the grand prize of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards, and earning a highly commended designation in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Liron has a biology degree from UBC, which he uses to enhance his passion for art and visual storytelling, providing a scientific background to inform his understanding of the natural world.

You can find more info about Liron along with the workshops and tours he offers, and see some of his beautiful wildlife and nature images on his website.

The meeting will be held via Zoom. The link will be sent by email to all Gabriola Photography Club members a few days beforehand. Make sure your membership is up to date (paid for 2024) so that you receive this info.

A note to non-members of our Club: you are welcome to attend this event as well, for a $5 fee: contact us by May 12 to sign up.