Canadian Camera Conference 2013

Blog article by Kyle D. Jackson
Canadian Camera Conference 2013
Fredericton, NB, 28-30 June
http://www.capaconference.com
This past week I travelled to my home province of New Brunswick to visit family. The timing was chosen to coincide with CAPA’s Canadian Camera Conference in Fredericton—the CCC 2013 was an excuse to visit family, and visiting family was an excuse to go to CCC 2013. The CCC is held every two years. The previous event was held in London, Ontario, and in 2015 the event will bring photographers to the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver, British Columbia. This year’s event spanned 3 days from 28 to 30 June, with various field trips spanning six additional days both before and after the main conference. The conference proper was held at the Maritime College of Forest Technology, and staffed by a number of enthusiastic volunteers from local club Photo Fredericton.
Being from New Brunswick myself I passed over the field trips, although there was an
impressive list of options covering many corners of this picturesque province. They ranged from a couple hours in town to as much as 3 days exploring the countryside and coastlines. A full-day CAPA Judging Course was also available.
The conference consisted of presentations and workshops by a dozen accomplished
photographers, highlighted by keynote presentations by Freeman Patterson and David
duChemin. In all there were 22 unique presentations and workshops available over the three days, with the majority offered twice, and some in both French and English. Attendees were free to choose their own schedule from the parallel topics. Myself, I was able to attend 13 of the presentations, covering nine of the dozen presenters. Rounding out the conference were social lunches and receptions, a book sale/signing, a banquet with door prizes, merchandise booths, and an excellent print exhibition by local New Brunswick photographers. Although there were computer-based workshops in some of the sessions, most presentations focused less on tools and techniques and more on the creative process of photography—at times a tough sell for a thick techno-skull like mine!  Subject matter ranged from wildlife to travel, macro to abstract…, sometimes the full spectrum by just a single presenter. Regardless of a presenter’s chosen subjects, techniques, or their own personal history in the world of photography, it was abundantly clear that all of them shared an immense passion for the expressive outlet of creating images. A common sentiment shared in varying words by many of them is that it doesn’t matter what or how you create, but simply that you create something. There is no silver bullet approach to making a stunning image, only trial and “error” experimentation that winds its own unpredictable course with many pleasant surprises. For those looking for a break away from daily life to surround themselves with like-minded photo enthusiasts and meet inspiring photographers, or simply an excuse to travel to Vancouver, I recommend marking CCC 2015 on your calendar—it’s scheduled for 28 July to 7 August 2015.
Hope to see you there!
KDJ

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