Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays from FPOE!

by Anita Waters

by Kelly Bos

by Shawna Cameron

by Brandy Ford

by Isabelle Lafrance

Style Sunday :: Animal Photography

There are many different approaches to doing animal photography. It can be a detailed close-up or an action shot of a wild animal; it can also be a casual picture of a pet, or styled in a studio with colourful props. The point is to create an image that connects the viewer to the subject.

Check out this article, called 8 Great Tips for Photographing Animals. It focuses on animals that you might find in a zoo or wildlife reserve, but all of these ideas are easily used when photographing animals in everyday situations. There is also a helpful list called Nature Photographers Code of Conduct. It is a friendly reminder to use common sense and respect when out photographing nature and animals.

Rooster by Shawna Cameron

Fall Buckeye Butterflies by Janice McCafferty

Egg Cup Mouse by Sam Clark

Black Cat by sixthandmain

Timid Wandering Penguin by Perfect Art

FPOE Ambush-Shawna Cameron

Our victim for May will be the talented Shawna Cameron!

Her Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/shawnacameron
Her Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/shawnac/
Her Blog: shawnacameron.com/blog/
Her Website: www.shawnacameron.com/

If you have money to spend, buy something from her shop.
If you have time to spare, check out her blog and her flickr and show her some love! Tell your friends, post it on your blog, spread the word!

Thanks girls!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Ottawa, Canada (again)

So this week in our around the world travels we're not really traveling very far ... 2 weeks ago (yes i was lax) we checked out the stunning landscapes of Jennifer Squires Ross (& i remain in awe of that work) over in London, Canada & this week we're returning to Ottawa having previously visited there to explore the work of Caitlin Brookes. The one thing i have noticed so far in our exploration of Canada is the nature inspired imagery ... all these photographers have made me want to visit, to see their back garden so to speak. The wonderful flowers, butterflies, lakes & such ... it really blows my mind to see the things nature has to offer us & the way our FPoE members interpret it. & this week is no exception. Shawna Cameron's photography is full of life, bright vivid colours spanning ever colour of the rainbow (& i love how her shop is organized into such colours ... i have to admit i got a little side tracked by the red). She captures the small details in things, & creates wonderful abstracts that look more like paintings than actual photographs. 

Shawna seems to have that understanding of nature that i will never get. It's not just a matter of knowing what will look pretty but she can take the things that have no obvious beauty & turn them into something special. She sees colour, & form all around her & gives the impression of never having left her back yard (& if i discover this is her back yard i will be incredible jealous). Even in the neutrals the colours spring from the page, drawing you in as the viewer. You want to explore this garden, see ever little nook & can imagine the smells on a spring day. Shawna employs a wonderful depth of field in her work making even the smallest of things seem larger than life, i feel as though I'm a burrower (if you know who they are) exploring the world around me. 

& obviously the same skills she employs through her nature can be seen in the simple scenes she captures else where ... this bird relaxing after a hard days work ...

more red (because it is getting close to Christmas) ...

& yummies!!

As usual all the images you see here are available for sale in Shawna's etsy store. You can view more of her work on flickr.