Last week I had a wonderful surprise

So, on May 1st, just before I went to Second Chances Band rehearsal, I opened my email too find that I won Gold in a CAPA (Canadian Association For Photographic Art) Atlantic Zone (club) Open theme competition.

So, just like that I put the cart before the horse!

In early March I submitted an image to CAPA through our club, Photo Fredericton and then promptly forgot about it. I have submitted in the past and received good marks and great critiques, So I wasn't expecting this at all. There are a lot of amazing photographers out there and they have taken amazing captures, and when I look at the submissions, I am honoured...and somewhat taken aback...to be among them.

...at least with the capture!

The model is Delia, she is a friend and fellow musician of mine and she wanted to do some headshots. Well we had time to space after the headshots and I asked if we could do some portrait work. She said yes and we created this image!

Oh, we created a few more, but this one struck home. I just love the composition, the simple and powerful statement of Delia looking directly at you with such confidence and assuredness. To me, and I hope to the viewers, I find it very powerful.

I chose to create this as a black and white image. I love colour, I was a lighting designer for theatre and dance, but I love the black and white photographic art form. I find that sometimes the colour gets in the way of seeing the capture if the colour isn't the, or part of, the main subject. With it out of the picture...

...(sorry bad pun, and anyone who knows me, I am not one for puns. They say that there is place in the brain that lights up in people that love puns.....I can say with complete confidence, it's not happening in my brain.....anyway, I digress)...

...with the colour out of the picture I find it makes a more impactful capture, allowing the viewers to see the depth of the capture within the contrast, the detail that is brought out using a million shades of grey.

So, again, I am surprised, but happy, that this capture received Gold. if you are interested in see the other images that took places and honourable mentions, here is the link to the results page. https://capacanada.ca/competition-winners-2025-atlantic-zone-club-competition/

Cheers for now.

Jef