Capture the Wild Photography Contest

Meet the 2007 Winning Photographers

Richard Akitt

“My interest in photography began as a way to catalogue my own outdoor adventures and the stunning landscapes I found myself traveling through. To this day I am most inspired by the sometimes subtle moments that reveal themselves when I've worked hard to reach a particular place. My camera has become a constant companion on trips, a tool for capturing that rare beauty that is so easily overlooked. I consider it a privilege to not only view such moments, but also be able to share them with others.”

Richard is a Calgary based photographer focusing mainly on outdoor adventure sports and landscapes. He has recently begun teaching photography part time and is juggling that adventure with life as a new father.

Libby Alger

Libby Alger resides in Calgary. She is one of those increasingly rare creatures - a true native Calgarian.

Libby studied biology at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and later moved to Vancouver where she worked for 20 years. Recently, she moved back to Calgary, delighted to be living near the Great Canadian Rockies again.

Libby has a great love of nature and photography. She particularly enjoys photographing the small, often overlooked, elements of nature that are surprisingly intricate and beautiful.

Alun Bain

Alun Bain is a Grade 4 French Immersion student and an active Cub Scout. Alun has been taking photos for several years and has consciously focused on capturing nature images for a year and a half. He is still working hard to improve his technique and his ability to generate a “wow” reaction. For as long as his parents can remember, Alun has described his career ambition as “something to do with helping animals”. Alun lives in Calgary and his favourite place to take photos is Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Robert Berdan

Robert Berdan has been photographing nature and science subjects for over 35 years. His passion is capturing Canadian wildlife and wilderness scenes. In particular he tries to capture “moods of nature” and likes to photograph when it’s raining, snowing and blowing outside. “Blue skies are for postcards and that’s not what I am after”. Robert also hopes that his photographs can help others appreciate our valuable natural resources so that we work together to preserve them in Western Canada. In particular he would like to see more done to preserve the Great Bear Rainforest on the West Coast.

Bob Christopher

Bob pursues his love for the outdoors through his photography. As a photographer, Bob is always seeking dramatic light and unusual subject matter which he hopes to present in an artistic manner in his images. There are many subjects that are of interest to him in his work but the world of nature holds a particular fascination for him. Images created using dramatic angles and perspective are often sought for. When things go right, the resulting image has the ability to draw the viewer into the frame and creates what is often called the “Wow Factor”.

For the past two years, Bob and his wife, Vivian, have been traveling and photographing throughout North America and other parts of the world seeking locations to enjoy and to photograph, using their cameras at every opportunity.

Angelito de Jesus

Photography has always been my interest even back in my teen years, affording a camera while growing up in the Philippines seems like unachievable grand dream. I always enjoyed looking at photographs from books and magazines and was fascinated with how they were captured. Upon my move to Winnipeg in the summer of '76 when I worked in a shoe factory, my first purchase from my first paycheck was a Nikon FM and I began to explore the world around and photographed just about anything under the sun. There was even a time when I traded groceries for film.

I studied photography at Red River College in Winnipeg and worked on many projects - from weddings, commercial, cover shots of magazines, photojournalism, sports and events but later I became passionate with the emotions, the drama, the adrenalin rush of sports and actions and diligently tried to capture the intensity of the moment. I moved to Calgary in the fall of 2000 to accept a position as production engineer and to get closer to the mountains. Trekking and photographing the Rockies, travel and adventures, and western style photography are all part of the body of work I continually pursue.

Gary Drake

“I was taught photography by the RCMP in 1970-71 when I was trained to be a Forensic Identification Specialist. I was trained using a Crown Graphic 4x5 camera and developed all of my own negatives. I worked in the RCMP Identification Section in Lethbridge, Halifax, and Brooks, Alta. until 1992 when I retired. I spent many hours learning photographic techniques and attended many photographic courses and presentations. When I retired, I opened a photographic studio, custom framing and art gallery in Brooks, Alta. I spent much of my time doing portraits and weddings and missed taking landscape photographs. In 1993, I was awarded an international award for my wedding photography. I retired from the studio in 2005 and since that time I have been travelling doing landscape photography.”

Elizabeth Hak

“I've been interested in photography for many years but it has only been within the last nine years that I have put any effort into improving my abilities. Currently, I am using 35 mm, medium format and digital cameras as I can't seem to make up my mind which I like best! I stay home with my young son so I grab opportunities to go out and shoot images whenever I can get them.”

Jim Jacobson

Jim Jacobson was born and in raised in Calgary Alberta, Canada, just a short distance from the Rocky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman, sportsman and nature photographer. He spends much of his free time hiking in the back-country during the summer, skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Jim, an elementary educator, has the opportunity to share his photographs and nature experiences with his students. One of his most memorable teaching experiences was a field trip to a local natural park to study woodpeckers and red squirrels. The impact on the students, who do not often have the opportunity to appreciate nature, was quite profound. This incident influenced Jim's decision to enrich the lives of others through photography.

Alastair King

Alastair was born and raised in Calgary. He took up photography four years ago. The Capture the Wild Photo contest was his first contest that he had ever entered.

Wayne Simpson

“I can't recall the exact moment, but at some time in the last year something just clicked … I just have to get to the mountains at least once a week … or I get all grouchy (according to my wife). I have developed a passion for capturing the beauty that our natural world has to offer. There are no bad trips to the parks … if I miss a shot, I just sit and enjoy the moment … If I get the shot, I can share that moment with others, and that is what I love to do most. If you would like to see more of my images you can find them at www.waynesimpsonphotography.com under landscapes or nature.”

Jason Sullivan

Jason Sullivan grew up in Melbourne, Australia and has spent over 15 years photographing many of Australia's unique animals and landscapes. He has resided in Calgary, Canada for the past 7 years where he continues his photography by capturing images of North American landscapes such as the picturesque Rocky Mountains along with its stark seasonal colours and contrasts.

In recent years he has also spent time in Central and South America photographing the stunning sights of Costa Rica and Brazil. In addition, his photography focus is turning more towards Europe due to his long time interest in architectural photography. See his photography work at www.tanamiphotography.com.

Rhonda Thurn

Rhonda Thurn is a born and raised Calgarian who graduated with a B.F.A from the Alberta College of Art and Design. She pursues a part time painting career and has exhibited internationally, as well as being the founder of the Firehouse Studios Artist Cooperative.

Rhonda has always been an advocate of the wild lands of Canada and has just recently started capturing her adventures on film. As a member of both CPAWS & Night of Artists she had the pleasure of being a contributor to the recent “Earths Treasure Chest” Mural Mosaic project.

She lives in a fully renovated storefront circa 1908 in Ramsay, with her hiking buddy Tosca the rotweiller. To view some of Rhonda's paintings, please visit www.firehousestudios.ca.

Simone Tomasi

Simone was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1973. His interest in photography started at the age of 12, when he was given his first SLR, but it only became a serious hobby when he moved to Calgary a few years ago.

In Alberta he brought together his passion for photography and for nature. After living for three years in Calgary, he is now living in the UK, where he works as a research chemist.

Morris Walker

I was born April 26, 1944 in Lethbridge. I studied Math and Computer Science at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BSC 1969). Later I studied three years of interior design at the University of Manitoba. I also got my journeyman carpenter ticket in 1983. Work wise, I worked on my father's farm while in high school and university and a few years thereafter. I also taught as a sessional instructor at Lethbridge Community College in the Business and Technology and Trades departments. Mostly I have been a general contractor and have also done hardwood and laminate installations. Two and a half years were also spent in Japan as a missionary for the LDS church and also about 12 years as a Boy Scout leader. Married wife Mary Ann when 35. Have four stepchildren, two adopted children, and two foster children and now quite a few grandchildren.

Michael Wieser

Michael Wieser is an enthusiastic amateur photographer living in Calgary, Alberta. Photography enables Michael to combine his enjoyment and wonder of wild spaces and wildlife with his fascination for technology. Through his images, Michael can focus on and share with others the incredible beauty found in our environment. When he is not wandering around taking photographs, he works as a physicist at the University of Calgary.

The photograph of “Tuk in the Snow” was taken at the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre, in the Blaeberry valley, British Columbia during a late snowstorm in March. Even standing still, Tuk strikes a fluid pose that expresses dexterity and intelligence.

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