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Arts & Entertainment

Finding life balance through a camera lens

Tatiana Salisbury - Omega Contributor

Photography might be the perfect activity for you to start a creative and stress-free year.

There are many ways to get into photography: you can take a course at TRU, join the Kamloops Photo Arts Club or just buy a camera and enjoy the process of figuring it out.

“It is so easy to get bogged down by everything school and life throw at you,” said Lisa-Marie Collins, a TRU student who is taking digital photography along with her science classes. “Photography is a form of escapism for me.”

Collins is not the only TRU student who enjoys shooting; first years photography courses have the longest waitlists of all courses at the TRU.

Donald Lawrence, the chair of the visual and performing arts programs at TRU, believes photography courses are popular for many reasons.

“Photography allows people to easily document their experiences and also share these experiences with others,” Lawrence said. “Any artistic activity is beneficial in someone’s life.”

Lawrence recommends that hobbyist photographers visit local art galleries to see what professionals are creating and get inspired by them. Enthusiastic hobbyists should also read as much as possible about the relationship between historical and contemporary art, the TRU professor said.

For people interested in interacting with other photographers, the Kamloops Photo Arts Club is the place to go. The club has existed since 1982 and is a perfect example of a successful hobbyist club. Many of the 60 plus members are retired and just recently got into photography.

Bob Hubbard, club president, believes that digital cameras have made photography more accessible to everybody.

“Many people buy new cameras and don’t know how to use them, so they come to the workshop to learn,” Hubbard said.

Even though most of the members are amateurs, there are many who are also very experienced. These members happily help others to improve their skills during the weekly two-hour meetings. All the members are encouraged to bring their pictures and exchange constructive criticism. “We give ideas so you get a better picture,” Hubbard said.

The atmosphere of the club is light and friendly. During the meetings there is laughter in the air and the break time is filled with homemade snacks, coffee and loud conversations. The club is a lively example of how photography can bring people together.

The success of the club was proved recently when its venue became too small for the increasing number of members.

Another way to get in touch with photographers in town is through the Kamloops group on Flickr.com. The group works as a virtual community where people can post their shots of the city and get, or give feedback to others.

Richard Doucette is one of the members of the Kamloops group on Flickr. He joined the group “mainly to see Kamloops from other photographers' perspectives,” he said.

Doucette is a biologist and he photographs to recharge his batteries. “But photography is also a means to open my eyes to nature,” he said. “It forces me to slow down and see things I normally rush by.”

AJ Daly is another member of the online group. He joined the group to share his pictures of Kamloops and get ideas for future photo sessions.

Daly believes the greatest thing about the hobby is how you see the city where you live through the camera lens. “Photography lets you discover and explore places and things that without photography, you might just ignore,” he said. “And you take a little piece of it home with you to share with others.”

As long as you are enjoying the ride there is no right or wrong when it comes to art: there is emotion, passion and creativity.

Collins, who intends to be a biology teacher, said photography gives her a chance to be creative.

“After all there is no equation where you plug in zero and it all falls apart after.”