Dave Ellis: April Photography In Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts. What follows is some of the photographs he took in April.

This local beaver is reaching as high as it can for some cedar buds.

This month, as the snow began to leave and temperatures slowly began to rise, we saw plenty of wildlife emerging from the cold.

This local common loon spreads its beautiful wings.

We think this local guy may be fibbing about the size of fish they caught.

A group of local northern map turtles competes for the best sunning spot on a rock.

Ellis often captures wildlife in action, on the hunt for their next meal or taking a break and lounging in the sun.

This pair of local wood ducks are keeping warm.

Ellis’s photography captures wildlife around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully.

PTBOCanada looks forward to what is to come as the weather continues to warm up.

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Dave Ellis Photography Captures a Blue Heron Snaring a Muskie From The Water

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts. What follows is a Blue Heron trying to get a muskie as a tasty meal.

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Dave Ellis: March Photography In Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts. What follows is some of the photographs he took in March.

This local river otter has caught itself a little snack.

This month much of the local wildlife was seen emerging from winter, and scurrying around the last piles of snow.

A local young bald eagle takes its meal to go.

A local coyote surveys his surroundings.

This local bald eagle looks awesome in the sunshine as it comes in for a landing

Ellis often captures wildlife in action, on the hunt for their next meal or taking a break and lounging in the snow.

This local red fox is standing guard over her territory.

This local mink in enjoying a fish for lunch.

Ellis’s photography captures wildlife around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully.

PTBOCanada looks forward to what it to come as it warms up outside and local wildlife emerges.

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Dave Ellis: February Photography In Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts.

Snowy owl takes a break on a stump.

This month Ellis’s photography features plenty of wildlife making it’s way through winter. Scavenging for food and braving the cold.

A local coyote calls for reinforcements.

local bald eagle renovates its nest.

A local gull follows hot on an eagle's tail thinking 'see, I'm just like you'

Ellis often captures wildlife in action, on the hunt for their next meal or taking a break and lounging in the snow.

A local red-bellied woodpecker gathers food on a cold winters day.

this local barred owl is on a mission.

A local river otter realizes he ordered too much food

Ellis’s photography captures wildlife around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully. PTBOCanada looks forward to what it to come as the seasons change and the wildlife scene does too.

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Dave Ellis: January Photography In Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our Good Morning PTBO posts.

A Mennonite buggy plows the way after January’s big winter storm.

This month Ellis’s photography features a lot of birds including snow owls, bald eagles and woodpeckers.

A group of local bald eagles battle for control of a carp carcass.

A barred owl takes flight.

Snowy owl about to take flight from a fence post.

Ellis often captures wildlife in action, on the hunt for their next meal or guarding their territory from predators.

A mink guarding it’s territory.

Red fox stalking it’s next prey.

This river otter has caught itself a nice snack.

Ellis’s photography captures the natural world around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully. PTBOCanada looks forward to what it to come as the seasons change and the wildlife scene does too.

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Local Photographer Recreates A Favourite Peterborough Pastime With Lego People

Peterborough photographer Mark Craighead has become a hit on social media with his action figure portraits.

Photo by Mark L. Craighead Photography.

“I stole my dads old film camera when I was in highschool - with his blessing ofcourse - I guess photography has been in my blood forever,” said Craighead.

What started off as creating a Christmas gift for a friend quickly turned into over 20 years of photographing action figures and displaying them at local art shows.

“With the action figures I try to create a false perspective to make them look like portraits of real people,” he said. “When I made that first portrait for my friend so long ago it just sparked something for me, I love it.”

On Wednesday Craighead took to his social media to post about his experience in making these creations.

In the post he mentioned that he was planning on applying to a local art festival, but ultimately decided not to.

‘I was about half way through it, and I sat back and thought, 'do I really want to do this?'. Did I really want to jump through all the hoops again, and tell them, in so many words or less, why I, as an artist, deserve their funding, and therefore their acceptance and approval?’ he wrote in the post. '‘ It feels like a judgement on your worth as an artist, and as an artist who creates by pouring your whole self into the work, it feels, by extension, like a judgement on your worth as a person.’

After he decided to give up on the application process he posted a picture of his latest creation to his Facebook page and went to bed.

The next day his image had been shared to the East City Ptbo Facebook page, as well on PTBOCanada’s social platforms.

“It was really refreshing. Going through the process of applying for shows is very taxing,” he said. “When you’re trying to justify yourself and how your art is art, that it’s deserving of funding or some ones studio space, it’s really challenging and it can be exhausting, especially during these times.”

Craighead noted that had he completely given up and not posted that image, he would not have been able to see the many positive reactions from the community. While he doesn’t create art to generate ‘Likes’ on social media, being accepted and celebrated by Peterborough

Craigheads action figure shots and other photography can be viewed on his website. He has prints and other products available for sale on Redbubble.com, he is also currently doing a Valentines day promotion, valid until Feb. 1. Orders can be made through his website.

Mark L. Craighead Photography also does family portraits, headshots, event photography and product shoots.

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2022 SPARK Photo Festival Puts Call Out For Photographers

The 2022 SPARK Photo Festival has put a call out to photographers wishing to apply to participate.

Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

The festival will run Apr. 1 - 30.

Registration for Open Call Exhibits and entries for the Themed Juried Exhibit “Monochrome” close in just a few weeks.

Photographers of any skill level and any style are welcome to create an exhibit. Exhibit as an individual, small group (2 to 5 people), a group (6 or more) or as a community group. Special registration rates are available for students and community groups.

Those interested are encouraged to find their own venue, or get in touch with SPARK for assistance. Any location that’s accessible to the public in Peterborough city and county, in City of Kawartha Lakes and in Northumberland County can be a SPARK venue. Participants prepare their images and their exhibit. First-time exhibitors, students, seasoned professionals and anyone in between are invited to learn more and register online by Feb. 7.

SPARK provides guidance and promotional material to participants.

For the audience-favourite Themed Juried Exhibit all submissions will be judged by a jury of three photography professionals. The top 25 images will be exhibited in a prominent Peterborough location throughout the month of April. The top images will be awarded cash prizes. Each photographer is eligible to enter up to 3 images and the competition is open to any Ontario resident. Entries are accepted until Feb. 1. All details and online entry are on the SPARK website.

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Dave Ellis: December Photography In Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our Good Morning PTBO posts.

A mink ponders which way to go with its fresh-caught fish.

Ellis often captures series of photos, capturing a moment in time. Below, a Snowy Owl spots a vole in a field, swoops at its prey and catches some dinner.

Here, Ellis has captured a heron catching a bass and enjoying its meal.

A male hooded merganser takes a break on the ice.

A male hooded merganser takes a break on the ice.

A male hooded merganser takes a break on the ice.

Ellis allows the community to see local wildlife they may not otherwise. As the seasons change, so will the subjects of his photography - and PTBOCanada will continue to share with our daily ‘Good morning PTBO’ posts.

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Local Photographer Releases Kawartha Lakes Wildlife Calendar

Local photographer Dave Ellis is putting his work on display by selling 2022 calendars of his wildlife photos.

Dave Ellis (pictured) has been doing photography for five years since his retirement. Photo Courtesy of Dave Ellis.

Two different calendars are available for purchase from Ellis. This is his third year creating and selling them.

The calendars contain wildlife found in the Kawartha Lakes area contains shots of animals such as bald eagles, snowy owls and more.

”A lot of people have no idea that these things are here. A lot of people don't even know that we have bald eagles,” said Ellis. “These were shot probably no more than five kilometres from right here (in Peterborough).”

The calendars were created in late October with roughly 200 printed up. People from all over the world have purchased Ellis’s calendars such as United States and Europe.

Ellis has had his photos showcased in local media for roughly three years.

Photo Courtesy of Dave Ellis.

Calendars are available by emailing wildlife@eastlink.ca. They are available for pickup or by delivery.

"We've always been canoeing, fishing and that kind of thing, being out in nature,” reflected Ellis.” We had time once we retired to appreciate the outdoors more."

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SPARK Photo Festival Opens September 1

The SPARK Photo Festival opens this Wednesday and runs through September 30 in more than twenty venues throughout Peterborough City and County, and in Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Northumberland County.

Toronto’s Lucas DeClavasio and his photo “Focus” won the “Focus on Coffee” photography competition held by Spark Photo Festival in March. Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

There are over 25 exhibits showing the works of over 100 photographers, some returning photographers who have participated in every SPARK festival as well as several first-time exhibitors.

“We’re delighted to see the enthusiasm and excitement of the exhibiting photographers who have persevered through delays and uncertainty since our April 2020 Festival was postponed due to COVID-19”, said Festival Director Jennifer MacKenzie.

The prize-winning images for the 2021 Themed Juried Exhibit Nourish: To Eat, To Drink, To Enjoy will be announced on opening night.

Tune in to social media at 8:30 p.m. on September 1 for the reveal of the top four entries as selected by a jury from the submissions by photographers from across Ontario. The Nourish exhibit will be displayed outdoors on George Street, south of Venture North.

SPARK Photo Festival is made possible by the presenting sponsor LLF Lawyers, the City of Peterborough and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and Electric City Culture Council through the Peterborough Arts Alive Grant and by the official media sponsor Global Peterborough, The Wolf and Fresh Radio.

Visit sparkphotofestival.org, SPARK Photo Festival on Facebook and Instagram for all of the latest Exhibit details, including new venues, opening hours, receptions and workshops.

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