Member Spotlight
This is a new feature for the CAPS photo club so members get to know each other better, and also to make them aware of what the photo club has to offer.
Please meet Jim McKinley
I am retired and live in downtown Red Deer. I moved to Red Deer from Edmonton in 1995 as a part of a restructuring by the provincial government. When I moved I had three requirements for my new home: live downtown, walk to work and be able to look out my backdoor and see the river. All three conditions were met and it turned out to be the best move I have ever made.
In my working life I was an investigator with the Environment Ministry and spent 15 years on the environmental emergency response team. After my first retirement in 2002 I joined the Natural Resources Conservation Board regulating confined feeding operations and then retired again in 2013.
My photographing life began in 1973 when I purchased a Canon Ftb DSLR, however I soon discovered the costs involved with film and printing. The Canon sat on the shelf until 2005 when Hank at McBain’s introduced me to a Canon 20D. I was hooked when I found that digital cameras dovetailed nicely with my passion for computers and computer graphics. By 2012 I was the owner of a Canon 1D Mark IV, numerous lenses and a sore back. Then in the winter of 2012-13 I purchased my current system - an Olympus EM1, numerous lenses and my back now feels better.
My best piece(s) of gear are my lenses - bodies come and go but lenses should be forever.
My photographic interests tend to be all over the map in that I will try anything. However, I find that I am drawn to B&W, street (people) photography, macrophotography and time-lapse. At the end of the day I will try to photograph anything.
My favourite non-photo hobbies are long distance cycling (I ran 10 marathons but gave it up when I found bikes can coast ;-), computers (I’m a Mac-addict) and woodworking.
The best photograph I think I have ever made is one that is somewhat technically lacking (a bit soft) but is full of emotions. Its a newly widowed woman sitting on a the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. She is contemplating her future just following her husband’s cremation. I was watching the cremations from the Ganges when I saw her from the corner of my eye and captured an image with a 200mm lens from the rocking boat. It won best in show at my first CAPS competition.
The best advice I have for budding photographers is to use your camera every single day. It should become an extension of your body.
Jim provided us with some of his photographs which he would like to share with you. He now also has a Gallery on our website so make sure you check that out as well.
I am retired and live in downtown Red Deer. I moved to Red Deer from Edmonton in 1995 as a part of a restructuring by the provincial government. When I moved I had three requirements for my new home: live downtown, walk to work and be able to look out my backdoor and see the river. All three conditions were met and it turned out to be the best move I have ever made.
In my working life I was an investigator with the Environment Ministry and spent 15 years on the environmental emergency response team. After my first retirement in 2002 I joined the Natural Resources Conservation Board regulating confined feeding operations and then retired again in 2013.
My photographing life began in 1973 when I purchased a Canon Ftb DSLR, however I soon discovered the costs involved with film and printing. The Canon sat on the shelf until 2005 when Hank at McBain’s introduced me to a Canon 20D. I was hooked when I found that digital cameras dovetailed nicely with my passion for computers and computer graphics. By 2012 I was the owner of a Canon 1D Mark IV, numerous lenses and a sore back. Then in the winter of 2012-13 I purchased my current system - an Olympus EM1, numerous lenses and my back now feels better.
My best piece(s) of gear are my lenses - bodies come and go but lenses should be forever.
My photographic interests tend to be all over the map in that I will try anything. However, I find that I am drawn to B&W, street (people) photography, macrophotography and time-lapse. At the end of the day I will try to photograph anything.
My favourite non-photo hobbies are long distance cycling (I ran 10 marathons but gave it up when I found bikes can coast ;-), computers (I’m a Mac-addict) and woodworking.
The best photograph I think I have ever made is one that is somewhat technically lacking (a bit soft) but is full of emotions. Its a newly widowed woman sitting on a the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. She is contemplating her future just following her husband’s cremation. I was watching the cremations from the Ganges when I saw her from the corner of my eye and captured an image with a 200mm lens from the rocking boat. It won best in show at my first CAPS competition.
The best advice I have for budding photographers is to use your camera every single day. It should become an extension of your body.
Jim provided us with some of his photographs which he would like to share with you. He now also has a Gallery on our website so make sure you check that out as well.