Image Challenge 2020 and the New Normal

By: Kathy Schrader 

On March 17, 2020 Lambton College, in an effort to protect its student body and staff, closed its doors and ceased classroom learning. Students and faculty acted quickly to adapt to the changes dictated by the novel coronavirus, Covid-19.  The photography program saw its assignment requirements reduced to only those tasks that could be completed at a social distance. That meant no more studio time, no access to lighting equipment, no immediate contact with classmates or teachers.  It also meant reconciling diminished program highlights such as the student gallery exhibitions and the long-held competition called Image Challenge which included a really fun year-end dinner to send off the graduating class.  

Welcome to Image challenge 8.0, brought to you by Microsoft Teams and the dedication of students, faculty, and judges.  Speaking of judges here they are: 

Bisa Alawode is an award-winning photographer celebrated for his unique approach to wedding photography.  He is a graduate of the Lambton College Photography Program and a appreciated addition to this year’s judging panel.

Lisa Cattran is also a graduate of the Lambton College Photography Program with the practice in the Sarnia. Her specialties include sports, landscape/travel and portraiture photography as well as her current community-based project aimed at benefitting a non-profit social agency.

 
Sophie Sheldrick of Raw Footage Photography is a self-taught success story with an active lifestyle photography practice based in London Ontario.  

Peter Power is a veteran photographer based in Ontario and abroad.  His award-winning editorial images and corporate portraits are known for their story-telling features. Among his list of clientele you will find Canadian Geographic Magazine, The Canadian Press, the CBC, CAMH Foundation, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, AFP Services, Reuters, PostMedia, National Post, Our Kids Media, Communitech, Clothesline Media, Appleby College, and NOMA Event Design. 

This year saw another interesting cross-section of proficient images with year one students competing in the following categories: Portrait, Still Life, Nature and Unclassified.

First year winners include:

    Portrait

  Nature

Still Life

Unclassified

The first year overall winners are: 

Third Place - Britney O’Brien 

Second Place - Mike McCormack

First Place - Iris Kippert

The second-year classifications, though fewer, allowed for greater input within a given category.  They are: People, Places and Commercial.

Second year winners are:

People

Places

Commercial

The second-year overall winners are:  

Second Place - Abbey Browning 

First Place - Kathy Schrader

In 2018 it was decided that a joint category would be introduced.  The Challenge is a mandatory classification open to students in each year.  This year’s Image Challenge Challenge winner is Iris Kippert.

Congratulations to each competing student.  Winner or not you hung in there and came away with some vital real-world experience.  It has been a year of extremes with f/45 highs and t/60 lows.  Put your hands together out there in TEAMS-land and make some 3276800 ISO noise.

Many thanks to our sponsors: Nikon, Camera Canada, Think Tank and Lens On Lambton. 

Many thanks to our faculty, Richard Nikon Beland, Erica English Kelly, Geoff Darth Robins, Niki Wedding Patel and Chris Below Parr and last but not least Emily Go-To Nutson.  You have played a significant role in forming us.  We will not be the same.

Commercial Applications

By: Rahim Gilani



This image is one of the first bottle images I did in my career, and I will always remember this shoot as it took almost 5 hours to get it right, but in the end, it turned out well.


The main thing I learned from this shoot is how to get separation at the bottom of the grapes and the wine bottle, so they are not lost in the background.

To achieve this photograph, I used two strip lights parallel to the bottle and a reflector along the bottom of the image, which I then photoshopped to match the colour of the glass.





This image is one of my favourites that I have created. This photograph was for an assignment where the task is to feature glassware. This is a challenging assignment because it is hard to get the perfect lighting with anything made of glass; you really have to pay attention to reflections and specular highlights.

One of the main things my professor (Richard Beland) taught me is to “do it in-camera.” This statement stuck with me. Now 80% of my images are made in-camera with minimal photoshop afterwards.

For this image, I used two strip lights and one background light. All the lights were covered with vellum paper, and the backlight had a blue gel. It was tough to get detail in the cheese, so I had to add a small light right above the camera, pointing at the cheese to bring some detail back into the product.

When I was planning to do this shoot, I was thinking of what elements I should use, and I ended up referring back to a colour wheel where I found the opposite of blue is orange. I then went to the grocery store and picked up all the vegetables and fruits that looked orange. The idea of using cheese came from watching movies featuring people from Italy eating cheese while drinking wine, and the idea to use bread came from the movie “The Irishman.”





This photograph was a passion project and also for my portfolio. It was taken during the second year of my photography course.

The idea of doing an air freshener product photograph came from my workplace, Giant Tiger.
I was working one day, and out of nowhere, I asked my Supervisor to give me a challenging
product that she wanted me to photograph which ended up being the air freshener and the Stewarts soda bottle.

After getting the product, the main challenge for me was what props I should use. I carefully looked at the product this time and saw apples and cinnamon, it was already pictured on the product to show the fragrance. The backdrop was created by hanging blinds behind the product. My overall idea was to show the product near the window in the morning.

I took many photos with a full apple but didn’t look appealing. After a few shots, I took the knife and cut the apple, which adds more texture to the image.

To achieve the desired lighting, I used four strip box lights and two flags. All of the strip lights were covered with velum paper to get the soft edges on the product itself.





This was the other product given to me by my supervisor. To achieve this lighting, I used two strip lights and some paper that I bought at Dollarama. My goal was to make this a very colourful photograph.

I wanted to try something different with this image and knew it would be tough to execute. The original plan was to make it look artistic, so in photoshop, I selected the bottle from one image, lemon from another and glass from the third. I then drew the spikes which are visible on the bottle and added the border with more bright colours to make it pop.

This is the only image featured in my portfolio that is a product digital-manipulation. It was a fun shoot, and I'm happy with how it turned out.

THE INSPIRATION

By: Jaswinder Kaur

When I completed my high school diploma, I did not know that I would choose photography as a profession. I liked taking photographs as a hobby; my thoughts for taking photography as a profession were different at that time. I thought, “I can’t do this” or “I can’t take good pictures.”

Two years ago, when I thought of studying abroad, I applied to Hospitality Management at Lambton College, Sarnia, and accidentally I got admission to Photography Program here at Lambton College. This was a frustrating situation for me. I tried to withdraw from this program, as I said earlier, I was not in favour of photography at that time. I did not have an option to leave this program because I already had paid a chunk of money and had a study visa on behalf of this program, so I decided to continue the photography program. At this stage, my parents suggested that” you will learn something useful, which is better than doing nothing.” The day I accepted the offer to photography program was the day I changed my mind. I told myself I was ready for the challenge.

The Oculus. New York City U.S.A. October24, 2019.

After that, I came here to Canada. Then I met with digital photography co-ordinator and great concert photographer Mr. Richard Beland during orientation, which was a special moment for me. I told him about the matter and my nervousness. After listening to me, he said, “Don’t worry, you will enjoy photography.” I did not even have an idea about which camera I should buy or what kind of other equipment I needed. But he helped me with everything. He inspired me a lot for taking an interest in photography, and he was right. I started from scratch without knowing the rules of photography. Now my interest in photography is increasing with every passing day, and I am enjoying it.

In the first year of the program,  as I followed through the lessons, I learned some basic knowledge about lighting techniques, photographic techniques, editing skills, dealing with different clients, graphic design and much more. I started growing at this stage.



Once in the second- year of the program, we not only got an opportunity to know more about those things we learned in first year but also gained knowledge about printing, selling prints, galleries, portfolio development, and writing for media. All this combined gave us the big kick towards being photographers. We also went on the annual second-year New York City trip, where we captured so many good pictures. This trip helped me learn how to photograph subjects creatively and be aware of what things are essential to consider inside the photograph. I am proud of the work I did while in this wonderful program.

Central Park, New York City U.S.A. October 26^th, 2019. 

I thank Richard Beland and the Lambton College Photography program for their significant contribution to making me a good photographer and changing my thoughts about photography as a profession.

Manpreet Kaur Brar feeling pleased at Lambton College

 Photography Studio, London Road, Sarnia, Ontario, Thursday, 

February 5, 2020.

Wild Wilderness

By: Alanna Drouillard

A lot of people don’t think to look around to see what’s on the ground, in the sky, and on leaves. Some people don’t think about looking at all at the wildlife in their natural environment, from the largest whale to the smallest ant. You can always take an award-winning picture, of something you didn’t expect. If you want to be a Wildlife Photographer, you always have to be on the lookout. You can’t just look at the ground, you have to look up above you as well. I was walking through marshland, and I didn’t see a bird right beside me until it flew away. Just like driving you always have to be aware of your surroundings, or else you’ll miss out on something amazing. 

When out and taking pictures of wildlife, you have to know where to look and what to look for. Say you're looking for a certain flower you have to know when it blooms, what climate does it grow in, and if it is poisonous or not. Sometimes it’s best to ask locals to see if they know about the plants you are looking for. It’s also a good idea to have a local take you on a guided tour to places where most people don’t go. For example in this picture I was on a cruise with my family, I bought a shore excursion to tour an old fortress, a museum, and have lunch at a botanical garden which is where I took this picture. I was just wandering around the garden taking pictures of all the flowers when I saw this flower up in a tree. I asked one of the tour guides what was the flower called. At first, I thought it was a coconut but it was called a Canon Ball flower. It is always a good thing to find out what plant or animal you are taking photos of, It shows you care for what you do and knowledgeable on the subject. 

On the other hand, when you’re out taking photos of wild or domestic animals you have to be careful. When on the lookout for wild animals you have to be very quiet. When I was traveling around Florida, I was walking along a lake when I almost stepped on an alligator. I thought that It was dead for a second until It ran up to walkway out of the area. 

You have to make sure you don’t step on fallen branches, or you’ll scare the animals away. Just like with flowers it’s best to ask locals, hunters, or trappers. Hunters and trappers know the lay of the land, and where to look for certain animals. They know to look for animal's dens, tracks, and hunting grounds, while locals know what type of animals that live around the area. It is best to have a camera that has a silent mode, so as not to scare them away. It’s also good to have a telephoto lens to take pictures of them from far away. While taking photos of animals, you should always look for the most distinct feature they have. 

While being a wildlife photographer can be hard, it can be very fun and rewarding. You get to see all kinds of amazing animals. 

Fake it till you Make It: A Passion Project

Fake it till you Make It: A Passion Project

Last Term, for an assignment my teacher Richard Beland gave us a new assignment called the Photography Passion Project, and it was definitely my favourite assignment of the year. He wanted us to create our own photography project and, in his words, “with Passion and Purpose shoot from the heart.”

At first, I didn’t really like the idea of this assignment because we were supposed to present this in front of the class, and well speaking from the heart in front of people was never really my thing. As I began thinking about what to do the assignment on I realized that my dilemma of not wanting to share from the heart was my answer. That’s when I came up with the idea for my passion project called Fake it ‘till you make it.

 I have always been used to not sharing how I felt and locking feelings away because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do. This image is the first photograph of the series. My idea behind this photograph was about how I keep feelings locked inside, and just put on a lie on the outside. I have now realized that the more you lock away the more you fill up and get closer to popping. Just like a balloon.

While working on this assignment I realized how much photography really means to me. For me, it’s not just a way to make money, something that’s fun, or even not just what I’m passionate about. To me, it’s a way to let some air out of my balloon. It’s a way for me to express how I’m feeling since I never know how to or it doesn’t feel right to put it into words.

Through this assignment, I learned how to put my heart and emotions into my photography, and how it can be an outlet for me. Below is the rest of the photographs in my series. You can go check out more of my photography at www.abrowningphotography.com and on my Instagram @abrowning_photography.

                                                            

The Decision

By Meghan Chute

The Decision

I never thought that I would have gone back to college to take a program that was only for myself. I have a few photographers in my family who take photos as a hobby, and it has always been a big interest for me, but I wanted to take it further. Not just snapping a quick picture of something that I find picturesque- I wanted to learn how to yield a real DSLR camera, how to compose a photo so it would be more thought-provoking, and of course how to properly work with Photoshop without over processing. The biggest driving point to go back to college and choose something that I found enjoyable and exciting was that I could be my own boss at the end of my program journey. 

Meghan Chute

Starting out as a completely innocent wannabe photographer was daunting. It seemed like a lot of my peers had had some kind of knowledge at least about using a DSLR camera. The professors, who are very welcoming and easy to talk to, have a vast amount of knowledge on a lot of aspects of photography. They still work in the field and bring along many relatable stories, sharing problems they have incurred and how they’ve handled them. 

Meghan Chute

This program offers so many opportunities to find your niche in photography. The assignments are pretty open unless calling for something specific. In my first year, I started out wanting to only photograph nature and landscapes. The idea of photographing people and telling them how to pose or what to do was absolutely terrifying for me. I should mention that I’m a bit of a shy and quiet person and prefer to be in my own space. That all changed at the end of my first year. I was invited to a photoshoot with my second-year printing mentor photographing to models in the studio. I was so hesitant because I’d never really shot people except to finish an assignment. 

Meghan Chute

This small photoshoot changed me. Having to interact with two strangers, tell them what to wear and how to pose was so awkward, but as I shot with them, I became more open to the idea of photographing people. Over the summer I met more models, and girls who wanted to get their photos done with me. Now that’s all I want to photograph, people, families, hell even newborns (which I had never in my life ever seen myself doing). As it nears to the end of the second year and my graduation from the photography program, I have changed my niche market multiple times over the two years, but I think for right now I have found what and where makes me happiest. I am one hundred percent glad that I went through this program and met some great people. Don’t let any doubts hold you back from pursuing your passion, don’t let anyone tell you that you won’t be able to find a job or make money from pursuing the arts. It’s worth every effort.

So Good You Can Taste It: How a Photographer Prepares for a Food Photoshoot

 So Good You Can Taste It: How a Photographer Prepares for a Food Photoshoot

Everywhere you look, there is food. Advertisements on TV for a juicy fast food burger, tasty foods printed onto boxes and stuck on aisle ends at the grocery store, Pictures of food so sharp and colourful that you can taste it!

Before I became a photographer, I always wondered, “what exactly goes into creating a picture like that?”. You can find articles talking about sneaky tricks that marketing companies use to make food look better than real life, but not a lot of what goes on before the camera comes out.

So, I would like to share my process of planning and executing a food photoshoot, from an idea to a finished image.

The first step is to come up with an idea. Personally, I keep a list of foods, themes, or colours that I’d like to work with and flesh them out as I go. 

Olives, pickles, white cheddar, and rosemary apricot crackers with a glass of red wine. Photo by Cassidy Cooper (2019).

I start by picking out a single food to be the focal point of the picture. There are so many options that for me, this is usually the hardest part. So to help make the decision easier, I think of the physical limitations: Can I actually make this food myself, or will I need to buy it? Will it last overnight in a fridge to be brought to the studio, or does it look best fresh off the stove? How much will it cost to make it? Do I have the right props to style the way I want, or will I need to buy those?

This process will help give me an idea of what I can reasonably do in terms of food, props, and styling. 

At this point, I also think about the mood, lighting, composition, and colour palette of the photo. Would I prefer a soft, bright, picture that makes someone think of Sunday brunch? Or a sleek, dark photo that would be good on a magazine cover? What colours go with the main food?

Having a solid idea of the final image is very important in creating a good photograph. Good photos aren’t accidents - they’re well-thought out and planned!

For this photoshoot, I decided to photograph pancakes. They’re super easy to make, and will look good even after a night in the fridge. I settled on a dark background, so all you can see are the pancakes - my goal was to make a magazine cover-style picture to add to my portfolio.

Annie's white cheddar mac 'n cheese with bacon and paprika. Photo by Cassidy Cooper (2019).

Once I have an idea fleshed out, I like to look online for styling tips. Everyone knows that the food you see in the picture usually doesn’t look anything like it does when it’s in front of you - there’s always some trickery. Personally, I like to balance realism and style. I want my food to look good, but still be edible.

In this shoot, I slipped some cardboard between the bottom 3 pancakes to add height to the stack. I also heated up a water-soaked tampon to create steam (Yeah, it sounds weird, but it works!).

When I have my shoot fully imagined, I start gathering my props and cooking my food. Thrift shops like Value Village and Goodwill are where I get most of my dishes, and a trip to the dollar store can yield some good props.

After everything is prepared and packed, it’s time to start shooting. Each shoot usually takes between one and five hours, depending on how many lights and different shots you want.

In my pancake shoot, I started by placing a sheet of black velvet on a table underneath a pane of glass. Coupled with a black background, this creates a seamless “void”. I then placed my pancakes on the table and began setting up my lights.

I used an Elinchrom flash with a medium softbox to create a soft main light. However, the shadow on the other side was a little dark, so I set up a reflector to bounce some light back onto the stack. There was also some light spilling onto the back of the table, leaving a noticeable line where the pane of glass ended. To darken, I used a square of fabric (called a flag) to block the light, and let the back of the table fall into shadow. 

I also placed a small flash called a “speedlight” out of view behind the food to backlight the steam I would eventually add. With the lights in place, I started shooting to test my final light setup.

A few shots of the steam that will be edited together to make one big,fluffy cloud. About 30 images were taken in total. Photo by Cassidy Cooper (2019).

It takes a little tinkering to get all the lights at the right strength. When I have everything properly exposed, I’ll then add my steam. When using fleeting things like steam, dust, water splashes, or confetti, you have to be ready and shoot in bursts so you don’t miss the best shot. The moment the tampon was placed behind the pancakes, I held down the shutter button to snap as many frames as possible to use in post-production.

Once I’m satisfied with my images, I’ll start to tear down all my equipment… and have a snack. I don’t like letting the food I shoot go to waste, so I eat what I can and share it with whoever’s currently in the studio.

Then, my work in the studio is done, and it’s time to edit.

 In the photography program, we learn a bunch of programs to edit our photos with, including Bridge, Photoshop, Lightroom, and recently, CaptureOne.

I start my editing process by importing my pictures into Adobe Bridge. Bridge allows you to see thumbnails of all your pictures, and makes it easy to cull out the bad and unfocused ones. 

After I have the baddies filtered out, I go into a subprogram called “Camera Raw” that lets you make simple adjustments to white balance, exposure, colour, and crop. 

I make some global adjustments to help visualize the final image, then take the best pictures into Photoshop for more editing. There, I can get rid of imperfections and really make the image shine.

Finally, I’ll get the opinion of a classmate to check my editing. Classmates can catch flaws that you wouldn’t notice - maybe the photo is too dark, or looks a bit off colour. They can also offer constructive criticism to help towards your next shoot!

“Pancakes”
photo by Cassidy Cooper (2019).

With my final image complete, all that’s left is to share it. I love posting my pictures on Instagram so my friends and family can see (And you can see them, too! Follow @cas.cooper on Instagram!). If an image is especially good, I’ll print it to add in my physical portfolio to show to potential clients and employers. This photo is definitely going in my portfolio!

So the next time you see a beautiful picture of food, try and guess how much work went into the final picture: How many lights did the photographer use? How long did they work in the studio, or on their computer to make the final picture? Is there a tampon hiding behind the plate? Think about how much care went into creating a photo that looks so good you can taste it!

David Leyes Came to Sarnia

By Shawna Lavoix

Every semester, the Lambton College Photography program has an “In the Photographer’s Studio” event. This year, the school broadened their audience to include the Sarnia Photographic Club and the students in area high schools who are taking a photography course.  With all these extra people who planned on coming, Lambton College took this event outside of the college’s photography studio, where it has been held for the last 5 years, to the Sarnia Lambton Library auditorium.

David Leyes (left) and Richard Beland (right) talking about David’s photo on the screen during the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario on February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix

David Leyes looking up at the crowd during the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the
Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia,
Ontario on February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix

Our guest speaker this semester was David Leyes who was being interviewed by Richard Beland, the coordinator of the Digital Photography program. This wasn’t David Leyes’ first time coming to the Inside the Photographer’s studio event, but it was an honour to have him back. He really gave the audience a good look into how he grew his business through networking and his personal belief that even though he didn’t go to school for photography it would have been a great benefit to his career.

David was energetic and entertaining with his funny behind-the-scenes stories. Both Richard and David kept the whole demonstration up beat with some friendly banter and kept it really informal. The two of them were friends in college and have kept in touch over the years, so the event was really light hearted. Emily Nutson, a graduate from the Digital Program, was excited to see David when saying

“It’s my second time seeing him and I still am hung on every word. He kept my interest and he was hilarious.”

David Leyes really seemed to inspire the audience. The crowd was asking very thought provoking questions to David. When one of the first year Digital photography student, Francesca Pasqualucci, was really amazed by the whole experience and declare

“That was cool! I learnt a lot!... If you’re going to start learning about anything, it’s best if you start learning about which questions to ask to get the most information.” 

David Leyes (left) and Richard Beland (right) discussing an image on the computer screen during the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario on February 20, 2018.

David Leyes looking out at the crowd when a participant was asking a question during the
“In the Photographer’s Studio”
event at the Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario on
February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix

This event was also special, specifically to the Digital Photography students, since some of the graduates from that program came that night to meet with David Leyes. It was great to watch students reconnect after they haven’t been able to see each other in so long. After the event, the graduates went with David to a restaurant to talk about their experiences with photography and catch up on good times. This event really brought the community together.

It was a very educational experience. The students from Lambton College and the photographers all around Sarnia really appreciated David Leyes for giving his time to talk about his photography.

David Leyes (left) is talking to a photographer while posing for a picture with Richard Beland (right)
 after the “In the Photographer’s Studio” event at the
Sarnia Lambton Library Auditorium in Sarnia, Ontario
 on February 20, 2018. Photo by Shawna Lavoix
 

Barenaked Ladies, Photo by David Leyes

Chris Hemsworth, Photo by David Leyes

Jim Treliving,  hoto by David Leyes

Tracy Spiridakos, Photo by David Leyes

Willem Dafoe, Photo by David Leyes

Lambton Arts Collective

 

By:  Lisa Cattran

The Lambton College second year students have been very busy lately (perhaps that should read a little busier than usual?). The Lambton Arts Collective opened on Friday, February 2nd, at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario.  The Lambton Arts Collective is an exhibit which runs until February 22nd and features work from the College’s Arts programs:  photography, pottery/ceramics, drawing and spoken word.

Studio Manager Emily Nutson and Instructor David Chidley

hang a photograph at the Lawrence House Centre for the

Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018.

(Lisa Cattran)

As a requirement of their Digital Darkroom II class, the second year students submitted two photographs to hang in the exhibit with the subject matter left completely up to their descretion.  That may sound simple enough, but there was much more work that went into the final two photographs than one might at first assume.  To begin with, the students had to make their photographs. It is not a matter of just pointing a camera and shooting.  Students use the knowledge that they have learned through their time in the program to find the perfect light and create the most appealing composition. The next step is importing the photograph into their computers and utilizing editing programs to enhance the photo to make it look the best that it can.  Once the students are happy with their final product, it is time to print.  Printing is quite a process unto itself.  Again, it is not simple: you do not just press a button like you would for a word document.  Printing a photograph involves developing several test prints and going back and re-editing your photo a number of times so that you have the right colour, density and contrast.  It is not a quick process by any means.  The photographs then need to be made ready for hanging at the exhibition: matting and framing.  The students were also responsible for this final step.  Participating in the Lambton Arts Collective is a great learning experience that helps to prepare the students for their final solo gallery which will be exhibited in early April.

Richard Beland....

...Dave Chidley work together!

A couple of students along with Studio Manager Emily Nutson and faculty members Richard Beland and Dave Chidley went a few days beforehand to hang all of the photographs.  Much thought went into the correct placement of the various photographs, along with the perfect space between these photos.

Opening night was especially exciting for three of the students.  Tanis Wright won First Place in the President’s Award for Photography for her photo “And the Lord Said.” Richard Morretin won an honourable mention for his photo “Reflections - New York City Construction.”  Shawna Lavoie also won an honourable mention for her photo “Essence of Milk.”  It was a busy and intense process for all and well worth the effort even for those who did not walk away with a prize.

Guests enjoy the photographs at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran)

Instructor David Chidley chats with Ryan Gibbs,  at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran)

Students and their families gather to enjoy the photos at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran)

Tanis Wright poses in front of her award winning photo "And the Lord Said" at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran