Group B's Lake of the Woods Adventure!

Bernie's Big Bad Boat!

Irene, Bernie and Speedy

Every year, each group of students at PrairieView chooses a group photo. This photo is framed and displayed on the wall of PrairieView alumni. On Wednesday, May 18, Group B of the 2010-2011 class traveled out to Irene and her husband Bernie's beautiful cottage on an island in Lake of the Woods.

Our group had decided we wanted to do a photo on a boat, in formal wear, with a glass of champagne! We chose this setting through a group brainstorming session and after narrowing the choices down, Irene suggested we use her boat for a photo shoot on the lake.  Needless to say, we were all very excited about the adventure!

We could not have asked for a more perfect day. Clear blue skies, warm and sunny! We carpooled in Jen and Hayley's vans and Ross met us in Kenora shortly after we arrived. The drive out was uneventlful but beautiful nonetheless. I think I can speak for all of us and say it was nice to get out of the city and back to nature!

Irene and Bernie have been building their cottage for ten years, and are now enjoying the beautiful haven they have created. They were very gracious hosts, letting us use the boat for the photo, then the delicious BBQ of ‘choice’ wieners and icy cold beer! Some of the other highlights were: Bernie showing off his new dream boat, seeing the massive eagle nest, photographing seagulls and pelicans on Bird island, and cruising by some incredible cottages along the shores.

 

Their generosity to the group was humbling and it highlights one of the great blessings from this course; the amazing people I have met and worked with over the past 9 months.

Each person came to this course a unique individual. We are all here for different reasons, and we all have different paths ahead of us. For me, the course allows me to add professional photography services to my graphic design business, as well, to indulge my passion of macro, nature and landscape photography.

During the course, I have drawn inspiration from my classmates. Each is a unique, vibrant individual with a wonderful, creative vision. Some have inspired me with their dedication and courage in leaving their careers for something very different. Others have inspired me with the way they see and interpret the world around them. All of us learning together, encouraging each other to create better images, creates a synergy that invigorates me and re-affirms my decision to pursue this career.

 

For the past 12 years, I have been an ‘amateur’ photographer. I have taken various classes in photography, and I've joined an art gallery to sell some of my photographic art. When I found myself in a position to start my own business using my graphic design career and to take the diploma course, it truly was a dream come true!

This course has been a great challenge. I've had to stay very disciplined to meet tight deadlines, as well as to stretch my creativity for various assignments. I have discovered new avenues and styles of photography that I enjoy and I look forward to my career in portrait and wedding photography, as well, continuing to create photographic art.

Wherever my journey takes me, I will always remember this milestone, and the amazing experience this course has been. Especially the amazingly talented people I have come to know.