A Bentley photographer has gained more recognition again this year.
Gaining official recognition in a chosen category from Professional Photographers of Canada proves the photographer has submitted above average quality samples of photographs for a chosen category.
Bonnie Hoskin, who has Traditions Photography in Bentley, continues to strive to improve her work. She has been regularly submitting samples of her work to the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) and gaining national accreditation.
She just recently gained both her family portrait and canine/dog portrait accreditation from judging that took place in Vancouver.
Last year she earned her animal portrait accreditation from judging in Halifax and in 2011 earned the Children & Infant Portrait accreditation in Saskatchewan.
She is constantly striving to learn. She says by submitting to PPOC she continually gains more knowledge about photography including pointers on centre of interest, presentation, lighting, color balance, creativity, and print quality from the comments that are provided by a panel of cross-Canada judges who critique the images entered. Even if not all of them pass, the comments are always helpful she says.
For each category, 10 different photos are submitted — four taken inside, four taken outside and two of the photographer’s choice. All have to pass the review panel to gain the accreditation, and once a photo passes it cannot be entered again, even in a different category.
There are many different categories to choose from. Hoskin is now collecting some of her images to try to earn the High Key Portrait Award. High key images have prevailing white or pale tones, with some middle or darker tones. She likes to work on accreditations that are harder to get.
Membership in PPOC must be renewed annually. If people choose a PPOC accredited photographer they can rest assured that photographer can deliver image excellence that sets them apart as industry leaders in a chosen category and that they adhere to a stringent code of ethics and standards and observe the highest standard of honesty in transactions.
For a few years she has been taking team photographs of the Bentley Minor Hockey teams inside the Bentley Arena where lighting is poor. She believes working outside in natural light is much easier than even in a studio.
Hoskin has her own small studio in the basement of her home with many different props she can choose from including foam rocks, a pink Cadillac pedal car and other child-size furniture, and different flooring and backdrops.
“I am nervous about having pictures taken of myself,” Hoskin said. “I am usually on the other side of the camera. What do you want? Is this OK?”