Karen Albert Showcase

Karen Albert: Where Does It Take You?

Written by Colleen Sayer, IACC Member

"Where Does it Take You?" That was the question that member showcase presenter Karen Albert explored in her presentation on April 14, 2016. Someone who has had a camera in her hand pretty much since she was 10, Karen shared with us her exploration of and passion for all things photographic. From her early days of capturing mostly the goings-on of her family and then her kids, to her present-day pursuit of the more creative side of the art, Karen spoke about the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and creative lift that she gets when she looks through the viewfinder of her camera.

Karen’s initial forays into photography entailed capturing the world close to home; e.g., backyard flowers, insects, bunnies, her dog, the nearby university farm. But, as her passion for photography increased, she found herself wanting to preserve some of the moments she encountered in her travels. Trips to China, the Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, Vancouver, and her favourite, Wells Gray Provincial Park, gave her pause to consider what a gift it is to be able to hang on to those treasured moments through her photos. Her trip to Rwanda, and the photos she both saw and took there, was one that made her realize how very powerful a well-made photo can be in conveying the essence of an event or a person. These days, Karen is rarely very far from her camera, to the point where she even has it readily accessible on the deck of her kayak, as she explores the world off the beaten path.

One of the things Karen appreciates about Images Alberta Camera Club is the opportunity to take part in the outings and workshops and to learn from the many talented and generous members. She is always looking for more ways to expand her photographic horizons, whether it be learning how to focus stack or how to create an action panorama. She has not pigeon-holed herself into one particular genre of photography, but prefers to experiment, to pursue a variety of subjects – sometimes quirky, sometimes abstract, sometimes artsy!

‘Make lemonade from lemons’ pretty much sums up Karen Albert’s recent experiences with photography. Due to decreased mobility as she awaits hip surgery, Karen has had to limit her explorations and, instead of lamenting the fact, has used her situation to further enhance her skills in Photoshop. As she delves further into this aspect of processing her photos, Karen is peeling back the layers of her creative side and finding out just how imaginative she really is!

As for where photography is taking her, Karen says she still has many avenues she wishes to explore. We look forward to seeing the results, as she pushes the boundaries of her skill and her creativity.

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