General Workshops Archives - Kelly Funk Photography

Kamloops – A Visual Journey of the Lac du Bois Protected Grasslands

Kelly — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:58:05 +0000

I’ve been wanting to produce this particular blog for years actually, but I was always left with the feeling that I needed more visual content to be able to encompass at least a solid portion of the nuance, character and layers the Lac du Bois Grasslands area holds. The sheer beauty and diversity of topography and climate in a relatively small area like this is quite astounding, and I personally think it visually epitomizes all that Kamloops has to offer. By this I mean that in a very short time you are taken from the sage, cactus and hoodoo featured shores of Kamloops Lake into the lowland pines and sweeping grasslands, and finally into the mixed evergreens and rugged cliffs near Lac Du Bois. I’ve visited most areas of Lac Du Bois on countless occasions; each time coming away with a different story and set of emotions. It is truly a place to recalibrate and energize. I’ve put together a set of images captured from as long ago as 13 years below that I hope does some justice to this amazing place. I’ve included all seasons and examples from a good portion of the elevation changes with both landscapes and a bit of wildlife. Below, there’s also some BC Park information and an area map showing the boundaries.

Taken directly from the BC Parks website, here’s some pertinent information and a description: Sweeping grassland vistas, spectacular cliffs and canyons, cool, dry forests, secret ponds and small lakes await the visitor to the newest grasslands protected area in the province. It rises north and westward from the hot, dry Thompson valleys through three grassland communities to the forested hills above. Nowhere else in western North America will you find these grassland communities in such close proximity to each other.

Special Feature: This protected area fulfills a very important conservation role in representing the Thompson Basin and Northern Thompson Uplands Ecosections. This protected area contains complex geology, a mixture of grasslands and forest types, a highly differential set of topographical features and soils and a variety of cultural uses combining to produce an area of notable diversity.

Spring comes early to the lower hot, dry slopes with plants responding to the short, moist season. In contrast, the upper grasslands and forests are not in full bloom until early June when brilliant yellow sunflowers wash the hillsides. Beyond the grasslands, ancient ponderosa pines in a sea of bluebunch wheatgrass give way to groves of trembling aspens and open Douglas-fir forests. California bighorn sheep, mule deer, moose and waterfowl are common residents and visitors to the protected area, while the western rattlesnake, sharp-tailed grouse and flammulated owl live more secretive lives within its boundaries.

Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area is your protected area. We hope you will visit it often and enjoy the values for which it was established. BC Parks is looking to the local community and other users for their support in managing this fragile area.Protected Area Size: 15,712 hectares
Other important information can be found on this website, ranging from allowed activities, maps, nature and culture – http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/lacdubois_grass/

There is so much to see and experience here, and I dare anyone to spend at least a whole day and not come away with a positive emotional connection of some kind.; we are truly blessed to have the grasslands as our own backyard. Enjoy the rest of the images below and to see more of my work, visit my website portfolio here. Cheers and happy exploring! Kelly

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Client: Tourism Merritt – All Roads Lead

Kelly — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 18:17:50 +0000

The city of Merritt and the surrounding landscape holds, what I believe is one of the key reasons for my becoming a professional photographer. I spent a tremendous amount of my childhood exploring, hunting and fishing, dirt bike riding, camping with my family and basically just hanging with the kids on my block. in short, it was a great place to grow up and just be a kid. As most of us know the roots we establish when we’re young might not have that draw to come back until you’ve been away for a while, and that certainly was the case for me. Now in Kamloops, which feels like ‘home’, in that I love the city, and the surroundings are so similar to Merritt. My Mom still resides in Merritt and my work takes me through to the lower mainland and the Okanagan so I’m no stranger to my home town.

Lately, I’ve been doing more work for Tourism Merritt, which holds a deep meaning for me in that I feel like I’m playing a vital role in setting a new tone for the marketing and promotional strategy for the area. I work and coordinate with Will George, the Economic Development & Tourism Manager at the city. Our focus during this early summer shoot was some key events like the ‘Epic 1000′ bike race starting one of stages in the down town core, a dog show, and the 100th year anniversary of the day the first airplane landed here. After that the next two days’ focus was on water sports, topography and camping; a pretty cool shot selection to work with, and for models and candids the long weekend was spot on. Enjoy some of the images from the beautiful Nicola Valley and to see more of my work, head to my portfolio page here. Have a good one! Kelly

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2018 Year in Review – Personal Favorites

Kelly — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 00:18:16 +0000

I guess one of the best things about being a generalist photographer is that you have the the opportunity to be in a multitude of situations, meet a vast array of people with different mindsets, and are fortunate enough to get to experience some crazy interesting things along the way. On top of that there are opportunities that are often not easy to come by, such as working out of helicopters, adventuring in remote corners, seeing the intricacies and behind the scenes stories of corporations and businesses, getting to meet interesting people that share with you their successes and also being able to help others who need your input or expertise. Perks of the job as they say, although I state this without a moment’s hesitation; I don’t really have a job anymore, just a labor of love as a commercial and tourism photographer. It’s interesting to note that after compiling these favorites I realized that most of them were quite challenging, not all but most. Whether it was working with artificial lights, gels, grad filters or working with someone who I just knew had magic to showcase but just needed a nudge from behind the camera, I love being challenged and tested I guess, it seems to bring out the artist in me.

I was never one to wish for or think that a turn of a calendar page was going to make one iota of difference in the way I approach things but that being said I cherish thinking back to how a year has passed, overall. As we say goodbye to 2018, some of it rough, some of it sad but absolutely fantastic for the most part, and always worth getting up for, it’s always with a smile that I remember the high points of the year through the images that I was fortunate enough to create. I’ve chosen some of those favorites below. Some of them were because I was very happy with the end result, some of them because of the people I met and/or worked with, some because the light seemed otherworldly and others because they were experiential, awesome and emotive all at the same time! And some images or shoots just bring a feeling of contentment. I know that might sound strange, but some reasons are frankly hard to pin down and are just better left alone to curiosity or to revisit later. Below you’ll see different types of industry, different types of portraiture, commissioned and stock landscapes, small businesses, large corporations, not for profit and others. But, above it all I enjoyed every one of them, so it was a ton of fun to put some of them together through the year that was 2018. Enjoy!

To see more of my work you can navigate to my portfolio here. Cheers and let’s get off to a great start in 2019!

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Tourism Valemount – Mountain Lifestyle

Kelly — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 13:53:11 +0000

One of the best things I can say about working with Tourism Valemount and VARDA (Valemount & Area Recreation Development Association) is the people. There is a warm, family type of atmosphere whenever I get the opportunity to work in the community. That of course always leads me to feel like I’m going on vacation when I make the 3.25 hour journey north, and that makes work a ton of fun! The other aspect about the region and working with TV and VARDA is the diversity of content I get to shoot. I love mixing it up and challenging myself with what I can produce. Without the fantastic people I work with though, Jennifer Robinson (Marketing Manager) and Curtis Pawliuk, (VARDA manager), the coordination and execution of the content that I’m able to deliver would be virtually impossible. Also, relationships and styles mesh well after working with a community for nearly 10 years!

After a week’s delay due to weather concerns and smoke, our plan of attack was finalized and I arrived on Monday afternoon to start our multi-day project and content delivery of hiking, mountain biking at their relatively new and awesome bike park, white water rafting, fishing and community work. The first day started bright and early at the bike park, tackling the different range of runs and features included on each level. After a mid-day break we set our sights at the top of the bike park and those are the dramatic lighting images you’ll see in the images below. What an awesome day, filled with great riders and challenging and exciting image opps. Kudos to Curtis for coordinating and showcasing the park in a way that let me see it and thus capture it in a way that I hope does it justice!

Day two involved morning hiking at the stunning Cranberry Marsh and their boardwalk, that definitely allows access to see what Valemount’s tagline is, ‘Let the Mountains Move You’. We worked with great models who made things a lot of fun and we lucked out with some stunning weather as well. We mixed up fishing at Kinbasket Lake and white water rafting at Rearguard Falls on the Fraser river with Mt. Robson White Water Rafting. Unfortunately we had to reschedule our sunset hike due to smoke, but considering what we were able to accomplish, not a bad trip Valemount has become a hugely popular place in all seasons, and if you end up there, spend some time, enjoy the scenery and outdoor opportunities; it’s so worth it!

Enjoy the images and to see more of my work, see my portfolio here. Have a great day! Kelly

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Digital Camera Basics & Foundational Photography Workshop

Kelly — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 20:49:49 +0000

This in depth ‘Camera Basics’ course concentrates on foundational and fundamental principles of DSLR photography. Topics covered will include: Exposure (working in manual and aperture priority modes), understanding the importance of your histogram, creative control with depth of field, focus modes and focal cursor selections, composition, lighting, ISO, raw vs. jpg., filters and much more. At the end of this workshop you’ll feel enlightened and re-energized to head out and progress your skills. Basically this will allow you to be the master of your camera and not a slave to auto modes!

Class dates will be floating. Minimum of 4 required with a maximum of 8. Duration will be approx. 4 hours and take place at TRU. Cost is $115, taxes included. Discount for group bookings of 4 or more.

If you’d like to be able to understand your camera and its functions, and take the frustration out of photography this will be a great introduction for you.

To view my portfolios on the website, go here.

Cheers, hope to help you soon!

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