Capturing one sky at a time

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Library is featuring the work of a local photographer with an eye for a dramatic sky.

Throughout November, the library is hosting Light On, an exhibition of the photography of Tammy Nischuk, a library employee who picked up her first camera when she was 10 and has been shooting ever since.

Nischuk’s main focus is shooting landscapes, often with an emphasis on swirling clouds and other dramatic weather patterns. 

“I really love a moody sky,” she said. “So you’ll see me out with the bad weather quite frequently.”

For Nischuk, the best approach to photography is to always be ready to shoot. 

“It’s very rare to find me without a camera; it is an extension of how I see the world,” she said. “I don’t think there are any bad cameras in the universe, just use the one you have today.”

While her work includes many different landscapes, a great photograph can be captured anywhere, she said. “You don’t have to go somewhere exotic to get really interesting pictures. Some of my best pictures were taken very close to home.”

After spending much time shooting around Olds, Nischuk has been exploring Wheatland County to find new places to capture. 

“It’s been a discovery of what roads have the most interesting ponds and where those little oases are,” she said. “We also have the Bow River close, which is an ideal location if you’re just out to practice your photography skills.”

For every one of Nischuk’s works sold, a percentage goes to support the library, which has lost many fundraisers due to the pandemic. Unmatted 8x10s cost $50, with framed works also available.