Local photographer showcases talent
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Local photographer, and former freelance photographer for the Strathmore Times, Joe Desjardins recently found out that Canon Canada Inc. wants to display some of his work.
It began with a phone call from a friend of his who works at Image Square in Calgary, which is owned by Canon Canada Inc. The friend told Desjardins that management had been looking at his website and was impressed with his photography, and they wanted to know if he would be interested in doing a show.
Desjardins was dumbfounded at first, but excited to be asked.
“He’s a photographic artist that we know of, he actually visits our centre regularly but more importantly we wanted to feature and exhibit that had the images of the Canadian Rockies, and wildlife and he has some really stunning images of that,” said Vern Wutzke, manager at Image Square.
The exhibit will be taking place May 14 to June 10. On the 14, Desjardins gave a talk at the gallery about moose and bears, shooting wildlife, his images and some of his experiences.
Desjardins got started in the world of photography when he was quite young.
“My first professional job was at 16, I was shooting a wedding, I was working at a studio in Sault Ste. Marie and from then on I just took it from there,” said Desjardins, laughing at the memory.
“I always loved photography, I bought my own camera and started playing with it. I guess I amassed a good enough portfolio at 16 to have the studio hire me.”
He had seen the ad in the paper and presented his portfolio. He remembers showing up the first weekend and they handed him a camera bag, a flash and some film and told him he was going to shoot a wedding, much to his amazement.
His love of wildlife also began at a young age. When he was about eight-years-old his uncle first began taking him and his brother camping. It wasn’t the run-of-the-mill weekend camping, either; they would go out into the back country for a few weeks at a time, learning to fish out of the creek and basic wilderness survival.
“When I first seen a Lynx out there and the cougar for the first time, your jaw just hits the ground. Always had a camera with me, it wasn’t very good, but there was always something. That’s what did it for sure,” said Desjardins.
The exhibit will be on display at Image Square, 545 8th Ave SW Calgary. It is a free display and parking is only $2 on Saturdays. Desjardins will be offering workshops coming this summer and fall. Watch his website for full details, or to see, or purchase, some of his work www.joedesjardins.ca.