A Huge Suprise

The Arnold Foster Award is the highest award that the Regina Photo Club bestows upon members that have shown a lifetime of service an/or achievement in Photography. Named after a wonderful man that was a fixture in the club until his passing at 101 years of age, the award is bestowed upon a member when all previous recipients of the award select someone they feel is deserving of the honour.

Much to my suprise, I was selected to receive the award this past weekend. Wow, who would have ever thought!! I was to use an English phrase, gobsmacked!

A little history:
I have been involved in photography for nearly 35 years now. It has always been something I have done. One look through family photos or photos friends have of me in high school almost always shows me with a camera by my side. But in 2004, the desire to do something with my daughter who was showing some interest in photography led to me suggesting that we visit the Regina Photo Club as something to do together (Kept her away from those boy punks that I once was as an added benefit!).

Who would have known that it would be a life altering decision! We attended meetings and made friends with people and found our own little place within the club. Before long, even my wife was coming to the club for meetings. I was so enjoying our time there twice a month. As luck would have it, we also made friends with the Club President and her husband that was the Competitions Director. The two of them really inspired me to want to do more. I owe both of them a huge thanks for the inspiration that they gave me. DJ and Glen.... Thank you so much!

Sadly after a couple of years, DJ accepted a job offer in Medicine Hat and the club lost the ships captain and first officer as they moved 5 hours away. Somehow, I stepped up and before I knew it, I was elected President, my wife Heather was the Competitions Director and even my daughter Jennifer was on the club executive as a member at large. We were now involved so deep there was no getting out.

That decision to try and step into the oh so large void left by DJ and Glen was scarey and I don't think we ever filled the loss fully. But we worked hard and I continued to draw inspiration from what was done before we took the helm. This included stepping out and attempting to sell my art work. That was another scary proposition, but with the support of my wife Heather and support from DJ and Glen too, we made the leap and hung out a shingle at art shows.

The rest is history! My photography business has grown so large that we now have a gallery of our own and continue to put smiles on peoples faces at all the art shows we do throughout the year. It has been a grand journey and I would not be here if it were not for being in the shadow of some important people that I need to thank!

Many thanks to :

My Wife Heather for unending support! Her assistence and willingness to let me spend far too much money on my mistakes as I grew in the art were amazing. She has always been there pushing me to do more and do it as best as it could be done.

My daughter Jennifer for going out to club meetings with a lame old man just so he had a little father daughter outing once in a while.

Donna-Joy Tuplin for being a dynamic club leader and supporter of everyone's work in the club. My hat is off to the greatest Captain that the club ever had!

Glen Tuplin for taking photographs that inspired me to want to make art as good as his.

The Regina Photo Club as a whole. The fellowship and environment have made me grow so much.

And last but by no means least, my oldest brother Garry who got me into photography so long ago. He has always pushed me to be better, gone out shooting with his little Bro and came and swung a hammer for a month with me to build our gallery last year. He gave up blood, sweat and tears (especially when he whacked his thumb). I look forward to the next time he and I can go out shooting together.

So I suggest to you that if you want to grow in photography or any other art, get out and meet people with the same interest. Goto a club. Make friends and develop friendly rivalrys. These things will follow you the rest of your life and may well put you on the path to developing something special!

Thanks everyone!!

Brent