Photographic Friends - Heather Cardle

    Heather Cardle is a damn good photographer! Years ago, an older photographer told me the  difference between a photographer and someone with a camera. He said, ''A person with a camera takes a picture and hopes it will work. A photographer takes a picture and knows it will work.'' Heather definitely falls into the latter category. I first met Heather at a meetup of the Paris Photo Collective. We were at a local coffee shop and she sat down  and put her camera on the table, a Canon 1DX with an ''L'' series 24-105mm lens. Some serious gear. Camera nerd that I am, I noticed the camera first. ''Nice camera.''  I then looked up and introduced myself to the owner of said camera.  What I found was a lady with a great sense of humour and a passion for photography that is matched only  by her passion for life itself. She truly digs what she does.

     Heather Cardle is a freelance photographer and blogger who currently makes her home near the small town of Tweed, Ontario. She shoots a wide variety of genres including nature and wild life, event photography,  portraiture and weddings,  architecture, commercial work and just about anything that catches her eye or peaks her interest. The remarkable thing is that she does it all really well. She has that enviable capability to capture the spirit or essence of whatever subject is in front of her camera.

Rural Scene
Photo by Heather Cardle, All rights reserved 

Canada's Hockey Dad, The late Walter Gretzky
Photo by Heather Cardle,  All rights reserved.

    Heather started in photography in her teens with a Miranda film camera, borrowed from her father, with which she photographed a trip to Scotland. However she didn't get into photography in a serious way until her mid forties when the craft proved therapeutic in helping her through some personal turmoil. Since then, she hasn't looked back. Mostly self taught, she took an online course and picked up knowledge from other photographers she met along the way. A member of the Paris Photo Collective, (We're claiming her, whether she likes it or not!) she also spent a few years in the Brantford Camera Club learning what she could and honing her skills.

    Heather markets her work online through her website and has had showings at various art shows and the Robertson Gallery in Brantford. Her work was selected for a critique by artist Robert Bateman as well as being used in a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario.

Check  out out her website here. https://www.heathercardle.com/      

Check out her Instagram page here.https://www.instagram.com/heathercards/

     In addition to being a very capable photographer, she's one of the most prolific people I know. She publishes a photo feature, "ChicPicotheDay" daily on her social media sites. It started as a  365 project, where a photographer takes and/or publishes 1 picture a day for 1 year. But it has morphed into a commitment of almost 10 years and over 3,626 pictures! In addition to that she also publishes a blog every Friday. https://www.heathercardle.com/blog    I mean, damn! I love photography and blogging too, but I sure couldn't keep up with that kind of output!

    What else can I say about this dynamic lady? She creates images that make me go, ''Wow! I wish I took that!'' We both write blogs and make photographs. Although our styles are quite different we're kindred spirits in a way. I know that she has always been supportive of  me as well as other photographers we have met on this image making journey. In my interview with her I asked what aspect of photography brings her the most happiness. Her response, ''Taking the image, capturing moments, people I've met because of my love of photography.'' May that spirit keep her producing great images for a long time to come!

       ...more later