Budding Kootenay Bay photographer Dena Kubota got some encouraging recognition after qualifying for the Abbotsford Airshow amateur photo competition this summer. One of her photos of a static exhibit of motorcycles placed ninth in the People’s Choice Award.
With 548 submissions there are plenty of reasons for her to feel proud of the hard-earned recognition in the contest sponsored by London Drugs, the Abbotsford International Airshow and Black Press.
“The designated photo area Black Press and London Drugs set up for the contestants was front row,” said Kubota. “It was interesting to see the range of participant ages and equipment — from a teenager shooting with a phone to many seasoned enthusiasts carrying and wearing thousands of dollars worth of equipment and gadgets. Next to some of the giant lenses, filters and fancy cameras, my camera felt a little puny.”
She said the learning curve with the fast-flying planes was quick.
“I went from taking photos of just smoke, to compositions of only plane tails, then to being able to follow an aircraft and capture a series of in-flight photos. As I discovered — and shared in conversation with other photographers — one has to shoot a lot of garbage shots to find a couple of gems. All the same, I’m incredibly satisfied with the photos I finally chose to submit and have a few new gadget items on my Christmas wish list for this year.”
“The Abbotsford weekend was just amazing — good food, great weather and an exciting entertaining airshow.”
Christina Dutkowski of Mission won the People’s Choice Award for the Next Generation Amateur Photographer.