Okanagan photographer's outdoor winter photos published in Canadian magazine
An avid photographer in Vernon had his work published in a national magazine this month.
Tom Skinner’s photos of winter around the city made it into the pages of Our Canada, a magazine published by Readers Digest, in the December 2022/January 2023 edition.
“One they chose was taken from Rattlesnake Point lookout over Kalamalka Lake, one of the most photographed places in Vernon,” he said. “The view looks a bit different with a dusting of snow on it.”
There is no payment for the publication of his photos, just bragging rights, but Skinner hopes the photos will inspire other photographers to bundle up and get out more often in the winter.
He said for the past five years he has made a point of going for more walks with his camera in the colder months and can see things much differently at this time of year.
“I might look at a tree I’ve passed many times before but it will catch my eye because the snow changes it,” he said. “Everything has a new, interesting look.”
“I’ve found the month of March is particularly enjoyable,” he said. “The herons come back to local ponds and don’t know whether it safe to be on the ice, it can be comedic.”
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Skinner said he has been submitting pitches and ideas to Our Canada for quite a while, and on this occasion, they accepted his work and called it “Cold Snaps.”
His short article about winter photography along with his photos starts on page 8.
The other photos by Skinner chosen for “Cold Snaps” is one of a blue heron on the ice and one of apples that didn’t get picked, covered with snow.
Skinner is taking some of the prints of photos he submitted that were not chosen for the magazine to Butcher Boys grocery store in Vernon sometime next week to sell them.
“Most of them are of herons in flight or on the ice,” he said. “The background is a bit dull so the birds tend to pop out well.”
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He is also using his winter photos to design seasonal greeting cards.
The magazines will be arriving soon at Save On Foods and Shoppers Drug Marts.
Skinner has lived with his wife in Vernon since 1973. He is an avid writer, photographer and outdoor enthusiast.
“I am noticing a lot of interesting winter photos on Facebook and encourage people to continue getting outside with your camera.”
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