from where I sit...

Spring
IS IN THE AIR

The promise of warmer weather and new leaves on the trees is not far off. Spring is
nearly here and with it a host of new shooting possibilities. It is time to store away
our tuques and mitts, boots and winter coats and for those of you who did not shoot
this winter, dust off your gear and get ready to immerse yourself in the splendour of
Canada's natural beauty once again.

This issue will take you from coast to coast and to the northern reaches of Canada.
Mike Grandmaison takes us on a journey of discovery of some of Canada's crown
jewels of the Canadian Parks system. Whether one of these parks is close to home,
or you are inspired to take a trip out of province, you are sure to come home with
some crown jewels of your own.

Back in the fall we caught a glimpse of Ethan Meleg's vision of Algonquin. This issue
we explore more of Ethan's vision through our photographer profile. Our staff writer,
Kara Aaserud, caught up with Ethan on one of his shoots to gain a deeper
understanding of the man behind the lens. Of course we follow this with a
presentation of some of his finest images.

One of the most difficult things to control in landscape photography is contrast.
Learn how Darwin Wiggett effectively controls contrast in all his signature photos
starting on page 38. With a few simple tools and techniques, you too can start
controlling one of the most difficult aspects of outdoor photography.

To cap things off for this issue, we have a first ever look into outdoor photography
from the eyes of a beginner photographer - a story of surprises and challenges that
will test her resolve to be a landscape photographer. Last but certainly not least
are our 10 tips for great wildlife shots, by Paul Burwell. Turn to page 58 to add
these useful tips to your growing list of OPC how-tos. Let the shooting begin!

Roy Ramsay
Publisher/Editor-in-chief