Watch the herring spawn off the coast of Vancouver Island, BC

Every year, at the end of winter, schools of Pacific herring gather off the coast of Vancouver Island to spawn in shallow waters. This annual event attracts a lot of mammals and birds that feed on the fish and its eggs.

Perched on tall trees, bald eagles are keeping an eye on the action, ready for an opportunity to catch a herring or something else. Minks and river otters are also on the lookout for the silver fish while gulls bicker over their biggest catch. The sea lions are also here; they are hard to ignore with their constant barking. On the shoreline, curious seals are observing the action. The presence of sea lions and seals attracts larger predators such as the orca.

Join me for a photo workshop from 13 to 15 March to photograph this spectacular event.

Herring Spawn on Vancouver Island - Photo Excursion from 13 to 15 March 2023

Only a few spots left!

At the end of the winter, the Pacific herring migrates in mass to spawn in shallow waters on the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This spectacular annual event attracts a lot of wildlife such as sea lions, bald eagles, and many other birds and mammals.

Join me for a three full-day photo excursion on the East coast of Vancouver Island. We will spend our entire time in the outdoors to photograph nature and wildlife, starting early in the morning (the best time). Before the workshop, I spend a lot of time traveling around the region to find the places where the wildlife is most active. If the spawn happens during the workshop, you’ll witness the water turning a milky turquoise and the ensuing feeding frenzy from birds and mammals. The spawn happens in shallow waters close to the shoreline where we’ll be ready with our cameras.

Dates: 13, 14 and 15 March 2023

Base camp: Courtenay, Comox Valley - Carpooling available

Limited to 5 participants. Sign up today!

Tours et ateliers de photographie sur l’île de Vancouver, Colombie-Britannique

Vous souhaitez en apprendre davantage sur les bases de la photographie de la nature ou simplement améliorer vos capacités. Mais avant tout, vous souhaitez vivre cette expérience en français.

Contactez-moi, je suis là pour vous !

Catherine en train de démontrer les consignes de sécurité en présence d’ours noir.

Je donne des tours et des ateliers de photographie de la nature, sur le terrain sur l’île de Vancouver, à l’année longue. Le français est ma langue maternelle alors je serais ravie de partager ma passion pour la photo avec vous dans cette langue.

En plus, vous avez des options : vous pouvez vous inscrire à un atelier déjà au calendrier ou bien demander un tour/atelier à une date de votre choix, que ce soit une demi-journée, une journée entière ou plusieurs jours.

Amenez votre partenaire ou un(e) ami(e) avec vous, explorez la superbe île de Vancouver avec votre appareil-photo en mains, découvrez sa faune charismatique et repartez avec vos plus belles photos et un savoir pour votre prochain voyage.

Contactez Catherine dès aujourd’hui !

Book a Nature Photography Workshop on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

A new year means new resolutions like traveling more or exploring new places, camera in hand.

On your visit to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, sign up for a nature photography workshop with a local photographer: me. Explore the rugged coastline and the temperate rainforest, capture unique species with your camera, and return home with compelling photos.

Register for an upcoming workshop or request a private one.

New Photo Book: Vancouver Island Marmot, The World’s Rarest Marmot

On 21 December 2022, I will release my new photo book titled Vancouver Island Marmot, The World’s Rarest Marmot.

The Vancouver Island marmot is the most endangered mammal in Canada. Endemic to British Columbia, this marmot lives in the mountains on Vancouver Island.

In 2003, there were less than 30 marmots recorded in the wild. Thanks to the efforts of a team of dedicated experts, there are now 250 marmots roaming the mountains on the island. Through the captivating words of experts and stunning photographs, this book invites you to learn more about the Vancouver Island marmot, its plight, and the efforts that have been made to save this amazing species from extinction.

The book can only be ordered on this website.

Published in the Canadian magazine Nature Sauvage!

I am happy to announce that three of my photographs of elk / wapiti have been published in the latest edition of the Canadian magazine Nature Sauvage (available in French only). In that edition, which covers the elk / wapiti, you will find my photographs on pages 24 & 25 (full spread) and page 26 (2 images).

Nature Sauvage is a beautiful magazine where you can read articles on the fauna and flora mainly in Quebec.

If you wish to learn more about the elk on Vancouver Island, please watch my video on my YouTube channel.

The Roosevelt Elk on Vancouver Island, by award-winning nature photographer Catherine Babault

10% Discount on Tofino Photo Workshop, British Columbia

Until August 15, take advantage of a 10% discount on my Nature Photo Workshop in Tofino, British Columbia. Use promo code TOFINO2022 at checkout.

Places are limited so sign up early!

During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to photograph the amazing landscapes and charismatic wildlife around the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Ucluelet and Tofino.

Looking forward to showing you in person my favourite places for nature photography in this beautiful region of Vancouver Island!

2023 Photo Workshops and New Videos

I remember the cultural revolution when the first music videos appeared on the television in the 1980s. Today, everyone posts videos on TikTok, YouTube, etc. That's why I just produced and posted my first two videos on YouTube, which you can watch here. You will discover in particular rare photos of the Vancouver Island marmot, an endangered species.

Following an increase in requests from photographers in the United States and Europe, I have just added several photo workshops for 2023. There are still spaces available for the 2022 workshops. However the maximum number of participants per workshop is five, so don't wait too long to sign up.

''I took her workshop and it was very informative at the same time enjoyable. we discovered amazing part of island and shoot lots of pictures. Catherine is very professional and friendly. She opened up my eyes in different perspective of photography. She is also very patient and explain everything in detail. By end of our workshop I am more comfortable with camera settings, composition. long exposure and work on tripod 😃. I highly recommend her workshop for anyone who wants step in nature, landscape and wildlife photography.'' Mehrdad S.

I hope you take advantage of the long summer days to explore nature and photograph cute animals like this baby black-tailed deer that I briefly encountered earlier this week on Vancouver Island.

New workshops for this summer!

Summer is an ideal time to reconnect with nature and hone your skills as a nature photographer. Join me for a unique photo workshop in beautiful Strathcona Park, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

I have added three new workshops on weekends for your convenience:

• Sunday, June 19

• Saturday, July 16

• Saturday, August 20

Limited to 5 participants. Sign up today!

As seen on CBC Radio Canada...

Production and montage: Pierre Beaudoin, camera: Alexandre Lamic, CBC Radio-Canada.

Photo credit: Alexandre Lamic, Radio-Canada

Last autumn, I had the pleasure of being filmed by CBC Radio-Canada in the field on Vancouver Island. During the interview, I talk about species of special concern in the region and endangered species like the Vancouver Island marmot. I also mention the importance of ethic in nature photography to preserve the natural world; we can all do our part by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, avoiding disturbing their routines and not interfering with their habitat.

I invite you to watch the video here.

Photos abstraites, truc en photo et atelier du printemps

Loop - Abstract Photography

Les voyages font partie de ma vie alors, après plus de deux ans sur place, il était temps de sortir de l’Île de Vancouver.

Je prépare toujours soigneusement mes aventures : lieux à visiter, sujets à photographier, trajets, etc., c’est pourquoi je me suis rendue à Astoria, en Oregon. Je souhaitais photographier un vieux wagon rouillé, des bateaux abandonnés et des bâtiments marqués par le passage du temps. Ma préparation et le temps consacré sur place pour ce projet ont donné des résultats au-delà de mes attentes. Vous pouvez en commander des tirages.

Comme je mentionne souvent au cours de mes ateliers, il est important de prendre son temps sur le terrain : trouver son sujet, penser à sa composition, bien réglé son appareil en fonction des résultats escomptés (cadrage, profondeur de champs, vitesse d’obturation, etc.) Cela permet d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats que de prendre plein de photos dans l’espoir que l’une d’entre elles sera assez bonne et ensuite tenter de corriger ses défauts en post-traitement.

Ce printemps, reconnectez-vous avec la nature et inscrivez-vous seul(e) ou avec un proche à une excursion photo sur l’Île de Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique ! Le printemps est un temps idéal pour voyager : c’est une incroyable palette de couleurs, la fonte des neiges fait gonfler les cascades et les animaux sont occupés avec leurs petits : des sujets très photogéniques. Je vous invite à vous inscrire à mon atelier du 27 au 29 mai, les places sont limitées à 5 personnes.

Spot Distracting Elements

When I am on a photo excursion in the forest, the red-legged frog tends to appear when I least expect it. Their colour is an excellent form of camouflage. Often, it is their leap at my approach that catches my eye. During any chance encounter with an animal, it is sometimes difficult to predict their reaction: will they run away or stay put? That’s why my first reaction is to stop and anticipate their intentions. Then I started moving cautiously to avoid frightening them while I think about my composition and my distance from the animal.

Spot the distracting elements in this image.

I determine where the light is coming from and if there is a backlight. I identify elements such as a branch in front of the frog or any other shape or object that might distract the attention of the person looking at the photo. I move slowly and, once in position, I carefully deploy my tripod. A stressed frog will puff up its abdomen to deter predators. I therefore keep an eye on my subject to assess their level of comfort; if I notice that they are stressed, I leave even though I have not got a shot. The animal wellbeing is more important to me than my portfolio. Once the camera is mounted on the tripod, I adjust the settings and frame based on the intended result before releasing the shutter. Then I check the composition and histogram on the camera screen.

Because it is a chance encounter with a wild animal, everything happens very quickly and yet quietly so as not to stress it. Also I don’t overstay to avoid disturbing the animal in its routine.

Final result after I repositioned myself. Photo in full format.

Repérez les éléments distrayants

Lorsque je suis en excursion photo dans forêt, les grenouilles à cuisse rouge ont tendance à apparaître quand je m’y attends le moins. Leur couleur est une excellente forme de camouflage. Bien souvent, c’est leur saut à mon approche qui attire mon attention. Lors de toute rencontre fortuite avec un animal,  il est parfois difficile de prévoir leur réaction : vont-ils s’enfuir ou bien rester sur place ? C’est pourquoi ma première réaction est de m’arrêter et anticiper leurs intentions. Ensuite je bouge avec précaution pour éviter de les effrayer et je commence aussitôt à penser à ma composition et à ma distance par rapport à l’animal.

Cherchez les éléments distrayants sur cette photo.

Je détermine d’où vient la lumière et s’il y a un contre-jour. J’identifie des éléments comme une branche devant la grenouille ou tout autre forme ou objet qui pourrait distraire l’attention de la personne qui regardera la photo. Je me déplace doucement et, une fois en position, je déploie mon trépied lentement. Une grenouille stressée va gonfler son abdomen, c’est une façon de décourager les prédateurs. Je garde donc un oeil sur mon sujet pour évaluer son niveau de comfort; si je constate qu’elle est stressée, je pars même si je n’ai pas obtenu de photo. Le bien-être de l’animal est plus important pour moi que mon portfolio. Une fois l’appareil fixé sur le trépied, j’effectue les réglages et cadre en fonction du résultat visé avant de déclencher l’obturateur. Puis je vérifie la composition et l’histogramme sur l’écran de l’appareil photo.

Comme il s’agit d’une rencontre fortuite avec un animal sauvage, tout se passe très rapidement et cependant tranquillement pour ne pas le stresser. J’évite aussi de rester trop longtemps pour ne pas déranger l’animal dans sa routine.

Résultat final après m’être repositionnée. Photo en plein format.

Learn more about the triangle of exposure

Long exposure, wide depth of field: f/11 for 1/8 second, ISO200

The word photography comes from the ancient Greek: photos (light). Understanding and mastering exposure is therefore essential in the art of photography. The shutter speed, the (diaphragm) aperture and the ISO are the three elements, which form the triangle of exposure.

The shutter speed is determined by how long the shutter stays open. The sensor in digital cameras will capture more light when the shutter stays open longer. A slow shutter speed (for example 1/10 second) can be used in low-light environment or to create a motion blur (waterfalls, rain streaks) while a fast shutter speed (for example 1/1000 second) is used to freeze a movement like a bird in flight.

Fast exposure, short depth of field: f/5.6 for 1/800 second, ISO1250

The aperture (f/N) is short for diaphragm aperture. A small aperture like f/22 does not allow a lot of light to pass through the lens, however it provides a wide depth of field and is commonly used in landscape photography. A big aperture like f/5.6 lets more light pass through the lens and it also provides a narrow or short depth of field.

The ISO is related to the film sensitivity to light or image sensor’s sensitivity to light on digital cameras. On a sunny day, photographers typically use a low ISO (100) but in low-light situation (overcast day, night), they increase the ISO. Note that a high ISO (3,200 or more) will create noise in your image (grainy veil).

Nature Photography Workshops on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in 2022

Whether you are already on Vancouver Island or planning to visit this year, here is a list of my photo workshops in 2022:

• 29 January - Strathcona Park

• 26 February - Strathcona Park

• 21-23 March - Herring Spawn on Vancouver Island

• 27-29 May - Spring on Vancouver Island

• 19-23 September - Tofino (in French only)

• 3-7 October - Tofino

• 13-16 October - Fall Colours on Vancouver Island

• Half-day photo workshop, Comox Valley (in English only) : 14 May, 11 June, 9 July, 13 August

• Half-day photo workshop, Comox Valley (in French only) : 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 6 August

If you prefer, you can request a private workshop that ranges from one day to several days. Book early as I am already starting to get requests for this summer.

I look forward to showing you my favourite places on Vancouver Island for nature photography and helping you improve your photography skills!

Ateliers de photographie de nature sur l'Île de Vancouver, Colombie-Britannique, en 2022

Que vous soyez déjà sur l’Île de Vancouver ou que vous prévoyez de la visiter cette année, voici une liste de mes ateliers photo en 2022 :

• 29 janvier - Strathcona Park

• 26 février - Strathcona Park

• 21-23 mars - Herring Spawn on Vancouver Island

• 27-29 mai - Spring on Vancouver Island

• 19-23 septembre - Tofino (en français seulement)

• 3-7 octobre - Tofino

• 13-16 octobre - Fall Colours on Vancouver Island

• Ateliers photo d’une demi-journée, Vallée de Comox (en français seulement) : 7 mai, 4 juin, 2 juillet, 6 août

• Ateliers photo d’une demi-journée, Vallée de Comox (en anglais seulement) : 14 mai, 11 juin, 9 juillet, 13 août

Si vous préférez, vous pouvez demander un atelier privé qui va d’une journée à plusieurs jours. Réservez tôt car je commence déjà à recevoir des demandes pour cet été.

Au plaisir de vous montrer mes endroits préférés sur l’Île de Vancouver pour la photographie de nature et de vous aider à améliorer vos techniques en photographie !

On Radio-Canada Television

Pierre Beaudoin, producer at CBC - Radio-Canada, Alex Lamic, videographer at CBC - Radio-Canada and Catherine Babault.

Back in October, I had the pleasure of being interviewed and filmed by a wonderful team from Radio-Canada (also known as the French CBC). Pierre Beaudoin, producer, and Alex Lamic, videographer, came from Vancouver to meet me on Vancouver Island.

The video was broadcast this week on the youth program ONIVA dedicated to photography. I talk about my work as a nature photographer and my encounters with wildlife.

In case you missed it, you can watch it here. It starts at the 9:00 mark.

The making of my photo book Vancouver Island Wildlife

When I moved to Vancouver Island many years ago, I was fascinated by the diversity of fauna, flora and landscape. From the mountain meadows to the ocean, there are so many species to study and photograph. Some are permanent residents while others are seasonal visitors. All are very interesting. While exploring my new surroundings, I noticed the human impact on the environment and became aware of species at risk. With the help of a photo book, I hoped to show the beauty and diversity of Vancouver Island’s wildlife and raise awareness about our responsibility towards the conservation of its unique ecosystems.

For my book project, I researched many species to learn about their habitat, diet, biology, etc. I visited remote locations, sometimes by boat or floatplane. Often I got up in the middle of the night to be in the field by sunrise. I travelled long distances by vehicle and on foot. I walked in the snow, rain, fog and mud, sometimes I stepped on smelly things like rotten salmon on riverbanks. I prepared all my trips carefully because this is wilderness; I studied maps, topography, weather forecast, tide tables, sunrise and sunset times, and I maintained my vehicle in good condition, with an emergency kit and other essential items. This was a full-time project, working up to 60 hours a week, and it took me over a year to compile enough images for a photo book.

I edited thousands of images to select less than two hundred. My images had to be bold, uncluttered and well composed. I processed each one of them and converted them in CMYK for printing. Then I started to design the book and write the text. English is not my first language so I hired a professional translator in Victoria to proofread the text. I asked a professional photographer in my city to review my selection of images and give me honest feedback. At that point, I started to contact several printers in Canada before choosing one in Vancouver. I used offset printing instead of digital printing; although it is a lot more expensive, it is the best quality printing for a photo book. You could say that my book is 100% made in British Columbia from the subject to the printer. Some might think CAD$40 is expensive for a book but think about all the costs involved: camera equipment, travel expenses (gas, accommodation, meals), car maintenance, car insurance, business insurance, business licence, professional services (bush pilot, proofreader, printer, website…), and my time dedicated to this amazing project.

I feel very humble by the incredible success of this book. I won a Nautilus book award in the USA and received great feedback from the media. I am always touched to hear kind comments from readers in Canada, the USA and Europe. I hope that my book has achieved its goal: showing the beauty and fragility of our environment so that we are all aware of our collective responsibility towards its protection for future generations.

Holiday Season Shopping - C'est le Temps des Fêtes !

The Holiday Season is just around the corner. This year, send your loved ones who appreciate nature and photography a beautiful photo book on Vancouver Island, or a landscape, wildlife or abstract print, or book an in-person or online workshop. If you’re unsure which one they would prefer, ask for a gift certificate.

When you order a product or service from this website, you are contributing to the success of a small business owned by a woman. You are not sending me to space :-)

Le Temps des Fêtes arrive à grands pas. Cette année, offrez à vos êtres chers amoureux de la nature et la photographie un beau livre de photos sur l’Île de Vancouver ou bien un tirage de photo de paysage, abstraite ou animalière ou encore un atelier en personne ou en ligne. Si vous ne savez que choisir, demandez un certificat-cadeau.

Lorsque vous commandez un produit ou un service sur ce site Web, vous contribuez au succès d'une petite entreprise gérée par une femme. Vous ne m'envoyez pas dans l'espace :-)

On Radio-Canada Television

This summer, I had the pleasant surprise of being contacted by the producer of the youth program ONIVA on Radio-Canada, who wanted to do an interview about my work as a nature photographer.

This week, I had the pleasure of meeting Pierre Beaudoin in person on Vancouver Island to make this project a reality. I enjoyed this first experience in front of the camera in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and showing one of my favorite places on Vancouver Island for autumn nature photography.

The interview will soon be broadcast on the program ONIVA and available on YouTube. To be continued…

Pierre Beaudoin, producer at Radio-Canada, Alex Lamic, videographer, and Catherine Babault