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.
