Submitted by the Men’s Breakfast
Ethan Meleg is a well-known outdoor photographer based here on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula. In March of this year, he provided the Men’s Breakfast with a great presentation on “The Confessions of a Crazed Photographer” which was very well received. This was too good just for the men and we decided to bring him back for an encore presentation at our annual Ladies’ Breakfast on October 19th.
I first met Ethan over 20 years ago when he was a Communications Officer for Bruce Peninsula National Park and saw some of his early photography at a local presentation. We own an amazing photograph he took of a Grey Owl, wings outstretched, seemingly about to attack the camera. I don’t recall the year, but it was during a heavy snow winter when a number of these owls took up residence on the peninsula moving south from their normal Boreal Forest home looking for food. Turns out he captured the photograph by lying in the snow throwing dead mice up into the air!
His photographic skills are well known and while presenting a selection of his amazing photos, told us about his love for photography and what it takes to capture once-in-a-lifetime images. For Ethan, it has been a life-long journey that began without formal training, only what was to become “an addiction”. He was raised on a farm near Leamington which happens to be close to Point Pelee National Park, one of the foremost birding locations in Canada. He began by experimenting both with his equipment and technique. He described his technique as “low and slow”, building a relationship with the subject which involves enormous patience. He particularly looks for interactive shots such as the interaction between a bear and a bald eagle he recently took in central B.C.
His presentation was organized around a series of personal truisms: get to know the place; getting to know the art of travel; get out of your comfort zone, hard work beats all; start with a purpose; and get eye to eye. Hmmm…probably useful for life in general.
He is well travelled including most of the Saugeen-Bruce but also including, among others, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Death Valley, Ecuador, Guatemala, Newfoundland and Labrador, Surinam, and Vietnam. He had to learn to travel with equipment at the expense of clothes and go with the flow, including being robbed at gunpoint, having his car broken into and food poisoning. His methods include knowing where and when, which has involved long night treks through snow, very early mornings, and the Patience of Job. Techniques involve the art of composition along with the use of filters and blended exposures.
Ethan has been published in Canadian Geographic. His professional moniker is “Ethan Meleg Outdoor Photography” and you can check out his amazing work at www.ethanmeleg.com along with tips, and photography gear information.
Our next breakfast will be held on November 16th. Guest speakers will be Nicolaas Love, from Georgian Bay Forever, and Owen Glendon, who will speak about plastics in the Great Lakes.
Please contact Steve at mensbreakfastnsbp@gmail.com if you are planning to attend.
