In Focus | Mary Anthes of Learn Photography Kelowna

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Mary Anthes

What do you always find yourself saying?
I can do that. Might be better if I changed that to “fantastic”.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Doctors without Borders. I worked as a Lab Technologist for several years and often wish I was young enough to join Doctors without Borders and help people struggling in other countries. I think this group of people are doing some pretty fabulous things to help others. I realize this isn’t one person, it’s an organization, sometimes I like to overstep the lines.

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
I’d probably be embarrassed receiving and award for anything. I would rather do nice things for or help people, support my favorite charities and remain in the background. It seems to me there are many others who do so much more than I do to help the world and the people in it. They deserve the awards.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
I think it would be wonderful to spend a day with Claude Monet in his garden in Giverny France. I could watch him paint and discuss his techniques, what he thinks of other art mediums, what painters he likes, why he became an atheist. We could also discuss his garden, which he planned in detail. I have taken a photography workshop at his garden where we had the opportunity to have the garden all to ourselves, no other tourists. Fantastic.

Who inspires you?
Anyone who sets a big goal and achieves it while helping others along the way.

What are three things on your bucket list?
A photography trip to Iceland and Greenland
A river cruise in Russia
A successful Learn Photography business

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
It would be a sailing yacht and I would name it Breezin’ By II (we had a 22 ft. Catalina we named Breezin By). On the other hand, a 75 ft. catamaran located in St Martin with the same name would be perfect.

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
Interesting question, I have a book by Ram Dass entitled “ Be Here Now”, and I tend to follow that advice. I set goals for the future, but work like heck in the present on the steps to achieve the goals. I visualize my goals as accomplished, but I’m still in the present.

What are you passionate about?
Photography, travel, being in nature, the well being of animals and pets – I’m a cat person, but enjoy other people’s dogs.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
No one day stands out, but there have been many fabulous days. A breath taking sunrise in Death Valley photographing the sand dunes, a perfect day skiing at Big White, the day my husband and I got married, photographing a pride of lions in Namibia, Africa, our first customer for Learn Photography and I could go on and on. Life is good.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Achieving my Registered Technologist Certification and my Advanced Registered Technologist Certification in Biochemistry.
Having a successful business in Guelph Ont from 1983 - 1996. It was a medical diagnostics company that sold to laboratories across Canada.
Winning the District 21 South Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in the fall of 2014 and the Division C Table Topics contest in 2004. I broke the rules again!

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
The Yellow House Restaurant. I love the relaxed atmosphere, sometimes they have a musician playing soft music in the background, and the food is excellent.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
I love attending Ballet Kelowna and am delighted that they are continuing to perform. When I first moved from Ontario my disappointment was missing the performances of the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. I would drive over an hour one way to attend their performances. Fortunately, Ballet Kelowna began a year or so after I moved to the Okanagan. I was delighted. Why? It’s beautiful to watch, very enjoyable and relaxing.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Learn Photography Kelowna

What does your business/organization do?
My husband and I started the business in December 2014, so we are still getting our feet wet. The business is teaching photography skills to people who have a Digital SLR camera and only shoot on Auto settings. SLR cameras have so many more advantages than a point and shoot it’s a shame to use Auto settings. We believe that everybody can take fantastic photos and learn to capture those special moments. The courses we offer are one day on weekends and are hands on. There is no sitting in a classroom taking notes. Participants work with their cameras learning to control it and not use Auto settings. They also learn effective photographic techniques to take their photography to another level. As participants develop their photographic skills and know-how, they discover their own unique perspectives.

Learn Photography offers five different courses in the Okanagan, including Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos.

Digital I – learn the fundamentals of SLR photography and composition tips

Digital II – this course takes participants from being a “picture taker” to a creative artist.

Night Photography – With the advent of digital SLR’s, the night becomes a feast of photographic opportunities.

Portrait Photography – participants learn to create wonderful photographs they are proud to show of family, friends, or pets

Adobe Lightroom Software – a software that designed for photographers for photo filing, management and editing.

We teach people with digital SLR cameras to appreciate and use the full capacity of their camera as well as photographic techniques and tips to create fantastic photos. Participants have fun while learning and get lots of practise with their cameras throughout the day.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.cameracourses.ca/kelowna

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
https://www.linkedin.com/

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Learn Photography Canada

What is your Twitter account?
@LearnPhotogra

What is your mission?
To help people discover the capabilities of their cameras, to create photographs they’re proud of and to have fun in the process.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
I would love to help people become passionate about photography.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
All of our courses full on a regular basis, and we have added some different courses such as long exposure, macro photography and a photography wine tour.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Freeman Patterson is a Canadian photographer who has been recognized with an Order of Canada. I have had the opportunity to take two workshops with Freeman, one in New Brunswick and one in Namaqualand, South Africa. He is an outstanding photographer, a patient and knowledgeable teacher, and is incredibly humble. We also share the same birthday!

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Professionalism
Knowledgeable
Personable

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
We have no employees at the moment.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
We are members of the Peachland Arts Council, took part in Westside Cultural Days, and will be joining the newly formed Suk’ʷtəmsqilxʷ (sook tem skayl hoo) West Kelowna Arts Council (SWAC). We look forward to working with photo groups in the Okanagan and wineries in the future. We are already working with several businesses such as printers, nurseries, and the SS Sicamous groups.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Any field would be fine. I would be interested to know where they think the growth markets are for the next five to seven years, what their basic business philosophies are, how they started their businesses, how do they market in the social media age. Since I have lots of questions it would be helpful if lunch was served.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
Remove the HOV lane. I understand that changes are soon to be made which means the HOV lane is only in effect Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., however, I think the wrong lane is HOV and trying to get into it to turn right can be a nightmare.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
It has it all, theatres, restaurants, wineries, shopping, entertainment, university, college, excellent hospital a beautiful setting, and for the most part fantastic weather.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Linda Lovisa, New Moon Gallery in West Kelowna or Jennifer Hjorth, Exquisite Nails

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Thank you to KelownaNow for your encouragement and support for our new business Learn Photography Kelowna and my weekly column Smooth Talking. To our potential clients, we look forward to meeting you and turning you on to photography.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!