CELEBRATING ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH Winter/Spring 2011 MAKING TRACKS The CELLIST and the LUTHIER SERENITY in NATURE Get outside and Chris and Beth Sandvoss on why Award-winning photographer embrace the season Bragg Creek is music to their hearts John E. Marriott shows respect 1 Winter/Spring 2011 Making Tracks 07 K-Country leaves a lasting impression on all who visit – the winter’s pristine snow allows you to temporarily return the favour The Cellist, The Luthier and The Creek 19 In this exclusive interview, Chris and Beth Sandvoss explain how living in Bragg Creek helps inspire and fuel their passion for creating music Serenity in Nature 33 Award-winning photographer John E. Marriott on the importance of respecting nature and wildlife How to Avoid a Whiteout … and other winter photography tips 48 Regular contributor Dr. Robert Berdan provides a few pointers for enhancing your winter photography “Contemplation” 36 x 48 inches oil on canvas by Merv Brandel 07 19 33 On the Cover A magnificent lynx surveys the wintery landscape – oblivious to the winter chill thanks to a dense, impermeable coat Photography by John E. Marriott © Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in Calgary, Canada on FSC certified paper. Visit: www.fsccanada.org For information about including advertising rates and availability please visit: www.braggmag.com, Purveyors of fine original art since 1987 email: [email protected], or call: (403) 949 3400. Showcasing the wondrous beauty of nature as seen through the diverse eyes of Western Canada’s most talented artists. Bragg Creek Village Centre, 16 White Ave. Bragg Creek, AB. Phone: (403) 949 3777 - www.alicatgallery.com BANDED PEAK Communications Cert no. SW-COC-000952 2 3 Award-winning magazine! Amateur A few months ago, I received a telephone governments in recognition of outstanding Winning this National Marketing Award call from a very excited David Kalinchuk, work in the marketing of a unique would not have been possible without the Photographer Economic Development Manager at Rocky geographic region of Canada – quickly hit valuable input from these key contributors: View County, who was eager to share some home. design editor Roy Anstey; copy editor good news: George Guidoni; my wife Kirsten Cook- Competition had just won a National Marketing Award! Zaba, who often does the arduous first edits on my resident profile feature articles; As it turned out, David was so proud of the Tristan Zaba, my son and video editor at magazine, which he has championed since www.braggcreek.tv (our internet-based its inception, that he took the initiative video network); publishing coordinators to submit an award entry on behalf of Megan Moon-Grant and Joan Zaba; and prize * . numerous professional and amateur photography contributors who consistently $ While it sounded very exciting, I wasn’t sure pool what to make of the news at first, having enable us to showcase our beautiful Bragg A little while later, Roy Anstey and myself Submission Deadline is 04/24/2011 never heard of the award until then. Creek in true world-class style. 500 were on our way to pick up the award – a national honour bestowed for our Lastly, a huge thank you to David CONGRATULATIONS But once I had done a little research, the to this issue’s first-place winner, full impact of being selected to receive magazine’s marketing of Bragg Creek and Kalinchuk for taking the initiative to the highly prestigious National Marketing its surroundings – at a gala ceremony held in submit Award – generally handed out to municipal Quebec City. for a National Marketing Award, as well Greg Romp as for his continued tireless support and and to the second and third-place winners, encouragement! This is your magazine – we want to see more of you! John Kearsley and Ken Johnson We always endeavour to make every fishing, hiking, canoeing, biking … FASHION + OUTLETS + DINING + ENTERTAINMENT issue of however you enjoy the great outdoors. Dwayne Zaba unique, but this issue has a specific Once we have sufficient imagery, Publisher In continuing partnership with Rocky View County and element that makes it special: it we’ll publish an article based around Visit us at www.braggmag.com CrossIron Mills, the $500 prize pool will be shared between contains more amateur photography it in an upcoming issue. or email [email protected] the first, second and third best amateur photography – submitted by the largest number contributions, as selected by our panel. The submission of photographers – than we have had As always, the photographs must be deadline for ’s Summer 2011 in any previous issue. It’s a tribute taken within the greater Bragg Creek Amateur Photographer Competition is 04/24/11. Contributing to your continuing support and your area or Kananaskis. Please also photographers retain full rights over their submissions. individual, personal perspective of confirm that you have permission To qualify, entries must be taken in the Bragg Creek or the land. Thank you. from any recognizable ‘model’ for us Kananaskis region. Full details below. to reproduce their image. See full versions of these photographs Based on the growing number of on pages 11 and 16. submissions, we’d like to take the Thanks once more to all our amateur Thank you to our competition’s guest panelist, human interaction with nature a step contributors, keep ’em coming … professional nature photographer John E. Marriott. further and encourage you to send in and smile! Read his article, Serenity in Nature, on page 33. candid photographs showcasing how *The total prize pool of $500 will be awarded to the contributors of the top three photographs submitted for inclusion in the Summer 2011 issue of , as selected by our panel: 1st Prize – you, your friends and family interact $250; 2nd Prize – $150; 3rd Prize – $100. Prizes will be awarded in the form of gift certificates to CrossIron Mills Outlet Mall. All photographs submitted for inclusion in the Summer 2011 issue will automatically be Additional thanks to our other amateur with the beautiful countryside entered into the Amateur Photograph Competition unless specifically requested otherwise by the contributor at the time of submission. Any photographs received after the submission deadline of 04/24/11 may not be photography contributors in this issue: right here on our doorstep. These Roy Anstey entered into the competition. The panel’s decision is final. The photography contribution, along with the contributor’s name, may be used by Rocky View County and for future Timothy Harder, Justin Howse, Sam Jack, can involve any season or activity: Design Editor promotional purposes, however full rights for all photographic submissions are completely retained by the respective contributing photographers. Photographs submitted by professional photographers, employees of Mary Nichols, Morgan Price, Kailie Sykes. , Rocky View County and CrossIron Mills Outlet Mall, as well as their affiliates 4 and partners, are ineligible for entry. 5 Featured Contributors John E. Marriott is one of Canada’s most recognized professional wildlife A strong proponent of photographing only wild, free-roaming animals in and nature photographers, with images that have graced the covers of their natural habitat, in 2010 he was named the first wildlife photography Canadian Geographic, OWL, Reader’s Digest, and EXPLORE magazines. columnist for Outdoor Photography Canada magazine. John’s award-winning coffee table photography books are available online at www.wildernessprints.com and across Canada at Chapters, Indigo, and Coles bookstores. You can contact John directly for print, book and greeting card sales, or to license stock images at 1-877-774-3850 or via email at [email protected]. View his blog at blog.wildernessprints.com. John is renowned throughout the industry for his care and respect for the wildlife he photographs, and he brings this mindset into this issue’s photography article, Serenity in Nature, on page 33. He shares some personal experiences that illustrate how important and beneficial it is to be respectful when it comes to photographing wildlife, and provides some simple insights on doing so. Dr. Robert Berdan has been published in numerous Samantha Chrysanthou and Darwin Wiggett magazines, including Photo Life, Outdoor Nature are professional photographers based in Cochrane, Photographer and Canadian Geographic. He is currently Alberta. Acclaimed for the quality of their an adjunct assistant professor at the University of instructional photo workshops, the powerhouse Calgary. Through his multimedia business, Science & couple are renowned for their accessible teaching Art, he offers royalty-free CDs, prints, photography style during these frequently sold-out events. and video services, computer training, workshops and website development. Visit their websites – www.darwinwiggett.com, Robert is the contributor of the article on page 48 of this issue, How to Avoid www.chrysalizz.smugmug.com – or email them a Whiteout. Read all of his articles, learn about his upcoming workshops, at [email protected] to learn more and view his online courses at www.canadiannaturephotographer.com about their exciting upcoming workshops. For more details, call (403) 247 2457 or email [email protected] Philippe Widling is a widely-published nature Chris Martin’s photography of the Bragg Creek wildlife photographer based in Calgary. His work has appeared and the majestic drama of the Rocky Mountains is in magazines, newspapers, calenders, postcards, Making