Photography brings activity into focus

One thing I have learned over the years is that sometimes it takes a little nudge to get us going. For some people, that might be a buddy to do activities with. For others, it might be something to make them accountable, like an app or a group. Sometimes, you need to couple your activities with something else you enjoy.

Although photography is not listed as one of the 150 things to do on the #YQLChallenge, it certainly can act as a gateway to activity or can be a fun “side-effect,” or way to preserve the memory of participating in something fun. When I look through my family’s #YQLChallenge passport, I can see that many of the activities we have checked off, I have the pictures and sometimes video to prove it.

So far this year, I have pictures of a snow fort in my front yard, flying kites at the farm Easter weekend, an intense game of keep-away in the pool on vacation, a boomerang stuck in the top of a tree, and some fun pictures of my family on a homemade slip and slide, just to name a few. “Proving it” is not why I take the pictures, though, instead, I know how much I enjoy looking through photographs, and I want my family to be able to do the same.

One picture many of us have in common is the view from the top of Bear’s Hump in Waterton. I have seen many versions of this picture over the past couple of weeks, and though the details may be a little different and the faces in the foreground change, the thing that is the same is the amazing view in the pictures, and the feeling of accomplishment the climber felt once reaching the top.

Now Bear’s Hump is certainly not the longest or most intense hike you could choose, but that doesn’t make reaching the top any less rewarding. Right now we don’t know the fate or the future of our favourite trails in the Waterton Park, but I do know that many of us who’ve climbed the hump before will climb it again, and when we do, the picture we take will be just as beautiful, and a bit more special.

Sometimes I go out with the sole purpose of finding something interesting to take a picture of. I have walked many miles and explored some interesting places, all on a quest to take an interesting picture. One of my favourite pictures that I have taken is a photograph of an old abandoned fence post, with some barbed wire wrapped around it in a gnarly mess, with some white rust in places (or perhaps it’s bird poop).

I walked a long way from the truck, thinking the scenic valley ahead was going to make an amazing photograph. Who would’ve guessed an old fencepost along the way would be the shot that would be on my desktop background for years to come?

Another thing you might want to consider if you want to use photography as a way to get more active is a photography “bucket list.” The list might include places or things you want to photograph, and they can be specific or vague. Maybe you want to take a “hang-on-the-wallworthy” picture of the High Level Bridge at sunset. It doesn’t matter that there are tons of pictures of that bridge out there, there is no such thing as an overdone or cliché photo. If it means you didn’t spend the evening watching Netflix, you can be proud of the picture and yourself. The last thing I crossed off my bucket list was “Moose,” and the next thing I hope to cross off is “Star trails.”

You don't have to have a fancy camera to enjoy photography. My collection of pictures this year have been taken on a smartphone, an older pointand-shoot camera, and a DSLR camera. All the pictures serve their purpose, and in all honesty, the quality of today’s iPhone photos can come pretty close the point-and-shoot cameras that were so common just a few years ago.

If you are looking for an excuse to get a little more active, I’d encourage you to pick up your camera (or cellphone) and start walking. Keep your eyes open for anything interesting, and try to look at things in a different way. You never know what your camera’s eye might see. If you happen to shoot something cool while you are being active, I’d love if you shared it with me!

If you have been participating in the #YQLChallenge, we’d like to hear from you to learn how many activities you have been able to check off your list of 150 things to do. You can send us a Facebook message, or email

programs@lethbridgesportcouncil.ca

If you are new to the #YQLChallenge you can pick up a passport to help you keep track of what you’ve done, (or download one from the website) and get started on getting active through sport! Be sure to visit the Lethbridge 2017: Get Active Through Sport website for more details on #YQLChallenge, 52 in 52 and more.