SPARK Photo Festival Announces 10 Year Anniversary Fundraiser Event

In celebration of photography and the mission to support emerging artists and long-time photographers alike, SPARK Photo Festival is hosting a Pub Night, Pop-Up Sale, Sneak Peek event on March 29 at The Publican House Brew Pub. 

photo courtesy of spark photo festival.

This April’s month-long festival boasts the voices and vision of more than 90 participating photographers as SPARK celebrates 10 years of the organization.

This event offers festival fans and photographers a chance to mix and mingle, shop prints with the SPARK-To-Go Pop-Up sale, sample appetizers and dive into a sneak peek of the over 25 2023 SPARK Photo Festival exhibits with art from over 100 photographers.

The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 294 Charlotte St.

Funds raised will be used for the SPARK mission to provide workshop supplies, exhibit materials, signage and festival maps to bring this free-to-visit arts festival to the community. 

Tickets: $50 per person, which includes appetizers (cash bar available). For more event information, or tickets, visit the website.

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Dave Ellis January Photo Recap

Omemee-area wildlife photographer Dave Ellis shares his captures from the month of January.

The winter images feature various local environments and different species of wildlife; on land and in water.

PTBOCanada often features his work in our ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts, which you can find on our social media accounts.

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December Wildlife Photography Review with Dave Ellis

This month’s snowy images from wildlife photographer Dave Ellis feature various local wildlife from around Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

The Omemee-based shares some of his captures from December, which you may seen featured in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts.

Follow along with Ellis’ work as the seasons change through PTBOCanada.

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Dave Ellis 2023 Kawartha Lakes Wildlife Calendars For Sale

Start the year off right by purchasing a 2023 Kawartha Lakes Wildlife calendar, featuring special photographs of local wildlife by Omemee-based photographer Dave Ellis.

Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The calendars are made by a local printing company with heavy weight paper and high quality photo printing. Each photo is 11 x 8.5 inches so the calendar measures 11 x 17 inches when hanging. It is bound in the middle with a spiral coil.

Him and his wife, Astrid, designed the calendars and the pictures they contain.

“We started early this year so that the calendars will be available in time for Christmas. They make a very nice, reasonably priced Christmas gift that you can enjoy all year,” says Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Ellis notes that the costs to produce and deliver the calendars went up, “just like everything else has this year,” but wanted to keep the calendars affordable as a gift or personal purchase, so they are not raising their price. Calendars will continue selling for $25 per calendar including delivery in the local area, just like years prior.

If you’re interested in ordering send an email to wildlife@eastlink.ca and Ellis will send you the information needed to purchase a calendar.

“I really enjoy sharing my photos of our local wildlife with all of you and I look forward to meeting you when we deliver the calendars,” continues Ellis. “We hope you like the calendars and thank you for your support.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Dave Ellis 2023 Kawartha Lakes Wildlife Calendars For Sale

Start the year off right by purchasing a 2023 Kawartha Lakes Wildlife calendar, featuring special photographs of local wildlife by Omemee-based photographer Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

The calendars are made by a local printing company with heavy weight paper and high quality photo printing. Each photo is 11 x 8.5 inches so the calendar measures 11 x 17 inches when hanging. It is bound in the middle with a spiral coil.

Him and his wife, Astrid, designed the calendars and the pictures they contain.

“We started early this year so that the calendars will be available in time for Christmas. They make a very nice, reasonably priced Christmas gift that you can enjoy all year,” says Ellis.

Ellis notes that the costs to produce and deliver the calendars went up, “just like everything else has this year,” but wanted to keep the calendars affordable as a gift or personal purchase, so they are not raising their price. Calendars will continue selling for $25 per calendar including delivery in the local area, just like years prior.

If you are interested to see a preview of the calendars, please send an email to wildlife@eastlink.ca and Ellis will send you the information needed to order a calendar.

“I really enjoy sharing my photos of our local wildlife with all of you and I look forward to meeting you when we deliver the calendars,” continues Ellis. “We hope you like the calendars and thank you for your support.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

SPARK Photo Festival Welcoming Submissions From the Community, Celebrating Ten-Year-Anniversary

April 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the SPARK Photo Festival, and plans are underway to celebrate the past decade and focus toward the future of photography through Open Call Exhibits.

Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

Each year since 2013, photography exhibits are displayed in public places throughout Peterborough, Northumberland and City of Kawartha Lakes and the festival has become a much-anticipated arts event.

All photographers are welcome to the Open Call Exhibits, whether you shoot with high-tech equipment, smart phone or a vintage film camera. Displays can be printed, framed, on canvas, posters or even a projection project, as long as it features still photography, it fits into SPARK.

“The SPARK Photo Festival exists for the community. Our free-to-visit festival is accessible to all and highlights the local photography talent that abounds in the region,” says Ken Powell, chair and board of directors member. “We are delighted to be marking this 10th anniversary and have many favourite festival components returning, plus new innovations.”

The Juried Exhibit has been growing each year with a record number of entries from photographers across Ontario for 2022. SPARK is now accepting photographers’ entries for next year’s theme of Water.

The competition is open to all Ontario residents, and each photographer is eligible to submit up to 3 images. All submitted images are judged by a jury of photography professionals. The top 25 images will be exhibited at Chasing the Cheese in Peterborough, and the best of the best will be awarded with cash prizes. Submissions close Feb. 1.

Photographers interested in showing their work but don’t know where to start will have the opportunity to apply for a program for first-time exhibitors. Full details of the new Emerging Artists Exhibit program are to be released soon.

For all details for the Open Call Exhibits and Themed Juried Exhibit and online entry, visit the SPARK website.

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Dave Ellis: October Wildlife Photography Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-based wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts.

This month’s images feature various local environments and many species of wildlife as the Canadian winter weather ramps up. Here are some of the shots the photographer captured in October.

As the frost comes in, follow along with Ellis’ captures through PTBOCanada.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Dave Ellis: A Review Of September Wildlife Photography

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts. What follows are some of the photographs he captured in September.

With fall in full swing, the leaves are changing colour many animals are getting ready for hibernation. Several birds make their way down south and nature goes into another natural transition.

Ellis’s photography captures wildlife around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Dave Ellis: A Review Of August Wildlife Photography

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts. What follows are some of the photographs he captured in August.

Young Belted Kingfisher.

While it’s hard to believe the summer is slowly coming to an end, as the natural world around us transitions into fall we are excited to see what Ellis captures in September.

Growing loon family.

Young mute swans.

Great white egret with a catfish dinner.

Ellis often captures wildlife in action, on the hunt for their next meal or taking a break and lounging in the summer heat.

Pied-Billed Grebe.

Young Buck with velvet covered antlers.

Ellis’s photography captures wildlife around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully.

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Dave Ellis: July Photographs In Review

Dave Ellis is an Omemee-area wildlife photographer. PTBOCanada often features his work in our daily ‘Good Morning PTBO’ posts. What follows are some of the photographs he captured in July.

This local heron has caught itself a little snack.

While it’s hard to believe July is already over, looking back through this months photos shows us how busy nature has been.

Loonlet following mom.

Loon has caught a snack.

Young Bald Eagle gets used to its wings.

We’ve enjoyed watching Ellis document the growing loon families in and around Peterborough.

Two young bucks in the early morning.

Mother Loon feeds her loonlet.

Ellis’s photography captures wildlife around Peterborough and The Kawarthas beautifully.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.