From the air

Amy Woolvett

THE COAST GUARD

NovaNewsNow.com



Snapping photos going 130-miles an hour at an altitude of 2000 feet is just another day on the job for Sable River resident and photographer Linda Ross. A sunrise, reflections of light and images, what she may see on her various walks through some of Shelburne County’s raw natural beauty and the colour and life of the people she encounters are just some of the images Ross will collect.

One of her many photographic specialties include aerial photography.

Ross enjoys being able to take photos from this different perspective and has combined her love of photography with this career for the past 15 years.

Whether it is for a commercial enterprise, a landowner planning to sell or an opportunity for a tourism group to show off the highlights of the area from above, Ross has always succeeded in producing magnificent results.

It all began for her when she began working with Queens County on a project to promote Liverpool worldwide and the planning group decided they needed a photographer to take an aerial snapshot of the area.

“And then I made a crazy remark,” says Ross, “I told them I could do it but in fact I had never done anything like it before.”

She immediately took to the project and began a 15-year long period of capturing photos from the sky for both pleasure and work.

Many of her photos can be seen as post cards in shops throughout the province and Ross says they tend to sell quite well given their unique perspective of the places tourists have visited and loved.

Many of her photos can be viewed online on Flickr.

“I use that if people want to see the kind of photography I do but also because I love to promote the South Shore of Nova Scotia for tourism.”

She also hands down her love and knowledge of photography through her various courses she offers throughout the year including this coming years workshop at Shelburne High School after January.

From point and shoot to large SLR’s, Ross will cover the basics from helping people change from film to digital to opening their eyes to the photographic capabilities in their everyday surroundings.

“When you look at anything you should look into a picture rather than at a picture,” she explains, “so that you become aware of everything that is in that picture.”

She calls this teaching people to truly see what is around them.

“You can develop an eye if you learn how to look,” says Ross, “that is what I hope to impart in my workshops.”

One of Ross’ current projects include helping create a Sable River Book that will be available by the end of October.

The book will include photos and stories of Sable River landmarks that have been collected over the years by local residents.

Ross is working now on her first ever show that will take place at the Osprey next June and in the meantime will continue to photograph whatever might catch her eye.

To access her photos online go to www.lindaross.ca