CONTEST FINALIST

Guy Brun

from Portage, NB

Guy Brun

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Photography has been a life-long passion for me, which began during childhood using my parents camera, and continues up to this day in my retirement. I get much satisfaction in nature and wildlife photography, sort of a good marriage with my love for animals and the great outdoors. Something acquired from the early days as a young boy living in the countryside.

For me photography is a means of expressing my feelings about wildlife and the natural world, to capture and share the beauty and awe of nature with others. I must admit, however, that most other genres of photography still interest me very much.

My preference lies especially with bird photography. I’m also a CAPA (Canadian Association for Photographic Arts) member and a CAPA certified judge. I have judged approximately 100 photo competitions at the regional and national levels. My work has been shown in photo exhibits and other venues, receiving several awards.

Aside from photography I had a long and fulfilling career in the environmental sciences. I’m the proud father of three children and grand-father to six grand-children.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DID YOU USE TO TAKE THIS PHOTO?

Fujifilm XT-2” camera with an 18-55mm f2.8 – f4.0 Fujifilm lens.

What motivated you to participate in the competition?

It’s another way for me to help promote the consequences of climate change and at the same time give a voice to the people whose livelihood was threatened from that awful storm.

Why did you choose this photo?

I took this image the morning following the passage of tropical storm Dorian, one of the worst storms to hit this region in recorded history. Petit-Cap, just a few kilometres from my place, is a small fishing community on the South East coast of New Brunswick. It was hit very hard by high tides, extremely high winds, heavy rain and storm surge causing the unmooring of five fishing boats at the local wharf during the early morning hours of September 8, 2019. The boats were swiftly carried away by the forceful waves and ran aground on the nearby shore.

One vessel was completely destroyed and the other four suffered major damage. Obviously, this caused much anguish with the fishermen and their families, being in the middle of lobster fishing season. Serious damage occurred inland as well, with widespread damages to homes, torn roofs, and broken trees everywhere. This photo was chosen as an example of how extreme weather conditions can play havoc with the safety and livelihood of communities living in coastal areas. Climate scientists report that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events will continue to increase due to global climate change.

It is very pictorial, yet aesthetically pleasing. The destructive power of this storm with debris scattered everywhere is testimony of the immensity of the storm. The reddish colour of an otherwise clear water is a sign to what degree bottom sediments were disturbed. The dark and menacing clouds remind us of what passed through the area just hours before. The presence of people examining the shattered remains, and how they are going to manage through this ordeal, is disturbing. To counteract the heaviness of the scene there is a very slight haze (almost unnoticeable) in the sky emanating from the herring smoke houses a short distance to the right.

What does climate change/climate action look like in your community?

Well, the ambient air temperatures in the area have certainly increased during the past several decades. Winters are much milder. This winter the Northumberland Straight was ice-free, which is something very rare. Rising sea levels have caused soil erosion along much of the coastline and infrastructure has been put in place to remediate the problem and minimize damage from storm surges on private properties.

The first and only wind turbine was constructed close by a few years ago. We’re seeing more and more fuel efficient automobiles in the area. Homeowners have taken advantage of government home renovation subsidies to improve home energy conservation. More energy efficient homes are being built. Citizens have organized and formed associations looking after watershed conservation/ protection issues. But there is still much more to be done.

What message would you like to give world leaders ahead of the COP26 Climate Conference this year?

World leaders have a grave responsibility in addressing the global climate change crisis. All inhabitants of the world are, or will be affected, regardless of social and political status, rich or poor, educated or not. Our children and future generations will be impacted as a result of our inability to understand (care) how our planet’s finely tuned ecosystems work, and our inherent neglect to conserve and protect all that is critical for sustaining life on the planet, including our own species. Incredible harm to the planet’s biodiversity has already occurred. We humans are responsible for this, and it’s time to act quickly, and decisively, before it’s too late.