Passionate Birder and Nature Photographer
Meeting: October 20, 2019
Judith Gustafsson spoke to club members and guests on October 20, 2019, at Ottawa’s city hall, about her photographic journey. Always passionate about the arts, she began freelance photography in the 1990s for the Medical Post, doing travel photography. Since then she has also been published in a variety of journals and newspapers, including the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun and currently covers local arts, festivals and parades for the Centretown Buzz.She told the audience that her love for the arts has always been with her, but photography did not come until later in life.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Gustafsson emigrated to Canada with her family in the summer of 1958, after finishing her first year of high school. Her paternal grandfather was an art and antique collector, which gave her an appreciation for the arts.
Gustafsson worked as a Registered Practical Nurse at the Ottawa Civic Hospital for more than 23 years and she was also co-owner of an art gallery in the Glebe area. “That’s where I connected to Ottawa’s Arts Community, and beyond,” she noted.“During my two careers I started to take photos, but really only for pleasure at first,” she continued. “However, my interest and skills in photography escalated over the years.”
By the late 1980s she and her husband travelled extensively around the world. “My husband was a doctor, but also a writer,” Gustafsson explained. “He started to write articles about our journeys. Using my photos to accompany his articles, he submitted our work to the Medical Post,” she said. “We both enjoyed sharing our travels through narratives and photography.” The Medical Post publishings lasted for 10 years, until her husband’s death in 2000.
Gustfsson went on to explain that after her husband’s passing she joined the RA Photo Club where, as a new member, she had to provide a portfolio. “I presented some of my travel photography that had been published in the Medical Post. It was well received and I was invited to have a vernissage at the National Press Club, then located in downtown Ottawa. It was called ‘Destinations,’ Gustafsson recalled. Encouraged by the exhibit, she began photographing different genres, which lead to her photos being published in the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Sun newspapers.
After retiring from nursing in 2003 Gustafsson continued with her photography as she biked and hiked around Ontario and Quebec. “I began using my camera to capture the magic that abounded all around me,” she said. “Photography is kind of a solitary thing. I always have my camera with me because you never know when you’ll find that great shot.”
One day she found a screaming bird dragging its wing on the ground. It was a killdeer putting on a display to warn others away from its nest. “I found this fascinating and wrote to Elizabeth LeGeyt, the bird columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, telling her of my experience,” Gustafsson told her audience. “She loved my story and published my findings. This sparked my interest in birds and I started to photograph and study them.” Her bird photos were published in LeGeyt’s weekly newspaper column from 2005-2013.
After LeGeyt retired in 2013, she began writing a book. “She asked if she could use some of my photos in her book,” Gustafsson recalled. “I answered with a loud YES!” Four of her photos were published in LeGeyt’s book, called Bird Lady, A Life Long Affair With Birds. Bruce Dilabo took over the bird column and continued to publish Gustafsson’s photos until 2016 when the Ottawa Citizen laid off all freelance writers.
“While photographing for the Citizen. I started to freelance for the Centretown Buzz, something I still continue to do,” Gustafsson said. Since becoming a member of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club in 2018 she also contributes to their weekly online bird sighting report and to Natural Fields online.
Gustafsson has a running photostream on Flickr that she updates regularly. You can catch her work by googling Judith Gustafsson+flickr
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Question and Answer Period
Below are some of the questions prompted by Judith Gustafsson’s talk.
Q: Why do you do it?
A: I have a passion for the arts, photography being one of them.
Q: What about black and white photography?
A: I’ve always loved it. It has a special feel – a mood.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: Nature and passionate people inspire me most.
Q: Do you prefer digital photography?
A: You have to. In 2005 I had to go digital to get published. It’s what most publishers prefer now.
Q: What are the best times to shoot?
A: I particularly like taking photos early in the morning or during the golden hour at dusk.
Q: Do you sell your photos?
A: No. All my work is pro bono. I feel grateful to be able to share my work so others can vicariously experience my documentation, adventures and publishings through my images.
Judith Gustafsson emigrated to Canada from Denmark in 1958. Always passionate about the Arts, she began freelance photography in the 1990s, doing travel photography for the Medical Post. Since then she has worked with the Centretown Buzz, covering local Arts, Festivals and Parades. She has been published in journals and newspapers, including the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Sun. She is a passionate birder and nature photographer. Catch her photos on flickr.