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Meet the Natuashish couple sharing beauty of Innu and land, a photograph at a time 

Meet the Natuashish couple sharing beauty of Innu and land, a photograph at a time 
A young Innu girl stands on the edge of the ocean with mountains behind her, dressed in traditional Innu clothing.
Aaron Poker said he enjoys photographing his daughters and her friends, and he and Nachelle do photo shoots each summer with any youths who want one. (Aaron and Nachelle Poker Photography/Facebook)

On a clear night in freezing temperatures, Nachelle and Aaron Poker can be found out on mountains in northern Labrador, watching the northern lights. 

The two photograph local youths in traditional wear silhouetted against the moon, cultural competitions, mountain walks, animals, people and anything else they see. 

“We teamwork with it. The problem with teamworking, she steals my pictures,” Aaron said laughing. 

Through social media, the couple share the beauty of Innu culture, the land around Natuashish and its residents with people across the country. 

A young Innu girl is shown wearing a traditional parka with a fur lined hood, a beaded headband, her hair in braids and is holding a doll on a sled.
Each year Innu dress in traditional wear to show displays of their culture and compete in different competitions. The Pokers photographed the displays and traditional outfits. (Aaron and Nachelle Poker Photography/Facebook)

The two have been together since about 1992. Years ago, after being inspired by photographs in magazines, Aaron bought Nachelle a small Nikon Coolpix camera. Aaron started to set up the camera for Nachelle and learned about photography techniques. 

“Then our pictures were blurry. Then we got to upgrade every year,” Aaron said.

Aaron bought a second camera, and the two continued learning together by watching videos on YouTube. Nachelle said she enjoys photographing the land and nature they see. Aaron said he enjoys focusing on the people in Natuashish, especially the youth. 

WATCH I Nachelle and Aaron Poker capture Innu culture in Natuashish: 

Meet the Natuashish photographers sharing the beauty of Innu culture

2 days ago

Duration 0:55

Through social media, Nachelle and Aaron Poker share photos of Innu culture, the land around Natuashish and its residents with people across the country.

“I like to show people how beautiful our kids are in Natuashish,” Aaron said. “A lot of kids are enjoying the cameras.”

Aaron said they love sharing the talent in Natuashish, sharing their photographs online and seeing the comments that come up. 

“I love when they comment. I love when they like the pictures and ‘keep up the good job’ all that,” Aaron said. “We had bad remarks sometimes, like, ‘That’s Photoshop,’ but really it’s just plain old picture. You gotta capture the moments.”

A porcupine is showed up close, holding tightly onto a branch.
Nachelle Poker says she enjoys photographing the land and animals while Aaron Poker says he enjoys photographing people the most. The two share their photographs online. (Aaron and Nachelle Poker Photography/Facebook)

Nachelle and Aaron say they’re seeing their own kids and others in the community become interested in photography. The two occasionally teach youths at the Mushuau Innu Natuashish School about photography. 

A young girl holds a stick out in front of her while skating on a frozen part of the ocean with mountains behind her. A young boy is fallen over and smiling in the background.
Aaron and Nachelle Poker spent hours photographing youths on the ice near Natuashish in the fall of 2023. The ice freezes before snow falls in northern Labrador, making for smooth skating surfaces for a few weeks of the year. (Aaron and Nachelle Poker Photography/Facebook)

For anyone just starting out, the two suggest simply starting to take any photographs and keeping the camera on hand as much as possible. 

“You might see a fox eating there, you might see a lynx on the tree so that’s the time you don’t bring a camera, so you miss out, right?” Aaron said. “Always have it.” 

A woman wearing a backpack and sleeping mat kneels down while looking toward a rainbow in front of mountains.
Nachelle Poker carried 10 pounds of camera gear when on a traditional walk last summer. (Submitted by Nachelle Poker)

In the northern landscape, it can sometimes be a battle to set down their gear and stay inside, Aaron said. He said Nachelle has more than 2,000 northern lights photographs on his computer — but she says that’s not enough. 

“Last night she wanted to go out so bad, around 12,” Aaron said. “She walked around, looked out the window, I said, ‘Go to bed. I gotta work tomorrow.’

“I said, ‘Come on’ and ‘There’ll be more later, you still got plenty of life left.’ All she does is laugh.”  

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The week in wildlife – in pictures: airborne deer, cuddling macaques and Gaza gazelles

The week in wildlife – in pictures: airborne deer, cuddling macaques and Gaza gazelles
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An Indian one-horned rhino grazes at the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Assam, India. In conservation terms, the species is a huge success. There were only about 200 left at the start of the 20th century; now they number more than 4,000, partly thanks to a ‘baby boom’ that occurred during the pandemic, when they were largely left alone by humans.

23 amazing photos from 2023, and the stories behind them

23 amazing photos from 2023, and the stories behind them

If the sport was amazing in 2023, the photography was just as good.

Getty Images’ award-winning team of photographers cover more than 50,000 sporting events each year, so narrowing it down to the best images was no easy task.

BBC Sport brings you 23 amazing photos from 2023 – and the photographers who captured them take you behind the lens to explain just how they did it.

Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics wearing a protective face mask against the Washington Wizards

Patrick Smith: NBA player Jaylen Brown sustained a facial fracture and was forced to wear a protective face mask. For a sport that requires no equipment other than shoes, the nature of the photograph was made by tying the storytelling and compelling graphics together – from the way his hairstyle leads your eye one way and then his eyes another. It makes for a mysterious, superhero mask-style image that makes viewers pause, wonder and ask questions.

Elisa Longo Borghini crashes on stage five of the Giro d'Italia Donne

Dario Belingheri: I was really surprised and sad at the same time taking this picture. I was following with the viewfinder the leader’s pink jersey of the Giro d’Italia Donne and out of my corner of my eye I saw Elisa going straight and not able to make the corner because she was riding too fast. In a split second I changed the focus on her and captured her whole crash. It was a thrilling moment because I knew I took a good picture, but I did not know if she was alive because she fell in a ravine 10ft deep at 60km/h. In the end she was fine and when I saw her walking to get back on the bike, I thought she was a very strong woman.

Danielle Collins serves against Caroline Garcia in the quarter-finals of the San Diego Open

Sean M Haffey: Generally at tennis tournaments, busy backgrounds detract from the action on the court. Logos and wording many times take your eye away from the action you are trying to convey in pictures. I noticed this logo on the back wall lined up well with the athletes and, after a few serves, I realised this was something I could use to enhance the image instead of detracting from it. I spent a while getting into the right position to line a sponsor’s logo with a serving player to make a dynamic photo of what would otherwise have been average.

Ronaldo is introduced to Al-Nassr fans at Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Photo by Anadolu. Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Nassr was like an earthquake in the world of football and sport. It was undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the year, opening the door for world-class players to join the Saudi Pro League. His arrival was a huge event, and this picture from behind Ronaldo, with his iconic number seven on his back, shows the scale of the spectacle. David Ramos, Getty chief photographer.

Kong Man Wai Vivian competes against Lee Hyein in the women's epee team gold medal match at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China

Shi Tang: Covering fencing for the first time at the Asian Games, I wanted to bring in the style I usually adopt for badminton. I created this image by taking advantage of the clean black background contrasting well with the all-white gear of the athletes and their explosive movements.

A giraffe photobombs the captains' selfie before the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe

Alex Davidson: Now and again, light, event and place merge in an unexpected way. African skies, the captains’ photocall for the World Cup Qualifier in Harare, Zimbabwe, and a giraffe. What could go wrong? The light was perfect, the captains relaxed as they concentrated on their own selfie and the giraffe behaved impeccably. The shot captured the spirit of fun and place which was to characterise the tournament.

Juan Postigo tees off at the G4D Open in Woburn

Luke Walker: The wonder of sport is that it has no limits. Juan Postigo is a true example of this despite his disability. In this image his precision and athleticism are perfect. The top of a backswing makes some of the nicest shapes in golf photography.

Donna Vekic serves in the fourth round against Linda Fruhvirtova at the Australian Open

Zhang Lintao: The Rod Laver Arena is used as an open-air arena for much of the day. In the afternoon I was searching on the roof for the best light to appear and found the perfect light in a crack. When Donna Vekic served, I captured this moment, using a symmetrical angle of light to showcase the most beautiful moment of a tennis player.

England's Mary Earps dives in vain to keep out Sam Kerr's shot for Australia in the Women's World Cup semi-final in Sydney, Australia

Cameron Spencer: This image was created using a remote camera installed high in the corner of the goal during the Women’s World Cup semi-final. I love it as it shows England goalkeeper Mary Earps in full flight diving in an attempt to save one of the goals of the tournament, scored by Australia captain Sam Kerr. Earps is twisted in mid-air, looking back in desperation towards the ball in the direction of the camera, capturing a dramatic moment during the match.

Evangelia Platanioti competes in the artistic swimming solo free final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan

Adam Pretty: There were only a few degrees of angle where the background was nice and clean in the whole swimming pool. I set up with a 600mm lens on the floor of the pool deck and hoped and waited for something to happen in the perfect place. Fortunately, Evangelia’s routine took her through the perfect area and I was able to capture this image. For me, a good sports picture is when several different elements all come together – lighting and background, aesthetic beauty, graphics and shape when combined with action or emotion can result in something special.

David Rinaldo competes at the X Games California in Ventura

Sean M Haffey: The X Games never disappoint for strong imagery, but a saturated sunset really made for a great image of David Rinaldo of France as he jumps 40ft in the air while letting go of his motorcycle. Little elements like the reflection off his goggles as he looks away from the motorcycle, and the fact that his body language conveys total confidence with such a difficult trick, really make me feel like this is a great photograph.

Ryan Blaney races in the Nascar Cup Series 600 in North Carolina

Jared C Tilton: I have always had a passion for the feel of speed in motorsports photography. Bringing this sense of speed with the use of colour and lines is what makes this image stand out to me, as well as appreciating how the light shaft beams through the opening in the grandstands to highlight the car.

The Indigenous All Stars and the Maori All Stars face off before the NRL All Stars match in Rotorua, New Zealand

Hannah Peters: Photographing the New Zealand Maori haka is always special to me as you never know what might happen. In this image the two teams kept moving forward with the challenge until almost touching. It is a powerful sign of respect when they get this close and creates an amazing atmosphere right from the beginning of the match.

A diver practises before the women's high diving preliminaries at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan

Adam Pretty: The high diving venue was pretty tough to work because there were not many picture opportunities. However, I walked around and scouted the whole venue from every angle I could find and decided on this location, as it could work if the sun came out. Fortunately, the sun popped at just the right moment and hit the roof of the stadium for a few seconds when a high diver was mid-dive, and I was able to capture the image. It was maybe a little risky as, if the sun never appeared, it would be a rather flat and lifeless image. But, with the right light, it all came together.

Jonas Vingegaard and the peloton on stage eight of the Tour de France from Libourne to Limoges

David Ramos: If you ask a photographer covering the Tour de France, ‘what photograph do you want in your pocket at the end of the Tour?’, a field of sunflowers like this would be in the top three wishes. It was a perfect landscape to wait for the peloton. Road cycling is tricky to plan, because the race and the landscape are constantly changing. You can decide to stop in place to take a photo that looks good and risk losing this amazing field of sunflowers because you are stuck behind the peloton.

Olivia Ottaway dives under a wave in Teahupo'o, French Polynesia, which will host the surfing event for the Paris 2024 Olympics

Ryan Pierse: The surf break in the small Tahitian village of Teahupo’o is a thing of beauty but also demands a high level of respect. I love how this underwater image of Australian surfer Olivia Ottaway shows both the power of the wave and the proximity to the sharp coral reef sitting just feet below. To get below the surfer, I had to time my dive down to a few metres below the surface, turn around and capture the duck dive under the wave. While not ideal lighting conditions for an underwater shot, the clarity of the water in Tahiti ensures you can see clearly under the surface on most occasions. This frame was also taken in the last 10 minutes of a 10-day feature shoot at Teahupo’o, which also makes it extra special. I’m glad I went for one last swim before my flight home.

Saracens Mavericks v Severn Stars in the Netball Super League in Nottingham

Naomi Baker: I knew the image I wanted to create going into this netball event. It took a while to get the exact shape and pause in motion that really draws your eye in to the action. Netball is one of the hardest sports to photograph so I am really proud to come away with this.

Andre Jackson Jr hangs on to the rim after scoring for the Connecticut Huskies against the Miami Hurricanes in the NCAA Final Four semi-final in Houston

Carmen Mandato: I see it as part of my job to showcase the athleticism and beauty of sport to the viewer not in attendance. We set up multiple remote cameras to ensure we can have the best angle as moments unfold. This image being wide, almost a scene-setter, reinforces that these heroics are being performed in a packed arena in front of thousands of fans.

Samuel Mindra at the US Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California

Ezra Shaw: This photograph came during the gala on the last day of the US Figure Skating Championships. This is an exhibition and it usually makes for good pictures because they use more dramatic lighting compared to the rest of the event. This event was in my local area and I know the man who runs the arena. I contacted him and asked if he would allow me up in the ‘catwalk’. He escorted me up and showed me a perfect position to get a unique angle of the skaters. Then I just had to be ready for the right skater performing the right move. Luckily for me, I was able to come away with this picture of Samuel Mindra spinning with his foot over his head.

Riders in the Hawkstone International MX race in Shrewsbury

Cameron Smith: This drone image was something I had been trying to create for a while. Looking for an opportunity within sports photography to explore this unique angle was especially new and exciting for me and it worked perfectly on this day. The symmetry, leading lines and pops of colour really make this image stand out.

The men's keirin final at the Track Champions League in Montigny le Bretonneux, France

Alex Pantling: The UCI track cycling is great for photographers – the sport really puts on a show and gives the audience a spectacle by changing the lighting set-up in the venue. Because of this it helps us create unique imagery like this pan shot of the cyclists in the keirin final, perfectly illustrating the energy, speed and excitement from the race.

Kimberley Min Lim and Rui Qi Cecilia Low of Singapore compete at the Paris 2024 sailing test event in Marseille

Clive Mason: We had had a pretty average day on the water and the light had not been very good all day so, collectively, we decided to come ashore and hope for better the following day. A quick glimpse once ashore, however, showed the sun poking out between the clouds, so a couple of us, and a very willing photo boat driver, hurriedly headed back out just in time to capture this frame. I wanted a low angle but, as we had rushed out, I did not have my waterproof camera housing, so I had to lower my camera over the side of the boat as close as I dared to the surface of the water to capture this frame.

A general view of fireworks at the podium celebrations after the Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah

Clive Mason: My photo position for the race was from what I think is an unsold apartment, which the race organisers arrange for the official photographers. You can shoot a variety of images from this apartment as it has three sides, all offering different views of the track. I knew that at the conclusion of the race there would be a huge drone show and firework display over the track and part of my brief was to capture it. It is not as easy as one would imagine, because to get this view (the window only opens 20cm for safety reasons) I had to awkwardly hold the camera, wedged in the gap with my widest lens to capture both the fireworks and the drones while using the camera’s flip-out viewfinder screen to compose the image.

All photographs subject to copyright.

Raptor Day For Nature Photographers Set For Jan. 20 At Okeeheelee – Town-Crier Newspaper

Raptor Day For Nature Photographers Set For Jan. 20 At Okeeheelee – Town-Crier Newspaper

The Friends of Okeeheelee Nature Center will host their ninth annual Raptor Day for Nature Photographers on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Okeeheelee Nature Center in Okeeheelee Park. A rain date is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27.

Several raptor species will be on display in a natural, outdoor setting. Every effort will be made to place the animals in optimal lighting with natural backgrounds.

After a short introduction of the Okeeheelee Nature Center’s resident rehabilitated birds and a briefing of rules, birds will be staged on natural perches, and photographers are free to photograph at their own pace.

Participants must be at least 15 years of age. Minor participants, ages 15-17, must be accompanied by an adult guardian. This event is not handicap-accessible.

Tickets are $45 per person for an hour and half photography session of the birds. Tickets are currently available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (561) 938-7705.

All proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit the animal ambassadors, exhibits and programs at Okeeheelee Nature Center and are tax deductible.

6 Must-See Iconic Album Covers by Photographer William Eggleston

6 Must-See Iconic Album Covers by Photographer William Eggleston

Photographer William Eggleston shows America in vivid detail, composing pictures made of ordinary objects. His photographs direct attention to the things some ignore, making banal subjects look like aliens to be studied. 

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Videos by American Songwriter

He was born in Memphis in 1939 and raised in Sumner, Mississippi. Over six decades, Eggleston’s sophisticated color and form produced visual poetry from distinct subjects. His pictorial style is in the details, keeping in what most photographers would crop out. Eggleston is one of the most influential artists of American visual culture. 

Against late-’60s black-and-white chic, Eggleston embraced color and pioneered modern color photography, capturing everyday views and trinkets and displaying them in high fidelity. His work is without explanation, letting the viewer find the mystery in the ordinary. 

His photos have graced the covers of records by Big Star, Spoon, Silver Jews, Primal Scream, and Jimmy Eat World. Highlighted below is a collection of iconic album covers by photographer William Eggleston.

1. Big Star, Radio City (1974)

Radio City might be Eggleston’s most famous album cover photo. It’s a jarring, minimalist photograph of a starkly painted red room with an exposed light bulb. The white cords spew out from the fixture like the beginnings of a spider web. Eggleston was friends with Alex Chilton’s parents, and the photo was offered nonchalantly for Big Star’s album cover. “The Red Ceiling” is from Eggleston’s Greenwood, Mississippi, 1973 series. Eggleston told the Getty the red paint was so powerful it looked like wet blood. Speaking to the complexity of reproducing the image, he said, “I’ve never seen it reproduced on the page to my satisfaction.”

2. Spoon, Transference (2010)

Spoon’s frontman Britt Daniel saw Eggleston’s photo of a kid in a chair at the Whitney Museum in New York City. It was part of a series called Sumner, Mississippi, 1972. Eggleston doesn’t bother titling his photographs, leaving meaning and interpretation to the viewer. Daniel was intrigued by the look on the kid’s face and the idea of making up your own story about what’s happening in the photo. When Spoon was in Los Angeles mixing the album with engineer Dave Sardy, Daniel noticed a book of Eggleston’s photos in the studio. The picture of the kid in the chair was in the book, completing the photo’s coincidental journey to the album cover. The kid in the photo is Eggleston’s nephew. 

3. The Derek Trucks Band, Soul Serenade (2003)

Eggleston’s Untitled (Near Minter City and Glendora, Mississippi), 1970, graces the cover of The Derek Trucks Band’s Soul Serenade. Many of Eggleston’s photos of America are shot without people, making the Soul Serenade cover even more striking. Soul Serenade is the fourth studio album from The Derek Trucks Band, where Trucks leans heavily on jazz. Like Reid Miles’s iconic cover work for Blue Note Records, Eggleston’s album cover photos place familiar American moments within the context of culture. 

4. Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American (2001)

Jimmy Eat World chose an untitled photo from Eggleston’s Los Alamos series to represent the fragility of success. Singer and guitarist Jim Adkins told the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that the photo balances pride and perspective. The trophies probably meant the world to whoever won them, but sitting on top of a cigarette machine puts the success in perspective. Eggleston doesn’t have much to say about his photographs. All the information is in the picture. 

5. Silver Jews, Tanglewood Numbers (2005)

The Pavement-adjacent Silver Jews released their fifth album in 2005. Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich contributed to poet and musician David Berman’s project. Malkmus, Nastanovich, and Berman were attending the University of Virginia when they formed Silver Jews in 1989. The group is very much NOT a Pavement side project less you face the wrath of Berman. In college, Berman discovered Big Star and Eggleston. The reason for selecting an Eggleston photo was to bring the Silver Jews into the rock mainstream. The cover image comes from Eggleston’s Los Alamos series. Berman was drawn to the photo’s warmth. 

6. Primal Scream, Give Out But Don’t Give Up (1994)

Primal Scream followed their 1991 masterpiece Screamadelica by reinventing their sound, chasing soul music in the American South. Give Out But Don’t Give Up was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN. Singer Bobbie Gillespie wanted an album image reflecting the band’s new American sound. Tracking with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Band, George Clinton, Tom Dowd, and Jim Dickinson, Primal Scream was treading the well-worn path of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones in echoing American blues and soul music. Keeping with all things Memphis, the band chose an Eggleston photo for the cover. They were immediately criticized for using the Confederate image. The neon Confederate flag photo is a cropped version of Troubled Waters by Eggleston. Eggleston doesn’t judge or explain his art. An alternate cover replaced the original using a (non-Eggleston) black-and-white photo of the band. 

Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images