Canadian Nature Photography News
Last updated November 15, 2023
November 15, 2023
The Biocommunications Association assgined several photomicrographs of mine an award of merit and one to Tina Sommers. Tina took one of my photomicrography workshops last September to learn how to make crystals and photograph them with a microscope. See her article Colorful explorations on this web site.
Crystals of amino acids 40X polarized light microscopy 40X
Red wine crystals from the Napa Valley. Polarized light microscopy 40X.
Hydra swallowing a waterflea. Identification of water flea for me by Dr. Robert Walsh as Simocephalus sp. Darkfield microscopy 40X.
Callus remover 40X Polariized light microscopy - Tina Sommers © See Tina's article.
November 11, 2023
The December issue of National Geographic Vol 244. The photos shown here are from prepints sent to me in November. The magazine will be availalble at stores in December 2023. The pictures are based on an article I posted The Microscopic Beauty of Plants and Trees.
Cross sections of plants, trees and a pine needle by Robert Berdan
November 4, 2023
Culinaire Magazine features articles about food and wine and is found at wine stores and farmers markets n Calgary. The image on the cover is of white wine crsytals photographed with a polarizing microscope at 100X. To read more about how to make wine crystals see my article on this web site.
July 27, 2023
Pine Stem photomicrograph from a Blue spruce tree (from my front yard) DIC microscopy - panorama stitch (Honorable mention) from Evident (Olympus) photomicrography contest.
photomicrography.jpg)
For all the winners see https://www.olympus-lifescience.com/en/landing/ioty-2022/
April 27, 2023
See feature on Robert Berdan on Zeiss web site: https://www.zeiss.com/microscopy/en/resources/insights-hub/teaching/vitamin-c-crystals.html
Vitamin C crystals by polarized light microscopy - learn to make your own crystals
February 2, 2023
National Geographic purchased a photomicrograph of amino acids from Robert for this upcoming book cover.
October 19, 2022
On October 19, 2022 - Robert was a featured artist in the Online news for Monteal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver guardian. It features “A Day in the Life” with Scientist, Teacher and Photographer, Robert Berdan. See the article and pictures here: https://calgaryguardian.com/calgary-artist-robert-berdan/
August 22, 2022
On August 22 I received an award for my Vitamin C image from Zeiss International Photomicrography contest. This picture is featured in my article on Crystals Photographed with Polarization Microscopy: Water, Beer, Caffeine, Vitamins, Amino Acids and Human Tears. The image of Vitamin C won the Education Category. Other winning photos are shown on the Zeiss web site.
Picture of Robert in front of two of his Zeiss Axioscope Microscopes.
Roberts offers workshop on making various crystals to observe via polarized light microscopy.
https://www.zeiss.com/microscopy/en/resources/insights-hub/teaching/vitamin-c-crystals.html
May 17, 2022
Art Gallery of Robert's Caffeine Crystals in Estonia
https://menu.err.ee/1608328343/galerii-kohvifestivalil-saab-piiluda-kohvioa-sisemaailma
About a year ago I took pictures for an advertising company in Estonia that was developing a new design to promote a new brand of coffee. They asked me to take pictures of caffeine and crystals extracted from the coffee beans and leaves. See below
Some pictures showing the award winning packaging that used my photomicrographs of caffeine crystals.
On May 16 I was notified that some of my photographs and packaging won the Golden award for Kohe coffee crystals. The Golden egg for the best photo category in Estonian Advertising.
Gold Egg Awards
Advertising Company I photographed for was Optimist Creative in Estonia
November 30, 2021
Two years ago one of my photos won first prize from Nature Canada and the prize included a kayak trip in Ontario down the French river. I had hoped to go as it was close to my parents home around Georgian Bay. Unfortunately I had to cancel the trip due to COVID. This year I submitted several photos and to my surprise won first prize for a picture of a Barren land Caribou on the tundra which is presented in their 2022 Calendar and a landscape showing sunrise in winter at the Vermilion lake next to Banff. The prize is a camping trip for two on Vancouver island for 8 days for my wife and I. The workshop is offered by Vancouver Island Camping adventures. I have visited Vancouver Island three times before to take pictures but my wife has not visited the island and we are looking forward to the trip. This year I will also try to collect marine phytoplankton to bring back to photograph with my microscopes and will share images of our trip next summer.
February 10, 2021
On Feb 8 several of my photos and comments were featured on Canadianaffair.com about the top 8 Natural wonders of Canada. Two of my favourite places to photograph are the North West Territories - to Caribou and the Aurora borealis at Peterson's Point Lake Lodge. I also mentioned the Great Bear Rainforest as one of the most special places in Canada tours offered by Mothership Adventures on the Columbia III.
I also provided consultation services Feb 1-9 on microscopy and photomicrography equipment for an Apple Sponsored TV progam for Kids produced in Calgary.
March 7, 2019
One of my photomicrographs was chosen to be included in an exhibit at St. Ambrose University along with many other top photomicrographers.
Diatoms taken with Darkfield microscopy - a photo I took some 45 years ago.
Section from the brochure about the exhibit
Some of the other photomicrographs included in the gallery exhibit
August 8, 2018
Product Add in US magazine for Quantum sails - my photo was taken in a pond behind Peterson Point Lake Lodge in the Northwest Territories and the sailboat added digitally.
January 4, 2018
Photographers Favorite Places to Photograph in Canada - The Canadian Affair Travel Experts - feature the Canadian Nature Photographer and Peterson's Point Lake Lodge in the Northwest Territories.
Read it here: https://www.canadianaffair.com/blog/photographers-favourite-places-canada/.
Dec 4, 2017
On Friday, November 17 Dr. Robert Berdan won 1st place in the University of Calgary Striking Image Competition in the Open photomicrography category. This competition was for outstanding photomicrography and was sponsored by Nikon, Olympus, ThorLabs and Zeiss.
The winning photo was a scanning electron micrograph of an isolated Neuron, that was hand coloured in Photoshop.
Photo by Dr. Sharif Galal - Robert Berdan is at the right - awards included a 2TB Hard drive, trophy and framed plaque .
We toured the Live Cell Imaging Resource Lab and I photographed several of the new microscope setups.
Nikon microscope set on an antivibration table.
Another microscope set up at the Live Cell imaging facility at University of Calgary Health Science Center.
The University of Calgary also offers a Microscopy Interest Group which provides news, seminars, workshops on microscopy advances, techniques and access to a large network of microscopy experts.
June 29, 2017
Bill Atwood from Mount Royal School of Journalism posted an article about Robert Berdan in Calgary Journal - view article.
June 18, 2017
An endearing ode to Canadian Art - art presentation with music in Canmore, Alberta. “Funnily enough, the first image in the show is by Calgary-based photographer Robert Berdan and, and it is of the Rocky Mountains near Canmore with the Rockies covered in snow – that’s the very first image, so then we take it from there.”
Read more in in the online version of "Rocky Mountain Outlook"
Also view Robert's Portfolio of Photos in Photo Ed - PDF
September 2016
September 2, 2016 - The Art of Canadian Nature Photography Book finished
Over the summer I finished my first "real book" on photography which features over 250 pages of images and text that I have taken over a period of 45 years from across Canada. The book also features a detailed discussion of the visual elements of design and how to take better pictures. This "prototype" was created in blurb and in the next few months I hope to be acquire a publisher. The blurb book is available now by purchasing it directly from me, but its cost is about $160 US plus shipping. Once I obtain a publisher I will realease more information about this book. It is my "opus" and features my best work from across Canada.
September 1, 2016 I finished a shoot of Horseshoe Canyon for the Nature Conservancy of Canada - you can see some of the pictures in my article on Horsehoe Canyon.
August 20, 2016 - while picking up my son at the Calgary Airport I noticed a large poster for the Northwest Territories at the Westjet arrivals that featured my photo of the aurora and tent next to Pontoon Lake, outside of Yellowknife.
Poster at Westjet baggage arrivals in Calgary
January 1, 2016
January 1, 2016
The Canadian Nature photographer web site is more than 5 years old and you are now looking at the new design which is mobile friendly and responsive so that it resizes to fit cell phones and tablets. The new layout is easier to read and print. However due to the large number of articles on this site it will take sometime before the site is completely converted in the meantime older articles still have black backgrounds and layout from the previous design. In this new design images will be much bigger (1200px), hopefully having more impact, but the images will automatically shrink to fit smaller electronic devices. I am also in the process of converting flash and VR movies into to HTML5 format. I will continue to add new articles and recruit articles from some of the best photographers in the world. I hope you like the new and bigger layout.
Old News
October, 2014
There was interest in one of my bison photos that was used to create artwork for a new $20 Silver Coin. 7000 coins were minted and it sold out in a couple of weeks. My father was able to hunt down one copy and send it to me. The bison was photographed along the road on my trip north of Fort Providence to Yellowknife.
Read the entire story here online: http://www.simcoe.com
Also a follow up article in Coin World: http://www.coinworld.com
This $20 Silver coin is available at: http://www.mint.ca/store/ - It's a $20 Coin but collectors pay $100!
Design: The Bison coin was designed by Canadian Doug Comeau on the basis of Robert's photo above and portrays the front-facing portrait of a wood bison. The bison's distinctive shoulder hump stands in contrast to the darker-coloured mane and the curved horns. The bison is standing still, its calm gaze fixed upon the intrusion in its otherwise natural environment. The coin also features edge lettering with the words "1 OZ FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR" engraved in a repeating pattern around the coin's edge.
March 31, 2014
Authentic Alberta Tourism and Canadian Geographic Photo contest . Robert's picture of a great Gray owl flying in a snowstorm won 1st place in the Wildlife Category and his photograph of a Cowboy trying to hold onto his hat while flying through the air upside down won honourable mention.
Great Gray Owl flying in a snowstorm
Cochrane Rodeo - Cowboy refuses to lose his hat.
August 30, 2013 - SkyNews Photo Contest Winner
My photo of the Aurora Borealis over Prelude Lake Won (without the women) won Best Tripod-mounted Unguided Photo2013 and is featured in the September\October 2014 issue of SkyNews - The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing. The photo was taken on August 30, 2013 using Nikon D800 camera with 14-24 mm mm lens at f/2.8 for 15s, ISO 800. I received an IOptron SkyTracker for making guided photos of the night sky which I have yet to try out.
Canadian Composer Mark Sirett used some my photographs of Northern Ontario to accompany his new composition shown on YouTube performed by Cantores Celestes Women's Choir - Kelly Galbraith Director. Click on the picture below or the hyper-link below the picture to see slide show and listen to the music on YouTube.
Click here to view the Youtube Video
April 2013 - Aurora Borealis image below won 1st place in Landscape in OASIS international Photo Contest
Robert's photograph of the Aurora Borealis taken September 2013 at Aurora village near Yellowknife, NT won 1st place in the Landscape category in the OASIS international photo contest held in Italy.
November 25, 2013
Sunset on Pond along the Ingraham trail by Robert Berdan, a photograph taken in September of 2013 was the best picture in the Natural Environment category of Yellowknife's Topix photocontest. The other TopPix winners from Yellowknife - First prize was a 1 carot diamond, category prizes included a trophy made by glass works of Yellowknife.Other winning photos can be veiwed.here.
April 30, 2013
I would like to draw your attention to a new Canadian Photography Magazine called PhotoED. PhotoEd is about Photography Education; both traditional and New Media. It is a useful resource for students, teachers and anyone desiring an education in photography. It is about motivation, inspiration and passion in photography. The magazine will showcase the work of emerging and established Canadian artists and be a vehicle for showing and sharing the great talent in Canada. Web site: http://www.photoed.ca
The Spring\Summer 2013 issue features an Article about my work called "Robert Berdan's Canadian Wildlife Experience" and also the work of fellow wildlife photographers, Peter Dettling and Glenn Bartley - both of whom have articles in the Canadian Nature Photographer web site. The magazine is published three times a year and the editor is Felix Russo. The cover of the Spring\Summer magazine is shown on the right and features "Creatures great and small" and deals with pet and wildlife photography.
If interested you can read the article in PDF format. Click here to view PDF article. In the article I mention those photographers that have inspired and mentored me in the development of my photographic vision, namely: Budd Watson, Keith Logan and Dr. Wayne Lynch.
March\April 2013
Photo of the Aurora Borealis and David Lilly with tripod taken near Boyle, AB published in Montana Outdoors March-April 2013 issue.
March 5, 2013
Bios sphere magazine March\April issue - two page spread of Robert's fox photo taken in Prelude Territorial Park.
November 21, 2012
Cover and article "How to Photograph the Northern Lights" by Robert Berdan Outdoor Photography Canada - available end of September on newstands.
May 27, 2012 - Bragg About the Creek Magazine Article
Every picture Tells a story - by Robert Berdan in Bragg About the Creek Magazine Summer 2012 issue - read the article online here. Calgary's Highway to Heaven article by Dwayne Zaba, Photography by Robert Berdan - Read the article in PDF format here.
April 2, 2012
Dr. Wayne Lynch's article"Arctic Aurora Autumn Caribou" was published in PHOTO NEWS where he describs his experiences on my Arctic Adventure tour. You can also view and read the Magazine article online here: Flipping Book or PDF format.
Feb 3, 2012 - Calgary Herald E-version - R. Berdan photo of Aurora from Yellowknife featured.
Feb 3, 2012 The Calgary Herald in Calgary used one my Aurora photos taken in Yellowknife in September on the Arctic Adventure Photo workshop to announce NASA's photography of the aurora from space.
January 25, 2012 - 9 photos of the Aurora published in e-version of the Calgary Herald, and 1007 visitors stop by web site to view article.
NEWS 2011
December, 2011 - Robert's Photograph of Trout Alevin that won honerable mention in the Olympus Bioscapes contest was published on the inside front of the December 2011 Scientific American Magazine (thanks to one of my customers Dieter Foessel from www.RockyHIghTours.com for notifying me).
Oct 5, 2011 - Cochrane Eagle & Cochrane Times
Aurora photography north of Calgary
October 7, 2011 - Olympus Bioscapes Contest Honourable Mention
Trout Alevin Approx. 10 X
August 10, 2011 - National Geographic News publishes photos of Aurora storm by R. Berdan
http://news.nationalgeographic.com
August 9, 2011 - Calgary Herald August 9 published several of the photos and a short Article by R. Berdan on the Aurora in Calgary
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/
February 4, 2011 - Two of Roberts' photographs are finalists in the Maria Luisa International Photo Contest in Spain.
www.memorialmarialuisa.com
February 7, 2010 - my family (Frank, Mike, Robert, Karl, Rosy and Mathilde Berdan) donated a large framed print (24 x 36 inch) of a Grizzly bear from the Bella Coola Valley taken by Robert Berdan to the South Lake Hospital in Newmarket, Ontario as an appreciation for the great care my father received during his triple bypass surgery in October.
On January 11, 2010 my family (Frank, Mike, Robert, Karl, Rosy and Mathilde Berdan) donated a large (24 x 36 inch) framed photograph by R. Berdan of "Morraine Lake and the Ten Peaks" to the Midland Huronia Hospital as a thank you for the excellent care my father received prior to having a heart operation in October of 2010.
November 5, 2010 Robert's Article on Composition was translated and published in Italian - see article here:
http://www.cultorweb.com/Comp/C.html
October 16, 2010 Nikon International Photomicrography Contest - Robert Berdan's photograph of Alevins (young trout) wins honorable mention. This is the 3rd time one of Robert's images have placed in this international competition. See more photo-micrographs here: http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/gallery/year/2010/22
Trout Alevin
May 6, 2010
Kananaskis Poster Series Photo Contest 1st Place Fauna Category was Frightened Fawn by R. Berdan, Robert's photograph of a Moose and Calf won 1st place in 2008.
Frightened Fawn in Kananaskis by Robert Berdan
January 7, 2010 - 3 Photos by Robert Berdan are finalists in the Memorial Maria Luisa International Mountain Photography contest in Spain.
See all winning photos
http://www.memorialmarialuisa.com/uk/index2.php
October 3, 2009 - Opening of New Museum in Calgary - Most of the Photography was by Robert Berdan
Robert Berdan spent the past year traveling to every corner of Alberta to photograph rivers, wildlife and fauna in Alberta. He also created a large number of panorama photos printed 8 feet tall and 12-30 feet wide which are used as backdrops for the new Bow Habitat museum in Calgary. The museum includes Alberta's first "eco-park", a fascinating hands-on classroom where you can learn about the natural environment right in the heart of Calgary. The Bow Habitat Station consists of an interpretive Visitor's Center, the Sam Livingstone Fish Hatchery, and the Pearce Estate Park Interpretive Wetland. Their Address is: 1440 17 A St. SE Calgary, AB - phone 403 297 6561.
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