Almonte photographer gains rare national recognition with first-time entry at Canada’s leading professional competition
ALMONTE — On the outskirts of Almonte lives a photographer who once stepped away from the craft but is now earning national recognition after submitting his work to Canada’s top professional photography competition for the first time.
Howard Whiting has had four images selected for the Professional Photographers of Canada National Image Salon, an annual competition considered the country’s foremost showcase of professional photography.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Howard for a remarkable achievement,” said Jay Terry, chair of the National Exhibition Committee, in a press release.
It is uncommon for a photographer to have all four images accepted at the national level.
“It’s a tough competition,” Whiting said in a recent interview. “You might get three accepted. So to get all four images through, I was certainly happy with that, especially considering it was my first time.”
The Professional Photographers of Canada traces its roots back to 1946, when commercial and press photographers in Ontario formed a national organization. The association introduced its image competition the following year, and it has grown into a cornerstone event for professional photographers across Canada. Today, the organization has more than 600 members nationwide.
Whiting’s path to the national stage has been anything but linear. After studying journalism and photojournalism in college, he began his career working at a photography studio specializing in portraits and weddings in North Bay before moving to the Ottawa Valley.
“I ended up moving to the Ottawa area to work for a newspaper because I wanted to do photojournalism,” he said, recalling his time with a local publication that ultimately shut down.
He stepped away from photography after that, returning to school to study accounting and finance. Now a software consultant, Whiting said he didn’t even own a camera for several years.
That changed with the birth of his son.
“I thought, well, I probably should have a camera,” he said. “And I’ve just kind of gotten into it since then.”
Over the past 15 years, Whiting has steadily reacquainted himself with the art of photography, focusing largely on landscapes and wildlife after settling near Almonte.
“There’s opportunity around here to do that,” he said.
His four accepted images reflect that range. Among them is a photograph of a polar bear and cub taken near Churchill, Manitoba, from roughly 200 metres away under the supervision of a guide. Another, which earned a Merit designation, captures a green heron spotted during a group outing at Mud Lake in Ottawa.
Other submissions include an action shot of Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson taken by Whiting a couple of years ago, and a long-exposure image of a mallard resting at Hogsback Falls.
“It’s one of those things where you just get lucky, right place at the right time,” he said of the latter image.
The competition evaluates images through a tiered system, with entries either not accepted, accepted, awarded Merit, or achieving Excellence. Judges provide detailed feedback, offering photographers insight into how their work can improve.
“The judges are tough for a reason,” Whiting said. “They give the photographer something to think about.”
Encouragement from fellow members prompted Whiting to enter the competition after attending last year’s conference.
“They were saying, ‘You just gotta do it.’ So I did,” he said.
Beyond competing, Whiting has also volunteered extensively with the organization, helping run online events and serving on committees at both the provincial and national levels.
“We are so happy for Howard and his success in image competition this year. Howard is a valued member and spends a great deal of his time volunteering for the association as well,” said Krista Crellin, executive director of the organization, in a statement to Hometown News.
For Whiting, the recognition is less about accolades and more about progress.
“It just means you’re moving in the right direction,” he said. “It feels like there’s lots I have to work on.”
The Image Salon is judged online, while awards are presented annually at the Canadian Imaging Conference and Expo, which rotates locations across the country. The 2026 event was held in Saskatoon, with Calgary set to host in 2027.
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