John, Jenaya, Marlise and Josiah Launstein, who experienced successes in previous Outdoor Photographer of the Year competitions, have opened a gallery close to their hometown Pincher Creek in Blairmore, Alberta.
Named Launstein Imagery Wildlife Art Gallery, high quality prints of photographs by the four are on sale alongside their images on greeting cards and in calendars. Wildlife sculptures by Longview area artist Donna Wilson are also on show, adding to the collection.
The family first caught Outdoor Photography’s attention in 2014 when Josiah (just 10 at the time) won the Young Outdoor Photographer of the Year category with his powerful B&W image of two bighorn sheep going head-to-head. Our youngest winner to date, Josiah took the image in his homestate of Alberta.
For the 2015 competition, dad John, 18-year-old Jenaya and now 11 year-old Josiah all had images in the first Outdoor Photographer of the Year book, Portfolio one.
Caption: Josiah draws a winner out-of-the-hat for a competition the Launstein’s ran to coincide with the gallery’s launch. The prize was a signed print.
Largely photographing the animals, birds, flora and fauna found around Alberta’s mountain parks and regions – especially that of the Waterton Lakes National Park – the family are known to go on long camping trips so they can immerse themselves in nature and photograph what they see.Other international successes have included Jenaya having an image exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum and named Youth Photographer of the Year in
Other international successes have included Jenaya having an image exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum and named Youth Photographer of the Year in the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards; Josiah recently had two images shortlisted in Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
They are also involved in environmental projects – including a travelling show called Walk the Planet (a global conservation initiative).
Caption: The gallery includes images the family have taken in Alberta’s wilderness.
They say: ‘We are committed to capturing the beauty and behaviour of the wildlife in western Canada and along the Rocky Mountains, and the challenges they face living in this sometimes-harsh environment.’
A portion of the proceeds of a special Conservation Collection series of prints on show at the gallery will benefit local Alberta conservation organisations.
FIND OUT MORE:
- Launstein Imagery Wildlife Art Gallery website
- Launstein Imagery on Instagram
- Launstein Imagery on Twitter
- Outdoor Photographer of the Year – Previous Winners
The competition is now closed