2023-2024 Round 3 Competition – Judges’ Bio

Ursula Tweedle

As an award-winning amateur photographer, I have a love for all types of photography, the digital darkroom and most especially the creative genre.

In the past, I have had multiple public art exhibitions and was the winner of the “Land and Vision: Selected Images from Nature” Mississauga Art Gallery exhibition/competition that was judged by Richard Lautens, George Hunter and Tony Makepeace. I also participated in Canada’s 150th birthday celebration as part of a Mississauga Camera Club juried exhibition held at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre. It was entitled “Proud to be Canadian: Our Stories” and was juried by Charles Pachter, Freeman Patterson and Richard Martin.

After spending time in the ex-pat world, I participated in less competitions, worked on more projects and did more travelling. I was a past Competition Chair for the Mississauga Camera Club. More recently, along with giving travel presentations, I have embraced the storytelling opportunities of the AV world, taught an AV workshop, as well as run a year-long Mac Special Interest Group/Workshop on helping users enhance their post processing abilities by understanding their computers. Becoming an OCCC competition judge has honed my design and composition skills.

Cynthia Smith

I take an active role in Club activities and have given workshops and seminars in the following genres : Nature/wildlife photography – Travel photography – photo Essays. I am on the competition team at DMCC .and have led outings for the club.

I am a Master photographer at the Don Mills Camera Club having obtained the required number of Awards of Merit as well as reached Specialist status in all four categories – Nature – Pictorial – Mono prints – Color prints.

I was encouraged to apply and take the CAPA judging course by my fellow club members in 2015 and decided to give up some of my time to participate in judging for GTCCC clubs. I have adopted a non biased attitude towards judging and given constructive ideas for improvement where requested.

Nella Pascal

Nella has been taking photos since she was 12 years old. In 2003 she joined the Guild for Photographic Art to learn from more advanced colleagues. Her favorite categories are pictorial, architecture, and creative photography. She has run numerous photo workshops and outings. Accredited in 2005 she has dedicated her time as a judge to over 80 competitions. By profession, Nella is an expert image editor and commercial photographer. In photography she doesn’t look for perfection, but for an emotional connection with the photographed subject. Nella on Instagram: @nella_pascal_photography