Ring designed by Jamie Look and Vanessa Temple.

On December 27th, 2011 I proposed to my beautiful and super cool girlfriend of three years, Heidi Raulin. We’ll be getting married this summer, here in Yellowknife, the city where we first met over 6 years ago.

Because the North is such a big part of our lives, I wanted to get her an engagement ring that is uniquely Northern and totally original. Enter Jamie Look, Yellowknife jeweler and a dear friend of ours. Jamie is known for her avant garde style using sculpted bone and metalworks techniques. Her beautiful work is displayed in galleries across the North and she was handpicked to represent the Northwest Territories as a visual artist and cultural ambassador at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Me and Jamie got together back in late August to come up with a plan for the ring. We brainstormed a few ideas and came up with a design that would combine the bone of a Northern animal with sterling silver. We wanted something strong in shape and colour. Believe it or not, but we wanted to avoid diamonds at first – Heidi works at a diamond mine and sees those things all the time. I guess it’d be like working at McDonald’s and getting a hamburger one morning as breakfast in bed? Anyhoo, we thought if we were going to do diamonds that they would be accent pieces to a nice blue stone, like Topaz, the stone for December. And since I’d be proposing in December it kinda made sense.

And here’s the ring. Absolutely stunning work by Jamie and Vanessa Temple, her coworker on this piece. The band and setting is made of sterling silver, designed to look organic and unique from all perspectives. The black part is bison horn with the topaz stone and two diamond accents set into it (since the only diamonds mined in North America come from the NWT, it only made sense to include them).

I want to thank Jamie and Vanessa for all of their hard work and creativity in designing this ring and making it come to life. It is truly special to us both. You did an incredible job.

And to Heidi: I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Our best years are ahead of us. I love you angel. xoxo

Robyn Burns, Arctic Explorer

I went to Resolute Bay, Nunavut a few years ago and I couldn’t help but notice all the inept “Polar Explorers” (read: rich British folks with nothing better to do) trying to reach the North Pole by skis. As they disembarked into the vast frozen polar hellscape, most of them fell or blew over in the wind after a few strides. “Someone’s going to die,” I thought. I mean, I ski like an Olympic biathlete in comparison. Which got all of us at Up Here Magazine thinking: “How many visitors head North ill-prepared and bumble around our Northern communities?” Ever been to the Geoscience Forum? Turns out the answer is “Shit-loads”.

So, in our January issue we’re doing a feature for all those would-be travelers to the North. It’s a bit of advice – most of it common sense – on what to expect (cold) and what not to expect (Starbucks, unless you’re going to posh Whitehorse) for all you goofy Outsiders!

Robyn Burns – CBC North reporter and producer – stepped in to play our Newbie Southerner for this series. As you can see, she pulled it off brilliantly! Thanks Robyn for lending your facial expressions and haute fashion sense to pull this off. Feel free to pick up our Jan/Feb issue coming out next week to see these pics in print and to read about the Do’s and Don’t's of visiting North of 60.

And a very Merry Chistmakwanzukkah everyone!

Jeff Philipp, 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year

Meet Jeff Philipp. He’s the head of SSI Micro and has been named Up Here Business‘ 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year. Associate editor Chris Windeyer penned a stellar profile about Jeff and how he’s pushing to make market room for fair and reliable internet service in the North.

I think I’ve photographed Jeff 5 or 6 times now for different stories and he’s always been a great sport, going so far as to let me wrap him in cable while I enjoy a beer from his “SSI Microbrewery” and take his pic. He even told me that I’m the only one allowed to photograph him, but I know he’s cheating on me because I’ve seen his mug in the paper and other places around YK. But the reason he’s photographed so much is because he’s such an interesting, positive and engaging guy with an amazing group at SSI. You’ll have to read Chris’ story but you’ll soon learn that they are David going up against Goliath, namely Bell Canada’s stake in the North. And if anyone’s going to fight that battle, no team is better suited than SSI. And you know what? They just might be able to tackle the biggest kid in the schoolyard. Good luck and congrats to Jeff and all the good people over at SSI Micro!

Richard Van Camp, Up Here's 2011 Northerner of the Year

Tlicho author, Richard Van Camp, has been named 2011 Northerner of the Year by Up Here Magazine. I photographed Richard for the story penned by another amazing writer, Katherine Laidlaw. She did a great job on this profile.  Katherine describes Richard as an “energy drink” and that spending time with him is a bit like “running through a funhouse, with a a trillion projects fading in and out of focus, talk hopping from comic books to short stories to radio plays and back.”

Van Camp will probably admit that on the surface, he’s a very silly and goofy guy, but his more serious work is anything but: it is dark, gritty – but still very funny – and speaks about the North without much of that romantic postcard sensibility most Canadians think about the place. Which is why his most noted short story, The Lesser Blessed, is slated to be a major motion picture and currently in the works. To read the full article, pick up a copy of the December issue of Up Here.

Erin Freeland Ballantyne: Role Model

I first met Erin over a year and a half ago, through mutual friends and other life-long Yellowknifers. If you don’t know Erin, let me introduce you…

Erin is a member of the board of directors for Dechinta: Bush University Centre for Research and Learning. Dechinta describes itself as a northern-led initiative delivering land-based, university credited educational experiences led by northern leaders, experts, elders and professors to engage northern and southern youth in a transformative curricula based on the cutting-edge needs of Canada’s North.

This right here is one pretty amazing educational institution. To the chagrin of a lot of Northerners, when the Royal couple visited Dechinta this past summer, the media played this as some little eco-lodge commune where youth and elders frolic in the woods and take study breaks between moose hide tanning duties.

So what are Erin’s credentials for being part of this cute little “bush school”? Sit down for this one.

She was born and raised in Sǫ̀mba K’è/ Yellowknife on Akaitcho territory and was the first Rhodes Scholar from Canada’s North. Erin holds a BA Honors in International Development Studies at McGill University and Msc in Environmental Policy from Oxford University. Currently working on a PhD at Oxford, looking at the disjuncture between climate change and its effect on human security and health, amidst a regional focus on oil and gas extraction and the challenge this presents for sustainable community development. Erin uses participatory video research to involve youth in research to create education tools to support community health.

And now that you feel like an uneducated moron, like myself, let me point out that she’s also an artist, aspiring actor, and loving mother.

We did these photos for a media kit we’re putting together for a few of her personal projects she has on the go. She said “you know, you don’t really have a lot of women on your blog.” So she graciously agreed to let me post these for all the world to see (or at least the 8 of you who read this). So, without further adieu, I give you the lovely Erin Freeland Ballantyne, a model Northerner.

WHEN: Thursday Jan 12, 2012 from 5:30pm-8:30pm (or longer, if needed)

LOCATION: TBA…the more people we get, the more space we’ll need!

COST: $55/person or $40/person before Jan 1, 2012

PAYMENT METHOD: Email transfer is best: plkkane@yahoo.ca or cash.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

This is an evening workshop designed for beginner and amateur photographers (ie, new camera for Christmas? This is for you!) although everyone is welcome. The idea here is for you – the participants – to direct the itinerary and flow of the seminar by coming with questions and having myself and other participants help find your answers.

Your questions can be anything, from “How do I turn on my camera?” to “What are ISO, f-stops and shutter speeds?” to “What gear do I need to do off-camera flash?” Really, the sky is the limit here – whether your concerns are technical ones or have to do with the art of photography or storytelling.

So, if you’re looking for a quick, inexpensive and fun workshop in the new year, get in touch with me and I’ll sign you up!

ABOUT ME:

I’m a professional photographer based in Yellowknife, NT and work as the staff photographer and photo editor for Up Here Magazine and Up Here Business. I specialize in photographing people, culture and lifestyle.

I’m a graduate of the School of Media Studies at Humber College where I studied print media and photojournalism. I also have a degree in English Literature and Philosophy from The University of Western Ontario.

My photos have been featured in magazines and newspapers across Canada, including The Globe and Mail, Reader’s Digest, Maclean’s, Albertaviews, Canadian Business and many others. To see my full portfolio, please visit www.patkanephoto.com.

Adam Beach, star of CBC's "Arctic Air"

Got invited to hang out on the set of CBC’s upcoming new show Arctic Air. Pretty cool to see how things work behind the scenes. It was especially fun to see everyone freezing their butts off on an otherwise mild (minus-5) November afternoon! Can’t thank the cast and crew enough for accommodating me with this shoot under a tight schedule, especially Crystal, Ken, Gary, Jay, Pablo, Elaine and everyone else I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and sharing a few beers with over the last couple months. Wish I had to time to get a photo of all of them – they are the ones making this show happen. Not to mention the friendliness and class they all have – they really want to show off the beauty of the north and make this something Yellowknifers will love. Check out the trailer on the link above.

Here’s a few shots of Adam Beach, the star of the show. Enjoy!

Mark Carney, B.O.C. leader to be named head of the international Financial Stability Board

Mark Carney has received more international attention in the last six months than any other banker alive. He’s been praised for keeping Canada out of financial ruin and is now spreading his gospel of fiscal responsibility to leaders around the globe. What’s more, people are listening. He is expected to be named head of the Financial Stability Board – the international watchdog and policy maker on world finances, so the earth doesn’t go to hell – as early as this weekend.

Not bad for a guy from Fort Smith. Ya, that’s right…Carney is a Fort Smithereen (Fort Smither? Fort Smithite? Fort Smitheon?) Whatever, he’s from “the almost capital of the Northwest Territories”.

I photographed Mr. Carney in 2010 for Up Here Business. Then editor, Mike Ganley did a short interview with him while I shot some pics. After the interview his handlers gave me a generous 10 SECONDS (!) to get a portrait of him. I’m not kidding, some PR cheesecake was literally counting down from ten as I took the photo above. Anyway, it worked out – and Mr. Carney thanked me, walked toward his handler and whispered to him afterwards “Relax, we’re in the North. Don’t be so pushy.”

Mark Carney – the voice of reason among the idiots.

Bob Mcleod, newly chosen premier of the Northwest Territories

Congratulations to Bob Mcleod who was named NWT premier yesterday. I guess these are his first portraits as premier. These were shot for Up Here Business so pick up a copy of our December issue to read the full interview by editor Guy Quenneville.

I’ve met Bob before and he’s always been great to chat with and photograph. I don’t have much of a write-up for this session because I had a whopping 3 mins to pull this off! He’s doing the media rounds today and has a full schedule. Anyway, I wish him the best and hope he does great things for the territory and the North!

Lauren Froment, hanging out at The Diner

We’re two months into the Range Street documentary and photo essay, and things are slowly coming into place. It’s been tough to be honest: busy schedules, logistics, setting up interviews, etc – its become clear that this is going to be a challenge in time management and planning. But probably the biggest challenge so far has been the most fundamental part of it all: putting it on film.

How do you film and photograph people who otherwise don’t want you shoving a camera in their face? I’d probably tell myself to fuck off too. But I guess we will keep telling everyone what we’ve been saying the whole time: this is a documentary project, which is going to be shot objectively but fairly. It will be at the same time gritty and beautiful.

I was taking photos last week and a woman came up to me. “Why are you taking photos?” she asked. “Nobody cares about this place.”

“Look over there,” she said, pointing at a graffiti filled sign in a vacant parking lot. There was a group sitting around it. “I bet you not a single white person will stop and talk to any of those people. Nobody cares about their story.”

I looked at her for a split second, realizing she was totally right. “Well,” I said, “I guess we’re doing this doc for exactly that reason. This is their chance to tell their story.”

This is their chance to have people listen. And to start caring.