Global News Morning Calgary
Interview by Dallas Flexhaug
April 30, 2024
Cochrane Photographer wins gold medal at World Photographic Cup
A Cochrane professional photographer marked a career milestone over the weekend, winning a gold medal at the World Photographic cup for her picture of an owl staring at her in the night. We chat with Jacquie Matechuk on Global News Morning Calgary about capturing the stunning photo and being recognized for it. The stunning image of a grey owl, looking right into the lens of the camera while in flight is now an international award-winning photo. Cochrane’s own Jacquie Matechuk is the woman behind the camera who took home the gold at the World Photographic Cup. She’s part of Team Canada that actually placed third in that as well. She just got back from Dallas Texas to join us in studio.
Excerpt from interview:
Congratulations. What does it feel like?
It was incredible. The most exciting part about the World Photographic Cup is that it is such a team based competition which is very rare for photography. The energy of everybody there (in Dallas), we had 7 different Top 10 images that were up for medals and there were 6 of us there as well as some of the team support and coaches – so we had a really good time . . .
What do these competitions mean?
I think it’s an opportunity as a creative to really get a message out, not just from our perspective, but the subjects we are shooting. For myself it’s more of a conservation based effort now . . .
“The most exciting part about the World Photographic Cup is that it is such a team based competition which is very rare for photography.”
2024 Gold Medal – Nature/Wildlife
Time behind the lens is precious for photographers. It’s our chance to escape the world, the pressure, the demands. To rediscover our creative selves and explore, fearless, all this world has to offer.
Grey owls are called ‘Ghosts of the Forest’, maneuvering with deafening silence. They twist and contort through fields of towering pines, breaking free at last to hunt. They remain elusive, artfully hiding in plain sight. This large frame veiled in perfect camouflage, erupts to life with a target detected. But this brief moment… this is ours and ours alone. I’ll see you through the darkness and always remember.
