Jocelyne Hebert in the Winnipeg Free Press

Author of the article: Tony Zerucha
Publishing date: Dec 4, 2024
Photo by: Graham Burns

Jocelyne Hebert’s moving image of a critical moment in a young woman’s life has earned her a spot on Team Canada for the upcoming “Olympics of photography.”

The photography instructor at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame campus is Team Canada’s sole Manitoba representative at the 2025 World Photographic Cup.

Hebert’s image, titled Should I Stay or Should I Go, depicts a young woman floating in water, her eyes and nose just above the surface. At that moment, she is deciding if she should continue to live.

It’s a personal subject for Hebert, who lost her brother-in-law to suicide five years ago.

“That was a real eye-opener for me,” she began. “Scott was somebody who inspired me. He pushed me to be an entrepreneur.”

Hebert said Scott’s passing was a shock to everyone. He was a positive person who was loved by many. She hopes ,Should I Stay or Should I Go, sparks discussion of suicide and encourages people to seek help, including the students she sees in the halls and classrooms every day.

Some are struggling to find their places. As they face decisions about careers and relationships, they must also re-establish themselves after pandemic-induced isolation.

“The world needs you,” Hebert said. “I see these young people. I say, ‘Please know that you are needed.’ Life is hard right now, but it does get better.”

Hebert submitted Should I Stay or Should I Go for consideration earlier this year and learned she had made Team Canada earlier this fall. She is one of 24 Team Canada members, whose portfolio includes 30 images submitted in various categories.

“My image is one of three representing natural portraits,” Hebert said. “We go as a team.”

Photographers generate points toward their team’s total. They can also win individual medals. Team Canada finished third at the last competition in 2023, and Hebert hopes to do her part in helping improve their showing.

For now, Hebert is in awe of the company she finds herself in, whose numbers include photographers whose work you see in National Geographic and other top publications.

“I see the people on Team Canada. We have galleries of their images. I never imagined I’d be one of them,” she said.

While competitors can use Photoshop to lighten and darken images, the rest is up to them. That means no artificial intelligence can be used to enhance or alter images. Judging is strict, as curators conduct background checks on every image to ensure that they and the ideas behind them are original. The competition website — worldphotographiccup.org — indicates that final judging is being conducted in November and December, with results announced in January.

One thing she knows for sure is that winning images must make a statement.

“They have one minute to look at your image; they look at hundreds,” Hebert said. “What you need is impact. Get their attention and then go from there.”

Hebert credits her students for her achievement. Just as she pushes them to do their best, they do the same for her.

“I owe a lot to my students,” she said. “They force me to challenge myself, to stay current.”