Nov 27

Dax Justin Inducted Into The RCGS College of Fellows

By daxjustin NEWS

5 min read

In November of 2019 I flew to Ottawa, ON, Canada for the first time in my life to become elected as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. RCGS Fellows are nominated based on their significant contribution to Canadian geography, culture, and their embodiment of the longstanding values and tenets of the RCGS: the determination to build, courage to explore and outstanding service to Canada.

by Dax Justin

I’m now officially a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society! Out of Canada’s estimated population of 37.59 MILLION, there are just 1,176 RCGS Fellows – and I’m proud to be one of them.

On November 20th, 2019, I was inducted as a Fellow into the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (FRCGS). All RCGS Fellows are deemed to have distinguished themselves by directly contributing to scientific knowledge in the field of geography, geographical exploration or allied sciences (i.e., archaeology, atmospheric sciences, marine biology, zoology, etc.). Such accomplishments are evidenced by published books, scientific publications or major mainstream media coverage documenting fieldwork, or exploration.

RCGS Fellows are nominated based on their significant contribution to Canadian geography, culture, and their embodiment of the longstanding values and tenets of the RCGS: the determination to build, courage to explore and outstanding service to Canada. Fellowship in the RCGS College of Fellows has, since its inception in 1929, represented the very best of Canada, and includes many of Canada’s most intrepid explorers, geographers, astronauts, actors, and even some former Prime Ministers.

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A post shared by Dax Justin | Canadian Explorer (@daxjustin) on Nov 24, 2019 at 9:14pm PST

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“The Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s College of Fellows Annual Dinner is the standout event of the year for hundreds of people who share the Society’s passion for making Canada better known to Canadians and the world. But 2019’s event, held Nov. 21 at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., was even more special, as the Society celebrated 90 years of exploration, curiosity and storytelling. Read on for some of the highlights of the evening, as captured by those who attended..” Read more

Photo: Ben Powless, Canadian Geographic

Nominations to the RCGS College of Fellows can only be made by another Fellow and must be approved by the Society’s Fellows Committee before being presented for election during the RCGS Annual General Meeting. An RCGS Fellow is an individual who has demonstrated an interest in the mandate and programs of the Society and is willing to engage in efforts to sustain and expand its capacity to “make Canada better known to Canadians and to the world.” Fellows agree to serve on committees, foster partnerships, provide opinions and expertise, organize events and contribute to fundraising efforts.

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A post shared by Dax Justin | Canadian Explorer (@daxjustin) on Nov 19, 2019 at 5:56pm PST

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A post shared by Dax Justin | Canadian Explorer (@daxjustin) on Nov 13, 2019 at 8:44pm PST

Dax Justin, FRCGS, Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Thank you to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society for this amazing honour!

Canadian Geographic

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY:

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is dedicated to promoting and enhancing public awareness for Canadian geography, and to strengthening the bond between Canadians and their diverse and vast geographical heritage.

As one of Canada’s oldest and largest educational, non-profit organizations, the RCGS, and its iconic publication, Canadian Geographic, has been our country’s most recognized voice for connecting Canadians with the land, culture and environment in which they live.

Dax Justin is a Canadian explorer and adventure photographer, currently based in Calgary, AB. His photos and stories are focused on connecting humans back to nature. His work is concerned with ocean health, Indigenous rights and distinctiveness, and our environment, covering stories such as eco-tourism in the Great Bear Rainforest, the human impact of marine debris, and trekking with Polar Bears on the Hudson Bay tundra. Dax is a newly-elected Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (FRCGS), Contributor to Canadian Geographic, a National Geographic Certified Educator, TEDx speaker and creator of the the ‘Explore in School‘ (EiS) initiative. You can explore more of his images and adventures on instagram.com/daxjustin or facebook.com/daxjustin.

Aug 26

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It’s Official⁠ — I’m a National Geographic Certified Educator

By daxjustin NEWS

5 min read

In the Spring of 2019 I undertook a National Geographic course for the first time and it's called the National Geographic Educator Certification course. This course seeks to inspire Pre-K—12 formal and informal educators to teach students about the world in innovative and interdisciplinary ways. As an Informal Educator, this 3-month course was like jet fuel for my youth initiative, Explore in School.

by Dax Justin

I’m over-the-moon excited to share with you all that I am officially a National Geographic Certified Educator! After a few months of work over Spring and Summer, I got the official word that I had earned the certification.

MORE THAN EVER, OUR WORLD IS INTERCONNECTED.

“National Geographic Educator Certification is a free professional development program that recognizes pre-K through 12 formal and informal educators committed to inspiring the next generation of explorers, conservationists, and changemakers. These educators are part of a powerful movement to make the world a better place by empowering students to be informed decision-makers equipped to solve meaningful challenges in their communities and beyond.”

DON’T JUST TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE WORLD—TEACH THEM HOW TO CHANGE IT.

The course is made up of three phases, each with their own objectives and set of criteria for completion. In the first phase, I worked on developing my Teaching Mission; taking a goal and expanding that into formidable action. Before the course, my teaching mission was to basically just go into schools and give presentations about walking with polar bears… After I completed the first phase successfully, my Teaching Mission is now to EXPLORE – ILLUMINATE – ACTIVATE through a series of visual storytelling presentations and lessons on wildlife conservation, human impact on the planet, and, inspiring students to become young adventurers and stewards of the environment.

In the second phase, the course dives into the National Geographic Learning Framework. “The National Geographic Learning Framework lays out what we believe children and youth should learn from their experiences with the Society. It communicates National Geographic’s core beliefs and values, and has been created to provide guidance for every product, resource, service, and experience we design. The Learning Framework supports educators—everyone who teaches and cares for children and youth—with resources and tools to meet our mission: We teach kids about the world and how it works, empowering them to succeed and to make it a better place.”

“Key attitudes encompass the mindset of an explorer. National Geographic kids are:

Curious and adventurous—curious about how the world works, seeking out new and challenging experiences throughout their lives.

Responsible—with concern for the welfare of other people, cultural resources, and the natural world. They are respectful, considering multiple perspectives, and honoring others regardless of differences.

Empowered to make a difference. They act on curiosity, respect, responsibility, and adventurousness, and they persist in the face of challenges.”

After implementing this learning framework into my lessons I had injected my presentations with more meaning and depth.

The third and final phase of this course is all about your Capstone Project. It’s like the season finale! This is a multimedia project that includes short written reflections, photos, and a video. The purpose of the capstone video is to share the story of one of your course activities, its impact on the students, and its connection to the learning in the certification course.

I LEARNED HOW TO INSPIRE + ACTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH AN EXPLORER MINDSET.

Thanks to all who stood for me to achieve this goal. Speaking to you, my fearless mentor Allison Fuisz and the Team at Inside NatGeo!

I highly recommend this program to any educators out there. It will advance your aptitude and shape the way you (and your students) think + act on our planet’s habitats. If you’re an educator interested in enrolling National Geographic Educator Certification this Fall please view registration details here:

LEARN MORE + ENROLL

DAX JUSTIN, National Geographic Certified Educator

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY:

The National Geographic Society is an impact-driven global nonprofit organization that pushes the boundaries of exploration, furthering understanding of our world and empowering us all to generate solutions for a healthy, more sustainable future for generations to come. Our ultimate vision: a planet in balance.

Sep 21

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The Rise of the Mobile Creator

By daxjustin NEWS

Today, we’re all part of an incredible global movement:

? ‘The Rise of the Mobile Creator’

The moments of our lives are happening right in front of us and you may already have hundreds (or thousands) of photos on your smartphone. YOU are the mobile creator.

Question: How many photos do you currently have on your smartphone?

Earlier this season I was presenting my Smartphone Pro Mobile-Photo Workshop to a group of people in Calgary, Alberta and I ran a poll asking them how many photos they had on their phones. My poll went up to 3,000 photos because as a photographer I have around 3,000 photos and didn’t expect people who weren’t photographers to have that many. THE MOST COMMON ANSWER WAS 5,000+ and this proved to me instantly that the ‘Rise of the Mobile Creator’ is happening faster than we realize. These are the moments of our lives and this I value very highly.

For the first time in history, the lines are being blurred between Digital SLR Cameras and Mobile Phones.

Today our smartphones are now readily-equipped with camera functions that enable us to capture professional photos as if you were using an expensive camera setup. Your smartphone is your new professional camera.

The best camera is the one you ALWAYS have with you and that camera is now our phones.

Your phone will be with you mostly all the time, your other camera’s won’t. It makes sense to know how to properly capture and express the vitality and essence of a moment while you’re in it.

Reduce your photographic workflow.

Since I began shooting on a smartphone more seriously, I’ve been able to reduce the tedious photo workflow between his cameras, laptop and hard drives. I can just SHOOT – EDIT – SHARE with my fingertips right from in the field. This has allowed me to spend more time capturing + sharing the vitality of the moment while it’s happening. Game-changer.

Why take the best photos possible on a mobile phone?

Accessibility: You will almost always have your phone on you and knowing how to properly capture that fleeting moment can be the difference between a blurry photo and an award-winning photo.

Technique: Maybe you LOVE photos, and even have a Digital SLR Camera – but don’t exactly know how to use it. In the workshop you’ll learn basic photography fundamentals and will gain confidence through shooting on something you’re already familiar with: your phone.

Barrier to Entry: Maybe you have a smartphone and don’t feel like spending another $5,000 or $8,000 for a legit camera setup.

Or maybe this: You want to take amazing photos on your next trip or vacation. You want to become more serious about photography. You’ve taken photos on your phone but they didn’t turn out how they expected. You want to take the best photos of your child when they’re born, or graduating, or getting married, or anything. Your maybe your moments just mean something more to you, like they do for me.

“Your photos deserve more than a ‘filter’ or ‘preset’.” — Dax Justin

Why did we all started using ‘filters’ or applying ‘presets’ — is it because we all want our pictures to look better?

OF COURSE IT IS! These days we all want to share the best photos we possibly can. But why filters? Because they’re easy. You don’t need to think, you just tap a button and all of a sudden you have a photo with a generic set of values applied to it. Can we stop this? Lighting in your photo is NEVER the same, so why would you want to edit every photo the same way?

Instead, learn how to shoot and edit your smartphone photos like a pro photographer!

Over the last few months I have been creating an online workshop that will take your mobile photography skills to the next level…

Today, I’m proud to introduce:

The Smartphone Pro Mobile-Photo Workshop

An online course that gives you the tools and teaches you step-by-step how to capture, edit and produce professional-level photos from your smartphone with your fingertips, all while in the field or on the go. Regardless of what phone you take photos right now, you are capable of capturing and producing professional-level photographs directly from your smartphone. This is an empowering photography course for anyone!

You’ll learn how to shoot jaw-dropping photos from your smartphone and will show you how to bring the life and vitality out of your photos from wherever you are, regardless of what device you’re shooting on.

DISCOVER THE WORKSHOP →

I can’t wait to have you in the workshop, you future mobile-creator, you! ?

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Apr 06

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Meeting a WARRIOR: Dr. David Suzuki

By daxjustin NEWS

This year I was asked to be one of three Keynote Speakers at the Prairie University Biology Symposium at the University of Calgary and this is what lead me to meet a warrior.

As one of the most powerful voices for nature and conservation on the planet, being able to spend time with David and talk about human impact on Earth was a perspective-bending experience. He is our environment’s wisdom-warrior.

Photographed by: Dax Justin. Equipment: Samsung Canada Galaxy Note8, Moment smartphone lenses.

Dr. David Suzuki is a passionate elder of grit & heart beyond anything I imagined…

#OneNature

David Suzuki Foundation →

What: The Prairie University Biology Symposium →

Where: The University of Calgary →

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Jan 25

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How to Take the Best Photos in Low/No-Light Conditions: The Rat’s Nest Cave

By daxjustin NEWS

I began my photography journey 4 years ago and I can’t say this enough: “It’s all about the light.” In this post I want to show you what I learned about shooting in EXTREMELY LOW-LIGHT conditions in a place that hasn’t seen sunlight in 750,000 years. Here are some techniques to capture the best photo you can in dark scenarios…

This is the final installment in my series into the depths of Rat’s Nest Cave in Canmore, AB, Canada. You can read about my initial descent into the cave and the experiences here: Into Earth’s Womb, Adam Walker: A Man Underground, Exploring the Unnatural with Christian Stenner, The Rat’s Nest Cave Will Change You, I Promise.

Since photography is all about lighting, when it comes to taking photos in low-light conditions it opens up a entirely new level of technical challenges. After descending into the Rat’s Nest Cave a couple times in 2017 I’ve learned (the hard way) what to expect and how to shoot awesome photographs in extremely dark places. I’ve put together a few technical tips to help you know your way around shooting in the dark, on both your DSLR Camera and your Smartphone:

1. Identify the light you can see.

First things first – our eyes need time to adjust to light. Give your eyes a few moments to adjust themselves to the type of light you’ll be working with. Once adjusted, look around and identify the light you do have. Sometimes it will be just moonlight, other times like in the Rat’s Nest Cave, you have ZERO natural light. As in, if you turn off all the headlamps and move your hands in front of your face, you will NOT see your hands whatsoever. Headlamps and small lights you have with you will be the main source of light.

2. Use light to make shapes appear stronger.

Once you’ve scanned and identified the light you can work with, it’s all about shapes. I think shapes are much more evident in a photo when they are contrasted by a strong burst of light. By moving light sources, you also change every shape the eye sees in the photo. I’ve found great results in brightening the light areas of a photo and darkening the dark’s. It helps bring people into the specifics of a scene.

3. Depth and layers are your advantage.

When you rappel into the lower areas of the Rat’s Nest Cave you’ll find layer upon layer of sediment that is hundreds-of-thousands of years old. Shadows of dust and moist drippings from the cave are awe-intriguing photos alone but by adjusting the ambiance of a photo, you can “place” someone there, as if they can reach out and touch what’s in the photo.

4. Think abstract.

When we reduce the elements in an image to simple forms, we sometimes start noticing art. Look for light streaks, patterns in shapes, where do all the lines intersect? When processing, I’ve often added a Vignette to my photos, making the edges/outsides of the photo darker, thus keeping the viewer’s attention in the middle of the image.

5. Try saturating (or de-saturating) the color you CAN see.

Since the dominant color in low-light scenarios is black, color can be an effective tool to catch the eye. Try different photographic treatments to your photos. Meaning, try processing or editing photos in just black-and-white, or try de-saturating colors and enhancing others to lead the eye. In the photo below, I’ve de-saturated the entire image expect what I WANT you to see (the caver and his tools). Your eye sees the caver (Adam Walker) and your sight is led up the rope (where the caver is looking).

6. Shoot using manual settings and use a tripod to stabilize your images.

While the options to use Auto or Flash are always available, I suggest taking things a step further and shooting on ‘Manual’ Mode. Taking photos in low light means choosing between noise from a high ISO setting, or the blur from a slower shutter speed. The idea is to make adjustments so you can let more light into the camera, while reducing blur and noise. Shoot at high shutter speeds to avoid blurry images, and decrease your aperture to the lowest number (your f/stop). For example, some of my cave images were at Aperture F1.7 | ISO 3200 | Exposure 1/2s. For longer exposure shots, you can experiment with anywhere from 5 seconds to even 30 seconds (30 seconds is where I have shot photos of the Northern Lights). You’ll also want to bring a tripod if you plan on shooting photos that are completely free of blur. Using a tripod and timer for your images also helps to prevent any camera shake while taking the photo.

ON A SMARTPHONE: Use Pro / Manual Camera Mode.

Let’s face it – a great challenge for smartphone camera manufacturers is capturing the best photo in low-light conditions. Sometimes (most of the time) you may notice your photo looks “grainy” when you zoom in, or an image will be blurry. This is a personal nightmare of mine and I have just about figured out every trick in the book to reduce and eliminate noise! However, there’s a game-changer, and it’s called “Pro” or “Manual” Mode. This camera mode on your smartphone allows you to capture better photos in low light by changing the aperture of the lens. (You can set your camera to let more light into the lens for a longer period of time, thus capturing your scene in focus). The smartphone I shoot with is a Samsung Galaxy Note8, which (for the first time in history) allows for a 10-second Exposure, and this is by far the most advantageous feature to shooting in dark conditions.

ON A SMARTPHONE: Keep your hand steady! Or better yet – use a Mobile Tripod.

Much like shoooting on a DSLR camera, you’ll want to setup your mobile device on a tripod to help stabilize the photo to eliminate camera shake. The less light, the more crucial this is. If you go down into the Rat’s Nest Cave without a way to stabilize your photos, you may end up with a few blurry photos and you’ll wish you carried a small handheld tripod in your pack.

I photographed the Rat’s Nest Cave while on Canmore Cave Tour’s new Private Caving Experience – SOLITUDE. Without being with a group of people, you’ll have time to enjoy every inch of the cave while exploring at your own pace.

What: A Signature Canadian Experience as designated by Destination Canada.

Where: Rat’s Nest Cave, designated a Provincial Historic Site in 1987, situated on the south-facing slope of Grotto Mountain near Canmore, AB, Canada. Access to the cave is restricted in order to protect the environment inside and entry is facilitated by Canmore Cave Tours.

How: Connect with the Team at Canmore Cave Tours:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/canmorecavetours
Twitter: www.twitter.com/canmorecavetour
Instagram: www.instagram.com/canmorecavetours

Web: canmorecavetours.com

Toll Free: 1877.317.1178

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Jan 25

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Photographing Team Canada on a Smartphone

By daxjustin NEWS

I’m proud to announce that I’ve teamed up with my friends at Samsung Canada to photograph the Team Canada National Women’s Hockey Team!

Before we get into this I just need you to know proud I am to take on this assignment and photograph our own Canadian athletes! This also marks the first time I’ve been hired to shoot an experience solely on a mobile device…and I’m darn proud of it! Thank you Samsung Canada X Hockey Canada!

A post shared by Dax Justin (@daxjustin) on Feb 1, 2018 at 11:16am PST

A post shared by Dax Justin (@daxjustin) on Feb 5, 2018 at 5:40pm PST

A post shared by Dax Justin (@daxjustin) on Feb 8, 2018 at 8:22pm PST

Having the opportunity to meet and photograph our Canadian athletes was an incredibly meaningful experience I’ll never forget. I wish Team Canada all the best in the Winter Olympics in #PyeongChang2018! GO CANADA GO! ??

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Jul 12

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Published in CanGeo’s 150 Ultimate Canadian Instagram Photos Book

By daxjustin NEWS

Excited to announce a photo of mine has been selected by Canadian Geographic for publication in their Canada 150 Instagram Book! I couldn’t be more excited! I mean what’s more Canadian than paddling in a vintage canoe in Canada’s first National Park? ? Thanks to everyone for supporting my passion and thank you for the selection Canadian Geographic!

Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park, AB, Canada

I’m honored to share these pages with many highly-proficient photographers whom I’ve looked up to for years. Pick up a copy at select major newsstands like Chapters or Wal-Mart or online here: http://bit.ly/2rvVEnJ

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Jul 07

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Photo Displayed at YYC Calgary International Airport

By daxjustin NEWS

My photo of iconic Moraine Lake has been chosen to welcome millions of visitors travelling from around the world to Calgary (YYC) and I couldn’t be more proud to showcase our province and country – THANK YOU! The photo is now displayed life-size in the new International Terminal at the YYC Calgary International Airport.

You can find the photo of Moraine Lake in the new International Terminal for the next three years!

More information →

Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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Jan 04

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SkiNorthBC Expedition

By daxjustin NEWS

The purpose of our #SkiNorthBC Expedition is to open eyes and ears around the experiences and the people who will welcome you into the winter wilds of northern BC.

Our journey across Northern BC is now complete and my articles and photos are now up on my blog. You can check out the stories below:

Read the Stories:

– 72 Hours in Quesnel with Dax Justin

– Troll Resort steals my heart

– 72 Hours in Terrace with Dax Justin

– Shames Mountain: A ski hill for the people

– 72 Hours in Smithers with Dax Justin

– Hudson Bay Mountain

Today I set off on my 4th expedition! I’ve teamed up with Jim Barr (@doc_pow) of SnowSeekers and Chris Wheeler (@apreswheeler) to explore various regions for the next two weeks. I haven’t ventured very far into Northern BC so I couldn’t be more stoked!

For more information on our journey visit: bit.ly/2iMB0xA and follow the expedition on my Instagram and Facebook pages! x

Partners: SnowSeekers – Tourism Northern BC

Shames Mountain Resort – Kermodei Tourism Society – Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine – National Car Rental – Honda Canada
Dax

As always, drop me a line and follow my adventures on:
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May 12

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Spirit of the Canadian Badlands Tour

By daxjustin NEWS

Visit the tour microsite >>

NEXT STOP: JUNE 17-18, DRUMHELLER, AB

This year I’m teaming up with Canadian Badlands Tourism and Travel Alberta on a campaign photo-documenting Tom Jackson’s Spirit of the Badlands event series throughout Summer 2016. I’ll be updating this post as event details are rolled out.

Hosted by popular Alberta musician, actor and philanthropist Tom Jackson, the “Spirit of the Canadian Badlands Journey,” kicks off on May 14^th in Medicine Hat with a concert 3-4pm at the Medicine Hat Lodge. “The Canadian Badlands is a place that makes you feel free to explore without any limits,” says Jackson. “No matter where you go, the people embrace you with steadfast spirit,” he added. Tickets for the Medicine Hat event can be ordered online at www.SpiritOfTheBadlandsTour.com. ALL proceeds from this concert event will go to support the Medicine Hat Food Bank and the Fort McMurray relief efforts. Minimum donation for a ticket is ten dollars (plus fees). We will be collecting additional donation at the door for those wanting to help!

The next concert will be in Brooks on May 29^th and other places on the journey include; Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Stettler, Drumheller, Three Hills and Lethbridge. For updates and announcements of venues, please visit www.CanadianBadlands.com. Admission to the events will be by a minimum donation of $10. All proceeds will be donated to local food banks and Fort McMurray Fire relief efforts.

Influential adventurer, photographer and social media blogger Dax Justin will join Jackson on the road, documenting their Badlands experiences and stories on social media.