About

Photography is the culmination of planning, technique, vision, composition and perception, brought together in one instant – with a little (or more) editing.
Leah Gray

I love photography. I adore the artistic and technical challenges that must be met each time one creates an image. To capture the vital presence of one’s subject with care and purpose is incredibly fulfilling.

Leah Gray
Leah Gray, FCAPA, PPSA, SPSA, AFIAP,
CAPA certified judge

Having started out with sports photography many years ago, I explored the fast action and anticipation of the sport world before moving on to discover nature, macro, studio and other genres of photography. I love looking for new challenges. Contributing to my local photo club is a way to share my appetite for photography.

I was raised in Alberta and moved to British Columbia in 2010. Over the years I have photographed on three continents, capturing numerous award-winning images. Over the past few years, I have entered the world of International Photographic Salons (recognized by the Photographic Society of America and Federation Internationale de l’art Photographique). My images have reaped in excess of 800 acceptances and over 160 other awards including 18 gold medals and 6 Best-in-Shows.

I have photographs in several different collections including the BC Cancer Centre in Victoria and the Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site as well as many private collectors.

Steve Smith and I began teaching photography classes in North Saanich in 2022. Please see our class listings.

More:

  • 18 Gold Medals, over 160 other placings and medals, and over 800 “acceptances” from Photographic Society of America competitions since October, 2017.
  • 6 “Best-in-shows”
  • Member of Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA), Photographic Society of America (PSA), and the Sidney Shutterbugs.
  • 2024
    • CAPA gold medal for “Three on the run” and HM for “Grizzly Teeth Bared” in CAPA Pacific Zone competition.
    • Two pieces (Undeviating and Gallop to Freedom) accepted to the juried Sooke Fine Art Show (2 copies of Undeviating sold)
    • Silver medal for Undeviating from the Delaware Photographic Society Circuit (2024).
    • Received the distinction of SPSA for an accepted portfolio with PSA (April, 2024).
    • In person presentation to the Victoria Camera Club. An Evening with Leah Gray: Expanding and Perfecting your Vision as a Photographer held at the Gibson Auditorium at Camosun College.
    • Merit Award for “Guitar Man” from the 1st round, HM for “Character Study” from the 2nd round of the PSA PID Individual Portrait Competition.
  • 2023
    • Image “Chilko Shake” accepted into the Sooke Fine Art show (juried) (3 copies sold).
    • CAPA Silver medal for “Autumn Lady” in the Annual Photo Challenge (Individual) Environmental Theme (portraits).
    • German International Photocup 2023 medal for “Grizzly with Sockeye Salmon“
    • Presentation to the Lakeshore Camera Club via Zoom: Taking Better Wildlife Photographs and other Fauna.
    • Photographer for Seaside Magazine  in Sidney, B.C. (until April, 2024)
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
    • Image in winning Victoria Camera Club entry to 2020 Lion’s Gate Celebration of Nature. Times Colonist , Black Press, Chek News
    • Received the Fellowship Award (FCAPA) from the Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) in 2020. This is the highest honour recognized by CAPA (Canadian Associaiton for Photographic Art).
    • Cover photo of the winter 2020 edition of Canadian Camera
    • Winner of the 2019-20 Distinguished Photographer of the year award (Advanced) at the Victoria Camera Club.
    • Gold medal for “Wild in the Sand” in Toronto International Salon
    • Gold medal for “Following” in Pena Fotografica International Salon (Argentina)
  • 2019
    • PSA Nature image of the year gold medal and Best in Show. Gold medal winner out of all of the Nature-wildlife medal-winning images from Photographic Society of America competitions in 2018.
    • Black Press article on 4-Nations Competition with “Wild Dance” (1st merit) by Leah Gray
    • Featured in Seaside Magazine (June, 2019, page 74-75), when the image “Wild Dance” was selected as part of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art 4-Nations entry (2019).
    • Cover photo of the 2019 November Victoria Camera Club magazine Close Up
    • Cover photo of the 2019 July-August Victoria Camera Club magazine Close Up
    • Winner of the 2018-19 Distinguished Photographer of the year award (Advanced) at the Victoria Camera Club.
    • Image “Siblings” won Best in Show at Lion’s Gate Celebration of Nature
    • Gold medla and Best in Show for “Griffin” in Grand Canyon International Exhibition (Jan)
    • Gold medal “High Tide” Grand Canyon International Exhibition
    • Gold medal “Bite Me” Grand Canyon International Exhibition
    • Gold medal, Best in Show “Wild in the Sand” Grand Canyon International Exhibition
    • Gold medal “Takeout” Grand Canyon International Exhibition
    • Diversity Award from PSA (Photographic Society of America) International Exhibition (Siblings, Blue Iguana and Spur Fowl)
    • Gold medal “Wild in the Sand” Midland International Exhibition
  • 2018
    • Gold medal for “Following” in Smethwick International Exhibition
    • Gold medal and Judge’s Choice for “Zebra Run”, Grand Canyon (fall) International Exhibition
    • Gold plaque for “Following”, Sydney International Exhibition
    • Gold medal for “Surf Stride”, Australia (APC) International Exhibition
    • Gold medal and Best in Show for “Bolt”, Southern California (SC4) International Exhibition
    • Gold medal for “Run to Water”, Grand Canyon Exhibition (Jan).
    • Gold medal for “Horse Latitude” Maitland International Exhibition