Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Jan 07/02) - Vicki Boudreau began taking photos as a hobby 30 years ago. Last year, to the delight of many, she started selling some of her works.

"I didn't realize they were good enough that anybody would want to buy them until last year," said Boudreau, who has lived in Inuvik for over three decades.

"Some of the people that had seen them asked if I was going to sell them, so I said I would."

Boudreau set up a booth at the 2000 and 2001 Christmas Craft and Bake Sale at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school. She also sells her works on an ongoing basis at Mac's News.

She said she now has photos for sale of all the seasons.

"Last year I only had the ones I had sort of done in the late fall and early winter," Boudreau said.

"I expanded things this year and made the cards and the calendars, which is something new. Those have been selling very well."

Boudreau explained she takes some photographs of people, but most feature countryside.

"The country is so spectacular. Today I missed the most gorgeous sunset just because I was sitting in here. It was just so beautiful out there."

"With the scenery here, the water and the sunrises and sunsets are truly spectacular, I think, and the water always changes all the time."

Boudreau was born in Manitoba and raised in Saskatchewan. She moved to Alberta after getting married, before coming to Inuvik.

She said over the years here she's been out at some strange hours with her camera.

"I've even been stopped by the RCMP one night, when I was cruising around at 2:30 in the morning."

Boudreau's day job is at the Inuvik Housing Authority, and she explained she sometimes takes photos during lunch time or her coffee break.

"So you just never know, any time of the day or night, I'm out there," Boudreau said with a laugh.