Arviat (Jun 05/06) - Twenty-five years ago, when Lynne Rollins was training to be a journalist in Ottawa, she never would have thought the photography skills she was learning would help her launch a photo club in Arviat.

Kivalliq Lifeline pilot and professional photographer Gilles Pucheu work during the Arviat Photo Club's first year of operation this past summer. - photo courtesy of the Mikilaaq Centre

Rollins' passion for the lens was renewed a few years ago when Mikilaaq Centre co-worker Nadine Lamoureux showed a desire to learn more about photography.

After learning the basics from Rollins, she took correspondence courses via the Internet and attended workshops in the South.

The centre invested in new digital equipment and the two now share their passion through the photo club they started two years ago.

The club held its first photo gallery this past month, giving members the chance to display matted 8 x 10 prints. The youngest photographer to display her work, Anne-Renee Angalik, 11, took the most orders for her collection of Inuksuit prints.

Rollins says the centre hopes to have another gallery this coming fall.

"We ran two photo contests the previous year, but we wanted to do a photo gallery so there would be no money or prizes involved with the photography," Rollins says.

"We were competing with the spring festival, but we had a very good turnout.

"Each of the 11 participants had their own table to display their work and everyone had their own personal theme."

The centre has four point-and-shoot cameras for people to borrow.

It also has two computers dedicated to the digital photo club and a high-quality printer.

The Arviat Photo Club meets once a week throughout the fall and winter and once every two weeks during the spring and summer.

Rollins says a professional photographer will be coming this summer to work with the members, following the visit of Kivalliq Lifeline pilot and professional photographer Gilles Pucheu last summer.

"We have a lot of younger people involved with the club, but Anne-Renee Angalik was the only one to put photos in the gallery and it was nice to see her be such a big hit.

"Her photos are great, and the fact she's so young really prompted a number of people to support her, which we were very happy to see.

"She may be very young, but she has a real photographer's eye."

Rollins says the talent she sees from the young people in the photo club is amazing.

She's come to believe Inuit are artists at heart during her 20 years in Arviat.

"Creating just comes naturally to Inuit and photography is another way for them to express themselves.

"Many of them have great potential as photographers if they decide to get serious about it."