NNSL (Oct 03/97) - It was a flat tire that helped convince Fran Hurcomb to explore Yellowknife's Old Town in 1975.

Not only did her curiosity of this peculiar part of town impress her enough to see her move there permanently, but her life there has also served as an inspiration for the hundreds of photographs she's published in her 22 years living in the North.

Hurcomb, who now runs North of 60 Productions,

has just had her fifth northern calendar published, a popular collection offering some of the latest works by Hurcomb and fellow photographers including Tessa McIntosh, Chris O'Brien and Leslie Leong.

A native of Ottawa, who had attended the University of Calgary where she took photography, Hurcomb says her career really got rolling in 1980.

"I was living in the bush outside of Yellowknife and agreed to put together an article with pictures about trapping. I was so broke, no money whatsoever, and so I wrote up the article...suddenly this cheque arrives for $600. It was surprizing, but also made me realize it could be done."

Hurcomb, who has travelled the North extensively in pursuit of photographs, says it became harder to make a living from photography when her daughter Kathleen was born. That's when she decided to try her hand at putting together a calendar representing the North.

By recruiting the talents of photographers across the North, Hurcomb's calendar, complete with detailed stories to go with each photo, offers a refreshing array of some of the many scenic splendors found in the North.

The 18-month calendar, which sells for a mere $12.95, is available at stores everywhere.