Prudence Ach-tymichuk has never met Violet. She doesn鈥檛 even know her last name. But she鈥檚 drawn to her tombstone.
Achtymichuk first discovered Violet鈥檚 grave over 20 years ago. She was visiting a church in Norquay, which her grandfather had helped rebuild.
鈥淚 saw [Violet鈥檚 grave] amongst the other ones and immediately went to it,鈥� she said.
Achtymichuk took a photograph of Violet鈥檚 marker. Achtymichuk returns to the Norquay church for an annual service. And each time she snaps a photo of Violet.
鈥淓very year it kind of deteriorates from the environment, but there鈥檚 something peaceful and beautiful about it,鈥� she said.
A photo of Violet鈥檚 grave adorned the walls of the Yorkton Public Library this past November, along with many other pictures by Achtymichuk. They were part of her first solo gallery, entitled, 鈥淪cene Behind the Lens.鈥�
鈥淸I was] a little nervous about my first time,鈥� Achtymichuk said.
The gallery, organized by the Yorkton Arts Council, was held in the library for all of November.
Achtymichuk is a self-taught photographer. When her first child was born 17 years ago, she bought a Nikon camera to record memories. She enjoyed taking photos so much that it evolved into a full-blown hobby.
鈥淚 like capturing things that some people maybe don鈥檛 think are beautiful or attractive,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 see it and think it鈥檚 a pretty shot.鈥�
Achtymichuk likes walking through nature and snapping pictures. She also enjoys photos of her family. When she put the gallery together, Achtymichuk chose the photographs that best represented her interests.
鈥淚 featured a little bit of everything I do,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here really wasn鈥檛 a running theme.
鈥淸I gave] people [a] variety of what I do.鈥�
Achtymichuk鈥檚 work has been displayed at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, but 鈥淪cene Behind the Lens鈥� is the first major display of her art. It was a big undertaking and she鈥檚 pleased with the response.
鈥淭he people who鈥檝e seen the show...think it鈥檚 really well done, so that makes me happy,鈥� she said. 鈥淓verybody has a different favourite piece from the display.
鈥淸It鈥檚] really fun and exciting to see what people are drawn to.鈥�
Achtymichuk would like to create another gallery with the Yorkton Arts Council.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e a hobbyist or an artist, to have this opportunity with the arts council is great,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was very pleased with it.鈥�
Until then, Achtymichuk will keep her eyes peeled for that next great shot.
鈥淓verybody has a different outlook on what they think is beautiful [and] what intrigues them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you can ever take a bad photo.鈥�
