Arists in CADPAT II

Creativity in the Canadian Armed Forces

There is incredible talent with the Canadian military’s Imagery Technicians – the in-house experts on photography, video, and design for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Located across the country and in deployed operations around the world, Imagery Technicians are the ones capturing heat-of-the-moment action and everyday life. Although mostly serving members of the CAF, there are a small number of civilian photographers as well, working alongside our uniformed members.

In 2016, the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence put the call out to the Imagery Technicians for them to submit their favourite photos to showcase their artistic talent with military subjects. The exhibit was extremely popular, and we decided to return to this idea for a second round of amazing photographs.

We were not disappointed – two dozen photographers took the time to explore their bodies of work and send us more than 120 images, the best of which we have selected and displayed here.

These images are of Army, Navy, and Air Force subjects, and are from all over the world. We invite you to view and absorb these photos that share the story of a modern CAF, and the people that make it.

We thank all of the Imagery Technicians who participated, and especially the three posted to 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, who have been a constant support to our museum, and a major part in producing this exhibit.

Please use the slideshow function below to explore the photos selected for “Artists in CADPAT II”. Click to make images fullscreen.

A Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician captures video at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania during Operation REASSURANCE, in support of NATO Baltic Air Policing Block 36 on August 27, 2014.

Photo: Cpl Kenneth Galbraith, CFJIC/Combat Camera

Master Corporal Kevin McMillan, an imagery technician from Canadian Forces Combat Camera, captures video during TIGEREX 16 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on May 11, 2016.

Photo: MCpl Jonathan Barrette, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

A member in dress uniform holds a staff with flags of provinces and territories and feathers while on formal parade.

MCpl Alana Morin
Current posting: 22 Wing/CFB North Bay

Master Warrant Officer Kimberly Jones carries the Eagle Staff, representing Indigenous members of the Canadian Armed Forces: past, present, and future, during the Royal Canadian Air Force Colours Parade held in Toronto, September 1, 2017.

A member of the CC-130 Hercules aircrew fist-bumps a local ground crew member in Gao, Mali on June 25, 2018.

International Fist Bump

Sgt Jennifer Kusche
Current posting: 8 Wing/CFB Trenton

A member of the CC-130 Hercules aircrew fist-bumps a local ground crew member in Gao, Mali on June 25, 2018.

Green night-vision image of uniformed member seated and head bowed aboard aircraft.

Sgt Pat Blanchard
Current posting: Directorate Army Public Affairs, Ottawa

A Canadian Armed Forces member rests onboard a CC-177 Globemaster III aircraft containing military equipment destined for Iraq during Operation IMPACT on August 28, 2014.

Large four-engine cargo plane sitting on the ground at night, lights in the distance.

MCpl Nicolas Alonso
Current posting: Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Canadian traffic technicians deployed as part of Operation IMPACT work in partnership with members of the United States Air Force to load a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, on June 1, 2020.

Late for Work

Sgt Pierre Habib
Current posting: Aerospace Engineering Testing Establishment, Ottawa Detachment

A CF18 with afterburners returning from a combat training exercise to CFB Bagotville, Quebec on November 22, 2012.

View from cockpit of helicopter, aircrew in foreground. Through the window, another helicopter is visible against a body of water.

Cyclone in Flight

S1 Mike Goluboff
Current posting: MARPAC Imaging, CFB Esquimalt

443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron pilots, Captain Rob Millen (pictured) and Capt Matt Wallace, fly the CH-124 Sea King, maintaining echelon left formation next to the West Coast’s first CH-148 Cyclone, flown by Major Jason Newton and Captain Alex Chatwin, over the Georgia Strait. The two-ship of maritime helicopters, old and new, conducted anti-submarine warfare training at Nanoose Bay in August. The Cyclone is the replacement for the Sea King helicopter which will be retired this year. Photo was taken during a flight exercise from 443 Helicopter Squadron, North Saanich, BC to Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Ranges (CFMETR), Nanoose Bay, BC on August 15, 2018.

Man in fire fighting gear and holding hose standing in front of controlled fire

Fire Fighter

S1 David Gariepy
Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre

Master Corporal Derek Franzen, a Fire Fighter with Naval Fleet School (Pacific), poses for an environmental portrait, at Damage Control School, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, on May 29 2019.

A tank drives towards the camera on sandy ground, with much dust swirling around vehicle.

MCpl Rod Doucet
Current posting: Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, CFB Kingston

The Leopard 2A4 tank main battle tank, travels on the dirt roads at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright. Training and convoy maneuvers take place at CFB Wainwright a day before the official start of Maple Resolve 21.
From May 1 to 11, 2021, about 2,500 Canadian Armed Forces members are participating in Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 21 in Wainwright, Alberta. As the premier annual Canadian Army field training event, Ex MAPLE RESOLVE tests soldier skills and abilities within a realistic, complex, and challenging combat environment.

View from level of water, head-on view of ship. Above, an airplane and helicopter fly towards viewer.

S1 Valérie LeClair
Current posting: MARPAC Imaging, CFB Esquimalt

Op Projection / Neon onboard HMCS WINNIPEG with the CH-148 Cyclone and the CP-140 Aurora Aircraft flying over the ship, dated on November 14, 2020.

Eighteen silhouetted figures on a hill against a sunset.

MCpl Nicolas Alonso
Current posting: Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Members of the Joint Intelligence Cell at OP IMPACT gather together at sunset. The silhouette reflects the nature of their work, and their identities, the location and the date that this was taken remain classified.

View of CF-18 jet from above, with blocks of farmland below.

S1 Callum Rutherford
Current posting: Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, Ottawa Division

A pilot from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment flies a CF-188 Hornet over eastern Alberta, near Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, during a photo chase proficiency flight on September 3, 2019.

Helicopter preparing for take-off, dust swirling from speed of blades.

MCpl Mattieu Racette
Current posting: Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Members of the Air Task Force prepare to take off with CH-147 Chinook prior his flight in Thompson, Manitoba during Operation VECTOR on April 10, 2021.

Large artillery gun firing, uniformed member holding shell in foreground.

Connor Munn
Current posting: Canadian Forces Support Base Gagetown, Tactics School – Army Learning Support Center

Exercise Autumn Gunner at the training field of 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown (5 CDSB), Oromocto, New Brunswick, Canada on November 20, 2020.

Black and white portrait of man in uniform, smoke in foreground.

Self-Portrait

S1 Erin Roberts
Current posting: 8 Wing/CFB Trenton

As a photographer, I believe it is important to not just capture the happy moments but, to be allowed to capture the intimate moments of struggle and strife that each one of us experience to varying degrees. It’s my firm belief that with this type of imagery we can better relate and connect with each other and be able to stand shoulder to shoulder and say, “you are not alone”.

Uniformed member crouched in front of pick-up truck with gas mask and weapon.

Gas Attack

S1 David Gariepy
Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre

A soldier demonstrates his skills under a simulated gas attack during a road block scenario at Exercise Jimmy West, on October 21, 2017, Camp Albert Head, Canadian Force Base Esquimalt.
Exercise Jimmy West is annual competition featuring Reserve and Regular Force Army Signallers from across Western Canada. Signallers, or Army Communications and Information Systems Specialists (ACISS), compete in basic soldiering skills like marksmanship, first aid and obstacle course as well as traditional communications tasks such as running communication lines and setting up a command post. That year’s competition was hosted by 39 Signal Regiment and held at CFB Esquimalt’s Albert Head and Heals Range training areas.

Four people against cloudy sky with parachutes, packs hanging from their gear.

Drop-In Visitors

Cpl Wes Pfneisl
Current posting: 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron, CFB Greenwood

Members from 3 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry with support from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron conduct a Basic Parachutist Course at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton on June 8, 2021.

Two uniformed members on a mound of earth with machine guns.

S2 Alyssa Jackson
Current posting: Canadian Forces Support Base Gagetown, Tactics School – Army Learning Support Center

Members of 42 Squadron 4 Engineer Support Regiment participate in a range day on March 26 2021 in the Canadian Forces Support Base Gagetown.

Uniformed member lying on ground with weapon, hand on safety glasses to prepare.

Nerves

Cpl Mark Wanzel
Current posting: Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs), Ottawa

Aviator Recruit Adrian Dava takes a moment to calm his nerves while at Vimy Range, during week eight of Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) held at Canadian Forces Base Borden, September 30, 2020.

Connor Munn
Current posting: Canadian Forces Support Base Gagetown, Tactics School – Army Learning Support Center

Military members complete their Regimental Exercise Cold Fire Gunner within the training field, at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown (5 CDSB), Oromocto, New Brunswick, Canada on February 20, 2021.

Member inspects tail of jet aircraft with flashlight in the dark.

Cpl Dominic Duchesne-Beaulieu
Current posting: 3 Wing/CFB Bagotville

Master Corporal Etienne Jean, an aircraft structures technician, inspects a CF-18 during Operation NOBLE DEFENDER at 5 Wing Goose Bay on 20 September 2020.

His Story

Cpl Mark Wanzel
Current posting: Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs), Ottawa

From his fifth-floor Barrie apartment, WWII veteran Dr. Jim McPhee age 92, who was shot down over Germany during a bombing run of an oil plant, has his incredible story come full circle after being reunited with a piece of his parachute nearly 60 years later.

Autumn Break

Sgt Pierre Habib
Current posting: Aerospace Engineering Testing Establishment, Ottawa Division

Two CF-18 fighter jets fly over the Saguenay river returning to CFB Bagotville after a combat training mission on October 9, 2012.

Green and black military helicopter in flight, with uniformed member at open side door.

Gregory Cole
Current posting: Combat Training Centre Tactics School, 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown

CH-146 Griffon conducting tactical flying in the Gagetown Training Area, January 22, 2021.

Two members work together on machine components of gun.

Cpl Dominic Duchesne-Beaulieu
Current posting: 3 Wing/CFB Bagotville

Aviator Yann Dardé and Master Corporal David Boisvert, air weapons system technicians, prepare to install an M61A1 20mm cannon on a CF-18 Hornet during a course at 10 Field Technical Training Squadron at CFB Bagotville on 3 August 2020.

Side view of ship passing underneath large bridge.

MCpl Anthony Laviolette
Current posting: Formation Imaging Service, CFB Halifax

HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC sails under the Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, on May 17 2020.