Dee Potter Photography

10/12/2026

I'm heading back to this wild and wonderful place today, this time for Autumn colours with snow-capped mountains.

Where will I be?

10/09/2026

I’ve been waiting for the right time to show and tell the story behind this photograph.

One morning before dawn in Cappadocia, Türkiye, I was photographing the extraordinary ritual of preparing hot-air balloons for their morning flights when I came across this tiny illuminated coffee truck operating beneath the enormous dark envelope of an inflating balloon.

I was immediately drawn to the absurdity of the scale.

In the blue-hour darkness, that small pool of warm light, the coffee stand and the person working inside it seemed impossibly miniaturized beneath this massive structure looming overhead. The scene immediately felt like a David and Goliath story, except this time David was serving coffee.

I knew the photograph needed to preserve that relationship, so I kept the balloon deliberately as dark as I found it, allowing its size to reveal itself gradually in the image while the little glowing stand naturally became the first point of discovery.

I called it COFF E and Goliath, cheekily mirroring the illumination lost from the middle of the marquee.

I’m not going to lie, I expected this image to do much better in its competition debut. Three judges on the panel scored it Accepted, while two saw enough in it to score it Merit.

But last Saturday night, at the 2026 PPOC Eastern Regional Awards Gala, I was honoured to hear COFF E and Goliath received the Judge’s Choice Award from Kim Downie, who also happens to be the 2026 Professional Photographers of Canada Commercial Photographer of the Year.

What makes this especially meaningful is that, during judging, Kim was the judge who spoke up for the photograph. She recognized the story I hoped would come through and encouraged the panel to look beyond that first read and see there was clearly more happening in the image.

Thank you, Kim, for immediately seeing what I saw that morning in Cappadocia, and for recognizing that there was more to the story.

From my perspective, this photograph stays with me for the same reason my favourites so often do: a very simple blend of light, scale, timing, and noticing something most people might walk past.

Re: “AI content” ~ AI was used only to combine the award emblem with the photograph. No AI was used to create or alter the image itself, in keeping with WPC compliance.

10/02/2026

Golden rays break through the clouds and illuminate the valley below in this breathtaking landscape by Photographic Artist of the Year Dee Potter, MPA. The dramatic lighting creates a powerful contrast between light and shadow and gives the scene an almost magical atmosphere. “Light Will Find a Way” scored Accepted in the Pictorial Class at the 2026 Image Salon.
FB Dee Potter Photography
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10/01/2026

A little exciting news from the World Photographic Cup! 🇨🇦📷

Four of my photographs have advanced to Round 2 of the 2027 World Photographic Cup Team Canada selection process!

More than 950 images were submitted for consideration this year, with curators reviewing every image individually during the first round. I’m thrilled that four of mine received enough attention to move forward to the group discussion stage.

There’s still a long road ahead. Round 2 will narrow the field considerably before the final Canadian selections are made, but after having the honour of representing Canada at the 2025 World Photographic Cup, I’m very happy to have another opportunity to represent Canada on the world stage.

For now, the submitted photographs have to remain under wraps, so I can’t show you which ones they are just yet.

Four still in the running. Fingers crossed for Round 2! 🤞🇨🇦📷

08/19/2026

World Photography Day feels like the right moment to begin sharing my adventures in Türkiye.

Three first glimpses: fire before dawn in Cappadocia, Yılkı horses thundering through dust and light, and the Yeni Mosque catching the first light of sunrise in Istanbul.

They’re only the beginning. I came home with far more photographs and far more stories than I can share in one post.

Photographed with a Nikon Z8 and NIKKOR Z lenses Go Türkiye

Happy World Photography Day. 📷


National Geographic Travel

08/11/2026

We're #3! 🤣

I'm always amazed to see where my travel photos end up...

Discover the top 10 cutest cafes in Paris, from the iconic Café de Flore to the charming Le Consulat in Montmartre. Explore these delightful spots for coffee, brunch, and a true Parisian experience that captures the essence of the City of Light.

06/18/2026

One of the things I love most about photography is that no matter how long you’ve been doing it, there’s always something new to learn.

For many photographers, capturing the Milky Way feels like it’s just out of reach:

• Too technical.
• Too expensive.
• Too complicated.

The truth is that most modern DSLR and mirrorless cameras are already capable of capturing incredible night-sky images. The missing piece is usually knowing how.

If photographing the Milky Way has been on your bucket list, my friend Stanley Aryanto, photographer, educator, and creator of Two Red Tabs Camera Bags, is hosting a live “Shoot Your First Milky Way” workshop where he’ll break down the process step-by-step and show you how to capture your first Milky Way image with confidence.

In less than two hours, you’ll learn the fundamentals of planning, camera settings, composition, and shooting techniques needed to get started.

If the Milky Way has been on your photography bucket list, learn more and register here:

https://milkyway.groovesell.com/a/tPH9RdXHGQ6t

06/10/2026

WE’RE LIVE, TUNE IN NOW!

Dee Potter [https://deepotter.com/] is on CityTV Breakfast Television right now, appearing on the national broadcast to discuss his 2026 PPOC National Photographic Artist of the Year win.

The segment is featuring Dee’s award-winning imagery, showcasing a wide range of his work and asking about the award.

If you’re watching this, turn on CityTV Breakfast Television and help celebrate this exciting moment for one of our own!

05/13/2026

It has officially arrived!

The 2026 Photographic Artist of the Year award from the Professional Photographers of Canada is now home.

Holding this award is a reminder of the years and extensive travels that went into this win, and takes me back to the moment my name was called to receive it.

Thank you to Spartan Media Group for sponsoring this prestigious award. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported my photography along the way.

04/28/2026

Canadian Imaging Conference & Expo (CICE) 2026 in Saskatoon last weekend has officially gone into the record books for me.

I was honoured to be invited to speak at this year’s conference, and to formally receive my Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) designation at the Gala Awards that same evening. Two moments I was incredibly proud of, and I was ready to simply enjoy the rest of the night celebrating the best in Canadian photography.

But then… something completely unexpected happened. A formidable goal I’ve been working toward for four years was suddenly realized.

Photographic Artist of the Year 🏆

After four years of PPOC national competitions, and being named a finalist three years in a row… this one means a lot. Not just because of the title, but because of everything that led up to it.

I’m grateful to the PPOC judges for this recognition among such an incredibly strong group of 15 finalists.

And a sincere thank you to Lee and Ria Milliken at Spartan Media Group for sponsoring this award.