The Quiet Power of Mentors

Some mornings stay with you—not because of the weather or the location, but because of the people.

January 17th was one of those mornings.

Members gathered at LaSalle Park Marina under crisp winter skies, cameras in hand, breath visible in the cold air. On paper, it was a winter photo walk: lake views, bare trees, swans on open water, low golden light stretching across Lake Ontario. In reality, it became something much more—a living example of why mentorship sits at the heart of the Oakville Camera Club.

Before the shutters started clicking, mentor and Outings Director Wayne Schnurr set the tone. He began with a simple but thoughtful grounding: what we were going to shoot, why it mattered, and how different situations demand different choices.

“Shooting still birds is significantly different than shooting birds in flight,” Wayne explained.“You need to know how to quickly flip your settings—still birds, birds in flight, then back again.”

From there, the conversation went where real learning happens—not into presets or shortcuts, but fundamentals.

“Most of my time was spent teaching and drilling home the exposure triangle,” Wayne shared later.“Practical experience with settings like 1/8000 shutter speed, f/9, and a dull day helps you understand why auto ISO jumps so high.”

What followed wasn’t a lecture. It was a moving circle of learning. New members clustered in, questions flowed freely, and mentors moved naturally through the group—watching screens, adjusting dials, explaining trade-offs between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO in real time.

Wayne wasn’t alone. Peter, Marilyn, Frederick, Brian, and Arthur were all there—quietly stepping in, answering questions, helping someone get unstuck, or simply standing beside a newcomer while they figured things out.

One member captured it perfectly:

“We had an incredible outing today—so much energy and kindness. Everyone was totally hands on and ears on, helping newcomers feel supported.”

Another noticed something even more telling:

“Wayne was exceptional from 10:00 to 12:30. He had a constant circle of newcomers around him, and his dedication to the craft was just a joy to watch.”

This is the real value of mentors. Not just expertise—but presence.

Not just answers—but patience.

Not just skill—but generosity.

One first-time participant shared:

“Thanks Wayne and all the mentors. I enjoyed my first outing and meeting so many members. A tutorial would be great!”

Another added, with a laugh:

“I’ve got over 400 images to edit—LOL. But I learned so much.”

And perhaps the most powerful reflection came from someone who had experienced other clubs:

“I went out with another club—I can tell you, the warmth and reception OCC provides is truly unique.”

That warmth isn’t accidental. It’s by design.

The OCC Mentor Program exists because the club believes photography is best learned together. Mentors are members who combine deep knowledge in a specialty with something just as important: a welcoming spirit. You’ll recognize them by the Mentor logo on their name badge—and by the way people naturally gravitate toward them.

They’re approachable. They listen. They remember what it felt like to be new. And on a cold January morning at LaSalle Marina, they turned a photo walk into a shared learning experience that lingered long after the last image was taken.

If you’ve ever wondered whether mentorship really matters, the answer was standing right there—boots on frozen ground, cameras pointed toward the light, learning happening one conversation at a time.

And if you’re thinking about becoming a mentor yourself, maybe that’s the next quiet power waiting to be shared.

Interested in learning more about the OCC Mentor Program—or becoming a mentor? Reach out anytime at [email protected].