From Darkness to Focus: A Navy Veteran’s Journey Through Photography and Sobriety

Looking through a camera lens is far superior to gazing at an empty bottle.

That’s one remarkable realization you’ll gain from conversing with Garry Waldram. The retired Rutherglen local is well-recognized throughout Bonfield and the surrounding area for his exceptional nature photography, especially when he focuses on our avian companions.

What many do not realize is how photography assisted Waldram in putting down the alcohol, which had been a significant issue for him.

“Alcohol was my means of coping,” Waldram stated, “It got to a point where I had to seek aid, and that was when I resolved that photography was the path I wanted to take to help myself.”

Born and raised in Hamilton, Waldram reached working age in the 80s, “And with the recession, neither Stelco nor Dofasco were hiring.” After spending a couple of years at McMaster, he turned to the mills for employment, but that didn’t suit him either.

“That’s why I enlisted in the military,” Waldram explained.

He served in the Navy from 1982 until 2006. After his time with the regular forces, he dedicated several additional years as a full-time reservist, spending two years in Halifax and three years in North Bay at the National Recruiting Contact Centre (prior to its closure) between 2012 and 2015. His final posting is the reason Waldram remains in the area today.

Waldram completed two tours in Afghanistan, one in Kandahar and the other in Kabul, where he assisted with home leave travel arrangements – organizing travel for soldiers to visit their families. He also returned to Afghanistan for a period of time to collaborate with the military through a civilian organization.

Throughout nearly 13 years “attached to ships,” during his Navy tenure, he was mostly deployed on NATO exercises overseas. The list of places those ships carried him to is extensive – Spain, France, Germany, Scotland – the list is lengthy, and the vistas were vast. To paraphrase an old song, he’s traversed many locales.

However, some of those destinations and experiences left a lasting negative impact on Waldram. “It did affect me, and I was dealing with mental health and PTSD issues.” Initially, during the onset of these conditions, Waldram believed he was experiencing depression, but after engaging with psychologists and psychotherapists through Veterans Affairs, he received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder as well.

He has been participating in Veterans Affairs’ rehabilitation program, stating, “It’s truly been beneficial for me. I haven’t consumed alcohol in over three and a half years.”

Waldram is very candid about his history, knowing that others might have comparable narratives. His story of triumph over addiction might motivate others to face the same challenge. “If I can assist someone, I have no hesitation in sharing my story.”

“I don’t think I’m addicted to photography,” Waldram quipped, “although I do dedicate an enormous amount of time to it, but I don’t perceive it as harmful to my wellbeing.”

Indeed, nearly every day, Waldram grabs his equipment and ventures into the wilderness of Rutherglen, or wherever the birds are. He enjoys capturing nature, particularly avian subjects. It’s not uncommon to find him in a kayak, equipped with long lenses and Nikon cameras, awaiting the perfect opportunity to photograph a mallard or merganser.

Nature has always enchanted him, and during his youth, he excelled as an athlete, being part of the Hamilton Water Polo Club, which also led him to McMaster, which had the best water polo team in the nation at that time.

Thus, being outdoors in the woods and on the ponds and lakes suits Waldram perfectly in his later years, camera in hand, waiting for ideal lighting for a perfect shot – “And wildlife doesn’t always present the opportunity,” for the ideal capture, he noted.

Waldram keeps an eye on migration patterns and frequently consults field guides, but one particularly useful tool he employs is an app called Merlin. He expressed enthusiasm, “It’s an incredible app because you can set it to audio ID, and it will identify birds by their songs or calls.”

He has also joined the Nipissing Naturalist Club to explore with other members of the Bird Wing Group and exchange knowledge on birdwatching and photography. Each month they have a “bird bash” and explore the woods with binoculars and cameras at the ready.

As for the avian species, owls present the greatest challenge for capturing in photographs, Waldram remarked. He has traveled to the Ottawa area in pursuit of a striking image of a snowy owl. The Northern Saw-whet owl is the most prevalent owl in Canada, according to Waldram, but if you manage to capture it on film, you should also consider purchasing a lottery ticket, as this elusive species remains unchecked on Waldram’s list.

It’s common for Waldram to journey through the region for photographs, and last winter, he even packed his gear and traveled to Costa Rica for a birding tour. Apparently, these tours are quite sought-after, with numerous destinations available. He plans to return this coming March to capture some of the 900 bird species residing in Costa Rica.

Waldram shares his photos on social media, and they are consistently well-received within the community. It’s been a fascinating journey; prior to quitting drinking, he didn’t even contemplate photography, and in a short span, he has completely embraced the hobby.

Regarding sharing his photos, “The feedback I receive from people is splendid because, with the amount of negativity in the media nowadays, and the complaints on social media, I just think it’s wonderful that I can share my photos and bring joy to others.”

To view more of Waldram’s photographs, discover more about his work, or purchase prints, visit his website Big Bear Adventure Photography at www.bigbearadventurephotography.ca. He’s also in the process of organizing small group photography tours, so stay tuned for more information.

David Briggs is a reporter for the Local Journalism Initiative, working with BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.