How Eugene Impacted Others Through His Art and Friendship
A Legacy of Photography and Friendship
The Photo BootCamp Academy community mourns the loss of Eugene, a talented photographer and cherished friend. His work, kindness, and dedication deeply touched everyone, leaving an enduring legacy in both his art and the lives of those he inspired. Through heartfelt tributes from his fellow photographers, we remember Eugene not only for his exceptional skill but also for his generosity of spirit..
Zenith Beach
Photographed at Zenith beach, where I created the masterclass and the last place Eugene and I photographed together – I think he would have loved this sunrise, it was EPIC!
MasterClass I Created, now Public
For the first time ever I’m going to make this BootCamp Masterclass available to the public because I want you to see how Eugene (and other BootCampers) impact me. Eugene’s passing has taught me a few life lessons I had forgotten and that is what this class if all about. Enjoy. Brent
Why Eugene Meant So Much to the Community
Eugene was more than a talented photographer—he was a mentor, a friend, and a supportive presence in the BootCamp Academy. Known for sharing his knowledge and crafting fine art pieces, Eugene was admired for the care and precision he put into every shot. His dedication to his craft and willingness to help others made him an invaluable member of the community.
His influence stretched beyond his work, as his warmth and wisdom resonated deeply with everyone who had the privilege to know him. As Amber Pallas shared, “We became fast friends. Eugene was always willing to pass his knowledge around, and I learned so much from him.”
How Eugene Impacted Others
From fellow photographers to friends, Eugene’s impact was widespread and meaningful. Laima reflected on his contributions, noting how Eugene’s thoughtful feedback and encouragement helped shape the experiences of everyone in the group. “He contributed so much to all of us with his thoughtful comments,” she said, a sentiment echoed by many.
Keri Down spoke of Eugene’s generosity, both in terms of his knowledge and his spirit, calling his friendship with Brent one of “shared respect and genuine mateship.”
For Sig, Eugene’s quiet but powerful presence was something to admire. Even though they never met in person, Sig felt a deep connection, remembering Eugene’s participation in community hangouts and the inspiration he provided.
The Impact of Eugene’s Photography
Eugene’s photography was more than just beautiful—it was a testament to his passion and dedication. Laura Griffiths fondly recalled how Eugene would only post his very best work, finely tuned to perfection. “I would like to think that he had prints made of his work and that they will stand to bear testimony to his work in the years to come,” she shared.
Many, like Denis and Richard, were particularly inspired by Eugene’s presence in BootCamp live hangouts, where he shared his art, ideas, and encouragement. His photography was more than an individual achievement—it was a part of the community, embodying the BootCamp’s motto: “Share, Inspire, Create.”
Eugene’s Enduring Legacy
Eugene’s passion for photography and his dedication to helping others left an indelible mark on the BootCamp Academy community. His work will continue to inspire, and his spirit will live on through the memories and moments he captured. As Sara O’Brien said, “We die, we go but never leave… You’re not gone, just out of sight.”
Rest in peace, Eugene. You will always be remembered through the images you created and the friendships you nurtured.
Photo BootCamp Magazine
Let’s honour Eugene’s lasting impact on our community. His talent and generosity inspired us, and his work will live on in our hearts.
And be sure to check out how you can join BootCamp for FREE (limited time only)
Below is a small sample of what’s in this magazine…
Join BootCamp & Connect (FREE for limited time)
Photo BootCamp Academy is an online community where busy photographers gather to take their photography to new levels of enjoyment and progress.
- Connect with likeminded photographers
- Rekindle your passion for taking photos
- Improve fast with helpful feedback
- Experience enjoyment and progress
Inside BootCamp Magazine
Featured Artist
Let’s take a look at this month’s magazine. Here is our featured artist of the month, Romy Villanueva, from the Philippines.
“TO THE MAN WHO WOULD NEVER SAY NO TO A PHOTO SHOOT CHALLENGE. Goodbye Eugene, rest in peace! On to the next journey… go and find your best light. This photo was taken with a full spectrum camera with a 720nm IR filter attached. I made a Photoshop brush silhouette of a man from a photo of Eugene carrying his camera with a zoom lens and added it to the base photo as a composite.”
Comment: Kerrie Clarke – ” Beautiful, Romy! Love the foreground foliage surrounding the tunnel of light, it creates a beautiful depth to your image. The shadow is so well done, it is a great tribute to Eugene. Super nice work!”
Cover Images
This month’s featured magazine cover image is Keri Down from Australia.
“I have struggled with this because one it is very emotionally charged but I think it has brought out some incredible images by you all. For my first image I have gone back through some images to look at them in a different light. I thought that they should all be deleted when I took them but because of this challenge I went back through them with a fresh take on how could it be post processed in order to keep it. I have used LR masking the background, then masking the subject which I altered the slides back and forth until I felt I had the balance. I pretty much clunk around LR so I was pretty surprised. I am not quite sure how to use a brush to feather that bottom jaw line though and then I did 3 different crops but chose this one with the premise of a little more negative space.”
Comment: Kerrie Clarke – “Beautiful, Keri! The white background works so well here. I’m not quite sure why you’re worried about the bottom jaw, because it’s all in the eye, and you nailed it. Well done.”
Active Members
Let’s take a moment to appreciate how Eugene inspired our BootCamp members through their incredible images. His passion, creativity, and guidance have left a lasting influence on the work we see today.
We’ll start with Amber Pallas-Brunt from the United States.
“This challenge though is a must for me to honor my friend, my buddy. I had the pleasure of getting to know Eugene while on the 1st & 2nd Safari. We also kept in touch stateside as well. He was always sending me his latest work through Instagram or WhatsApp. He knew I would always be a cheerleader and a supporter of his work. He was definitely that for me. While on safari, Eugene and I were inseparable. We were always sitting next to each other on the drives. I’ll never forget the constant shutter clicking that came from his side of the vehicle. He taught me so many things about the art of photography itself, the tools used to edit them and to just shoot. I have always been a fan of what I refer to as my “animal portraits” and I had this long process through Photoshop that I used to follow. Man, was I stoked when he showed me the new easy way to do it through LR (while we were in Africa)! I’d like to think that my love for “animal portraits” rubbed off on him as so many of the things he did/showed rubbed off on me. He loved this group and helping everyone. He was such a kind and patient man. I could go on and on about him and the short time I was able to call him my friend. As it is, my vision is blurry now with tears as I write this. I will miss you Eugene and thank you for being you. The image I have chosen to start off with is one that is fairly recent. We were in Hawaii and out for a stroll when I saw these very cool looking birds on the ground. I quickly got a very candid shot of them and decided to do what Eugene and I love to do and add the drama.”
Comment: Romy Villanueva – “Hi Amber, it’s really nice to have you back! This is fine art photography and the composition superb. Truly an excellent tribute to Eugene.”
Then we have Laura Griffiths from South Africa.
“One of the most outstanding of Eugene’s photos for me was always his elephant on a black background so in honour of this excellent photographer, I have tried to do the same type of image. This elephant matriarch was feeding her calf when the small herd came running towards a waterhole and everyone was wondering why they were running, that something ‘must be up’. This is the best of the bunch I think. I darkened the background in Lr and Ps, placed a golden solid colour over the image and reduced the opacity to bring out the browns of the mud the elephant had covered herself in. Then I combined that and a copy and chose ‘Lighten’ to show up the wet marks where she had sprayed herself and I played with opacity and fill values until I was happy. The grass is an add-on composite as her feet were partially hidden behind a mound of mud and I needed something to ‘bring her to earth’.”
Comment: Peter Brody – “Laura, I like how you highlighted the baby elephant to draw my eyes first to it, then followed the lines of the Mom’s torso to explore her body. The darkness sets the mood of the mystery of the night.” Is it safe for the baby to come out and explore? “is what the scene is asking me, the viewer.”
Next, we have Dave Koh from Singapore.
“My final respect to Eugene. May he rest in peace. The stork-billed kingfisher dived at record speed in and out of the water and caught a fish. It will be nice if the angle of the fish is facing the camera. It’s always challenging taking diving shots as you need to anticipate the point where it will dive. With today’s technology, we are able to use camera tracking which make it slightly easier as compared to previously. Nonetheless, there are still lots of deleted shots after many tries.”
Comment: Brent Mail – “Such a difficult photograph to capture David as you’ve mentioned with anticipation and focus. Stunning work as always. Thanks for sharing.”
Leila Gonzalez Sullivan from the United States is next.
“My tribute to Eugene, whose comments on all of our photos enhanced my learning. He went to exotic places and shared images of the creatures he found there. This iguana would have captured his attention.”
Comment: Denis O’Byrne – “Hi Leila. When I view it on full screen the Iguana stands out quite well. Maybe a blur in the background would help out. Well done.”
Then we have Nick Ellis from Australia.
“I’m not really sure what a Eugene-inspired image is. Eugene inspired me to look beyond what I could do and to try new things in my photography. I found his comments helpful and insightful. I will miss his images and his comments. I’m sorry I didn’t meet him in person, RIP. My take on the Wanaka Tree. With a bit of intentional camera movement, ie moved the camera from landscape to portrait using my gear head camera mount.”
Comment: Peter Brody – “Nick, this is an amazing photograph! You can feel the chill in the air of the morning mist. Everything is perfectly balanced and composed. Eugene would have loved it.”
And next we have Robbi Ling Montgomery from the United States.
“I am new to BootCamp so I didn’t know Eugene. Masterclass 62 was still very moving for me. I am 71 years old and a very recent cancer survivor, still trying to figure things out. Photography has been therapy for me since I retired and is even more so now. I chose an image that I shot at a photo workshop in Costa Rica. I was reminded of it by Eugene and Brent having a competition to shoot flying birds. It is a Volcano Hummingbird.”
Comment: Laura Griffiths – “Hi Robbi, What a fantastic first post. One of the most difficult birds to capture in flight has to be the hummingbird, of whatever variety, and you have nailed it. I have used up to 1/4000 sec for birds in flight and I see you went with even faster ss. Welcome to our wonderful community of Bootcamp.”
And last, we have Geroge Bowron from Canada.
“Grizz on the Rocks. Photo taken from a boat on a Grizzly Tour, day trip from Vancouver Island.”
Summary
- Eugene’s Legacy: A talented photographer and generous member of the Photo BootCamp Academy, admired for his fine art photography and willingness to share his knowledge.
- Community Impact: Eugene built strong connections within the BootCamp community, offering thoughtful advice, inspiration, and encouragement to fellow photographers.
- Friendship and Mentorship: Known for his warmth, Eugene quickly became a friend to many, always ready to help others grow in their photography skills.
- Tributes from Friends: Fellow photographers shared heartfelt memories, praising his talent, kindness, and lasting influence.
- Eternal Inspiration: Eugene’s work and spirit continue to inspire, embodying the BootCamp’s values of “Share, Inspire, Create.”
- Final Thought: Eugene will be remembered for his passion for photography and the friendships he nurtured, living on through the images he captured.
Related Articles
Did you enjoy this article? Check out these related articles, too:
- Mastering the Art of Double Exposure Photography
Explore the Creative Possibilities of Layering Photos to Create Surreal Images - Photographing Traditions
Photographing different cultural traditions around the world. - Fine Art Nature Photography Tips
Eugene Brannan Shares His Fine Art Nature Editing Secrets
Do This Now
Please leave me a comment below – I’d love to know what you think. Brent
Eugene was just a fantastic person I had some Great times with Him
I’ve missed a lot about photography in the last 4 years. 2019 was a big year for travel for me. In January I had been to South Africa for the 1st time and from there I went to India. Then in May, Zimbabwe with you and Bootcamp. That was when I met Eugene. I had a problem with my Sony and some weird message it kept giving me. Eugene tried to help me. It actually took a friend back in the USA to send me what to do because it had also happened to her. Eugene was always ready to help and always friendly. I enjoyed all his photos and I hope I let him know it. I was shocked when I learned of his passing. Even then he was helping me. I had suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall in 2020. At the same time I was diagnosed with COVID-19. It took 2 years for me to be able to hold my cell phone and another 6 months before I could hold my Sony again. Eugene was an inspiration to me, and I know I didn’t tell him that and wish I had. I think he knows that now. While I still struggle with my camera equipment and packing light on trips, I also have a new phone camera that I’m learning now. I hope to buy a van within the next year and make travel a more constant thing in my life because if I have to die someday, I want to go out as a photographer. I spent this afternoon with my phone camera photographing the squirrels that come to the squirrel feeder on my patio. Practice, Practice, Practice. I am working on being more active on Bootcamp. I follow it but I know there is a lot I have missed. The lose of my husband was a shock and I am now recovering from that. I won’t let it consume me as I know he would not want me to do that. We have a new home as of almost a year ago. Still in Minnesota with hopes to move to New Mexico for winters.
Thanks for your reply Karen – hope things improve for you. Brent
Congrats to Romy and Keri, you both Rock!!! Brent