Finding Nature’s Beauty in Layers Riverbend resident Rebecca St. Pierre has been discovering the nat- ural world through the lens of a cam- era since the mid-1980s. In the last five years, however, she has found new worlds through the art of com- posite photography. The resulting images reveal Nature in layers, un- veiling a surreal world that is keenly familiar yet mesmerizingly unfamiliar. Rebecca describes composite photography as the blending of two or more photographs to create a new image. Using multiple photo-editing programs to layer her photographs, Rebecca se- lectively reveals or hides sections of the photos to create imag- inary scenes rooted in the natural world. The cards, available in a package of four for $20, sold out three times – but the need is ongoing and Sandi will kindly print more to accommodate further orders. “Photos of sunsets introduce colour, images of water ripples add texture, and combining multiple images adds mystery,” ex - plains Rebecca. “I only use images I’ve taken over the past 20 years and preserve creative control and artistry by not using AI in my process.” How snowmen are helping unsheltered women stay warm! Hyde Park area artist Sandi McCabe printed sets of her whimsical snowman cards and offered the proceeds of sales to My Sisters’ Place – a program of CMHA Thames Valley – that offers support for women facing violence, mental and physical health challenges, homelessness or housing instability, substance use or extreme poverty, to help fund their winter Overnight Resting Spaces program.
Rebecca first discovered this art form when she noticed inspir - ing composite images online and realized the genre held exciting creative possibilities. “I noticed that I paused longer to examine these images than when I’m looking at a regular photo,” she adds. Rebecca taught herself the technique through hours of online research and experimentation, developing her style over time by focusing on composition, colour, and movement. But Nature is Rebecca’s muse, nurturing her soul and motivating her to cre - ate art. “I’m naturally drawn to including paths, boardwalks, and birds in my pieces. Lately, I’ve focused on trees to draw atten - tion to their vital role in our lives.” Rebecca also writes poetry, which often joins forces with her photography to speak for Nature. She has 10 published poems for children, half of which include her photography. “I especial- ly love writing haiku, which isn’t surprising as it’s essentially a snapshot of a moment, like any photograph.” Jazmine, Jim McCabe, Sandi McCabe, Louise, Jennifer and Vivia.
Cards may be ordered by contacting Sandi by email at sandi@mccabepro.com. Card sets can be picked up at Sandi’s home on Riverside Drive by appointment or she will deliver if required. Learn more about My Sisters’ Place at cmhatv.ca/mysistersplace and more about Sandi at sandimccabe.com.
Rebecca’s composite images have been published as maga - zine covers and juried into exhibitions at the Legislative Assem- bly of Ontario. One photograph inspired the creation of a mural at West 5 Optometry, and a photo of Kains Woods appeared in the 2025 fall issue of ON Nature Magazine . When not creating fantastical worlds with her composite images or capturing a moment in Haiku, Rebecca is walking the paths in and around Riverbend, watching wildlife visit the stormwater pond, and hiking on trails in Kains Woods. Rotary to the Rescue The Rotary Club of London Hyde Park collected 915 pairs of men’s, women’s and children’s socks and presented them to Mission Services in December. Pictured are Rotarians Neil Holt and Lillian Reid (left), and Nicolai Jacobsen, CEO of Parkway Garden Centre, along with Sheila Pickens of Magnolia Boutique (right), presenting some of the socks to Mission Services Senior Development Officer Kelly Thomson (centre). “Special thanks goes out to Parkway Garden Centre for allowing us to use their facility as a donation location, as well as to the many folks who donated socks,” said Barbara Robins of the Rotary club. Metal prints of Rebecca’s work are available at Shop Museum London and the Curiosities Gift Shop. You can also see more of Rebecca’s art or contact her by visiting her website at word - flightandlight.mypixieset.com or on Instagram @rebeccamstp.
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