Maria Chantelle Tucker

I am an MA graduate student at the University of Alberta majoring in Communication and Technology. My academic interest is understanding how technology shapes culture. I am working towards obtaining my Digital Media Skills Certificate from OCAD University. I am focusing on responsive web design using HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and Adobe CS6.

My past educational endeavours includes a BA in Image Arts from Ryerson University, as well as post-graduate courses focusing on Environmental and Occupational Health through the University of Victoria. I am also a certified marine mammal Naturalist. Please visit my LinkedIn profile to know more.

Early on in my career I was a teaching assistant at Ryerson University. I created short experimental films that were featured in film festivals (HotDoc nominee), and taught film animation and photography to youth at Harbourfront Centre. I was also a Canada Arts Council Grant recipient for my experimental film Sea of Souls.  More recently my work has been focused on documentary style photography. I specialize in fast-moving subjects such as extreme sports (kiteboarding) and sporadic fast-moving marine life (killer whales).

From 2003 to 2010, I documented pacific killer whales and marine life. My killer whale documentation consisting of photos and videos have appeared on the front lines of various main stream media and have been integrated into global conservation initiatives (David Suzuki, Wilderness Committee, Ecojustice, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society). My work is sighted on TV (Discovery Channel, Daily Planet, Animal Planet, Ellen Degeneres, Zed CBC, Knowledge Network), in feature films (Saving Luna, The Whale), in books / magazines (sports and ecotourism), in university research projects, and on the internet.

I consider myself an innovator of change who explores the world in hopes of better understanding the topics I am passionate about. I have spent 12 years working as a (web and print) designer, photographer and fulfilled too many roles to list. In addition to this, I have spent the last 10 years working as an entrepreneur. In 2011, I launched a partnership project called Startup Online. This initiative was born out of the demand for independent learning about web production. There, I teach my students how to shape an online presence, while cooperatively building their website on the WordPress.com platform. Client testimonials can be found here.

Another significant project called Lunar Maria Jewellery was created in 2011. I create unique hand-made jewellery inspired by my work with nature. I work mainly with found beach glass but am also a rock hound.  I can be found combing the shores of the Pacific as well as Lake Ontario for these incredible finds.