Looking for the Light and Colour at 4 p.m..

"I'm on the way to the grocery store" I yelled down from the kitchen at my son and his friend playing Rock Band in the basement. As I grabbed the grocery list off the counter I noticed through the windows of the back door, a flash of brown walking by the deck. Curious, I moved to the window and found  two Does and a Buck in my back yard. Hummm... I put the grocery list back down on the counter grabbed my camera changing to my telephoto lens. Part my my mind kept saying, they will be long gone-but hey, I had to give it a try. I went out the front door and around the back of the house and let myself out the back gate into the "back bush".  I stood  quietly in the tall grass (at times taller then my head) and stood  waiting, hoping to hear a tell tale rustling that would give me a clue as to their whereabouts. As I stood there in silence I began to think. That Buck had  a good sized rack, he was with Does, maybe this wasn't such a great idea, not to mention all the other scenarios, skunks, foxes, and all the other rodents living in the tall grass where I was standing. Nobody knew I was out there, I was suppose to be GROCERY SHOPPING!!!

 I didn't panic (I surprised myself) -it was way to peaceful standing there in the tall grass listing to the rustling in the small breeze. And as I moved to change my spot I noticed something else. A gleaming, a glitter, tiny spots of light dancing off the tips of the grass as the sun began it's decent in the sky. The tiny shiny specs changed as I moved up or down or to the side. Only in one spot could I see the beautiful glitter. I wondered could I capture this on film? I played with the exposure, stopping down in half stops. It was one of those  photography moments where you actually need to remind yourself to breath. (I know I'm not the only photographer that holds her/his breath when taking the shot hoping for absolute stillness)  Considering I was in tall grass in the back bush with no one knowing where I was- hyperventilating and possibly passing out was not an option. As I photographed, I also noticed how the colours appeared to be on the screen. Whites where coming out as soft blues and the oranges seemed so pronounced. I slowly (about a half and hour later) made my way back to the house and back inside to drop off the camera and reclaim my grocery list. My son came running up the stairs "So what did you Buy??" he said with enthusiasm. 

 "Some quiet time" I replied over my shoulder as I walked out the door to complete the task I had originally set out to do an hour before. Those deer will have to wait for another day..

Family Fun in the Exchange

I've had the best time photographing families over the last couple of months! Who knew I'd be showing families the back alleys and tunnels of our historic Winnipeg Exchange District! It does make a great backdrop-and the choices! Everything from different brickwork, iron work and colourful graffiti! This family was great fun and it's always exciting when a client is open to exploring a locations possibilities as well as editing techniques. Thanks "guys" -it was a memorable time together! Here are some of the moments.

Dylan-Holiday Pet Portraits

Holiday Pet portraits make the perfect holiday gift! 

 I love my job as a portrait photographer, especially when I have great subjects like Dylan. This past Friday afternoon  I had the pleasure of photographing Dylan (named after Mr. Bob Dylan) who is a Can./American Champion Saluki Dog. His owner and I were preparing for  The Pawsh Dog and  A Pawsitive Image Photography, Professional Holiday Pet Portrait event. It runs Sundays, November 29th to December 6th at 133 Marion St.. To have your dog photographed call 415-7976 for an appointment. 

I will also be photographing holiday pet portraits at Paws on Portage Nov. 21st. by appointment. 

 If your dog prefers a more intimate setting , check out the pet portrait special at Studio 448 running  from Nov. 16th -Dec. 5th! (www.studio448.com for details.) Call 230-8194 to book your appointment today! 

Dirty Little Secrets

The Quest: The fridge half cleaned!

Ahhh.... A day off. Yah right!  See, my sister from Calgary is coming next week and staying with us for a few days. This is really good but really bad at the same time. It's forcing me to "fess up" and admit I've been a little lax with the house chores- ohhh, about how long you ask-- for about a year and a half . The timing of it coincides with the beginning of photography school last September, and really hasn't found an end.

I think it hit me this morning as I drove my boys to school at 7:30a.m. . The sun was just coming up over the horizon and my oldest asked for a stick of gum from my purse. "Sure" I said  as I reached into my purse in the murky darkness. Out came the wallet first. Then my kit of digital cards for my camera, then my spare camera battery,......(I was beginning to wonder if I had left anything in my Camera bag) What kind of mother doesn't have the child essentials like band aides, tissue, or gum in her purse but can offer to instantly produce a full photo shoot with the contents of her purse!  All right, it was apparent my life was slowly being consumed by photography, even my purse was suffering from serious neglect.

  

I vowed when I arrived home that I would tackle at least one project for that morning. I knew what that project had to be- The whole job had a very apparent "stench" to it. It meets me everyday, every time I enter the kitchen. I had today to deal with it.

 

Cleaning out the fridge is probably my least favorite household chore. It's having to deal with with unexpected surprises-if you know what mean - and realizing how many unnecessary purchases I've made at the grocery store. How many times do I purchase an item an repurchase that exact item 2 days later-Below-case in point- 2 jars of Tostitos dip-One just isn't enough! I also began to notice a pattern of collections- does one family really need 6 jars of pickles in various forms or 4 jars of mustard???

  

As I made my way through the fridge contents , I came across ingredients that were long forgotten in the back recess of the selves. I can't for the life of me remember what recipe I used this Burgundy Cooking Wine for -and it has 12 % Alcohol???!!!!

Oh look, and here's living proof of my last cleaning out date- Does that really say May 07 on the top as the expiry date!!!!

These pimientos tasted good once in a Ham dish- They have seen much better days!!!

I stated earlier that my purse had been consumed by photography-apparently so has the fridge. I found the roll of film I've be missing for a few months! Humm -A Tip for cleaning! (Let's stay focused on cleaning!!!)

Cleaning projects are never in themselves a single entity. Of course as I finished cleaning out the fridge, moving it's contents from the counter back to their home in the cold, I had to look through the kitchen window... those curtains are looking a little gray .... I'm sure I'll have another day off soon!