Kristia di Gregorio is one of those gals you can’t help but notice – the belle of the ball! I was delighted when she contacted me to create some images for her. Given she is a fabulous musician and comfortable in the limelight, our session was very productive. Here is but a peak as she is working on an album now and making decisions around the look for her new CD.

“There’s a lot of storytelling on this album. I’ll be taking listeners to faded old bars in New Orleans to wait for a lover that never shows, to Paris in the Belle Epoque living the live of an artist’s muse. Love, loss, longing… lots of those themes too, but hopefully with enough wit or hope for it to never get too dark,” she says.

Check Kristia out at the Spiral Café on June 22nd… Gorgeous Coffee on July 6th and Victoria Folk Music Society on August 18th… more info and some of her tunes from recording projects in the past can be found at www.reverbnation.com/kristiadigregorio.

She’s #1 in folk right now for Victoria! Way to go Kristia!!!

Hard to believe Robert Bateman celebrated his 83rd birthday this past weekend and what a birthday!!!
Besides being in great health and having 200 people attend his gala party, his new legacy gallery just opened to fabulous reviews and he’s off and running all over the globe continuously sharing his art and conservation message with adoring audiences.

What a thrill to be a part of this event. Here are a few images snapped with my iphone and some of the people I had the great fortune to share conversation with: including the Lieutenant Governor’s official escort whose medals are almost competition for my necklace, the one and only Alex Fisher, Claudia Lia of sharktruth.com and Wade Davis who also gave an incredibly passionate speech during the course of the evening.

Robert Bateman is not only one of the world’s most respected and highly regarded wildlife artists and conservationists, but is an inspiration to many, myself included.

I jokingly say it is Robert Bateman’s fault that I have dedicated years of my life advocating for the protection and preservation of the natural world, most notably through the founding of Creatively United for the Planet. Hearing him speak in person moved me from being more than just a financial supporter of environmental charities to wanting to find ways to ignite the passion in others to see the beauty and significance of the world around us.

When I was given the opportunity to photograph Mr. Bateman in his new soon-to-be-opened gallery (in the former Wax Museum on Belleville St.) and capture the visit from HRH Prince Andrew I was more than delighted. Given his time was at a premium, I can only express gratitude for Mr. Bateman’s patience to allow me this honour. Here are two of my favourite photographs. I’m not able to share the photographs of HRH at this time due to official protocol and approvals required but hope to in the near future.

Cue the crows! These lovely birds certainly added to the beauty of this west coast scene when they flew past in almost perfect formation echoing the windswept veil cloaking these newlyweds.

To see more of this beautiful wedding please click here to view the full album.

We made history April 19-21, 2013 when we transformed St. Ann’s Academy into a community village that showcased many of this province’s most talented individuals, groups, businesses and green leaders in a festive way to celebrate where we call home and bring attention to the importance of our natural world.

It’s estimated more than 5,500 people came out in support. We were honoured and thankful to have blessings from both the Esquimalt & Songhees First Nations, plus have the Earth Walk join in the celebration.

Thank you to everyone for coming out in support and to the many businesses, individuals and community groups for joining us! Special thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who helped make this event happen.

Stay tuned for photographs, video and more information! May Earth Day be every day!!!

I have had the great pleasure of working with both Krista Voitchovsky and Cathy Scott over the years and find these two gals to be a powerhouse of talent and energy. Congratulations to Krista as she moves forward in her real estate career. She has helped put together a fabulous trip to Portugal (see below post) in her role at Vision 2000 Travel as agent extraordinaire. Cathy was responsible for last year’s amazing photo tour to Croatia that I had the pleasure of leading and will soon be announcing her latest venture. Stay tuned for more!

Here is a trip where everyone will feel like royalty with glorious accommodation, fabulous food and scenic splendours…and have all your photography questions answered while you enjoy this picture perfect country!
Vision 2000 Travel with Collette Tours will present an informative evening for anyone interested in taking a memorable trip this October 3-14. Please join me from 7-9 pm Tuesday, March 19 at 116-4480 West Saanich Rd. to learn more about this exciting adventure and save $’s by booking early!

What an honour to be nominated for a Community Leadership/Community Collaboration Award and attend a wonderful ceremony at The Empress and see so many familiar faces. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

Did you know that Canada is one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t yet recognize and protect it’s citizens’ right to a healthy environment?
Given we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (and I’ve travelled enough to know this is true!), it seems more important now than ever to stand up and support those groups working hard to keep it that way.
I’m honoured to be profiled by Ecojustice in their very informative 2013 newsletter.

Located in the heart of downtown and steps to great shopping, dining and culture is this fabulous three-storey custom designed home and vacation rental.

JC Scott and his EcoDesign team really put together an amazing space where beds fold into unique multi-purpose cabinets, light works it’s way through floors, fridges are cleverly tucked into beautiful cabinets, outdoor spaces unfold into sweeping vistas and cozy is the operative word.

What a treat it was to photograph this zen-like space that is tucked inside an alley running off both Herald and Fisgard Streets where dim sum, Thai massage, coffee, art and more awaits outside the front door but seem world’s away once you enter.

Having seen the world through both wide angle and telephoto lens I have come to appreciate the fragile beauty of our environment and the huge role it plays in ensuring happy and healthy communities.

Loving where I live and living where I love, I am committed to Inspiring Environmental Awareness and Building Community Through Creativity. From this passion was born the Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival which will be held April 19-21, 2013 at St. Ann’s Academy, 835 Humboldt St.

This free, fun-filled event attracted almost 4,000 people to the inaugural 2012 festival. Music, art, film, photography, entertainment, displays, food, fashion and fun will all be part of this indoor/outdoor rain or shine event.

Stay tuned for the details and check out www.creativelyunitedfortheplanet.com. Volunteers, sponsors, performers and exhibitors can contact me at 250-383-0206.

Looking for the perfect gift to give at any time of the year? Family portraits are always appreciated by those  receiving them. I had the pleasure of photographing Sue and Paul’s wedding almost 20 years ago, the arrival of their son Ray, and now a collection of keepsake photographs for them all to enjoy as Ray has since grown up and is planning to travel and attend university out of province in the near future. The passage of time is so quick that I’m always amazed at how fast young children become adults in front of my lens.

Congratulations to Carolyn Herriot on the release of her newest book: The Zero-Mile Diet Cookbook! I had the great pleasure to photograph Carolyn in her wonderful garden for the cover and discuss her possible involvement as a presenter at the April 20+21, 2013 Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival to be held at St. Ann’s.

If you ever want to see the best of Europe in one country, you will find it in Croatia. I had the great pleasure to lead a photography tour for the Women’s Travel Connection this past September/October.

When I was asked where I would like to lead a tour to, I immediately said Croatia as the memory of seeing it on television at the time of the 1991 conflict made it seem so surreal that a war could be fought in what looked like an absolute paradise. I can now attest, the natural beauty of the region is breathtaking.

We landed in Zagreb and with our own deluxe bus and guide we made our way throughout the country visiting coastal cities and islands all with hundreds of years of history, beauty and lushness.

Given the country has some of the best soil and purest water in Europe, everything tasted fantastic. Organic is a way of life there as things grow so plentiful. Figs, olives, tangerines, lemons, oranges, grapes, almonds…they have it all!

The people were warm and English was spoken most everywhere. I would have to say of all the places I’ve visited in the world, Croatia ranks as one of my all-time favourites.

Thank you to everyone involved with the Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival and for the nomination for the 2012 CRD Ecostar Community Leadership Award.

I’m truly honoured to be this year’s recipient and feel I share this award with the many people who volunteered, sponsored and supported this inaugural festival in support of more than 16 non-government organizations doing the hero work in our communities!

Thanks to Susan at the Sierra Club and Carolyn from the Garry Oak EcoSystem Recovery Team for being on-camera in support of my nomination and the fantastic team at the CRD for the video they produced as a result (see below)…not to mention the gala evening they put on for this year’s EcoStar winners catered by the fabulous Fairmont Empress Hotel.

One of the things that’s been reaffirmed for me since photographing the House Beautiful section for the Times-Colonist is that this city has no shortage of amazing view homes.

Here is a home that sits in one of the many high rocky vistas that dot the waterfront tour bus route. It just goes to show you don’t have to be right on the water to enjoy sweeping views. Also, I love how the owner of this home used art to enhance the space and most notably had to chuckle when I saw the sculpture of the climbing figure so strategically placed on a rock wall near the kitchen. Please see the Architecture Gallery section of my website for more images if you are so inclined.

I love engagement sessions! It’s such an honour to have people entrust me with capturing and creating imagery that they will enjoy for years to come. This weekend I’ll be photographing David and Naomi’s wedding which, like them, will no doubt be picture perfect!