Esquimalt Arts Festival 2017
I’m compiling photography and working on all kinds of creative new art to display this upcoming Saturday at the Township of Esquimalt Arts Festival in Memorial Park, on Esquimalt Road across from the municipal hall.
The event features more than 25 local artists and art making, live music, plus several carvers from the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations who will demonstrate their art and share stories from their people.
Free admission. Outdoors, rain or shine. Come and say hi!
Iceland Tour
Thanks to Cathy Scott of Niche Women’s Tours/Departures Travel for the opportunity to host a fabulous trip this past May to Iceland.
The natural beauty of this incredible country is staggering. In fact, Iceland is one of the most picture-perfect places I have ever visited.
Here are a few of the many images I took with my phone to give some idea of the variety of sights to be seen. I’ll be posting more soon once I have the opportunity to edit the 1000+ images I shot with my Nikon DSLR.
I look forward to hosting my next trip with Niche in the spring of 2018 to Scotland and Ireland and in the fall to Africa.
Dancing the Light Fantastic
One of the things I most appreciate having learned as a photographer are traditional camera and lighting techniques. The images you see here, required me to reach into my depth of knowledge to create this within the camera, not in Photoshop. Having learned to get it right in the camera has been my trademark for the past two decades.
Creative in-camera photography is essentially sculpting with light. Working with flash requires an understanding of the desired results before the shutter is pressed. Our eyes can’t perceive the different lighting ratios that create these results, but experience can give the maker a vision of what to expect.
I found great joy in creating these images in my studio as each one is truly unique and captures the essence of my client in different ways and has an energy that is authentic because the art of the moment was captured in-camera as it happened.
First Take Videos
I had the honour to create these short videos for Andy MacKinnon, the Green Party candidate for Esquimalt/Metchosin.
Andy’s ability to talk on a variety of topics resulted in us completing all these videos in just a short 40 minutes.
His warm spirit and calm demeanor clearly comes through and made a chilly, rainy day feel bright.
This Is Leadership Pilot Debut
I’m so excited to host and share with you this pilot episode of an upcoming six-episode series to air this fall on Shaw TV. This IS Leadership is a program dedicated to showcasing local leadership and changemakers in action!
Our first feature and guest is Tom Zaban, Vice President of Marketing for Reliable Controls, a company which specializes in the design and manufacture of Internet-connected building controls.
If you would like your own tour of Reliable Controls, one of the region’s leading green-tech employers, here’s your chance! Learn more about the Sunday, April 23rd, 1:30 – 3:30 pm tour of this LEED Platinum facility here.
Making History
I’m delighted to support our community by producing the annual Creatively United for the Planet Earth Day Festival & Sustainability Showcase.
Did you know, that it’s been more than 100 years since electric vehicles were introduced to Victoria? On Earth Day, April 22nd, history will be made again with Vancouver Island’s largest Electric Vehicle Show and Sustainability Showcase to be held from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday, April 22nd, both indoors and outside, at the Royal BC Museum 675 Belleville St.
In addition to free test rides and hands-on demonstrations, learn about innovative new technologies, see more than 34 displays, explore engaging topics and presentations by Order of Canada singer & storyteller Ann Mortifee; Emmy-nominated screenwriter & award-winning novelist Pauline Le Bel; one of Victoria’s leading high tech firms and green leaders, Tom Zaban of Reliable Controls; a panel of Net Zero Buildings, Saltspring creative up-cyclist Jaime Murdoch, and meet and write a letter with Franny and Rupert, who at age nine and 13 years are environmental rights advocates working with the Blue Dot movement.
Admission is free, with some ticketed talks and workshops. Check out www.creativelyunited.org to learn more.
World Photographic Cup Finalist
I was delighted to learn this image I took at Royal Roads on a client’s very wet wedding day was chosen to represent Canada at the World Photographic Cup competition held recently in Japan.
The World Photographic Cup was founded in 2013 as a cooperative effort by The Federation of European Photographers (FEP) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Its singular goal is to unite photographers internationally in a spirit of friendship and cooperation.
A Governing Committee from seven different countries conducts the ongoing affairs of the competition which is a multi-level process which begins with each country choosing 18 images (three in six different categories) to represent the country.
Iceland Tour
Picture-perfect Iceland! Here’s your chance to see one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
Two additional seats have just become available for this intimate tour for women travelers wanting to enjoy the trip of a lifetime, see amazing sites, make new friends and be pampered!
Beautiful Gallery Space
Thank you to Alice Bacon and John Carswell of the Brentwood Bay Village Emporium for the opportunity to be the featured artist in their beautiful gallery/coffee emporium. With the help of artist Jennifer Witvliet, 14 of my images are up in a fabulous space dedicated to showcasing local artists until March 7th. They also have live music evenings.
Click here for event details.
Photography and art lovers are in for a special treat this Sat., Feb. 11th.
The Creatively United for the Planet Society presents The Gift of Change, an inspirational multi-media show featuring the stunning imagery of one of Canada’s most awarded landscape photographers, the late Courtney Milne.
Tickets are just $35 and that includes admission to the gallery, this incredible program and lovely edibles. Sat., Feb. 11th, 6:30-8:30 pm, at The Robert Bateman Centre, where I also have a piece in the Boxed Sanctuary show continuing until Feb. 28th.
Tickets and details can be found here
New Year, New Head Shot!
The new year is always a great time to freshen up your image for the year ahead.
With professional lighting and finishing, I can ensure you will have a portrait you can be proud of that captures you at your very best.
I can work outdoors, on-location or in my studio. I use seven studio lights to create the most flattering light possible.
I work quickly and make all my sessions a pleasant experience, even for those most photo phobic. My convenient location is close to downtown and also has plenty of free parking.
Book now and head into the new year with a professional new portrait!
Before & After:
24/7 Warmth!
Revisiting summer memories can truly warm a cold winter day. It’s such an honour to not only capture and create images for my clients, but to design books to last lifetimes is a real joy.
Meet Julie, Peter and their gorgeous family. I photographed their wedding in 2009 and this past summer, I finally had the pleasure to see them again after their return visit to Victoria from Quebec with their two children.
While it may be cold outside, the warmth these photos bring resonates year-round!
Chasing Summer
Family get-togethers are a perfect time to capture special moments that only happen all too infrequently.
Here are a few images from a session this past summer with a family visiting from Minnesota. These moments pass far too quickly not to be captured by a professional photographer.
Just think of the joy of re-visiting images that are meaningful to you. If you would like me to create something special for you, please keep in mind that I can work from your photographs as well.
Another Beautiful Day
Now that the dark-days of winter are upon us, it’s always nice to reflect back on sunnier days and happy occasions.
These family portraits were taken late September while the fall colour was at its peak and became wall portraits for this family who I’m grateful to receive this fabulous letter from. I love my clients!
Boxed Sanctuary Project
Working out of the box on my submission for this upcoming show at the Bateman Centre. Excited to be one of the chosen artists!
Come & Enjoy Creative Play
Each month, starting December 3rd, I will be co-hosting creative playshops for adults with Maggie Reidy, a popular registered counselor.
Through circles of sharing and caring, meditation, laughter, dance and collage making, enjoy a fun afternoon that will leave you feeling renewed, uplifted and fully inspired.
No art experience required. All supplies included. plus yummy treats for just $45!
Sign up here.
Radical Rainbow Kitchen Renovation
I was honoured to be one of the many volunteers on the HeroWork Radical Renovation team for the Rainbow Kitchen on Lyall Street in Esquimalt.
Although I was assigned to a number of non-photographic duties, my photography and video skills were brought in at the last minute to cover the first look by the United Church and Rainbow Kitchen staff who saw the finished project at the grand unveiling, October 2nd for the first time. It was wonderful to capture their joyous reactions.
Passionately Vibrant
Not only does Kat Hardistry create fabulously colourful works of art, but she lives a vibrant life.
I had the pleasure of meeting Kat years ago when I first did both her and her sister Suzy Hahn’s realtor portraits.
We reconnected a few years ago at an art event and I have been completely in awe of her artistic talents since.
It was great to photograph her again, this time with her art as the backdrop.
Iceland Trip Information Event
Come and learn more about this five-star trip to Iceland I’ll be leading next May for Niche Travel. Tickets for this free info night can be RSVP’d here.
Esquimalt Arts Festival
Come and enjoy a wide selection of local art displayed throughout the beautiful grounds of the English Inn, 429 Lampson St., this upcoming Sunday, August 14th, from 11 am to 4 pm. I’ll have a variety of my personal work for show and sale and hope you’ll come and say hello. I look forward to this annual event organized by the wonderful volunteers of the Esquimalt Township Community Arts Council. Admission is free.
Maestro Extraordinaire
I consider myself extremely blessed to meet and work with so many incredible people. Most recently I was given the opportunity to create new portraits for former Victoria Symphony and international orchestral conductor Peter McCoppin, who many may also remember as an international television host and radio broadcaster.
His impressive resume and success as an executive coach and speaker truly adds to the honour of receiving this testimonial from him:
Frances Litman is in every way a superb artist.
A master photographer she embodies that rare combination of intuition, instinct, poetry, and craft to capture the true essence of every subject.
She produced the finest photos of my professional career, for which I am deeply grateful.
– Peter McCoppin
