Loving Where I Live
It’s always such a pleasure to show off our city in all it’s infinite beauty. I was reminded of this recently when I spent a few days offering photo instruction to a client visiting from the USA who wanted to go out and explore and compare our respective composition, viewpoint, exposures, etc. I’m so grateful to be able to share my 25 years of experience as a professional photographer, educator and international photo adjudicator.
You can read the testimonial here
Sooke Fine Arts 2016
I’m grateful for the beautiful placement of my photograph at the Sooke Fine Arts Show. It’s always an honour to be selected into a juried show. Kudos to the organizers and many volunteers who make this annual art show one of the finest on Vancouver Island.
Held Over – At The Robert Bateman Gallery
One of the highlights of my 20+ year career as a professional photographer is to have my personal work on display at the Robert Bateman Gallery.
The display is themed around the sea with World Ocean’s Day in mind and will be up until June 15th.
Please be sure to drop by and see all the beautiful work in the gallery.
Grand Opening
What an honour to be given the special task of helping with the grand opening celebrations of the Urban Ground Market and Lakeside Village project near the entrance to Thetis Lake on Six Mile Rd. and be part of a pop-up gallery that features more than 60 pieces of original art by Victoria locals like Heather Barr, Jan Dong, Lon French, Katarina Leah Carlos, Vickie Stewart, Robert Barr, Olisha Mitchell, Liz Dailey, myself and others.
Fantastic music was provided by Auto Jansz, Little Crow (Rhonda Broadfoot and Mike Nicholls), Brad Hawkes, Lonnie Glass, Roger Plant, plus Daniel Cook and the Radiators.
The gallery will be open again Sat., May 28th from 1-5 pm with the live music lineup to be announced soon. The market is open daily and features a fantastic selection of organic produce, local products and more.
Creatively United Art Show
Thanks to CanvasPlus for doing such a fabulous job in printing the canvases I had on display at the 5th Annual Creatively United for the Planet Sustainability Showcase this past April at both Royal Bay Secondary and the Royal BC Museum.
Jan Dong was a total pro in how she hung the show and to be in the company of so many talented artists was a real highlight.
The First of Two Great Weekends
Thank you to everyone who took part in and came out to the 5th annual Creatively United for the Planet Sustainability Showcase at Royal Bay Secondary in Colwood which opened Friday evening with a beautiful sold out farm-to-table meal, live music, art and dancing. The decor, food, ambiance and company was world class. Thank you to all our incredible sponsors and a team of fantastic volunteers who helped create a night to remember.
Saturday, April 15th was full on with 30 presenters, more than 75 exhibitors, live music, art and more than 1000 people.
The Earth Week festivities continue at the Royal BC Museum, with an inspired evening of revolutionary art and film with Franke James and Sarah Robertson this Friday, April 22, from 7-10 pm (Earth Day) and continuing Sat., April 23 from 1-5 pm with live music, art, and two incredible workshops suitable for all ages. Learn more here!
Creatively United Art Showcase
I’m honoured to have some of my work on display at the Canvas Plus display that is part of the Creatively United showcase opening this Friday evening with art, live music, a four-course farm-to-table meal and called dances. Incredible artwork by 14 artists will be on display, as well as live music including Bijoux du Bayou. Click here to see more!
Sustainability Showcase
This could possibly be one of North America’s biggest Earth Week and sustainability showcases.
It’s very exciting to watch it grow and be organizing an event like this!
5th Annual Creatively United
I love creative projects and this year marks the fifth year that I have coordinated and organized this giant community event with presenters coming from all over North America. We plan to have the website completely up-to-date with information about our many presenters by March 10th. Be sure to check it out!
Beautiful Kauai
Thank to great friends and AirMiles I was able to take a long overdue vacation and go to Kauai for five days.
It was such an awe-inspiring trip, not only because of the amazing beaches and lushness of this amazing garden paradise, but due to some of the incredible people I met, including the island’s revered cultural ambassador and internationally known wisdom keeper, Puna Kalama Dawson (Kaipuha’a o Kekauilani Na Pua Hala o Kau’ai) who agreed to travel to Victoria to take part in this April’s www.creativelyunited.org. Check it out!
An Ambassador of Aloha and conscious caring education, Puna is credited with creating a cultural public charter school, Kanuikapono, that supports traditional Hawaiian values of Aloha, indigenous organic gardening for food self sufficiency, as well as lovingly prepares the students for the world of today. Puna is also on the board of Leadership Kauai.
Puna is a direct heir and beneficiary to Queen Kalama who was married to Kamehameha, the Third King of the Hawaiian Islands. Her mother, Elizabeth K. Kalama, also known as “Aunty Nana” is a direct heir to Queen Lili’uokalani who was the reigning Queen before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Islands.
Nature Challenge Day 2-4
Because yesterday got away on me, and I may not have the opportunity to post this Thursday’s image, here are three images from this week’s Nature Challenge. The arrow is actually frost on the ground. I’m constantly amazed by the beauty that surrounds us.
Nature Challenge
I’ve been challenged to post a nature photograph every day for the next week. What a fun way to start the New Year as my work is generally portrait related. Here is the first of many photos to come! Prints are available for sale.
With Heartfelt Gratitude
Above are just a few of the many images I’ve taken with my cel phone while finding a heart in the moment. I hope they bring a smile to your face.
I’m filled with gratitude…that may be why I see hearts everywhere, from a spill on the kitchen counter to the inside of an avocado to the bruise on a banana…it truly astounds me how often I see them.
On-Location Photography
I love the challenge of working on-location and having to come up with creative solutions. This group shot is but one example of making the most out of a location I had never worked in before. Choir Master, Denis Donnelly, of the Gettin’ Higher Choir and Soundings requested a group photograph to be taken during a break in choir rehearsal at the Fairfield Community Centre and needed it to be done quickly, efficiently and indoors due to the weather. By moving a few couches into place and a few tables taken out of the frame, I was able to compose, light and capture this shot within 20 minutes.
One of the hardest challenges was trying to fit in a missing choir member afterwards. I was provided with a photograph taken by a choir member and had to work it into the group shot with completely different lighting. The end result can be seen here.
The Soundings Choir will perform ancient and contemporary music of the Christmas season on Saturday, December 5th at 8 pm in Oak Bay United Church 1555 Mitchell St. and on Sunday, December 6th at 2:30 pm at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, 1973 Cultra, Saanichton. Tickets are available at Larsen Music or at contact tickets@soundingsmusic.ca.
The Best Gift is a Portrait
Ask anyone what they cherish the most and the answer is inevitably is a portrait of loved ones.
I’m always honoured to create and capture portraits to last a lifetime.
Book now and take advantage of special pricing on individual, couple, pet and family portraits… perfect for gift giving!
A Message of Thanks
Photograph Album
It was such an honour and privilege to conceptualize and create this video with talented Victoria singer/songwriter Daniel Francis. Thanks to Dorrie and Brad of Persona Video for such a stellar job!
Green Party Arts Announcement
Having earned a living from my creativity my entire life, I appreciate that the Green Party understands that art and culture contributes to our national identity and the Canadian economy and has a clear plan to support the arts in Canada. Click here for more information.
Team Building
It’s always an honour to photograph a group, team or board. I recently completed photographing the entire board of directors for the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.
The Importance of Giving
It’s great to be a monthly donor to environmental charities doing the hero work to ensure we have fresh air, drinkable water, fish to eat, forests to enjoy and the joy of living here!
