Yummy Baan Thai
Never do a food shoot hungry! That was the lesson I learned when I was asked to photograph more than 50 amazing dishes prepared by the chefs at Baan Thai. Dish after dish was before my camera (and my nose!). I couldn’t wait for the go ahead to sample the food when I was finished. What a bonus! I didn’t think I liked hot food until I tried some of the fare and discovered that it’s more about flavour than hot and now I’m a Thai food lover!
A House of Music
Given the worldwide recognition famed double bass musician Gary Karr and his partner Harmon Lewis have enjoyed it’s no surprise that their house is filled with music not to mention no less than 18 double basses! What a delight it was to photograph these gentlemen in their amazing surroundings.
Eric Charman’s 80th Gala Celebration
I recently had the honour to photograph Eric Charman and a collection of one-of-a-kind chairs created by a number of amazing local artists to be auctioned at this incredible event hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Pacific Opera Victoria and the Victoria Symphony. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of people like Eric, Victoria has enjoyed a vibrant and diverse arts/music community.
CFAX 1070 Radio Interview
Thanks to Sheila Gardner at CFAX 1070 (click for link) for allowing a half-hour (less one commercial break) to chat about the Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival. It’s been a complete labour of love for me to see this fun-filled, all ages festival come together for April 20-22, 2012 in support of 15 amazing charities doing hero work on our behalf.
There will be dancing, music, art, lectures, displays and lots of free activities for everyone to enjoy, including an opening night dance party with Candu Music and Grandpa Phunk spinning tunes. Costumes are encouraged.
Headliners for our ticketed performances include: Robert Bateman, Ann Mortifee & Paul Horn, Holly Arntzen & Kevin Wright, the Gettin’ Higher Choir, a photography talk by Garth Lenz, a John Lennon Tribute Concert, and a funky fashion show featuring local designers, The Woodsmen, DJ Rowan, performance art and The SoulShakers dance band.
Check out www.creativelyunitedfortheplanet.com for more details and be a part of the fun.
Lighting Made Easy
Light and bright…a photographer’s dream….not to mention how wonderful it must be to be the lucky couple who lives in this fabulous new home in Fernwood.
Of all the homes I have photographed for the Times-Colonist House Beautiful section this funky modern home was actually one of the quickest to photograph as I had the added benefit of beautiful natural light streaming in large picture windows.
For some the contrast in lighting would be a challenge to photograph, but by adding a variety of studio lighting I was able to balance the scene to capture the clean lines intended by the designer without the blacks blocking up and the highlights blowing out. This is a perfect example of how lighting can really enhance something that already appears to look great but wouldn’t necessarily reproduce well. To have something reproduce well in newsprint is a challenge on it’s own as the paper tends to dull colours as it is so porous so this is why lighting is even more critical to ensure colours pop!
I will be teaching a Beginner to Intermediate Lighting Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1-4 pm. Registration is $129 by Feb. 21 (reg. 149)…space is limited so please email me soon with the subject line: “Lighting Workshop” to reserve your space.
PICTURE PERFECT FALL CROATIA TRIP
Did you know Croatia has one of the most Unesco World Heritage Sites? If you want a picture perfect trip, come and learn more about the Women’s Travel Connection “Highlights of Croatia” trip led by yours truly.
I’m delighted to be chosen to lead this amazing trip and can assure you Croatia is spectacular. I was told by a very well-traveled individual that “Disney couldn’t even make something as beautiful as Croatia!” and can attest that what I have seen of Croatia made me want to go back to see more.
So please join me, Vision 2000 Travel and the Women’s Travel Connection to hear all about this fantastic trip on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 pm at Vision 2000 Travel. 116 – 4480 West Saanich Rd.
Space is limited so please call Krista at 250-412-3805 to reserve a seat or bring a friend.
A House Loved by All
When my friends from Winnipeg decided to make Victoria their second home I was thrilled and when I saw the house they chose I knew it had to be a TC House Beautiful feature!
What makes it feature worthy is that it’s not only a gorgeous heritage-designated home, but it has been well-loved by a small handful of owners in it’s 100+ year history.
My friend’s merely had to move in as the gorgeous wood that graces all aspects of the interior had never been painted and the house was lovingly tended to by the former owner and their new neighbour who has lived on the same street for his entire life. Now loved by all, this home is enjoying the joy of friends and family far and wide.
Save the Date
The feedback from my e-blast last week of the Save the Date for the Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival has been nothing sort of fantastic. Thank you to the List Warehouse for making it so easy and for donating the mail credits. Stay tuned for lots of upcoming exciting announcements.
One of my favourites
As the photographer for the Times-Colonist House Beautiful section that runs in Saturday’s newspaper, I have the privilege of seeing many fine homes. People often ask me which have been my favourites and the homes that generally appeal the most to me have large picture windows with glorious ocean views. This past Saturday’s Times-Colonist is one of those homes. The best home really is a happy home and this home would make anyone who loves light and bright happy indeed!
‘Tis The Season For Groupings!
Going on location to take photographs is always a fun challenge as you have to work with what you are given and sometimes spaces are fraught with challenges such as mixed lighting or are too small for what is needed. Here are two recent group shots taken in the last week that show what can be done when time is short and/or space is limited.
CD Cover
What a treat to not only photograph but hear the lovely Lorraine Nygaard perform selections from her new CD. Many people know Lorraine from the Esquimalt Rec Centre where she is both a wonderful fitness and yoga instructor… and now as a jazz chanteuse. I’m grateful she chose one of my images for the cover of her CD.
House Beautiful Picked Up Canada-wide
It’s nice to see that all the hard work that goes into making the photographs for the Times-Colonist are appreciated by other media far and wide as this feature which ran just a few short weeks ago in our daily paper is being picked up by newspapers Canada-wide.
An Afternoon With Robert Bateman
What an honour to spend an afternoon listening to this most eloquent friend of the environment and artist extraordinaire! I also had the great pleasure of having some one-on-one time to chat with Robert Bateman who is the tender age of just 81 and has the energy, enthusiasm and looks of a man 30 years his junior. He has lifetimes of information to share on why we need to take better care of our planet. I shared information about my passion project, the First Annual Creatively United for the Planet Festival launching in April 2012 and he was most interested to know more. Stay tuned.
Group Shots in Small Spaces
Professional looking group shots can be a scary proposition to new photographers as there are so many things to be taken into consideration, like posing so it looks approachable, flattering and believable. Lighting is another consideration as everyone needs to look their best without unflattering shadows and misplaced lighting.
Time is a huge concern too as there is often someone in a group shot who arrives late or needs to leave early. Money is well spent on professional photography, especially for busy people who value not only their time but their image.
I enjoy the challenge of putting together groups quickly so that no one has time to fidget or get bored. Lighting is set up in advance with anticipation of how it will look and the speed and accuracy to which it is carried out always surprises everyone I photograph.
The Quiet of Fall
Creatively United
Coming to you April 20-22, 2012 Victoria’s best Earth Week Festival ever. Be prepared for FUN as we prepare to celebrate All That Is Good while creatively supporting those charities doing the hero work on our behalf. Stay tuned for the details for this all ages, family event.
Visit the website at www.creativelyunitedfortheplanet.com and follow us on Facebook.com/CreativelyUnited and on Twitter@CreativelyUnite
House BOOtiful
This couple lives Halloween 365 days a year! What fun it was to photograph this haunted heritage house complete with spider webs and an eclentic variety of art and collectibles.
Art Shows
It’s always a wait and see process when entering adjudicated art shows. I recently submitted the following three pieces to the Sidney Fine Art Show for review to see if I was accepted into their prestigious Oct. 14-16 show. The first piece is a photograph I took from my car window this past summer. I loved the old world feel of the scene but wanted to make it even more atmospheric so I got out my acrylic paints and started painting. This was the only one of the three that was accepted into the show but considering they had well over a thousand submissions I’m thrilled. I’ll have these and other works on display for the month of October at the Mocha House in the Cook Street village where I was invited to hang my work.
FALL PICKUP
BEAUTY IN ALL THINGS
This shot was to be of a beautiful lush green cabbage I spotted at the grocery store but accidentally forgot in my crisper until I smelled something (let’s not go there)…anyways, I pulled it out and still found it so beautiful, especially after I peeled back a few of the most rotten cabbage leaves and saw something of a heart before my eyes in an amongst all the beautiful texture of the peeling leaves.
PASSION AFTER THE BLOOM
Sometimes flowers maintain a beauty after they wither and die and that’s exactly what I saw in this collection of the remaining old blooms from a bouquet that had given me so much pleasure that I didn’t want to see it go. However, I couldn’t bring back the sentiment of the bouquet until I added paint to it and worked it into a lush frothiness of warm sensuality, hence the title.
Unplug and Come Play! Oct. 15th
What a great way to spend an October day, exploring the gift of creativity that lays in wait for time and space in all of us. This workshop will be a chance for everyone to try their hand at all kinds of artsy things and use art supplies they may never have tried before. New life will be brought to average photographs without using a computer forming the basis of new and exciting ways of viewing life and making art from even the mundane. This workshop is perfect for anyone who is interested in making time and space for themselves to explore new ideas and possibilities.
URBAN GROOVE
What a pleasure to photograph the home of artist Jim Kirk for the House Beautiful feature section in Saturday’s Times-Colonist. I had met Jim several years ago when I was doing some volunteer work for the TLC (Land Conservancy) and they asked me if I would photograph Jim for a campaign they were running. What a surprise to see the larger than life Jim Kirk himself arrive at my studio covered head to toe in tattoos, with piercings and in a small PINK vintage car! When I found out I was going to see him again and photograph his home I was thrilled! Here are some of the photographs the T-C never used, plus those from Saturday’s section.
Please click on thumbnail to enlarge:
