Monday, December 22, 2008

summer relics with hats on

I could have spent all day outside with my camera. What an amazing day. The sun was perfect. The snow was so delicate and framed everything with its white outline. I did manage to take a break and slip out into my backyard before the sun was too high and started melting the snow. It appeared that all the odd little objects that are scattered in my backyard were wearing these lovely white hats. Perhaps a party occurred that I was not invited to.








my street this a.m.

Friday, December 19, 2008

As the crows fly...















The crows of Vancouver have fascinated me for years as they have for many who see them fly overhead every night at sunset. I believe most people either love them or hate them. I happen to love them.

I wanted to photograph them up close along their route at sunset. I chose a rooftop just off of Grandview Highway recently and experienced the most amazing sensory encounter. As I waited patiently for their arrival I was able to observe murder after murder flying from all directions to where I sat. In large roving circles they slowly came closer and then almost at once they converged onto the building where I was and onto a few of the rooftops around me.

As my eye was looking through the viewfinder I could only hear them arriving behind me. The swoosh of their wings surrounded me. I wasn't sure if I would be perceived as a threat or not. Crows are very close knit and protective of their family units. I heard them chattering away to each other and I felt safe. I sat very still and found it hard to photograph with any concentration. I was overwhelmed with amazement. Everywhere that I looked were crows. I have never seen them in such numbers.

I will go back another night and try to take some better photos. Now that I know what to expect I will be more prepared.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008








I asked my oldest and dear friend Ashlie if I could take photos of her nephew and her parents. I wanted a few grandparent photos for the website. She arranged for her mom to call me and we set up a date.

Her nephew is 4, the same age as my daughter and it is a fun age. Luca did very well sitting for me on his own and then with his grandparents and his mom. He had just sat through a haircut so I had to make the shoot short and sweet. In the end I like the photos with him on his own the best and one with his mother.

It was a little surreal returning to the same home where I used to hang out with Ashlie as a teenager. It was a great experience to take photos of her parents and her sister.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008












I was asked to do headshots for a young woman who is contemplating a career in acting. It was raining that day so the majority of the shoot occurred indoors. I really like the photos that we did manage to capture outside. A few of my favourites are posted here.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Relocation for Mount Pleasant





Office for the 'Relocation of Little Mountain'










When I take my daughter to gym class I pass by a large housing development at Ontario and 33rd Avenue. This past spring and summer I had seen families out on the corner of Main and 33rd with large blue signs calling for Housing For All.
All of sudden the homes are boarded up; well at least most of them.
It is a very strange landscape. The lawns are well manicured, but the homes are becoming desolate. The Little Mountain Housing Complex comprises a large area, over 15 acres, facing Queen Elizabeth Park. Only a few of the windows are not boarded up. I cannot imagine what those few who are left are going through.
So, I did some research to educate myself on the issues. The complex is made of 224 housing units and was constructed in the mid 1950's. One woman has lived in her home for 44 years and she is told to leave. Holborn Properties is the developer in charge of the project. The province wants to replace it with more housing and use this under-utilized land more efficiently. The provincial government plans to offer homes first to all those vacated, but the construction is not to start until 2010 and will take approximately three years. The land sits empty now.
Individuals have been fighting this issue for a long time. It is not just about this piece of property but homelessness as well. I will include links to their websites as I would wish anyone interested to read their words directly.
http://www.my-calm.info/ - "Advocates for Little Mountain"
For the other side: www.housing.gov.bc.ca

Friday, November 21, 2008

Eikcam jewelry shoot for Eastside Cultural Crawl

I had the pleasure of shooting jewelry for a wonderful jewelry and ceramic artist, Grace Lee of Eikcam Designs. Her work is showing at the Eastside Cultural Crawl this weekend, November 21-23. Grace Lee is located in the Mergatroid Building at 965 Vernon Drive.
Here is the link for the Crawl: http://www.eastsideculturecrawl.com/.

Grace Lee's website is under construction, but please check out her blog at: http://eikcam.blogspot.com/.























Sunday, November 16, 2008

The lot no longer eludes me.
















I finally fulfilled a creative wish Sunday. I had the amazing oppurtunity to shoot Kevin Lee Burton, a young aboriginal film maker from Winnipeg. He relayed his vision to me of how he wanted the shoot to proceed and I suggested an abandoned lot that I have been anxiously wanting to photograph in.
The weather was perfect.... a dark moody Vancouver fall day with moments of glorious sunshine illuminating our pallete of greens and blues.
For a more complete rendition of our afternoon check out the whole album at:

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Indie I Do



Finally someone is Vancouver is showcasing the alternatives to traditional weddings. I am very excited about this event.
It takes place at the Heritage Hall on Main Street on Saturday, January 17, 2009.
Check out the website for all the details.

http://www.indieido.com/

Lets do this thing.

I am finally making the leap to the world of the blog.

If nothing else this will allow me a personal space to ramble on about the photographic adventures that will no doubt accompany my adventures into the world of the entrepreneur.
The website is almost up. I had no idea the amount of effort involved in such an enterprise. I am very grateful to Paige and her endless amounts of patience. I am also grateful to my support team who continue to go above and beyond in their efforts to ensure my success.

The end goal is always in sight. To follow my passion and to prove to the girls that dreams are worth pursuing.


Lost in a world of pink the girls spin to the music of the faeries.