MURRAY-SZARVAS.COM

Polaroid

2011-04-29T11:27:00.000-04:00

I was enjoying an afternoon away from the kids when I found a $5 Polaroid 600 camera. I've always wanted one so I had to buy it. There was no option. I wasn't even sure if it worked but I figured for that amount of money I couldn't afford not to.

I admit I did my fair share of Googling to figure out how to load the film, use the settings and hello?!?! where was the elusive battery? But after my film order arrived from The Impossible Project I was ready to go.

My first subject was Magnum and the film did not disappoint.

I've got a meeting coming up in May to take pics in High Park before heading over to some of the Contact exhibits. Maybe I will bring the Polaroid along. That is if I don't use up the 8 shots on the kids.

Tumblr

2011-02-07T11:34:00.003-05:00

I've been having a lot of fun over at Tumblr. I'm using it as an inspiration board/brainstorming tool to help me sort out various photography, art, writing ideas. I love it!

Check me out at jmurrayszarvas.tumblr.com.

P.S. My posts are much more regular over there.

Happy Birthday Boo

2011-01-23T22:31:00.002-05:00

Ooohhh! The new year has been a busy one. One of my resolutions was to post more this year than last, but we all know how tired this sounds. I keep making blog promises that I can't keep. Years ago when I was doing this on a more serious basis, I posted multiple times a day. Now I'm lucky to post once a week.

So last night we celebrated my best friend's 40th Birthday party. Here's me and my girls.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

This is has been filled with everything. A real ying-yang of emotion and I can say that I am glad to see it go. I am looking forward to starting fresh with 2011. Happy New Year to you and yours, may it be filled with everything you hope for.

You never know what's around the corner.

Unsilent Night

2010-12-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

On December 20th Cambridge participated in Unsilent Night. I am so proud that our little city takes part in such a cool little art project. There were many art displays around the city, this was one of my favourites.

Blue Mountain

2010-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

We drove up to Blue Mountain as part of my Christmas present. The plan was to take the kids to the tube park while mommy got to pick out a beautiful wool sweater made in Nepal. Insert hot chocolate, outdoor fire pits and dinner in there somewhere. Of course, you know what they say about the best laid plans.

We got lost on the way up thanks to a navigation system that showed a bunch of accessible roads, which were not in fact open in the winter. Coupled with 2 children who had clearly had enough of the long car ride and the ferocious winds howling through the Village, we lasted 2 hours and were on our way home.

I have to say, for families that are not able to ski/snowboard because of little ones, there is very little to do in the Village of Blue Mountain. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. They closed the tube park permanently. The horse drawn carriage rides were not operating and there is NOTHING else to do with children. Maybe next time we'll spend some time downtown Collingwood, any suggestions?

Happy Birthday Baby

2010-12-28T12:32:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T16:15:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year xox

The Orchard

2010-12-12T09:15:00.000-05:00

I recently learned that apple trees have a shelf life for producing fruit. After several years "working" they must be cut down and new ones planted. If not, the quality of apples will be affected.

Small Bridge

2010-12-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

I have been trying for over a year to take a picture of this small stone bridge, with no luck. There's always something off about it. I think I managed to capture it sufficiently in this image and had the fortune of including a lone jogger out for her morning run.

Shoe Tree

2010-12-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

Was out and about on one of my famous "get the kids in the car and drive around until they fall asleep" runs when I discovered this lovely shoe tree.

You can read more about this strange phenomenon here.

Rail Trail

2010-12-09T13:42:00.005-05:00

Since taking up running, I use a few different apps to keep me on track. One is the Nike+GPS and the other is a Counch to 5K program. The bonus is that I've always got my camera with me.

Change is good

2010-12-09T13:13:00.002-05:00

Lately photography has changed for me. I use to have time to go out and dedicate myself to the task. Digital photography is a lot of post production work, as I don't usually shoot straight from the camera. I prefer to create images and generate artwork. With small children running around needing most of my time, I have very little left for me (or should I say photography?).

So i've been experimenting with my iPhone and it's various applications. I find I can still take great images and do all the post production work right there in a few minutes. It sometimes takes a bit in between shots to load/save the data but overall it's been saving me a lot of time and i'm quite happy with the results. It's also a lot simpler for me to maintain images with similar themes or colour casts. This just might help me get organized into having a solo show in 2011. Maybe...

Waiting

2010-11-10T09:40:00.002-05:00

I don't know if i'm getting ahead of myself but when are the rest of the leaves going to fall? This is a shot of the trees in our back yard. We've already cleaned the yard twice and the city has begun the annual curbside leaf pickup. I have a feeling i'm going to be stuck with these until spring.

Quiet Moments

2010-10-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's quiet moments like this that make me appreciate what I do for a living. Sometimes being self employed is the scariest thing in the world, with really high high's and extremely low low's. But I would never get to go out when I felt like it, if I worked for someone else. So for this I say thank you.

Fall Snapshots

2010-10-28T11:38:00.003-04:00

These shots were taken last weekend at Yee Haw Adventure Farm. The weather wasn't the best but we had a good time. Carmel corn, chip truck fries, stilts, pig races, corn mazes and wagon rides.

Dr Seuss

2010-10-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

This reminds me of the trees that appear in a lot of the Dr. Seuss books. Was he from Florida?

Lazy Summer Days

2010-10-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

It's getting pretty cold here and I wanted one last reminder of what I consider to be a hot and hazy summer. Or lazy, whichever suits you best.

I started jogging, which is something I never thought I would do. This snap shot was taken on a run while visiting my parents. I am quickly discovering what I like and what I don't about the sport and have very specific tastes in order to consider a run successful. Having beautiful things to look at is one of them, and as you can see from this tranquil shot, I think success was achieved.

What do you do to relieve stress?

Old Country

2010-10-15T13:39:00.005-04:00

Take a look at this and tell me what it brings to mind.

Pay Attention

2010-10-14T07:05:00.003-04:00

"I cannot stress enough" was the most often used expression in my grade 5 Homeroom/English class. My teacher, who smelled like coffee and cigarettes (Mrs. Bowes) would lean down and hiss this in my ear using it to preface whatever it was I did that she disapproved of. I remember not liking her class very much because it was too rigid and restrictive, in my opinion English class should be creative and free (give me some Judy Bloom and Sweet Valley High books thank you very much). Anyways, I digress... It turns out years later that she indeed had a point.

Not that this related to my rant but I recently took a series of images and had the camera set TO THE WRONG SETTING. I shot, in my humble opinion, some of my greatest shots to date only to realize when it was too late that these were taken at the smallest resolution.

Let my mistake school you. Always check your equipment before you start a shoot. Always.

Dundas

2010-10-13T20:57:00.004-04:00

Was out today with a friend for a photo shoot. I brought my Nikon but found that I used my iphone to take most of the shots. Not only could I take the picture but I could post produce the image immediately to my specs. Could this be the future of photography? I could surely jump on this band wagon, just need to figure out how to adapt it to clients needs.

On a side note this image has got me thinking that maybe I need to work on a series for the month of October. Halloween is one of my FAVORITE times of the year, my work tends to be dark in nature so why not eh? Any suggestions?

Swanson Lake

2010-09-07T15:16:00.003-04:00

In all truth it's called Loon Lake but my friends who own a cottage there deserve to have some recognition. We were their first cottage guests (and hopefully not their last). It's a boat access only site and I was more than nervous to bring the "good" equipment with me so you'll have to settle for these lovely snapshots taken with my iphone.

Party Dock

Aug 2010

Return

Aug 2010

Launch

Aug 2010

My Summer Vacation

2010-09-07T15:12:00.001-04:00

Magnum, 8 Months

Abby, 3 Years Old

Giraffes Running

Aug 2010

Reindeer in the Rain

Aug 2010

Mischief

2010-07-30T21:01:00.004-04:00

My how they've grown up. The days are long but the years are fast...

My Summer

2010-07-30T20:45:00.005-04:00

It's been a busy summer over here but I have been taking the camera out occasionally to experiment. For Canada Day celebrations we visited family in Toronto along the lakeshore. They have a beautiful home with a stunning view of the lake directly across the street, so after a lovely meal we parked ourselves on the lawn and waited for the show to start.

I don't have much experience with low lighting (non-flash) shots so I'm always eager to learn new techniques. I did some basic research before heading down and this is what I got.

This has to be my favourite so far. It was (obviously) taken a split second after the firework launched into the air. I love the mood of the photo.

And this lovely was a total accident. Am I supposed to admit stuff like that? Who knows lol. I was testing the light when my cousin set this off. With some minor cropping it turned out quite presentable if I do say so myself. Let's see what the next few weeks bring.

House

2010-07-14T11:54:00.001-04:00

Have started a new project! It's hard for me to get out during the day when the natural light is good so I have begun taking pictures of my house. What's a 150 year old home good for if not a little inspiration right? I'll be uploading a few soon as well as a bunch that I've had sitting on my memory card forevah.

Decision

2010-06-05T20:43:00.002-04:00

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about where I am headed and what I want to do with this so called photography career. I took the classes and I assisted and I got the gigs and I networked and I put myself out there. And then I had a baby and my time got eaten up, and then I had another baby and my time is even less that it was before. It took me a while to realize this but I don’t want a full time career in photography. It’s not that I don’t think I can do it and it’s not that I’m scared of the hard work, it ‘s that I don’t want to put the pressure on my creative life to make a living.

I have so few minutes in the day for me. I haven’t had a hair cut since October. If I want to shower everyday I have to do it at night after 8pm when the kids are in bed and I can’t stand going to bed with wet hair. I don’t think I’m alone in that sentiment eh? So I don’t shower everyday. I spend most of my days with the kids and sometimes I feel like a single parent because my husband works so hard to support us that he sometimes has no choice but to work a 12-14 hour day. I’m not complaining though because it’s this dream that puts food on our table and the occasional smile on our faces lol.

Anyways, my point is that I am letting go of the stress of trying to be something I am not. I still have to remind myself that there is nothing wrong with my not pursuing a professional career in photography. I am not letting anyone down by making this decision and I will be a better person (and photographer) because of it. Everyday this gets easier for me and it doesn’t mean I won’t be showing my work in galleries or participating in CONTACT, it just means that I will be doing things at my own pace.

Having said that I don't want to rest on my laurels. So I will be making a commitment to update this blog a bit more frequently as well as posting pictures I've taken. Here's to change!

Day Trips

2010-04-15T10:42:00.003-04:00

We had a few days where we took impromptu day trips - the very best kind if you ask me. This picture was taken at Wasaga Beach around 6pm on a Wednesday. There were maybe 10 people on the beach, randomly scattered and we played in the sand. I bought Abby a rainbow coloured umbrella which she ran around with for a few minutes but not long enough for me to get a decent picture. Sometimes the attention span just isn't there but really, what can I expect from a 3 year old.

Spring has finally arrived and that puts me firmly planted in the garden, whether it be mine or a clients. A very busy time of the season - especially with kids - so my mom is back to helping out with Abby one day a week. If it wasn't for her I don't think I'd had time to buy groceries xox.

Maybe just maybe

2010-03-04T22:13:00.003-05:00

Abby is spending the weekend with my parents and I am thinking I might just take some me time with the camera and take off for a bit. I feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin with the utter want of taking pictures and making art. I desperately need to connect with something solitary and real, to make it my own.

Light Show

2010-02-27T15:39:00.004-05:00

These were shot at a local restaurant participating in Chinese New Year. It was too dark and I was without a tripod so I didn't actually get the shots I had in my mind, but I'm pretty happy with how these turned out.

I worked a few years at an importing/design company and we sourced much of our product from China. I hated the company but I grew to love the Chinese culture we were exposed to.

From the dozens or so of celebrations that go on throughout the year, this is one of the more beautiful.

New Life

2010-02-25T16:47:00.003-05:00

You know the smell in the air spring brings when the earth is thawing itself and readying for a new year? The excitement of seeing seedlings burst from the ground and the noise of baby birds chirping amongst in the branches? The whisper of a warm breeze as it blows by your cheek? The electricity in the air as young love walks down the street?

I am SO ready for that.

Magnum Leigh Michael Szarvas

2010-02-13T16:30:00.004-05:00

Here is the most recent member of the Szarvas family. Magnum was born on Dec 28 2009 and I haven't had a moment to myself since. It is so true what they say about the second one getting less and less than the first. I could have opened a photography show with all the pictures I took of Abby and poor Magnum only has a few.

I will have to make more of an effort to get my groove back. Errr yeah, we'll see about that.

TV

2010-02-07T22:59:00.002-05:00

I was watching a show the other day. I can't remember the channel or the name but I've been thinking about it ever since. It had the most interesting concept. An interviewer spent time with a tribe from New Guinea at their home, learning about their culture and rituals. And then members of the tribe came with him to London, England to experience modern day culture.

They travelled all over the city learning about the Underground, canoe clubs, Christian churches and Buckingham Palace. The most interesting thing for me - aside from the comments - was the fact that they were given digital cameras to document the trip.

The program showed the images captured by various members of the tribe. Most of them were from the view point of "hunters" and you could actually see the subject being hunted in the photos. There was a primal quality to the images that went beyond inexperience...

I have a friend who believes that an image taken is exactly as it should be - no amount of photoshop (or traditional techniques of dodging/burning) are acceptable. What you see is what you get. And the men and women in the show did just that. I gained a different perspective that day.

I can't believe it's November

2009-11-12T20:27:00.002-05:00

So I'm still pregnant but have a feeling it's not going to be for much longer. I've been so tired and strained, my belly button's popped and I can't stay focused on any task for longer than an hour - hence the lack of updating. Oh I know, I know, anything to excuse the crappy blogging behaviour right ;) Seriously though it's the truth.

This weekend we're participating in our local Santa Claus Parade and with the lack of focus I have submitted our float theme as "winter wonderland" which I'm hoping is vague enough to pull us through without being too embarrassed. I just couldn't come up with a cohesive cool idea and so the Christmas trees and decorations I bought to adorn the float will have to do. Pictures will follow.

Nothing new

2009-09-29T14:24:00.002-04:00

So time flies huh? I guess that would be an understatement. I hadn't realized that it had been so long since i'd posted until I tried login in today and had to jump through hoops with password verifications. I guess that should teach me.

One of the reasons I find updating difficult is because I feel like I'm doing the same thing all the time over and over - and it's not related to photography or even art - in the least. So in my mind there's nothing interesting to talk about.

The show we had planned for November was long ago cancelled. I got pregnant and have been preoccupied with cleaning house and making a room for the new one. That's not even going well because we have 12' ceilings and i'm not allowed to climb an effin ladder which means I have to rely on the time and kindness of others.

Work has been crazy busy so those 3 days where Abby is in daycare have been devoted to making money. Art comes last unfortunately... I'm hoping to get out by myself for a small landscape shoot over the next 2 weeks. The leaves are starting to change and there are so many beautiful places I've yet to explore.

There is one thing that I've been waiting to share but it's ongoing and we won't know anything until Friday of this week. Pray that I have an update with exciting and good news to share.

Hello

2009-08-12T21:56:00.001-04:00

So how's it going? Nothing new to report on the home front. A few plans in the works for photo outings and maybe a local photography contest... not too sure about that yet. The day job has temporarily taken over and i've had no time for pictures :(

Huntsville 2009

2009-08-03T15:40:00.003-04:00

Once a year the whole family makes the trip to Huntsville, On for our annual family reunion. Thanks to the generosity of my aunt & uncle this bit of history has been taking place for several years now and it's something I really look forward to. My family is so low key, laid back, and fun loving. Fun is ALWAYS had by everyone there and I leave loving them even more than I thought possible.

Abby experienced her first boat ride with daddy and played on the beach with her cousins. She had a blast and even though I was restricted with what I was allowed to do, I had a great time watching her.

Canada Day

2009-07-27T22:10:00.003-04:00

We spent Canada Day celebrating with friends. This here is Drew enjoying his first sparkler.

Day of Birth

2009-07-20T20:24:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my birthday. They don't seem to mean much to me anymore, not like they use to. One day older, not necessarily wiser, a bit more wrinkled and only sure of the fact that year after year it will continue. Can't stop a birthday can you.

Today was my "me" day. I got my hair done, took myself out to lunch and then to the movies. I used to think that going to the movies by yourself was such a lonely, sad thing to do but then I moved to a town where I had no friends and realized that you will do almost anything to survive.

It was afterwards that I began to struggle. Chris was out with the baby and wouldn't be home for a while, what would I do? I wasn't used to having so much time to myself. I was excited about it at first but as the day wore on, I became anxious. I had my camera and tried taking pictures of the storm clouds but nothing seemed right. I went for a drive in the country but ended up on the same roads I always do. I tried to write the children's story that's been rattling around in my head for over a year but was too scared to put pen to paper.

So here I sit wondering what to do with myself. Wondering when my family will be home. Sometimes we should be careful what we wish for.

Scarborough Bluffs

2009-07-02T19:02:00.002-04:00

The group and I went out again a few Friday's ago to capture a beautiful day at the Scarborough Bluffs. I truly enjoyed myself, having never been before but was disappointed in my shots. The day was quite bright and didn't allow for much contrast on the rock walls so we'll have to go back at Sunrise to see if we can change the results.

Slow Shutter

2009-07-01T16:32:00.002-04:00

Last Wednesday night we spent a few hours in Toronto shooting the cityscape and CN Tower. I was more interested in experimenting with slow shutter speeds rather than getting a great photo (because I have little experience) and here are the results.

My favorite is the Bathurst Street Bridge shot with the various light streaks. I think I want to explore this a bit more.

Abby's 2nd Birthday

2009-06-30T11:00:00.001-04:00

Here is my Abbygirl turning 2. My how the time flies! We spent a quiet Saturday afternoon celebrating her life with a few friends and close family. Perfect.

Oahu, Hawaii

2009-06-29T18:00:00.003-04:00

We spent just over a week in Hawaii and loved every minute of it. Not only is it a warm (literally) and friendly place but you really feel like you're at home. No big cultural surprises, the customs are all easy to learn and very welcoming. All the beaches are public access so you never have to worry if you're "allowed" somewhere or not. The 6 hour time difference really kicked my ass but I would go back again in a heartbeat.

Here are some shots taken with the P&S. Surfboards, Magnum PI's private beach, the North Shore and yours truly on a rented Harley.

Waterfalls

2009-06-28T20:31:00.005-04:00

A lot has happened over the last 2 months. I found out I was pregnant with baby #2, we spent some time in Hawaii, I got out to shoot professionally and for fun, and Abby turned two. Needless to say, I am TIRED.

Here are some shots I took at the end of April on one of my group photo outings. We revisited the waterfalls in Hamilton and I practiced slow shutter speeds. Enjoy!

Forest

2009-04-20T21:25:00.003-04:00

I know it's April and it was 22 degrees the other day but I couldn't help posting this pic I took over the winter. I was driving around Cambridge and found a beautiful hotel in the woods. I've visited it many times since hoping one day to frequent it's spa facilities. This shot is of the forest which is on either side of the winding driveway.

Often when Abby was a few months old and I needed to get her to sleep I would put her in the Jeep and drive around for a few hours enjoying the countryside. It was hard getting used to a new place and my vehicle gave me the armor I needed to get out and see things. This picture reminds me of that time.

Fashion Photography - Class 5

2009-04-10T18:40:00.003-04:00

Here is a sample from last nights class. Mikaela is an amazing model and I love working with her because it's so effortless. The lighting however, was a bit of a stretch for me. Normally I work with 1-2 studio lights and last night our teacher had us use 3 (2 softbox and 1 with grid) with 2 gobo's. I don't know how I feel about the shadow's across her face...

Also I did a bit more photoshopping that usual because I wanted to show something in black & white. Her skin really is that beautiful though ;)

Fashion Photography - Class 4

2009-04-10T16:15:00.004-04:00

As promised here is one of the pictures I shot from my last class. Note to oneself... if you are going to buy clothes for the model, do not shop at Le Chateau. What are you going to do with $150 credit for a store you do not shop in?

We may have one more shoot before things wrap up and are interested in doing a period piece. My group would like something medieval or renaissance. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Hello (echo) is anyone there?

2009-03-27T20:34:00.003-04:00

I haven't forgotten to update.... SERIOUSLY.... it's just that since putting the little one into daycare I have only had a handful of days where I have not been sick. This past weekend was no exception and I spent several days in bed wondering who I was. Fever, chills, a lot more I won't get into and finally a breakthrough in the form of prescription medication.

Saturday was our class "trip" to an all women fashion photography exhibit which coincided with Toronto's Fashion Week. I lasted an hour. From what I saw it was lovely though and I wish I'd had a chance to hang out longer.

Last night's class was a success again! My outfit got picked and the colour scheme I came up with really popped with our backdrop. With every class I see things I like and many things I don't. It's giving me such a good eye for noticing the details. I'm taking my time and studying the frame more instead of snapping like crazy. Kind of like enjoying a fine wine ;)

Pics to follow.

Photo Group Outing - Update

2009-03-17T22:46:00.002-04:00

So the photo outing was pretty much a bust. It was a beautiful day if you were standing inside looking out the window but I froze my ass off walking around trying to catch something interesting. Cherry Beach had a bunch of dogs running around, which normally I wouldn't mention but they literally kept running into each shot I set up.

The boys were too cold and wanted to head uptown but I couldn't join because I had school. As the day progressed I got sicker and sicker and ended up dropping off my homework and heading home to my bed. See what I mean?

Supposed to hook up with Sue on Thursday to re-shoot downtown TO so we'll see how that pans out. We don't have a plan yet but you know what they say about best laid plans ;)

Fashion Photography - Class 3

2009-03-11T22:48:00.005-04:00

This here is Rebecca. The goal for this session was to completely style our model in addition to setting up the lighting and pose. I don't think I quite executed the look I was going for but not horrible either. There was some minor photoshopping involved but otherwise she really is that flawless.

In other news I have had little time for myself. The baby is sick and the other business is gearing up for it's busy season so my time is quite divided right now. I am hoping with the warmer weather on the way that I will have more opportunity to take the little one on walks through the neighbourhood.

On a side note, tomorrow is my monthly group outing and we will be heading to the "Beaches" district of Toronto. I hear it's supposed to be really cold - pray for me lol. All this hard work will pay off in November if we do our independant showcase.

My New Home

2009-03-10T23:04:00.002-04:00

Can you believe how amazing this place is? Can you see just a smidge why I want this to be my new home? Not only is it gorgeous but it's got a thriving art community. And did I mention how gorgeous it is? I feel so at peace when I'm there.

This was shot at a local airport just outside of Whistler. They gave plane tours for $25! We were not supposed to be driving on the runway but didn't realize this until it was too late.

Fashion Photography - Class 2

2009-03-09T20:54:00.005-04:00

This lovely young girl, Sam, has 3 years experience modeling. And I think she's 16...

Kind of makes you wonder what you were doing at this age huh? I don't remember girls being this beautiful when I was her age.

Anyway, this class assignment was an exercise in beauty lighting. Head shots only with soft even lighting. The more I participate, the more I want my own studio.

Whistler

2009-03-08T20:35:00.002-04:00

I have so much catching up to do but part of that is because of our holiday out to BC. This photo was taken during a snowmobile tour just outside of Whistler. We had stopped on a frozen reservoir to switch riders when I shot this. It has been raining and snowing (funny thing with those mountains...) and I felt pressure to knock of a few frames having lugged my equipment around with me all afternoon.

Sometimes inspiration finds us in the most unusual places.

Fashion Photography - Class 1

2009-02-12T14:50:00.004-05:00

I'm taking a Fashion Photography class at Humber to hone my studio skills. It's been over 2 years since I worked with studio lights and models. I'm REALLY enjoying myself and I've been getting a lot of positive feedback from classmates and the models themselves.

Here is Gillian, a student from the daytime photography program modeling for my class. She was awesome to work with and I hope to do so again.

On Location - Month 3

2009-02-12T14:45:00.005-05:00

So the plan was to meet in Kleinburg and explore the back woods of the McMichael Art Gallery. All was fine and dandy except it was -20 and freezing. I was so cold I didn't focus too much on the photography, I was more concerned with my frozen toes. Why did I think it would be a good idea to wear rubber boots in the snow?

The above pic is part of a series I am working on showing pattern and movement. Removing the subjects literal interpretation and making it looked skewed. I don't think I'm quite there yet but comments are always welcome.

I am so tired!

2009-02-03T21:14:00.004-05:00

It's been one of those days where running around has taken it's toll, but I have to say that it's also days like this that make me happy and appreciate the fact that I am doing something I love to do. It may not be everyday, but I'm working towards that.

I participated in a photo shoot today that documented the filming of an interactive hockey "display" for the Anaheim (arena or museum...) featuring Lance Brown from CTV. The client wanted behind the scenes photos showing the crew in action and although it started out questionable it ended rather well. By questionable, I mean that I was dealing with lighting conditions I wasn't able to control. Working on a live set sure has it's advantages but as a photographer shooting 2 totally different lighting situations it was hard to keep up. I wish I had two cameras on hand to accommodate everything. All in all I think it went well and I really had a great time doing it. Here's to more shoots in the future!

On location - Month 2

2009-01-30T20:43:00.005-05:00

Well what can I say... We've been trying to get together for our outing for over a week and nothings happened. Screw the obstacles I say - I went out by myself today. Chris picked my location and I strapped the camera around my neck fully prepared to get nothing out of today but I forced myself out of the house, because really, why are we paying daycare - ya know?

I ended up at Webster's Falls. It turned into a beautiful day with bursts of sunshine and dramatic skies. I trekked around the park trying to follow other people's footstep so as not to fall down (can you say 2ft of snow anyone?!?) and shot the equivalent of a few rolls of film. I started off taking pictures from one of the look outs when I spotted a small group of people on the canyon floor taking pictures SO CLOSE to the falls that the spray was hitting them. Curious (read: jealous) I started running down the snowy slope to find my way down there.

It took 5 minutes for me to realize it wasn't going to happen. I wasn't wearing the proper footwear (or a hat & mittens) and the stairs leading down were completely covered in ice. It just wasn't meant to be - today anyways - but that's okay because I plan on going back soon.

On my way back to the car I met a really nice retired guy who lived in the area and spent the better part of an hour telling me the history of the falls and the small town of Greenville, Dundas and Ancaster. He actually told me too much of himself (his house is for sale, getting divorced, moving to Japan... Hi Bruce!) but I enjoyed listening to him go on about all the hidden trails and secret places he played in as a child. Maybe when I go back I can take advantage of some of the stories and incorporate them into my photography.

All in all I had a wonderful day! And surprise surprise, it was all by myself.

Loss of Memory

2009-01-28T11:09:00.001-05:00

I feel pretty stupid about this but when typing in the address to this blog, or at least what I thought was the address, I accidentally stumbled upon a blog I created (and subsequently forgot about) from 2006!

Of course I can't remember the user name or password... This feels like the perfect example of my disorganized life.

Muse

2009-01-26T14:32:00.004-05:00

Do you ever feel like you're on the brink of something? A passion ignited in your belly flares to life after a winter hibernation, and you have no idea what to do with it?

I have so many ideas right now - floating around in my head. Some of them focus on photography, some on writing. But the more I mull them over instead of just taking action, the more confused I get. Maybe I'm over thinking things and instead I should just DO. It's hard not to be scared though.

No new news

2009-01-19T20:53:00.002-05:00

I'm still sick and really don't have much to say. Haven't been out of the house in almost 2 weeks. I hate that feeling... being sick and going outside knowing the world has been going on without you. It's not an ego thing it's just an eerie feeling I get not knowing what happened when I was dead to the world with my illness. I feel very fragile after that first day, almost as if the cold broke me.

So about that holiday. It's confirmed and booked. We are on our way to Whistler at the end of February. Thank you Aeroplan! It paid for the flight and all I have to worry about is the hotel. Did I mention the hot tub on our private patio? I'm packing light but planning on bringing all the camera gear with the hope of having an afternoon to inspire new ideas. The last time we went out I had a hard time getting a crisp pic of the mountains so research will follow soon.

Friday is my next photography group outing. I believe we'll be scouting the Annex.

I need a vacation

2009-01-11T13:44:00.002-05:00

I am so sick. Abby is so sick. Chris is working. All creativity is out the window, my thoughts are on surviving the day.

So our night out in TO... The night itself was good. Our hotel was cozy and we had an awesome room that faced Nathan Philip Square so I could watch the skaters go round & round. Chris had a good time on stage and I was just happy to see some friends. The last few parties we've been invited to I've had to cancel at the last minute because of the weather. My pictures from that night however are another story. I have no experience shooting musicians in such low lighting conditions and I think I need a better lens for the job. I had fun practicing though and I guess that is the point.

Abby started daycare on Thursday, which is where I think she picked up whatever it is that's ailing her. The deal is that I split my time between the two jobs and it worked out - sort of - on Friday with all that crazy weather. I am planning on bringing my camera with me when ever I'm out doing "work" and then I can always take pics on the side.

Anyways, the title still stands. I need a vacation! We have a tentative one planned but not booked for the end of February to head out to Whistler for a few days. Now that should give me some inspiration. Gotta love air miles.

I Have Been Drinking

2009-01-04T22:34:00.003-05:00

I am sitting here making new friends and listening to music (City & Colour's "Coming Home" to The Cult's "The Witch" to The Dixie Chicks "Cowboy Take Me Away" to Lenny Kravitz "Black Velveteen"). Is that random enough for you?

I am in this incredible space right now where I want to write and draw and sing. I'm not saying that any of it will be good but it's good enough for me right now to be allowed to have the time to indulge the creative aspect of life. The baby will be committed to daycare for 2 days a week, which gives me some time to develop the photography business - and focus a 9 to 5 perspective on the husbands business. I am excited and hoping that this will solve many problems ;)

Thank God for my family. I love Chris and my mom for giving me this opportunity!

A Night Out

2009-01-01T21:45:00.002-05:00

I can't believe this but we're actually going out! Chris is sub'ing for a friend as drummer in his band and we're heading out to the Rivoli tomorrow night. Mom is watching the baby and we've a room booked at the Sheraton. I'm sure I won't last past 11pm but I will have a kick ass time trying.

I don't have much experience with nighttime band photography but I will do my best to get a shot or two to post over the next few days. Wish me luck bitches!

A New Year

2008-12-28T21:40:00.003-05:00

I don't believe in New Years resolutions. I'm one of those "rare" folk who thinks you should make changes in your life when they're needed, not once a year only to be broken 3 weeks later because you're too lazy to keep up with things.

Having said that I am making it a goal to take more pictures in 2009. And I should probably drink less wine, but one thing at a time ya know?

Wishing you and yours a wonderful new year. I hope mine is filled with creativity, love, friends and family.

Hugs & Kisses

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T13:14:00.005-05:00

Hope you are all enjoying the holidays and your time off. With all the snow we've been getting we won't be seeing much of Chris this Christmas. I'm hoping that today will be the worst of it and he'll make it home safely in time for me to go to Dave & Noreen's annual xmas eve get-together ;) I haven't seen everyone in months and I'm going through withdrawl (plus I have to pickup 2 handmade Gnarled Branch gifts).

Tomorrow will be spent with the in-law's and Friday with my parents. Hugs & kisses to you all. The above picture was taken in the livingroom with my trusty 1.4 50mm portrait lens.

Fishing Village

2008-12-21T14:03:00.005-05:00

I spent a blustery afternoon with my parents yesterday, driving around aimlessly so that the baby could get her full nap time. She's just a bit cranky if she doesn't get enough sleep (kind of like me I suppose...) and I don't like tempting fate.

I usually bring the camera along because "Hey you just never know". Turns out the overcast sky and flat beach didn't do much to boost my creative juices. Sometimes I really do think I let the weather dictate too much of my life ;)

On location - Month 1

2008-12-17T20:28:00.005-05:00

Today I spent the afternoon with my photography friends working on material for an exhibit we're planning to show next November. We will be meeting once a month as a group to encourage each other to get out and create. The theme is yet undecided but I'm hoping that as things progress it will develop on it's own.

It's so nice to have a purpose to my work again. Even if I don't get a single shot from the day, I'm happy to have made the effort. Sometimes I have to convince myself to leave the house. Convince myself that I have a smidgeon of talent and that I can pull it off. I suppose all "artists" feel this way at times and it's this exact insecurity that drives them to always do better - to push the boundaries of their art. For me it's enough right now.

On a side note, I brought out my 4 lens Lomo. I shot 24 frames using expired film that my dad bought me a few years ago. It's been sitting in my fridge just begging to be used and I couldn't think of a better way to crack it open. I'm also enjoying the excitement of the unknown. It's been so long since I've worked with film and I'm not used to having to wait to see the fruits of my labour. Once they are developed I will post - good or bad - I promise.

My Town

2008-12-14T15:12:00.004-05:00

The house is quiet. The husband is out and the baby is sleeping. I am left here to think about writing and the small town we live in. Here is a picture I took this past summer while on a walk downtown. It's funny, I never really wanted to move here but the more I explore the more I fall a bit more in love.

This is a reminder of warmer days, lemon tea and sunscreen.

Missing

2008-12-13T14:51:00.003-05:00

Would you believe that I forgot my login information? I guess that's a sign that I should be on here more frequently. Today's photo is a self portrait of low resolution using Mac Photo Booth. I have always wanted to have pink hair, and now I do.

On a side note, I've started writing again. It feels amazing and cathartic and really fucking scary too because I'm allowing myself to be vulnerable. Always a hard thing to do.

The Prairies

2008-11-28T14:23:00.003-05:00

And here is the obligatory wing shot from my seat as we fly over the prairies into the Rocky Mountains. Or maybe it was the other way around? I can't remember. Seriously one of the most beautiful flights I have ever done.

BC Mountains

2008-11-24T19:57:00.005-05:00

In October I spent a few days in British Columbia, the last of which was spent driving from Kelowa to Abbotsford. During the 2.5 hour drive I shot a few pictures from the car as we sped along the highway. The quality isn't there (obviously) but I was so stunned by the view that I couldn't help taking shot after shot. After I'd reviewed them I realized I had very few that I could use because they were either blurry or the focus was on the window and not my intended subject lol.

Let this be a lesson to all who don't pay attention when they should.

Brick Mill

2008-11-22T14:22:00.008-05:00

This image was taken at the Elora Gorge one afternoon in October while walking around with 2 of my uncles. They wanted a photo tutorial and I wanted to teach.

Photos are on their way

2008-11-22T14:16:00.003-05:00

I good friend of mine recently emailed to say that I need to start posting my photos more regularly. I think he was being kind, as you can see I haven't posted anything in a long time. So i've taken it upon myself to stop making excuses and start working. I can't promise they'll be uploaded on any kind of a regular basis but you will see more of my recent work. I am open to comments, constructive criticism but blatant bashing or rude behaviour will instantly be deleted.

Mighty Life List

2008-10-26T21:47:00.004-04:00

Here is my Mighty Life List, otherwise referred to as the Bucket List or "things I would like to do before I die". I will continue to add to it as time goes on:

- get published in National Geographic

- write a book

- backpack around Europe

- scuba dive

- travel across Canada on my motorcycle

- stay at the original Ice Hotel

- visit the Great Wall of China

- high tea in London

- own a cottage on the waterfront

- make friends with a stranger

- remove money as a concern

- a solo exhibit downtown TO

- make a float and participate in the Santa Claus parade

- refinish a wooden motor boat

- rebuild a small engine

- live in BC, even if it's not full time

Things I haven't done in a while

2008-09-08T20:33:00.003-04:00

This whole thing feels really weird to me but I've decided that I need to do something small just for myself. The baby takes up most of my day and by the end of it there isn't much left of me. I'm so tired. I feel like I lost a part of myself that I can't get back. The house is never as clean as i'd like it to be, there's always some grocery that's missing from the fridge, my hair never looks as good as i'd like it to be and I never seem to have enough TIME. For anyone except the baby.

This is my first attempt at reclaiming a bit of me. Don't laugh okay?

2008 MVA's

2008-09-07T21:40:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe what Katy Perry was wearing during her performance paying homage to Madonna. Did anyone else see her peel that banana off her shoulder?