Manulife Family Day at KWAG

Manulife is currently sponsoring an exhibit at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, and to encourage more culture among its employees (whom they force to sit in grey cubicles in a grey building staring at grey computers all day, and thus are going slowly colour blind), they offered a free family day at the gallery.  My hubby got the invite at work and we signed up to take the girls for an art adventure. We had a fantastic time, making clay bugs, painting portraits (well, the girls were more abstract, but fun nonetheless), designing buttons and creating finger puppets.  In the end, we had a large collection of colourful art and lots of great memories.  I took some shots as we made our way through the different galleries and activities, though not as many as usual, since I was busy feeding another creative outlet with art! 

Here is a collage of images from the day.  I realized, as I put it together, that I once again managed to forget put myself  in the photos, but as I said, I was too busy having fun and making art!

Family Photos (or "The best we can get while my kids are standing still").

So yesterday, with the advent of some lovely warm weather and four fresh haricuts, I decided to attempt some family portraits.  Big mistake.  Firstly, I chose the wrong type of light.  The sun was too high for backlight, and was mostly in our eyes.  I just got so excited that there was sun, I just didn't take the time to plan timing, location, lighting conditions, etc.  I know, I know, what a rookie mistake!  Thanks goodness they are only for me!  Secondly, I chose the wrong location.  It is a forest near our house that I have had good succes with for some previuous shoots (as well as great hikes).  However, I didn't anticipate how muddy and slippery our adventure would be.  Well, actually, I did anticipate it, but shooting fever swept me into deep denial.  Not to  mention, there was no open shade in this lovely forest, just a deadly combination of a million tree branches and low sun.  This equals a bazillion shadows on our faces and  it forced us to duck, dodge and squat to avoid some of the worst shadows,  especially me!  Needless to say, moving is painful today.

Thirdly, I had two little girls, who love mud, traipsing around in white shirts and new ballet flats.  Enough said, I am clearly insane.

So after begging, bribing, swearing in my head, running to beat the self-timer (at least ten times), misplacing my tripod, a toad scare ( the damn thing jumped right on my foot!  I love toads but not by surprise) and a treacherous hike in and out of the woods, I ended up with a few nice shots of the girls and ONE of the family.  That's right, ONE.  Sigh.  I guess we will have to do this all over again...but not anytime soon.

(Please excuse the inconstent editing styles.  They are just for me so I had some fun playing!)

Okay, This last one is unedited, right-out-of-the-camera,  but I think it captures the essence of what we went through to get these images.   

Everyday Abstract

This is a quick abstract collage I put together, just for fun.  The cool part is that all the images were taken in McDonalds!  We had stopped in for a quick, not-so-healthy snack after attempting some family photos (that is a whole other post!), and I snapped a few quick shots of things that I found interesting.  From the top left and moving clockwise: the lamp over our table, another light fixture, the blind cord and finally the exterior light under the awning.  I think lights are cool, what can I say.  Anyway, here is the image, which is entitled McBeauty (because you know how they have to name everything with a "Mc" at the start...).

52 Weeks -Week 15

This is an image I took of myself on my iPhone while I was laying out in the grass, enjoying the first warm, sunny day in a long time!  My pup was by my side and my youngest daughter was off happily making mud pies and getting as dirty as possible.  I am on a time-crunch today, planning for upcoming sessions and then off to work, so here is the image, which I have entitled True Blue.  And yes, my eyes are that blue, at least they are today.  Sometimes they are grey and other times they are blue. My husband says it depends on my mood.  My oldest daughter's are the same and we have the same personality traits, so maybe he's right.  At least he knows not to cross me when they are grey!

52 Weeks - Week 10

I know, I know, I'm behind on my posts again!  I really do try to get them out on time, but alas, sometimes life just takes over. This is an image that I took one day when I had a rare free moment, hanging out on the couch.  I was playing around with angles, just messing around for fun.  I though this one was funny, and yet also brilliant because it only shows one of my chins!  I have entitled it Inversion.  I have to try to remember to be less serious in these images.  I have fun, I really do!

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Spring has sprung around here and what better way to get out and enjoy the warmer weather and light breezes than with a little kite-flying.  I grabbed my girls and headed for the huge parking lot down the street to test our kite skills.  The first day (when I left my camera home, of course) was a smashing success, with both girls getting their kites up and away, at least for a few minutes. We had such a blast that we decided to head out againg the next evening, with the neighbour's son in tow, and this time I came armed and ready to capture our glorious feats of aerodynamic prowess.  However, we quickly discovered that the strong wind gusts were causing the the kites to nose dive recklessly at break-neck speed, scattering the child spectators in every direction as I tried mightily to keep it airborne long enough to pass off.  I did manage to succeed a couple of times, but then I would have to spend ten minutes getting it flying again before the next attempt.  Obviously, they quickly lost interest and I had to resort to getting them to run with the kite on a short string.  Oh well, not the beautiful images I conceptualized, but better than nothing, right? 

52 Weeks - Week 9

This image depicts my most frequent hairstyle.  By nature, my hair is really curly, and I mean that out-of-control, frizzy, unmanageable type of curl that requires a lot of effort to make even slightly presentable.  As a child, I had many variations of an afro, but as I grew (and after two straightening treatments) I was finally able to get it long enough to pull back.  And thus, the bun was born.  In all its' glory, it is a messy,  curl-strewn disaster, barely contained by the straining elastic.  It is me.  Here is the image, which I entitled The Bun.  

By the way, by true definition this was not a self-portrait, as I left my tripod at my parents and it is impossible to take a shot of the back of your own head unless you have extra-long arms (I do not).  So, my wonderful 6-year-old volunteered to help me.  Thanks Brielle!

52 Weeks - Week 8

This is an image that I took with my point-and-shoot as I worked alongside my classmates to finish my composite project.  See how hard we were concentrating?  No one even looked up for the photo except me.    We worked hard girls, now hoepfully it pays off with great marks!  It is titled Dedication.

(Please excuse the quality, it was more about the moment than the image!)

Our Newest Family Member

This adorable little miss is the daughter of my husband's cousin and his wife, who happens to be my long-time friend.  She is a very welcome addition to the Blake family and I was in my glory being able to squish and kiss her throughout our session and visit.  Here is a sneak peek for the family.  Thank you Ricki, Kevin and Rubylynn for letting me capture your little princess.  Love you baby Vanessa!

52 Weeks - Weeks 6 & 7

Okay, I know I am behind, but it has been crazy at my house the last couple of weeks.  While I did actually take the week 6 image during week 6, I haven't had the time to blog it until now. My week 6 image is entitled Shadow Toque, for obvious reasons.  We have been having lovely, sunny winter days around here and I thought I would try to capture my shadow.  It was not as long and funky as I wanted it to be, but alas the only free time I had to get out and take it was during midday, when the sun was high in the sky.  I will have to try it again someday.

For my week 7  image, I wanted to capture one of my most common evening activities, playing apps.  I have an iPod Touch and and iPad, and I love them both!  I love playing all sorts of games and the fact that I can take boredom-beaters wherever I go is a huge bonus.  My favourites are puzzle games, like Cut the Rope or Pictureka, or trivia games like Jeopardy! or Movie Cat.  Anyway, it is not uncommon to find my husband and I curled up on the couch together, each playing games with obsessive concentration.  Don't worry, we talk and cuddle beforehand!!! ;)  So here is my image, entitled App-solute Concentration.

52 Weeks - Week 5

Winter has officially set in and we are all huddled inside, marvelling at the height of the snowbanks.  I personally love winter and its storms and snow.  There is nothing that makes me more excited than the prospect of a nice big blizzard that shuts down the whole city.  Maybe it's a bit twisted, but I just find it very relaxing.  Anyway, being that we have been driven inside by the weather, I thought I would try some fun things with an actual light this week, rather than natural light.  I took an interesting lighting workshop recently and I was eager to try something new.  Well, I didn't get as creative as I had hoped, because just as I was brainstorming, the skies opened and the snow started to fly!  My hubby had to get outside and fire up the snowblower, leaving me with two litle girls who wanted to "help" Mommy with her set-up.  So I ended up with only one kinda usable image, which I have entitled Monogram.

See you next week!

Summer Dreams

I just thought I would share this image of my daughter Brielle enjoying some "inside sunshine".  It was -9 degrees outside but the sun was shining bright.  The next thing I knew there was a towel spread, a bikini and sunglasses donned and a plate of snacks being nibbled.  Nothing like a indoor winter picnic to make your summer dreams come true!

52 Weeks - Week 4

Okay.  I know I am a bit late posting this week, but it has been a crazy one!  Firstly, it is my lovely in-laws' last week with us before they jet back home.  They have been here since the start of December and we are going to miss them dearly.  I am actually going to have to cook, do laundry and make school lunches again....I have been so spoiled.

Secondly, my oldest daughter turned six this week, so I have been up to my eyeballs in balloons, craft supplies, decorations and cake.  And after no less than 3 different birthday celebrations (we love parties around here), I am totally exhausted.  I also took her out for her mandatory birthday photo session, which was freezing but so much fun.

After all the things I have had to accomplish this week, please excuse the tardiness of this post.  I took this picture a few days ago, but haven't had time to do anything with it until now.  It is a little different than my last couple of posts, since it includes my daughters as well.  My oldest daughter has taken a sudden liking to yoga and I decided that it would be a great activity to do as a family.  So, every afternoon, we line up our mats and we huff and puff and fall all over the place, trying desperately to "calm" our breathing.   The kids tend to lose focus after about 10 minutes, but at least we are together, right?  I actually like yoga a lot more than I thought I would... except when I can't move the next day! 

Here is this week's image, entitled Posers.  Trust me when I say it was the best of the bunch.  You don't know how hard it is to take a self-timed portrait while you are doing yoga until you try it!  Not to mention that the kids kept running over to see the pictures before the timer even finished beeping!  I am pretty sure it is counterproductive to be yelling "Get on your mats!" while doing yoga.

Flexibility, here I come!

Baby Samuel

This absolutely gorgeous baby boy is only 9 days old, my youngest newborn so far!  His parents are wonderful, long time friends of mine and were kind enough to invite me to take some shots of this cutie.  The youngest of four boys, he is well loved and already very used to noise and commotion.  He was such a little trooper through the whole session, despite my insistence on trying to untangled his limbs, forcing him to be naked and several breaks for snuggles (from me, of course!).  On top of it all, I was talking shop with his Dad, who is learning photography as well,  so the session lasted a little longer than usual.  Such is the life of an adorable baby. 

Thanks Sarah and Jason for allowing me to capture these images of your precious little man.

And yes, I know I have two different watermarks on these images! Just trying things out to see whatIi like the best.

52 Weeks - Week 2

So, this week has been a busy one.  Everyone at my house is back in the routine with school, work and play.  Sometimes between working, playing with the kids, walking the dog and micromanaging everyone's schedule, I just need to unwind.  I am lucky enough, a couple of days a week, to have some alone time  (well, the dog is usually here but passed out on his pillow).  Usually, I use this time to catch up on my shows while I fold laundry (or don't fold laundry).  But today, I decided to just grab a cup of tea and my favourite re-read, The Secret. 

I  have read this book at least  thirty times already, mostly by picking out little sections here and there that are applicable to my life at that moment.  Today I read "The Secret to Success".  It was the first thing I opened up to, and it was just what I needed.  I am really trying this year to build not only my client-base (in both my careers), but also my skills and knowledge.  So I guess tips for leading a more successful life are a good place to start!

Anyway, I am going back to my cup of (now cold) peppermint tea to finish my reflective time, before I have to go and brush my car off for the third time today.  Ahhh, I love quiet, snowy days. 

Practice Makes Perfect

I have been a bit lazy about getting out and just taking pictures for the sake of taking them.   I decided that with school starting this week and my first shoot of the year next weekend, I had better get in gear!  The last couple of days have been beautiful and sunny and the snow is powdery and light, so I coudn't pass up the opportunity to get out and practice.  I actually had a willing participant (she is trying to earn "good girl stickers" to get a new video game), so I grabbed my gear before she changed her mind. 

I have recently joined a new photography discussion forum and have been reading up on all sorts of tips and tricks and I was eager to try and use what I had learned.  In the end though I just ended up working purely on focus and exposure, which still need work!  Oh well, if nothing else I had a wonderful little session with my big girl and a few great smapshots for the family album!

Lots of black and white...seems I got so caught up watching histograms and trying to get my focus just right that my colours went right out the window!  LOL 

Oh well, one day it will all come together!

52 Weeks - Week 1

So, in the name of expanding my creativity and honing my craft, I have decided to take on a couple of personal projects.   The first is a challenge to take a self-portrait every week.  I really wanted something that would take me out of my comfort zone and challenge me to get in front of the lens a bit more often. My goal is to try and capture my mood or environment every week, as a permanent reminder of this year of my life.  I had originally thought of trying Project 365, but hey, with two jobs, school, a husband, two kids and a dog, who am I kidding?  It would have sunk by day 8! 

Here is this week's portrait, which I have titled Bare.

Two words: exhaustion and focus. 

As for the other challenges for this year, they are:

1. 32 Strangers -  I am going to do this in March in honour of my 32nd birthday.  I am going to meet and ask to photograph 32 strangers on the street.  I am working on being brave.
2. Lowdown - I am going to do a series that will be shot only from ground level.  Just something I came up with to try some new angles and play around with depth of field.  This one will be in the spring/summer....I may be Canadian but I don't like to lie in the snow if I can help it!

So wish me luck.  It is a lot to take on, but all in the name of love!

My Beautiful Little Cousins

My mom's side of the family all came down for New Year's Day to celebrate a late Christmas.  It was really rainy here, which melted all the snow  and made the temperatures pretty mild.  My cousin had booked a session with me for some extended family photos back in Novemeber, but she wasn't able to work around all of her family's schedule to make it work so we postponed.  Since that session didn't happen, I thought I would at least try to get some quick shots while the kids were all here.  The rain was a bit of a challenge, but in the end I  just opened one of the garage doors and had the kids stand inside to keep dry (I was soaked of course, but thank goodness for waterproof camera covers!).  I managed to get a few nice ones of all four of my little cousins   See if you can pick out the siblings (I'll give you a hint:  there is a boy and a girl in each family).

Good genes, eh?

Christmas 2010

Well, the holiday season is (finally) over.  The official tally is: 4 family events, 2 get-togethers with friends and 3 work parties.  I am actually a bit relieved to just get back to the grind!  I loved spending time with my girls and my family and friends, but I think we all need to get back into a routine.  The late nights are catching up with us.  Here are a few snapshots of what we did during the holidays:

2011, here I come!

The Castle of Nightmares

My daughter Brielle received a cardboard princess castle from her favourite cousin for Christmas this year.  The box said "Some Assembly Required".  Understatement of the year.  It took me about an hour and a half to assemble the sections and connect them, including one break to curse a blue streak. 

As I marvelled at my engineering prowess, my daughter said " Are you going to do the stickers now?".  Stickers?  I then took notice of the tiny shapes, each one numbered, that covered every area of the cursed castle!  I took a deep breath, counted to ten, and stickering commenced. 

The children silently drifted away, leaving me alone with my nemesis: tiny, shiny stickers.  550 stickers to be exact.  Three hours later, I let loose a cry of triumph and stood back to admire my work.  Some stickers were crooked, some not even remotely over their designated square, but, it was finished.

I finished the castle last Monday. No one has played with it yet.

P.S.  Please excuse the poor image quality.  I had developed a bit of a palsy by the end of stickering that caused my hands to shake even more than could be helped by image stabilization!