Switcheroos

Such a long time! Sorry to have been absent from this blog.

Many wonderful things happened in the last few months. I have photographed many families and have met some awesome people.

You can see some recent sessions and the fun I've had on my new site, Holdlifestillphotography.com

I am also on Facebook at Holdlifestill Photography

If you have visited me here and wondered what happened, do not be alarmed! I am more than ever in love with the art that is photography. I hope you take a few minutes to check out my new ventures.

Happy Fall :)

stretch

I feel so happy.

I am happy because I am getting to do what I love to do. Capturing people and showing their spirit. Capturing the essence of time.

During the last three days, I have had the privilege of shooting three different families. Families to be, families about to expand, and families that have just expanded. I have learned invaluable lessons about how hard this really is. How much you have to concentrate to bring it all together and the stamina that you have to have to keep up the energy for 2+ hours. I have learned that you have to go with the flow, regardless of where the flow takes you. That light can be both your friend and your enemy, but it will make or break the photo.

I have also learned that this makes me want to keep going. For the last three days, the camera has felt like an extension of my hands. That's the feeling you get when it is a tool to channel what you see in your brain. It's such a high.

Here's how to do it

Steps to snaring someone who is not expecting to be a model for the day:

1. Offer a 'try' of your foundation
2. Suggest it might look lovely with some blush and mascara
3. Encourage a few (hundred) poses

Got the sis in front of the camera today. Gorgeous.

We also had a fun time in Paris, if only the one in Ontario.

Could there be more hours in the day, please?

It's a rhetorical question, I know, but I really wish that I had more time to learn. I have an arm's length list of what I'd like to know...things that would really help take my pictures to the next level. It's out there, it's free, it's just the time that I'm missing. I know exactly what I'd like to change with certain things in my images, but I just need the time to learn and to practice!!! So frustrating and so exhilirating at the same time.

I tried not to multitask in Church today, but it was really hard. Wonder if they would frown upon bringing a laptop into the 'crying room'?

Two posts in a row, it must be some kind of a miracle, as this person would say.

Today, not so wonderful. You would think that getting together with extended family might be awesome on its own merits. However, when you throw two dogs into the mix, oy. Sage did not know whether she was coming or going. She was rather going. A lot. The thing is, the other dog is three years older than Sage, and she would have gladly just gone to sleep, had Sage not been there.

So, I have a headache. It's Friday night, and my crew (dog included) is in bed. And it's 9:20 p.m.

keeping it real

Today, we swam. The four of us. It was joyful. Spending two hours in the pool away from everything else. Not worrying about anything else. Tomorrow is another fun day to finish off the March Break. I can't wait.

It's all about the props

Props to have the courage to take the next step and also the props that you actually need to take the next step. Of course, I'm talking about photography. I've had the D300 for a cool week and a half now. I need to know that it was not a waste of money so I'm trying to see if my work is actually different than before, but I just can't tell yet.

Today was about props. I have this crazy idea of taking things to the next level. And for that I will need props. So, I went scouring through Value Village, Pier 1, and also through the Reuse Centre for props. Specifically for fuzzy blankets and baskets that I could use to position a baby with and in. Value Village is having a 1/2 off sale on Monday - will have to check things out then and Pier 1 had some possibilities, but they were too wobbly for my taste. I don't think that they could physically support a newborn. The Re-use Centre had a wonderful wicker bassinette, but with my storage issues, it would not work because of the size. There was also an awesome sled, but again, I don't think that I'll be needing that for some time. So, my other ideas include trusty old Homesense and then, get this, hopping to the States to check out Target. I also love their TJ Maxx, so it would kill two birds with one stone!

Ah, the props to be bought!

365 ideas

Bear with me, I'm doing a 365 flickr photo a day project. The results can be seen here.

I'd like to keep track of places that I'd like to go to for inspiration, so I'm going to start a list on here. Some people are doing a theme for their 365. I'm more about getting through it. I have had some brief thoughts of inspiration here and there, and I'd like to go back to them.

1. Locke Street
2. Confederation Park
3. at the Movies
4. friends and neighbours
5. junk
6. Re-use store
7. rusted
8. quote me
9. winter wonderland
10. Spencer Smith Park
11. Raymond & Associates
12. Love
13. What a mess
14. Spring has sprung
15. NOTL
16. Creekside
17. Winona Peach Festival
18. At the cottage
19. Cherry blossoms at Puddicombe
20. Frootogo

The holy grail

...for me is my new D300.

I walked into the camera store today...thank you

Bell Arte Camera, and said that I'm buying that camera. The gentlemen did not even ask me any questions, just took my comparative prices, which, by the way they matched, and sold me the rather heavy and rather expensive box that I have longed for. It's such a sweet feeling and at the same time it's scary. I wonder if I will live up to what this piece of equipment can do.

I have no idea how to fix the font going all wonky because it's late, and frankly I don't care. I just wanted to document the day of my momentous purchase. Now, if I only had a memory card!!!

Defrosting

My sister taught me about 'buy nothing day.' I've recently blogged about my concerns with a full-blown case of shopiitis. Needless to say, it's not cured in a day. I'd like to really keep track this year of the financial end of things, and am inspired by Olga's steps forward with that. So, my (small) resolution will be to keep track of BND's and see where I end up. You see, I have some big dreams. One of them is for my kids not to have to worry about paying for school. That, of course, comes from having to pay for school myself. Still paying for school in fact. It just sets you up for a long long time with a very tight margin. The other dream is to visit some places I've not been to before. That's an awful lot of places. It too takes careful planning, so BND's here were come. Today was one!

I'm defrosting, because we spent the afternoon outside. The four of us, and one very snowy dog. First we burned things in the firepit and then we were trying to build things out of snow that was not cooperating. We took a walk down to the marsh in the knee-deep snow, got separated from Brian and the dog and met a guy that would not go away. He had a flock of kids with him, and no partner, and kept pace with me and wanted to talk. Creepy. He took off when I loudly said that we were looking for Dad + dog. Ugh. Family walk and creepy dude comes by.

Complacency

I must admit that the new year is walloping my ass.

I returned to work after a week's sojourn between Christmas and New Years' to my job that I truly love and that has kept me fascinated for the last five years. I guess I've felt too comfortable lately, because this week I've had to deal with some nerve wrecking things and it's thrown my sense of complacency out the window. I think it's good that most people don't have to deal with situations where kids might be harmed. I wish that I could write about it here, but no such luxury. The people that I work with help, but a lot of the time they are facing the same nightmares. I'm not exactly sure how I deal with it, other than taking the green pills that bring my blood pressure down to where it should be. That, and hug my own little people a bit longer, while they still let me.

You're not in charge of me

It's so simple when you're five. Today, on the way to dinner, the bickering picked up speed. All of a sudden Ethan said to Leah - "stop bossing me around, you're not in charge of me, God is!" And I thought, how apropos and how simple it is when you're five. No big questions. It is how it is. He's the one in charge. He supersedes all else. I wonder when we lose the kind of big faith that we seem to inherently have. Does it happen quickly, or stealthily over time? It made me think of where I fit within this situation...where is my faith? I know it's there, but it's a bit trampled by everyday life. It's just moments like that snap you back to what's important. If it's as simple as that to a five-year-old, why is it not as simple to us when we get older? What gives, what changes? I haven't got the answers to those questions, but I'm glad that I took a minute today to think about them.

Fresh

It came and went without much pomp and circumstance, but nonetheless, I'm glad that we got to share the last night of the year with the neighbours and their kids. We had a nice dinner and then just hung out. The kids did their thing with watching a movie and coming and going to the bonfire, where the dads stood for about two hours. We, the moms, stayed inside. Duh, it was -17 yesterday evening.

Today, we are taking it easy. Back to work for me tomorrow, so I'm not planning on doing anything, other than making a quiche. That's right, if I were to make any resolutions, and that is a stretch, it would be to be more adventurous in the kitchen. And to get a new kitchen.

There, resolution made!!

Sexy

I got my Christmas present today. Away we went to have a photo shoot with a pro. My idea of heaven. He even had remote-controlled strobe lights!!!! A seamless white background, a funky chair, props galore. I had a blast. So worth it. Such a moment in time. Before we left, Ethan said that he wanted to look sexy. What he actually said was "I like sex," but without knowing what he was saying. He wanted to ask if he looked all right in the red shirt he was wearing, but it sorta came out funny. I had to laugh..and ask what he meant, of course! Gotta love him.

Shopiitis and the look of scorn

I may have an incurable illness. All this Christmas shopping and post-Christmas shopping has put me in shopping mode. Really, it's a disease. I have no need for anything else, and no room for anything else in my tiny house; and yet, I'm compelled to go looking for something else. Not really sure what either. I do have a need for appliances with a leaking washer, but appliance shopping is not so much fun. And expensive.

So, this illness comes and goes in waves for me. This week is particularly bad - just ask my sister. Hope it's over soon.

The other part of this post is somewhat unrelated to the shopiitis part. Ms. L. was an altar server for the first time today. Proud moment for me as a mom. She looked so tiny up there with the priest and the two other altar servers who were probably Grade 5 or 6 boys. But she did her thing and she looked all solemn. The look of scorn came from the lady who does that altar service training for the kids and who arranged for Leah to be there today. All because we were a 'tad' late for mass...i.e. walked in when the procession was starting. Sheesh. It all ended well, tho!

So this is Christmas

Someone woke at 4 a.m. this morning to see if Santa was here. It was Ms. L, who is on the cusp of not believing any more. I think that she was reassured by the visible dents made in the banana bread and egg nog left for Santa. Oh yes, she also wrote a note to him, asking whether banana bread was OK, rather than cookies. Santa did write back. Thank goodness the handwriting was not recognized.

We have had a very enjoyable Christmas morning, I must tell you. The kids waited, albeit, impatiently, for the coffee pot to brew before the gifts were started. Santa brought just the right amount of things. Last year, he went WAAY overboard in the kids gift department. We had to have a little chat about that.

I got a tripod! And yesterday came a gift card to my favourite camera store...not to mention a flickr 'pro' account. My family knows how nutty I am about this photography hobby of mine.

So, all in all, when I inhale the turkey aroma that is making its way downstairs, I am reminded of how nice it is to have your family at your side and how special it is to share Christmas with the ones you love.

Dragon Breath

Ever notice how small things can make a difference?
I was in line at Winners today. The lady behind me asked a question, but I could not concentrate on what she was saying. Halitosis city. Holy crow batman, I could not stand it. So I started inching away, trapped behind the person in front of me and dragon breath lady. And she kept talking. OK, it's small and insignificant and I'm sure my breath is no daisy, but my patience was very thin. Hm, maybe it's to do with the craziness of the season?

Visions of sugarplums

I am grateful.

I am grateful for Brian, because he is out there with the snowblower for hours and never complains.

I am grateful for my sister who shopped with me for the afternoon and then wrapped for the evening.

I am grateful for the fact that my children are home, are safe and are not brats.

I am grateful for how much joy I get out of giving to others.

Have you got your flea shot?

I got swallowed by life when I got back.

It was Christmas full-tilt here. I resisted. For a few days after Poland I had the dreamy, "I am rested" look on my face. People commented. I invariably said the same banal things like the holiday was good and I'm glad to be home. Then I jumped into two huge files and voila, the look went away.

But I did get my flea shot, as Ethan puts it. Gotta keep the priorities in life straight!

Onto the Christmas extravaganza we go...

Time flies when you are having fun

Whew, what a whirlwind the last week has been!

In the space of the last seven days, we have been to three different cities - Kazimierz Dolny, Sandomierz and Krakow. Each has imprinted its memories.

Kazimierz Dolny is a bit like coming home. It is a lovely little city situated on the banks of the Vistula River. It has some castle ruins, a town square with a famous well, and is the place where my parents got married. It's like coming home because it is the place to take family that is visiting from out of town, or in this case out of country. We laugh everytime we get taken there, because it is the standard tourist stop.

Nonetheless, it was dear to see it again, and this time, we toured a 16th century convent, where my mother bought herbs for everything from hemorrhoids to hypertension. We also met this monk who was desperately lonely and a lovely old man. I wanted to buy a rosary for E and L there and he would not take any money for it, and he blessed both of them. It was heartwarming. He told us a bit of the story of the convent, and we got the impression that if we stayed longer, he would have gladly spent more time with us.

The day we went to Kazimierz Dolny, it was a national holiday. Apparently, it's the place to be to show off your vehicle and your family. To walk the town square and to have a beer. Everybody and their uncle was there. I did not mind so much, as it was a sunny day. The throngs of people were not really interested in the same spots that we were going to, so that made things all right.


Onto the next city. On the 12th, we set out for Krakow, by way of Sandomierz. The highlight of Sandomierz was a 13th century church. But first we got stalked by a guide who popped out of her car when she spotted us and offered to take us through another church. This one was from the 16th century. A young'un. She had crazy hair and spoke with the speed of a machine gun. Lovely lady. Don't remember a word she said. She steered us toward the 13th century church, where, as it happened, my camera battery decided to bid adieu. Hence, so few pictures of St. Jakub's church were captured. We did find a statue of St. Czeslaw there - my father's namesake.

We arrived in Krakow in the late afternoon and set out for the city centre. This is a square again, with a famous basilica and stores in the middle of the square, called sukiennice. In medieval times, cloth was traded there, hence the name. The buildings were beautifully lit up at night, and I'm glad that I started snapping. Some of the shots worked out nicely.

Let me tell you, I wish I was in Krakow with my sister. It has such a spirit, so much life. It's a city for young people. So many hostels, so many clubs, so many things to do and see. I have a photo of a bar advertising 'dancing on tables' on Thursdays. You had to be there. I think they were dead serious.

We toured the castle and churches that would make you cry. We were bone tired at the end of the next day, full of walking and touring. At one point my eyes hurt from looking at things. So much history, so much tradition and such richness of spirit. It was wonderful. I am very grateful that I got to experience this at this point in my life, when I can appreciate it.

At the end of the day of touring, we wandered into the old Jewish quarter of town. We were hungry and hurting. None of the restaurants seemed to fit. How can you eat Italian or Portuguese food in the old Jewish quarter? I didn't think so either. We finally wandered into a little bar called 'alchemia' or 'alchemy.' This is funny because I was older than the crowd in the bar by about ten years. It was dark and smoky and oozing with coolness. You can imagine how well my mother, aunt and uncle fit in. The best part was that the bar did not serve food! Yes, liquor and beer only. And I thought you had to serve food to prevent people from getting sloshed! We had a beer on an empty stomach, and then stumbled out to find food. We found a little place that did not serve kosher food, but the food was yummy. Borsch with uszka, or mushroom pierogies.

So, the week was jam-packed with memories and feasts for the eyes. A good week indeed.