For the Love of Summer

Summer finds me in the city this year. It has found me in so many different places in years past, but this year it is a city summer. The city swallows many of it's inhabitants only to spit them out again.

I live gratefully near both convenience and recreation, which has allowed me much luxury during our California dream of a summer.

I am struck by something different as I walk around Victoria during the most intense tourist season of the year. Crowds fill the downtown streets. As summer swims around us memories are unfolding with each moment. With the best of intentions I see throngs of folks walking about with cameras held out, photographing and videotaping each step. But I am left wondering where does this leave space for an actual experience? Perhaps we can simply enjoy and connect with the street band (be it the Violin playing Darth Vader or the amazing Calypso group that plays in the evening on lower Government), whale watching, the Butchart Garden walks or family time.

I am not saying we should put our cameras away. You would be hard pressed to find a photographer who could give that instruction with conviction. However there only needs to be one great shot, and it's not volume which draws this out.

Our best photos come from being plugged in, connected, rested, and in touch with all that is around us.

Spring

Spring arrives fashionably late. She is worth the wait. All spring's colors adorn her brilliant green garments. It is a beautiful sight to behold.

Ainsley and Tony

I wander down into fields of lavender with Ainsley and Tony. They are lighthearted and full of anticipation for their wedding which will unfold within weeks.
Ainsley is actually a girlfriend mine. I think it was her infectious laugh and bubbly personality drew me to her initially. It is easy to see what Tony sees in Ainsley and in photographing them as a couple I find myself drawn into their lightheartedness.
I recall when Ainsley first told me about Tony, there was a different tone in her voice and electricity I hadn’t heard before.
This weekend I feel grateful to be photographing their wedding, to be involved in a celebration of finding what so many of us seek ....Connection, love and partnership.

Lavender farm - Damali http://www.damali.ca/

Love travels abroad. Rebecca and Geoffrey were about to be separated for 7 months. Geoffrey was to do a tour of duty with the Canadian Navy taking him to various ports across the world away from Rebecca. They came to me to create some portraits to span the distance.
I was touched by Rebecca and Geoffrey. Their love for one another translated effortlessly, honestly and earnestly. These are the last photos of Rebecca and Geoff before they were engaged. Geoff proposed shortly thereafter, and Rebecca not only accepted but a date is already underway.
I am very much looking forward to shooting their wedding. We created a beautiful hard cover 10 x 7 book of for their photos. This is the front cover and back the book we made for Geoff and Rebecca. It’s a mini tale… if you go from either end forward you follow their process. Front to middle will tell a tale of Rebecca finding Geoff. If you instead read from the Back to middle, you will follow Geoff as he falls for Rebecca on the day of our shoot. I dare you not to fall a little too.


http://albumonline.asukabook.com/album/?key=eb5e0c3e835

Weekend Wonderment

A weekend of wonderment ends with my camera’s belly full of photos. My heart seeded with Saturday and Sunday’s activities, I feel them slowly growing into my memories.

Vancouver Island is my home. I feel it’s rivers flowing within my own landscape. As an “island girl” I have left so many times over. To Vancouver, to San Diego and lived away as a mainlander for years on end. Yet somehow these shores have always called me back. Surely the ivy which grows on my childhood home grows within me still, the deep island rivers stare back at me when I look in the mirror every morning, silvery and blue.

This past weekend I enjoyed time away from the city of Victoria. I drove up-island to a lovely retreat which belongs to dear friends. An impromptu shoot with my girlfriend was born on Saturday. I have been wanting to photograph Lucia for years and this opportunity was one I had a great time with. The cold was pervasive, but my model acted as good as any of my professional models. I wore gloves.

Some things are great to know. I will always travel. I adore it. Some people never know where home is.

Here are three of the things I know with certainty. I know where my home is. I know who my friends are. And I have a camera-shaped heart.

How amazing it is to navigate by twinkling stars.