Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Float for fun
Mel and Dave drove up to Brampton on Saturday so I could do some floating tests. What nice friends.
Joy
I’m an Aunt!
Hiding all over the world (and in your arms)
(Pictured above: A school child in India (left) and a plantation worker in Honduras (right).
After taking some time off the blog it’s a little hard to know what to say. The last four months have been a whirl wind. I have travelled to four different countries. (I completed training in the United States and three assignments which took me to India, Honduras and El Salvador.) I’ve been grateful for the stints at home which have ranged from mere 16 hours to 6 weeks between trips. During those stints I finished my applications for graduate studies, applied for more grants/awards/mentorships/scholarships than I can count, put up and took down My Hometown, Your Hometown at Voulez-vous Cafe and have tried to keep up with my band (The Royal Family) as we workshop new songs. It has been during this time that I have never been more grateful for the people in my life. It is the tenderness that they have shown that defines how I will remember this chaotic chapter.
Right before I left for India my friends and family threw me the sweetest surprise party. When I was in India I became ill and I had plenty of time to feverishly think about and miss their faces and cheery voices. In the brief hours between India and Honduras I returned to my parent’s house where three things happened; I found out I’m going to be an Aunt, my friends Robert and Nathan came and showered me with encouragement and I said a final goodbye to the house in Brampton. Of course in Honduras I was ill again and by the time Christmas came around I was happy to be at home with my parents and brothers. New Years brought a visiting cousin Emily, healing and insane amounts of fun and warmth. I’ll never forget dancing to the Talking Heads with my friend Marco and falling asleep after brunch at Joanna’s house amongst the soft chatter. I could go on and on. Perhaps it is the thought of moving away in the fall or maybe it’s just because I’ve always been this way… I’m glad for you all and I’m glad that amongst the chaos I never felt far from your arms. So it’s seems like a good thing to return to the blog by saying thank you to everyone for your support, honesty and good faith. (Amen)
My Hometown, Your Hometown - Opening tonight at Voulez-vous Cafe
Last year I got an email from Julie Boulet the owner of Voulez-vous Cafe on Queen Street East. “I found your photography while searching for the perfect croissant.” Months later she came to a showing of the My Hometown, Your Hometown at Toronto Alliance Church introduced herself and offered me Voulez-vous as space for the series. Even more months later it’s opening night! My wonderful friends Sarah Davignon, Melissa Graham Burke and Dave Burke will be playing a musically delicious set (Sarah says every band should have a married couple).
Join us tonight for some red wine or grab one of Voulez-vous’ delicious coffees. We’re gonna pack the place out, remember old memories, and create some new ones.
On for the month of January
Opening: 11 January: 19:00 - 21:00
Location Voulez-vous café
1560 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
Oh! And thanks to BlogTO for helping Julie find me and for a shout out on Radar this morning.
Comfort and friends
Many of my favourite photographers have spent their whole lives documenting their communities and families. It is a pursuit that pleases and comforts me to no end. The last month amongst the chaos of travelling, training, illness, grant applications, grad school visits and applications, photo gigs and shows sometimes a few minutes here or there to take a portrait of a friend has really put me at peace. Above left and bottom you will see portraits of Andrew that I took yesterday and above right a portrait I took of Sarah on the weekend. Thanks you two.
Dar F.M. vintage clothing: saturday brunch collection
A while back I had brunch with some of my favourite people. Afterwards we had a bit of a dress up party and photo shoot to create product shots for Dar’s new clothing venture which is now up on Little City.
Mysterious hope
On Tuesday I had planned to work all day in Brampton and eat as much of my Mum’s Thanksgiving leftovers as possible before heading home to Toronto for band practice. I was delighted when my friend Robert decided to come by (to help out with the leftovers). Too tired to work after our marathon of eating we decided to go looking for a spot to take photos. Many of you know that urban sprawl is pushing outwards and Countryside drive is hardly country anymore. It makes me sad and further it makes me sad that my parents are moving out of that neighbourhood (yes I have to leave my meadow behind). Between the housing developments I had seen small streams and I had always wanted to explore them and so that is where we ended up. Through the forest, across the stream and yup through a patch of what I still maintain was poison ivy we found the above fallen log in front of a storm drain. It was quite and adventure.
I was having a hard time colour correcting this photo. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted it to be bright and hopeful or dark and mysterious (which if any of you know Robert you’ll see the humour in the dilemma). I have decided on mysterious hope though I haven’t quite decided whether I’ve achieved it.
