January 31, 2014

Terry & Myrna


Terry and Myrna were married at Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Saturday November 30, 2013. Despite the gray skies that morning, light poured in through dormer windows and fell upon the shoulders of loved ones as smells of hot brunch wafted upstairs from the kitchen below. Brunch wedding! Genius. Guests guzzled coffee and orange juice at their leisure as the happy couple exchanged vows before them. There was plenty of love in the room that Saturday morning. As I moved around freely capturing portraits and observing guests enjoying their brunch, I couldn't help but hope for the same easy energy at my own wedding someday.

The ceremony was short and sweet and the room's aesthetic simple and sweet as well. Baby's breath in mason jars with burlap quietly complimented wooden furniture, wide planked floors and whitewashed tongue-and-groove surround. Easy going wedding, just like Terry and Myrna. They were a real pleasure to capture. In retrospect I am so grateful we moved outside for a few FAST portraits after the reception had wrapped up (they were due to hop a plane to NYC for their honeymoon straight away!), as those very shots turned out to be my favorite of the lot.

The series above was shot entirely on Tmax 400 film (majority 120mm/ Kiev 60; minority 35mm/ Nikon FG-20) and printed at home on Ilford satin paper. Couldn't have survived each printing session without various albums from Guided By Voices (Bears for Lunch) or Brian Jonestown Massacre blasting at top volume.  Completing this print project was the best way to begin 2014, a year for making magic and taking risks as an artist. While I have much to learn and apply in terms of camera theory and focal length theory specifically, the lessons learned while working my way through this project were innumerable! \

Doubt costs, confidence saves.

Enjoy!



January 26, 2014

Three abreast

Wrapped my evening sewing project around my body and made way for Destiny, my old computer tucked away in the little white studio room. This evening I altered a wonderfully old twin blanket cover to fit my small square down duvet. Splashes of orange floral with bits of teal on white. Just right. It felt wonderful to sew contentedly in the kitchen while four dudes hooted and hollered at the hockey game on tv in the next room over. I thought of Chanel ma belle as I worked. Sewing is so simple and so tricky at the same damn time. Practical art, respect.

Quieting the mind at the edge of sleep was no easy task tonight. Reflecting upon the course of my Saturday kept sleep far at bay. Coffee didn't help this old girl. Today was one of those really good SaTURDays. You know the kind. Woke early to a brunch invitation. I made my way comfortably through the bright blue cold of morning to pick up black beans and kale on route to the hostess' home across the Red River. What a treat to be handed a Little Sister coffee upon arrival. Andrea, Natalie and I traded places at the stove in a slow dance and our meal came together easily. Three great cooks, one great spread. Minus one Lisa. We enjoyed gently poached eggs, salty steamed kale, zippy black beans, a side of beets, fried potatoes, a beautiful pink smoothie, more coffee. More coffee. More coffee.

After our meal, we moved around Andy's new home while Natalie worked with her new medium format baby. Portraits of wool clad women in a damn cold sunroom were had. We eventually rebundled and walked back over the river pushing north. Cutting through neighborhoods and shooting some photos, we suddenly became spectators of a funny game of shinny happening in the parking lot behind the Sherbie where the age of players ranged from 3-60. Awesome. Winnipeg, you're good stuff. We strolled to Old House Revival from there and I came away with that blanket cover, a wooden spaghetti rake for Craig (I lost his) and four buttons to replace the one that got away from my overcoat.

Meandered home alone and was greeted by Modest Mouse blasting through the house. Musical vibrations. Craig was in the darkroom zone finishing up my last few prints for Terry and Myrna's wedding (bless his soul) and I got to work compiling the album once and for all. Cut paper, hole punch, stencil attempt, chucked that, mount mount mount! There was an impressive piece of pork slow-cooking on the counter that made my mouth water just thinking about it. That guy has really upped his game in the kitchen. Much to my delight, Craig roasts meat weekly. We would be a goner without that slow cooker. Invest! Balanced flavors, tender cuts, good work all around for minimal effort. Took a break from the wedding work to sew and make our bed nice, guzzled more coffee and then back at 'er. Work until delirious. Bed. Can't sleep. Write.

I see the light now. It's good to feel free in the dead of Winter.

Shot in another life, the day that Winter broke. Winnipeg/ 2010



January 17, 2014

Pleine lune

My favorite page from a favorite book, torn out and scanned at home.

''' ''' ''' L U N A R

''' ''' ''' L U N A C Y 

''' ''' ''' L U N A R I A N

''' ''' ''' L U N A T I C

Moon, I'm feelin you. Large and in charge this cycle, you are. Day before yesterday as the moon filled out above, I stood still on the very western side of the city and watched the sky fade gently from pink to blue. Nice view. It was beautiful. Earlier today I stood on a snow hill with a baby strapped to my body, face to the sun soaking up the last rays of day around 4:00 pm. What a luxury to chase the light at my leisure in such good company as the Jackal. 

Feelin' ready as the orb above. 

For what? 

Life. 

It's still January. How glorious. Today I ran right into many characters I haven't seen in a long while. Socializing in the dark of winter this evening felt equivalent to the excitement of a rare dance with a strong lead. Connections and laughter sparking in the crisp night air. Amy inspired the artist in me after our first sip to pick up my laid down work. Whatever it is, pick it up. Negatives, fabric, xacto, spray paint. Freelance work is right there, readily available so long as it's in me to GO. FOR. IT. 

It. 
It. 
It!

Ain't nothing to it. Follow your leader, Madge. Just like the coniferous you love.

ALWAYS BET ON YOURSELF.

NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOUR WORTH.

Inspirational quotes for the home fridge. I am turning into my mother. What a treat! Dial M for mother. In other news, SENSITIVE SHREDDERS. 

I am so proud of my Montreal homies Simon, Steve and Ben. No words necessary. Proud hen. Now let me direct you to their new skate video. Introducing, Sensitive Shredders. Miss yous.




January 12, 2014

Winterlude

This is my aging face, 2014.

interlude |ˈintərˌloōd|noun
1/  an intervening period of time : a pause between the acts of a play.
2/  something performed during a theater intermission an orchestral interlude.
3/  temporary amusement or source of entertainment that contrasts with what goes before or after the romantic interlude withered rapidly once he was back in town.

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Thank you kindly Dictionary. Definition numero 3 is the perfect descriptor for the winter getaway I just experienced. Temporary amusement. While sitting alone with slippered feet and long-johned body in front of a roaring woodstove fire, Craig's phone cradled in a cup on a shelf nearby suddenly launched into Bob Dylan's Winterlude, a funny song from Dylan's 1970 album New Morning. Well. How fitting. Having never heard it before, my smile grew as the lyrics filled our home for the night. Craig, having just stepped out to smoke thoughtfully in the dark, left just Bob and me by candlelight, bobbing appreciatively to the sounds of the night. Coyotes, wind, chimney, QUIET.

We took a weekend Winterlude to test out Craig's latest Skidoo snowmobile project (he wrenched December away while I printed up a storm) and to make a much needed breakaway from our city limits. Whiskey, beer, fire cooked breakfast, yelling for each other across the landscape we both love. My kind of holiday. I snowshoed in with a loaded sleigh like a determined animal and he bombed valleys and blasted through drifts on his flying machine. Goodness how I love his big dumb grin. We were each grinning by the time Sunday rolled in, for different reasons. It's good for my sanity to stand buck naked in a snow covered valley once in a while. 

Here are Dylan's lyrics which made me smile slowly.

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Winterlude, Winterlude, oh darling
Winterlude by the road tonight
Tonight there will be no quarreling
Everything is gonna be all right
Oh I see by the angel beside me 
That love has a reason to shine
You're the one I adore come over here and give me more
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're fine.

Winterlude, Winterlude, my little apple
Winterlude by the corn in the field
Winterlude, let's go down to the chapel
Then come back and cook up a meal
Well, come out when the skating rink glistens
By the sun near the old crossroad sign
The snow is so cold but our love can be bold
Winterlude, don't be rude please be mine.

Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy
Winterlude by the telephone wire
Winterlude, it's making me lazy
Come one, sit by the logs in the fire
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes they cover the sand
Come out tonight everything will be tight
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.

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January, what a swift and comical month you are. I have been working like a dog in the darkroom most evenings and weekends, trying to pull off the print production of my lifetime for the wedding I shot solo early December. Solo shooting, solo printing. While I miss the company of my partner in crime in our darkroom, I have been enjoying my solitude. It is nonstop, blaring loud Guided By Voices, pretzels aplenty and bottomless tea down there. Printing during what felt like the endless December coldsnap in an uninsulated stone basement was interesting. Seven layers of wool with slippers and sheepskin mitts on during long exposures hardly held a candle to -50. Such is life. Gotta work! My days feel rather long lately despite the sinking winter light. Darkness compliments the darkroom process. On the bright side of January, this print project is coming together beautifully (as any project tends to when working with consistency in mind). I am nearing the point where I can begin building the couple their long awaited wedding album, my favorite part. Black antique photo album, black photo corners, black and white photographs on satin paper with a slim white border. 

Time consuming and timeless, this is my work and I am proud of it.