Top Dead Moped rally

On Saturday afternoon, Craig opened up his new shop Top Dead Mopeds for an open house BBQ. Buddies, faithful clients, first time group riders, parents and overall moped enthusiasts of Winnipeg came out of the woodwork to support his new venture with beer and BBQ. It made me damn proud to see all the work he has done put into action by all the guys on mopeds who kept rolling in. What a sight, what a sound! By seven, the route was roughed out, tanks and tires filled and 21 riders were ready to rip. And rip we did. Sadly, I didn't shoot any of the rally as I ran out of film shortly after a series of portraits at the BBQ, but I will never forget that initial feeling of riding in such a strong group down Maryland. Words cannot express such a simple pleasure. Whoa la. High spirits, big dumb grins for all and that sweet chorus of motors just hungry for the light to change. These are the things my photography couldn't quite do justice. So be it. I went to sleep with the sound of engines roaring in my ears. The next ride will be even better!

Winnipeg continues to surprise me and so does my guy. I love you Craig. So proud of who you are and what you are about.

* expired Kodak GC 400 / Nikon FG-20 / 24mm

Andrew & Nozomi

The wedding of Andrew and Nozomi was a pleasure to shoot. Soft light, small party, country landscape, gorgeous bouquets, handsome people and a simple flower crown for an easy going bride. Sign me up. The photos above are the fruit of darkroom labor. These were a pleasure to print, each one coming out of the developer better than the last. Enjoy.

* All photos shot with Kiev 60 / 80mm / Delta Pro 100 / FP4 125 // Note: unsure as to why the top left corners of these 8x8" prints drop out the way they do; my scanner is a piece of work. Digital scans don't hold a candle to the balanced beauty of the hardcopy!

Connie's Famous Gourmet Breakfast

Dear Bullheaded woman, quit wrestling with your gut and get your head out of your arse. When love comes a knockin' there ain't nothing you should do but answer the door!

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Moving on!

Fingers are sore, the elbows cry out REST NOW and my latest stencil lies complete and ready to copy. Hallelujah. I have never given birth but in terms of artwork, I gave birth this morning to a beautiful pair of odd ducks! Finally. Nice to see you again weirdoes, this time 'round in large format. I suppose these progress reports are fairly fruitless without a look into the actual process, but until that day when I am finally ready to announce an upcoming exhibition, mysterious they will remain. Thanks for reading about the process anyway, it is very special to me. My mom asked me last night if I made stencils for myself and after a good laugh I didn't really know how to answer her. Kind of. I make them because I am driven to. The physical process of carving away challenges me to work through my tendency to bolt from static projects. This push toward the final product introduces an entirely new art form to work from/ within. One good copy is what I aim for and there are many steps involved in getting there. Steps are good. Fabric sourcing, sizing, ironing and placement are key. The spray and peel is obviously the most rewarding part! Why not put them up in public space? I don't know. Too cumbersome/ fragile. I haven't gotten there yet. Maybe someday when I am bored by canvas or tired of working on the floor. That's all there is to say about that.

JJ is coming for a tail-end-of-summer visit from Montreal and Lisa is on her way home from cherry picking at last. The temperature is rising just in time for their arrival. Change is in the air, as always. Feeling it blow through the windows as I write. Bare arms of summer and one tiny little bun on my head after a long time apart. Feels good to be home, at work at home, welcome home.

Here is an image from breakfast at Connie's Corner cafe the other day. Craig lent me his trusty Nikon FG-20 with a new-to-me 24mm lens. Wide angle perspective, that I like. I used to hate it, but now I see the beauty to all the detail that fits in a single frame. Like magic. Back at Connie's the juke box was pumpin', the portions were huge, the coffee was endless and the bannock was fresh. My kind of place.

Fast Friends

Good trip out to Kleefeld, Manitoba to help move around a pile of limestone in the company of family and friends. My friends Tristan and Sambeth are set to be married real soon and when they proposed a day trip to southwestern Manitoba to help knock a few things off their To Do list, we hopped in the truck happily. Craig was in his glory upon being introduced to Tristan's pop Tom's shop. Bikes upon bikes. I was happy to walk into the treeline and be swallowed by wild dill. Those super mini bikes were a blast to trail ride. People who open up their land to cityfolk hungry for more are special. Thanks for a hell of a day Tom and Mary Anne.

* Photos shot with cheapo Shoppers Drugmart color 400.

Supermooners

This sums it up about right!

Three Aries babies on a camping trip in Jasper, AB made for one well-tended fire. Chris, Craig and myself headed for Jasper after the family wedding in Canmore came to a close. To debrief after a wild week of celebration and all that comes with a gathering of that sort, we took a day to explore nature in solitude. Surrounded by the Rocky mountains, we drank beer beside a river, stacked rocks for fun, watched the sun set and the super moon rise. We wandered together and apart and my bouquet of wild flowers grew as the light of day fell away. We all take photographs and these are some that I felt free to shoot while observing two great men in my life. 

* Above photos shot with Kiev 60- 120 Delta Pro 400 film and scanned at home

Ladies of Oka beach

Trip to Oka, Quebec alongside two dear friends documented with the Kiev 60 and my latest film of choice: Tmax 400. At the start of this particular day trip, we all suffered from fierce hangovers thanks to the celebration of our reunion in Montreal the previous evening. Family style Italiano fare with endless wine and three broads catching up made for a lively scene for onlookers. I waded happily in Oka waters clad in my tigersuit after a quick bathing suit swap with Lo. Chanel shivered in the water while Lo laughed at her antics. Quite a typical and wonderful day, I must say.

LIKE NO TIME HAD PASSED

Silver Grill

source unknown :|

Silver babes going places.
That I like.

Photographs of this kind remind me of the beauty of forward motion. Portraits have their place, but street shooting is something I need to put into practice more. Respect!

This inspires the diva in me.

The Thresher

Woke with a start in clean sheets after a series of pot roast dreams. Dream reader, what in-sleep significance does the pot roast hold? Nice to MEAT ya. It was nice to rise with the early morning light. East facing windows. Ran into a real beauty this morning: Rusty! Getting so big, tiny little bun child in engineer stripes. Yum. Good latte and good company from Parlour on Main Street. Only Winnipeg latte that can transport me back to my '07 Europe trip in a single sip. Thanks amigos. It's good to be home.

Rusty's mama Crystal.

Writing from a small desk in my bedroom. The light is soft white. Thinking about things in an easy chair at home on a Saturday. What a pleasure. To reflect upon the last few weeks of life is wonderful. Highlights of recent life include:

- Seeing my cousin Billy marry his love Meagan while surrounded by mountains
- a helluva roadtrip to witness this family wedding with my love Craig and our good friend Chris (both talented photographers) and then heading deeper into the Rockies to drop Chris at VIA in Jasper
- Jasper, Alberta you beauty!! The Canadian landscape energizes the soul in me. Craig, Chris and I took a short camping trip just outside of Jasper in an old (but not forgotten) campsite just north of town. We swam (dunked heads in glacial run-off), lazed on logs and explored as three photographers with and without cameras. Wondrous to say the very least.
- Waved hard internally to you, Liza all through Alberta until we stopped for a sandwich in Saskatoon. Hello woman!
- Shooting so many inspired rolls of film in new places, ceremonies and young souls in their mama's arms. Pictures of mountains. Pictures of rocks and Craig's long legs.
- Flying to Toronto after a long drive home. Leo Leo Leo daze. Naked child in the garden with the mirrors. Tiny toy car world is his. When he crawled into my bed and shared my pillow on his back and laughed at my scary stories about the DARK DARK HOUSE and the narration of a new book about Victorian houses, my heart swelled up lying there until it split in love. Nice window into parenthood.
- Montreal felt like a great coat to slip into. We had fun in style. There were many little trips taken with Chanel and Lo. Car rides with women, long overdue. Cloudy beach perfect for shooting lazy slides. Italian hangovers. Antiques dug up in the heat.
- Approaching Simon and Steve in the dark after a long time apart. Dear to me's they are. Much gin was drunk. Many stoop tales ensued. Hearing stories of Steve's time woofing on farms in Italy filled me up. Sally. Oooh wee.

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Rode my moped over to visit Bram and got stopped by a cop out front of Rebel Waltz. Officer Jean. I don't keep mirrors on my moped. We had tattoos in the same spots coincidentally. Inside the studio, Bram worked on moons and taught me some things. Future is now. I am feeling very inspired and ready to giver.

This is Bram Adey.  He is one talented dude. See some of his work here.

Perks of dating a mechanic: sweet rides. Baby's first toptank.

Currenly listening to Abner Jay's Folk Song Stylist album on repeat. Unbelievably good listen. Full band, awesome drums and horns. When I pass away, please play Abner Jay on loop at the service. Thanks.

Yesterday Kat and I shot a heck of a wedding in the english garden at Leo Mol in Assiniboine park. Photos to come. Heap it on the pile! It been a great month for photography. Here is a shot of us in the bathroom at the Hilton, best part of the night!

Portrait of a Baba

"Baba" shot in Teulon, Manitoba. Age 89 and spry as hell.

Wedding photography is tricky work. I admire the people who can do it weekend after weekend for their bread and beurre. While working within the role of second shooter, I tend to find myself drawn to the singular stars of any wedding event. Portrait hunter. In a rare moment of stillness in between running around slipping rings off fingers, loading cameras and hanging wedding dresses from trees in the bush while the bride readied herself, Baba caught my eye the instant I saw her sitting at her kitchen table in Teulon.

In the cool of her homestead kitchen, she stood out from all the rest. 

I was shocked to hear she was pushing ninety as her sparkling eyes and overall aura radiating from her electric blue soul told me otherwise. While shooting family portraits under the beating sun that afternoon, I asked Baba if I could fetch her a chair to rest. She looked at me and without skipping a beat, knocked her cane on her shin and said with a lilt "Why would I need such a thing? I have three legs!" Amen sister. Charmed I was, this was not the only portrait I asked of her. This Ukrainian Baba was giving it away for free! 

In between ceremony and dinner, she ambled over to her perennial and vegetable garden to pick potato bugs and tend to her flowers in the 35 degree heat (in her party dress no less). To me, she is the definition of beauty. If I am lucky to live a long life, I hope to age with as much grace and spirit as this little Baba.

* Kiev 60/ Portra 400 // that I like