Dear Universe

And what a successful Saturday morning it has been! Craig and I left behind a clean house for the open road ahead and clear blue Manitoba sky above. One Kijiji mission completed, I decided to call upon the mysterious contact given to me after a simple request made at the local camera shop resulted in a phone number in my pocket. Ain't nothing to it but to DO IT. I called up Ron and we paid him a visit at Tech Voc. He gave us a hearty tour of the impressive and chaotic innards of his photo department and then led us back to the place where we came to call. There stood the biggest enlarger I have ever seen in my young years. From the floor it measures a mean four and a half feet tall! I will have to enlist my lover to build a low throne for this beast to roost upon. After we figure out how to assemble and manipulate it that is. This thing has a computerized color head. Say what??

Ron invited us to dig through many a box to fill the missing pieces and weak links of our own darkroom. We pocketed new to us grain finders from Japan, a working order contact sheet easel, two other nice easels for printing and so many lenses and boards to choose from I nearly peed my pants. Driving away with that truckload felt like highway robbery. I think he was just happy to see that sitting duck go to a good home. Coupla' kids we are. And just like that, my world cracked open! Endless possibilities.

One of my goals for 2014 is to print a collection of photographs from the fat stack of 100 year old large format negatives given to me by my grandpa Syd. Ode to Peter Jet Boots, here I come. With this new enlarger, that faraway dream exhibition is now a tangible possibility! Oh Universe, you're good.

Here are a few recent trippy double exposures off a single roll of expired Fujicolor 400. What a surprise this roll was to receive back. It was sitting in my Nikon F3 for so many moons that I forgot I had filled it up once already back in October on my little Olympus rangefinder. Initial layer: driving around in the old 'Yota, Thanksgiving with my mom's family, gentle Uncle Jim and his most recent grandbabe Ben, a quick end of Autumn trip to the Sugar Shack and a final photographic walk-about in Point Douglas etc. Top layer: Many, many photos of the Jackal in my arms, as well as in the sink where he likes to bathe on a daily basis while still small enough to fit and a few shots of the antique photo album compiled for Terry & Myrna. I spy an embossed horse. Enjoy!

Snail's pace

I asked and this is what she gave. Mismatched gloves and a face wide open.

I asked and this is what he gave. Baby Crosby giving it away for free.

I asked and this is what he gave. Warm cookies straight from the oven and a most regal face.

This girl was very excited to show program director Josh her finished quinzee masterpiece.

I think this is a good representation of what Josh is all about.

Quinzee talk.

Mouthful of teeth, that I like.

Josh and Toby, doing their thang.

Snoball shinny and a multi-armed creature.

The ever chic Chrystal and co.

Duncan oversees the sled washer at the foot of the Snoball obstacle course.

Duncan carves a gargoyle. 

Observing the luge run from afar.

I asked and this is what she gave. Snow cone beauty.

I went out walking last Saturday afternoon. Just myself and the Kiev. I shot around the West End under beautiful high sun filling up an oldie goldie roll of slide film and then working through a roll of contrast. My gut told me to head southeast and load my camera with color while I was at it, so I did. Ended up at Art City's annual West Broadway winter Snoball! Great fun was had. Great chili was eaten. Great faces aplenty were captured. I love being an observer at creative events of these sort. Happenstance! I love winter. It feels incredibly long-winded at times, but it has it's perks. This happy-go-lucky roll reminded me of all the magic to be found during the long season.

*This series was shot on a single roll of expired 220 Fujicolor NPC 160 (that I picked up for a dollar!) with the ever trusty Kiev 60-TTL/ 80mm. This was my first go at shooting 220 film. Medium format, same as 120 but double the film length! 24 exposures?!!? That is a hell of a length to expose when one is accustomed to only 14 exposures MAX. Despite the fact that I forgot to count exposures after the Kiev's counter hit 12, I was very pleased with the outcome. Next time I will be sure to count out 25 exposures to eliminate waste. It is obvious by the overlap on many of the shots that I was blasting. Rushing rarely pays off. Another lesson on slowing down the process and doing it right the first time! While the roll may have been a steal, the processing cost a small fortune! Enjoy.

Year of the Wooden Horse

Happy Chinese New Year! Handsome Grandpa Syd astride. Photo. Great Grandpa Reimer

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!

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

Pleine lune

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

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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.

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.

The Jackal

And then like magic, there was Jackson. He is sweet as pie, curious and more determined than any eight month old babe I have ever encountered. Frog child! Looking forward to a new year with him on my hip. Jackson, you are my bread and butter. That I like.

*Kiev 60/ 120 Tmax 400