Cut a door

Elegant Grandma Helen, my role model.

What do I want to create? Who am I without photographs? How do I want to represent myself without digital scans of my photographs? I have been asking myself these questions lately as I ease into the cooler season. The seasons are on the verge of change as fall shuts down (although the sun still warms us in the mid-afternoon in Winnipeg these days). I have been soaking up the rays in the company of children. They stare at me as I sprawl out horizontal in whatever sun I can find, cat-like and curious to them. Life is rich with the wonderful questions of four year olds. But why Teacher Megan, why? Oh my days are so strange. I can only imagine what parenting would be like. Teaching other people's children is trippy and exhilarating. Today I taught a girl to use a screwdriver with attitude and poise, two boys how to build a mean fortress out of long red and numbered rods on an extra large mat, another child how to pour corn kernels from one vessel to the next, another the wonders of blending primary water colors to make new colors. Oh the wonder of it all. As previously mentioned, teaching Montessori is wonderful and weird. 

Here is some recent photography work from an incredible family wedding I shot late in August for my cousin Sara and her man Tony. At the time I felt free to capture anything I pleased; so I did--to my heart's content. Enjoy.

I shall share now that the door has been cut open. The circle remains and so does the desire to commit my hands to one hundred percent analogue work from here to kingdom come. Then again, some nights long after the neighborhood has settled in and sleep has escaped me yet again (despite the fact that I will slip into my saddle at 7am tomorrow morn) I am drawn to this open, instant platform where I can type to my heart's content and not give two hoots about what the next guy is working on. I'm just me, girl with a frying pan. 

Some recent projects on the go:

- large and in charge Rollin & Elma stencil for Amelia

- the slow train comin' project of sliding all '14-'15 negatives into sleeves for contact sheets OYE

- makin' pasta

- plannin' various print projects for winter flow

- upcomin' basting lesson from Tammy. Baby's first foray into quilting. I am quite keen on following the wonder that is Folk Fibers. Someday I hope to be dying my own fabric and quilting blankets for my beds. 

This is good enough for now. 

Adios 

New moon in Scorpio; a good time to acknowledge death and embrace rebirth. 

Happy together and finding the balance.

Beautiful friends.

Grandpa is the bomb.

A free spirit.

A strong and resilient girl.

My grandfather Sydney and his last remaining sister, Charlotte.

A natural, on the clock.

Delighting in each other (despite my warm Developer temps. DAMNIT).

I asked and this is what they gave / Harvest Moon 2015 edition

For Lisa, wherever you and Shelly may be.

I asked and this is what they gave.

I asked for a song and a portrait and this gentleman kindly obliged. 

Portrait of an attentive listener. I asked and this is what she gave.

She asked and this is what I gave. Enjoying the warmth of company and sun.

Blooming daily is Ainsley. Wonderbabe expected to arrive in December of 2015!

Sleeping not sleeping. I asked and this is what she gave at 6 months along.

For JJ, who adores all things Nemo and the wonder of kites.

Shitters, kites and sleeping spots. This sight made me chuckle.

Ice cream ladies. I asked and this is what they gave.

I asked and this is what he gave. The slice of sun on his nose, plus the hint of groovy pants did it for me. 

An intriguing scene to observe: good parenting at work in the freedom and kindness of children at play with each other. 

Here are some photographs I felt free to capture with sharp mind and hands on Saturday, September 19th while enjoying the 14th annual Harvest Moon Festival. Openly observing people in a safe environment is very energizing to the soul in me. Ease was all around. Even the weather was easy and kind to us all. I did not take a moment of it for granted. I wandered alone and with friends, with the Kiev in the crook of my arm, content to watch and listen. What a gift of a weekend.

Portra 400 was just the ticket to capture the essence of the light and surprising heat of the weekend. This roll above (posted in consecutive order) looks hot. Contrast film rarely offers a temperature as colour does (specifically Portra 400 film--so warm) but rather a story of many mysteries hiding in the layers and shadows. I suppose that is the reason I go back again and again to contrast film. I'm a mystery buff, what can I say? Call me Nancy Drew. That said, Saturday afternoon at Harvest Moon needed to be shot in colour; no bones about it. Thanks be to Ni for letting me dip into your cache.

Portra 400 / Kiev 60

Happy Trails

Last weekend six friends piled into a family van after a wild work week and hit the open road. We took our time making our way to Clearwater, Manitoba for the much anticipated 14th annual Harvest Moon Festival. It was a life-giving weekend of strolling with my lover and our friends. Fellowship during the most beautiful time of year! There was much laughter punctuated by good meals, plenty of meandering along the riverbed with the freedom to stop here and there to lie down in the light or duck into the trees for shade from the bright autumn sun. There was a constant stream of beautiful music being performed from a straw bale stage to absorb. I can hardly wrap my head around the positive energy and overwhelming sense of community, safety and acceptance that I felt at this year's Harvest Moon Festival.

I took time to wander off alone in the early morning light on Saturday to climb down the steep valley wall like a nimble goat into the dry riverbed below. The light slowly crept in as the sun rose and splashed down, down, down into the deep crevice where I sat criss-crossed on an inviting rock in the middle of the water's pathway. Sitting in peace, I felt the heavy weight of a harsh learning curve of new school, new job, new rhythm leave my shoulders. I sat for a long while, wishing for a pen and paper to transcribe the feeling. There was nothing on my person but a loaded camera, a boiled egg and a croissant-- so I ate in silence and wrote internally. I need to practice sitting with myself more, empty handed with nothing but my thoughts. It was a good for the soul getaway to say the very least.

Here are some photos I felt compelled to capture while observing people in a beautiful landscape.
Portra 160 / Pentax K 1000

This is where I am; right where I need to be. 

11:11 
11:11
11:11

For Andrée

One of my favourite captures from the wedding of Pascale & Jay. Sister and cousin to the bride busily icing a cake!

N'sync icers.

Lovers at a family wedding.

The wedding of Pascale & Jay was so striking and warm and beautiful that I ran straight out of film. Always a good sign. I have so many unbelievable photographs from their wedding that I have been a little overwhelmed by the narrowing down process. When Pascale's cousin Andrée inquired as to whether or not I had shot any nice ones of her and her lovely man Michael, I was happy to start wading through this wedding work again. Full wedding post to come. In the meantime, here is a look in to one of the best weddings I have ever attended!

Dear Andrée, here are some photographs I felt free to capture of you and yours. I never did shoot a proper couple portrait of you and Michael, but the look of love is definitely present in what I did manage to catch on film. You are lovely and do so much for others. Enjoy! Feel free to share what is here.

Portra 400
Tmax 400 + 3200