Clown's Breakfast

Observing the action at the daytime market in Chiang Mai.

Astounded by the sight of fresh cut flowers in December.

A serious butcher at work at the daytime market.

Iain shot this of Milky and I (wheeling and dealing for antique enamel dishes).

I asked this taxi driver for his portrait and this is what he gave.

Tall man's day out.

Fresh berries and cold beer courtesy of Milky for our riverside picnic.

Hot and hazy at 11 am on a Wednesday in late December. 

Assiniboine River? Could be, but not. Captured this from the banks of the Mae Ping river running through Chiangmai.

Tuktuk self-portrait of Milky and I cruising through the streets to cool off.

Tour guide extraordinaire leading us on a shopping tour of the market before heading out of the city to our cooking class. Here she offers a lesson in rice noodles.

A lesson in coconuts.

Coconut cream!

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All photos shot on my Kiev 60 TTL in thirty-five degree heat while wandering the city of Chiang Mai alongside two clowns; one who insisted upon walking as much as possible, the other who insisted upon walking as little as possible, but both agreeing that cold beer and strawberries make a fine breakfast alongside a river. I couldn't agree more.

Kiev 60 / Portra 400
Chiang Mai, Thailand; December 2016.

In my own time

Ode to PJB; a portrait of myself at the tail end of Thirty. Photo by Jill Zach

I just gave myself a funny little haircut and the result of my wild hand going to town on the nape of my neck made me laugh aloud at 11:30 at night in my funny bathroom with the green sink. This is thirty. A nick in the neck, oh well.

I am one month from thirty one and in a good place. When I reflect on the course of the year, I see strong family ties, nothing but love and laughter between my sweetheart and I, a warm home we feel comfortable to let our hair down in, a running vehicle that gets us to and fro, a vibrant community, a steady and life-giving job, food on the table and a darkroom in the basement. Rich life! It's not always easy, no. Sometimes I ask myself what the hell I am doing, doing what I'm doing. But then I remember to look at the big picture and after a while I ease back to that place of peace and trust in the fact that I'm just doing what I'm doing to get where I need to go. In my own time, as Karen Dalton would croon.

Opportunities to collaborate with different people have been springing up. I had my cards read by a dear friend a few months ago and one of the main messages was a strong push to volunteer more of my time and to put more into the community around me. I've been seeking new opportunities to explore this through photography. Last week Wednesday, on International Women's Day, I photographed a lovely fundraiser party for the Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg. It was a good event to experiment with a new-to-me camera (Iain's trusty Canon AE-1 and my favorite film pushed a bit). People were open and warm. The light was right despite it being night time. It just wasn't the kind of event to blast people in the face with my flash. After processing the film, I was pleased with what I had observed and recorded on film. Good job. I was proud to deliver the goods on such a snappy turn around. Fingers crossed I'll see one or two crop up in the social section of the local rag. Film is alive and well in this casa. Negatives hang on the line to dry as I write.

The moon wanes and so do I.

Bed time for this old boot.

Through the eyes of the Lion

Leo was here.

Low eastern perspective of Wolseley near Ruby.

Brothers.

Bones for teeth by Coco's Frosting Shack.

Noam.

Effie.

Testing crab apples in autumn on Gus' back stoop.

Daddy Matt.

Walk Like an Egyptian lesson.

Gus.

Yard works.

The Artist himself, formally known as Leo The Lion.

For his fourth birthday, I gifted my friend Leo a Pentax K1000 and a purple magic wand. I am happy to report that the camera has survived and the lens cap is still present well into his fifth year. Those Pentax K1000s, good cameras for good souls. As for that sparkly purple wand, who knows.

Leo shot this display of photographs at the tail end of his fourth spin around the sun. Neighborhood looks. I was so surprised to recognize my own face in so many of the frames on the roll of 28. It is a good thing. I like what he sees in me. I especially love observing Leo take in the world around him. As long as I have known him, he has been watching. Alert, in tune and clever. Ready. This practice is one of his best traits. I hope to continue teaching him the art of analogue photography as long as he will grant me the company.

A camera is a tool, not a toy. Understood?
Got it. 
Happy Birthday.
Thanks.

We had this conversation over chocolate milkshakes at The Nook.

Love you my dear Leopard.

Chicklets and Doves

Rebecca and her sweet young Lula.

The littlest meatball in my arms, sweet young Vaughn. Photo thanks to IDP.

Aunty Kitty and Vaughn party at the Carman Legion.

Players play an ode to Carm and Vera at the Carman Legion.

Ode to Carm and Vera.

Uncle and young Atlas reading at the kitchen table.

My Valentine, Ronny Rouge.

A rare portrait of my chicklets captured on Valentines Day by Rouge.

My Guy Valentine, practicing on a mild day in February.

Breathing in some fresh air after spray painting my brains out. Photo thanks to IDP.

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Those flippen' doves are back. Constant cooing coming from the south peak. Time to bust out the Super Soaker loaded with boiling water and cayenne methinks. Their enthusiasm paired with the lingering light of day have me feeling hopeful. March is in! It was a goddamn doozy of a week. I rode home from the East Exchange fast and furiously and rolled into the camera store with a slight huff on. These photos that I picked up, placed here in consecutive order in which they were shot cheered me right up. When I look at that image of Iain and his mandolin I get all starry eyed. Mine all mine!

Kiev 60 / FP4 400

Hat Trick

IDP captured this of me while dining at A & K Lick-A-Chick in Little Bras D'or, Nova Scotia; July 2015. Pentax 67

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Howdy partna',

I have entered the high season of inspiration. It builds under my top hat like a magical rabbit; out of sight though popping out at the most appealing of times. Spring is near, I can feel it brewing under the ice which I slip upon. Print production tells me so. I have been carving lino into many stamps. Margot Pollo's hand stamped bean bags, bandanas, napkins, backpacks and Longbods coming to a shop near you. It is very satisfying to follow the steps to creating a healthy inventory. So many steps! Printing is ridiculous and ridiculously rewarding at the same damn time. Same goes for dyeing fabric.

The urge to print overtakes me at odd hours. If you need me you can find me in my workroom. This room has come a long way. There are various stations in working order: Ironing station, Listening station, large worktable, small writing desk, open cutting floor, light table, sewing station. It is clean, organized and either in use, or ready to be. Good sign to keep going methinks.

Exciting collaborations for Spring are in the horizon.

My goal at the moment is to make enough bits 'n bobs to open Margot Pollo's Shop of Curiosities over at margotpollo dot com at long last. The future is now.

AIN'T
NOTHIN'
TO
IT
BUT
TO
DO
IT

Love Madge

Sara & Rich wed: September 2016

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Capturing the wedding of Sara & Rich was a gift! Their wedding was held on the farm belonging to the bride's brother. It was a warm and grey afternoon at the end of September. The light was right and the happy, inclusive atmosphere pulsed with celebration of good pure love between two good people. I took delight in framing up the magic in my own way and time. I ran straight out of film.

Here lies a photo essay of photographs I felt compelled to print that tell the tale of Sara and Rich's wedding celebration.

Printed at home on 8x8" Ilford Pearl paper.

Kiev 60 / Delta 400
Nikon F2 / Delta 400