When you have no one to model for you...

When you have no models to practice your photog skills, sometimes you have to settle for the friendly neighbourhood cat, Gimlie. He loves the camera, apparently. His results are beautiful but I'm hoping I find some human subjects in the near future.

"Oh, why, hello. I didn't see you there."

He helped me practice my backlighting... still needs some work but its getting there!

 I usually hate cats but he (or she, actually. Gimlie sounds like a boys name to me?) isn't so bad. This might be because his dander doesn't have a chance to reach my sinuses before the wind takes it away.

Has anyone else ever noticed how much better and brighter colours are after it rains!? Amazing.

And now for the photos I set out to take before the cat photo shoot transpired....

Sunshine after a rainstorm sure leaves some beautiful results. Saw my front yard in a whole new light (pun intended).

Fin.

Being a kid with SVC

On Saturday morning I got the pleasure of spending some time with some past, present and future members of the SVC (Student Volunteer Connections) and remember what it was like to be a kid. To sum it up: I don't have enough animal themed onesies and slippers, mini fanny packs. Nor do I play with bubbles nearly as much as I should.

 

Oh, and did I mention they are all hilarious?

Probably one of my favourite photos from the day!

And let's be honest, who doesn't love a few awkward family photos...

I also have to say I am very fond of the progression of these three photos...

 Thanks for an amazing Saturday morning!

Fin.

Shutter-Finger Fuel

It has become clear to me the kind of style I am creating for myself as an artist. Calling myself a real artist is terrifying. The first time I had to do this was yesterday when I made a facebook page for my Photography (also terrifying... but you can go to it here and LIKE IT: www.facebook.com/WendyShepPhotography). I have only ever referred to my photos as "my art", but never to myself as "an artist". Anyway, here are a few of my favourite things to admire through my lens.

First up, rain/puddles/reflections. Yes. I can't get enough. Especially at night time. Every streetlight I pass in the rain begs me to take its photo.

This might be my favourite from this whole blog post.

Second is street art, of any and all kinds. Especially when there are words, whether they make sense and resonate with me or not.

Here are some I took in the beautiful city of Montreal:

Google Translator tells me this means blah. I'm happy about this.

This was beside a washer/dryer repair shop called "Elvis" (if I remember correctly...). You can't see it but behind the fence were a bunch of beaten down washers and dryers. What better place to keep them than in the back alley of your establishment?

Outside a french fry shop with a little garden :)

And from Guelph:

Oh, I guess number three would be stairs, evidently.

Montreal

Montreal

and fire escapes as a sub-category of stairs.

Montreal

 AND FUN COLOURED HOUSES! (Number four)

Montreal

Montreal

More shots from Montreal (until we get to obsession number 5):

Bonjour, monsieur. This fella was about a foot from me.

Oh hi there! I'm thankful he was a nice french squirrel. Without rabies.

FIVE: Benches. I love me a good bench shot.

Six: hands. I don't actually understand this fascination. It's pretty ironic because there's nothing I hate more than hand model photos. I think I'm more drawn to how people express themselves with their hands. I love how it goes hand in hand (HA.) with how they're feeling or what they're doing. Hands tell a story.

This isn't the best representation of the love I have for photos of hands, but I'm sticking to April photos so far. It's still a major component and makes the composition of this photo that much better.

There's likely more to this list but it's a good summary, considering all of these are from the first half of April. Tells ya what's on my mind I guess... 

As for the rest of life seen through my eyes....

Guelph got hit with an ice storm...

 

aaaaaaand Colleen and I went for a bike ride :)

I also learned about roller derby.

And my last point of the day, essentially unrelated to anything else.... is that friends make the best bookmarks. :)

FIN!

PS: after looking at all my outdoor photos from this month, I am increasingly convinced that B&W are cameras' ways of making early spring look beautiful. (before there are flowers, and while everything still looks sad)