Find what you love and let it kill you

"Find what you love and let it kill you. Let it drain you from your all. Let it cling to your back and weigh you down into eventual nothingness. Let it kill you and let it devour your remains. For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it is better to be killed by a lover." - Charles Bukowski

I like a lot of the words I have read by Charles Bukowski. Making me feel polar opposites so strongly in the same sentence is an incredible feat as a writer. His words push my comfort zone and make me feel calm. They lift me up while silultaneously reminding me that the world, as beautiful and as great as it is, will always have darkness, similar to the way in which it will always have joy. That's why it is so important to see and create happiness whenever you can.

But while it is important (for some) to live a passionate life doing what they love, it's also important not to lose sight of that darkness (whatever that may be: anxiety, struggle, failure, of ourselves and others). Without the challenge, I think we lose our drive to better ourselves and the world for other people. I am best driven by my desire to create in a way that will bring good to somebody, somewhere, somehow.

These words also really jump out at me because I've been chasing my passion. Capturing moments and inspiring others is definitely what I'm running after, but I'm still hoping to find it. Once I do, what better way is there to go about living and being great than by doing what you love and being consumed by it? Not just in your occupation or your passion, but in any form.

"People think of heaven as a paradise garden, a place where they can float on clouds and laze in rivers and mountains. But scenery without solace is meaningless." - Mitch Albom

Fin.

Wedding Numero Uno

I did it. I dove in, and did something I never thought I would. I got to assist shooting a wedding for the first time.

A beautiful wedding: A farm setting with paper lanterns and string lights. Sounds lovely to me :)

 

FIN.

My first shot at surrealism

Surrealism in photography (I'm not even sure I'm on the right track to the correct term, but this about sums it up). I'm hooked. I love it. And yesterday, I took my first shot (haha, see what I did there?). I have been thinking for a long time now about how I wish I could make images as crazy and beautiful as the ones I see on the inter-webs (side note - why would anyone use the word "internet" when they could say "inter-webs"? so hilarious and not at all grammatically correct. Anyway...). Yesterday I decided it was time I try. So I busted out my tripod and played around. (might I add I had to shut my bedroom door for the right lighting and turn off my fan so my hair wasn't too cray-cray, and I just about melted in the process).

 

I wish I could say I planned it. I didn't. I kind of worked backwards. Truth be told, the original image came from a negative mood that later seemed to turn into something kind of uplifting (to me, anyway). I won't give it any more of a description than that unless someone asks. I wouldn't want anyone to influence what I felt while looking at a photo, so I will stray from doing the same.

I think I'll do many more self-portraits like this. I'm also going to get a library card and read ALL THE BOOKS on surrealism.

Happy Thursday! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL BEST FRIEND SARAH FAIRMAN!

FIN.

Alex Ricci & The Still Nothing release their debut album "Imprints"

On June 20th I got the pleasure of photographing Alex Ricci & The Still Nothing's performance at the eBar in Guelph for the release of their debut album, "Imprints". I had a fantastic time climbing around on the stage and capturing them from all angles, and at times, found myself plesantly singing along to their beautiful sounds ("No Expectations" is my favourite, something about that trumpet just grabs me).

Did I mention how awesome it is that Alex shares the same love for black&white as I do?? Not only did I have a fantastic time shooting these photos, but I learned to overcome some boundaries in editing. I'm not kidding when I say that the red lights in eBar are so bright that it looked like I was shooting on the surface of the sun. But that just made it more fun....

Victor (right) was hiding in the shadows all night... but finally... GOTCHA!

Gotcha here, too.

Couldn't resist my typical foot-setlist shot. I love details, and therefore I love these kinds of shots.

Love that disco ball

 MAKE SURE you check out and 'like' their Facebook Page, or click here to stream Imprints for free and to purchase!

Thanks for having me guys, it was a blast!

FIN.

Emily and Matt are Engaged!

What many would argue is the couple of the century are ENGAGED. Woohoo! I could not be more happy for them. I've known Emily and Matt for a long time, so when I heard the news that they were finally engaged I was super excited.

 

I knew immediately that I wanted to take photos for them, but admittedly, I was nervous to ask. I was worried: What if they want someone with more experience? What if I ask to take photos for them and they don't turn out? What if I'm awkward? (Mind you, I worry about this one every day, so for that to come up was expected) etc. It didn't take me long to realize that these were thoughts everyone gets but with the progress I made in the past few months, I had no reason in the world not to try. Baby steps toward some big future goals that I myself have not even fully developed.

When I got the courage up to write Emily a message offering to do so, I wrote it and then let it sit. Even though they're friends of mine, I was still providing them a service. I wanted to make sure it was just right. I wanted them to be happy and confident choosing me. As it turned out, in the end, I didn't even have to worry. I got a message from Emily asking me to take their engagement photos on the exact same day. She beat me to it. I was so excited I did a little hop and yelled "wooo!" out loud... okay okay, I don't exactly remember doing this, but I would imagine it was something to this effect.

Here are my favourite shots from the day. Maybe we will have another shoot in the future... WITH a rowboat this time. :)

That pesky branch was in the way, but I still love this one!

Just some casual serenading.

Em's a beaut, even out of focus.

I cannot put into words how lucky I feel that I know these two. If there is anything in my life telling me that things are timed out and happen the way they do for a reason, this was it. I hope that everyone can see just how much love these two have for each other, and if you don't believe it from my photos you'll only have to wait 3ish more months until you see it for real! Congratulations Em and Matt! ....and THANK YOU!

FIN.

Nature and Paint

I have this desire to take more photos of people. I often see a lot of the photos in the beautiful outdoors that I take and see how easily (I shouldn't say easily, it's not that simple) I could plop a person in and make it that much more beautiful. I am trying to gear up for my first engagement shoot. EVER. in about a week's time, and it's really helping me to look at some photography blogs that use the outdoors SO well and in ways you might not expect. That's what I'm striving for, and I'm hoping one day my ability to do that will help me stand out and define me in what I capture. After all, it's the little things that count, right? You'd be surprised what sunlight streaming through a couple trees or blades of grass can do to make you love a photo that much more.

That's only slightly unrelated to the photos I have to share today.

Last week I did (and by I did I mean I was present for, and just crept around and took photos of) some attempted paint brush turned-to-finger painting. Fun!

My front yard tree started making it's transition to it's state for the summer! Shedding these beauties and creating a perfect outline for whoever's car was parked there...

Fin.