red tights and blue runners

I don't why, but as I was reading the newspaper, the above image popped into my head, so I went in search for it. This is one of my favourite pictures of myself. On the back in my mom's handwriting is the date, Sunday, April 22 1979. I'll soon be 6 years old. To the left of me are my friends, Jeff and Kim. We're sitting on my front step. I just love what I'm wearing and wonder who dressed me that day. I never wore skirts or dresses unless my mom made me, so I can only assume since it was Sunday, maybe we had returned home from church, and I threw on this sweater to head outdoors for some playing. Kids don't care what they're wearing to play in, it's the parents that pull on the reigns before they get out the door. "You can't wear that outside!" they'll announce.
I think songs, smells and images have the strength to pull us back to a particular time in our lives. Looking at this picture brings back so many memories of that house, our neighbours, our street, and the constant outdoor activity of kids running through yards (there were no fences). I love the kid in this image. She's shy, a fast runner, loves to play and has a great imagination. I know that description fits a lot of kids, but she's special...to me.

what I did today

Recently on another blog it was posted "what I did today". Somehow these kinds of posts can be very comforting. So here's mine (from yesterday).

My shoot scheduled for the day was postponed (sadly their newborn was ill)

- I watched the rest of a movie I didn't stay up to watch the previous night called Michael Clayton (recently I was given a bunch of movies from a friend)
- Spent time on the computer mulling over additional images for my next show (starts March 8th)
- Got my ass kicked playing table tennis with 3 retired old guys
- Read in the sunlight of the afternoon a novel called The Reader
- Went to see the owners of the place where my show is being held to discuss logistics
- Stopped by my folks place for a brief visit and to pick up a print
- Went to a wonderful 90 minute ashtanga yoga class
- Had one of those great belly laughs (that you have to try and suppress b/c you're in the middle of a yoga class) with my friend Siobhan
- Got great take-out from Phnom Phen - #17 - delicious!
- Watched a movie called We Own the Night
- Went to bed

Now it's your turn. I want to hear how you spent your day!

chaturanga!

I like this word 'chaturanga'. It reminds me of a dance. I like saying and hearing it. I also like doing it. What the heck is it you ask? It's a four limb staff pose that strengthens the arms, legs, abs and shoulders, (see above image). It's been part of what has become my regular yoga practice series, and can I tell ya how good I feel?!

I've been practicing 4x a week and the outcome from this makes me feel so strong and supple. Every class has challenging postures that in turn challenge my ego mind to soften. Every new day on the mat is different. Sometimes I can move effortlessly into a posture and others not so much, and you know, it's liberating to just let go of the expectations and accept what is in front of me in that moment. It's these kind of mind/body results that make me ask myself why I ever discontinued my practice in the first place.

my rant

Each week for the past year I sit in meetings with Wolfe Islanders for the Environment (WIRE) discussing wind turbines and get depressed at the state of our situation and here's why:

The entire project of erecting 86 wind turbines within a 6km radius on the western part of Wolfe Island has been completely undemocratic, and there is a mere handful of us trying to fairly find our way through the mess that CREC (the windpower company), our own town council, and our federal and provincial governmental bodies has created by not establishing proper bylaws that protect humans, wildlife and the environment from the potential health and financial problems living with a wind farm can cause.

Provincially the government is not in a position to implement these turbines when issues across the province regarding noise, set backs, shadow flicker, etc., remain unregulated and left at the discretion of municipalities with no guidelines or direction from the province.

Wind farms have proven themselves to be financially wasteful and have shown they do not fulfill their intent to close any coal-fired plants. It's fast becoming an epidemic. Wind plants are now being drawn within a 60km radius of Kingston without any legislation in place to protect us, but to act solely in favour of the 'for profit' developers.

In my opinion there needs to be a moratorium on all projects until all relevant ministries have policies in place that protect and proper guidelines become available.

This all sounds like it should be easy to achieve right? Unfortunately when dealing with a company that is eager to make a profit, they are going to find any loophole in order to speed up the process. Our municipal gov't has a mandate to fulfill its own Green initiative which this turbine project fills nicely thank you very much. WIRE is trying to put on the breaks and fast. The good news is the interest in starting a coalition of small communities that find themselves in the same boat. Power in numbers creates a stronger presence, a unified front that is harder to ignore than a handful of people trying to make a difference. It's time to rally.

new image

There's a new image on my photoblog. Check it out.

the bean has finished roasting

I photographed my first newborn last week. Here he is 8 days old. This experience has left me feeling that I would like to photograph more newborns 'cause they're so easy...at least this little guy was. He slept a lot, was quiet, and let me put him into different positions with nary a peep. They also had a 2 yr. old that was cute, but uncooperative until I was packing up my gear ready to leave. Some photographers are kid whisperers...I think I'm a baby whisperer myself. They don't scare me the way 2-7 yr. olds do. I instinctively know what to do when a baby gets upset, but an indifferent child I barely know worries me. I rarely feel I have the mettle to turn a kid around, but if I do remember to take time out and hang with them without their parents, the outcome usually turns in my favour.

images on my photoblog

Hey folks, there's some new images on my photoblog, so don't forget to check it out and leave comments!! They all don't have to be nice comments, they can be, "I don't get it", or "this sucks."
It's okay, I can take it, but I just may show up at your house in the middle of the night throwing rock filled snowballs at your window.

the impassioned eye

© Henri Cartier-Bresson

I watched this DVD about Henri Cartier-Bresson last night. Interestingly enough it was loaned to me by a woman whose name is Martine Bresson (no relation, but she is from Paris and a photographer).

It was wonderful to see him and so many of his photographs in this piece. He spoke about the geometry of photography and how he takes a picture just to take a picture, nothing more, nothing less. He defined himself as a photographer b/c he took pictures, not b/c they were hung in a gallery or b/c he received fame and accolades.

You can't dispute this man had an eye for seeing, and if you don't agree then watch this dvd. Something happens when you see image after image of his across the screen and you listen to him talk so candidly. His body of work appears effortless. You begin to see that all he has done is capture a moment in time, over and over and over again. The concept sounds simple and he does it so artfully.

Many of his images show intimate moments of people which made me ponder if it's still possible to achieve those kinds of images without being hired by the subject. On this side of the world we seem to covet our privacy and that's probably b/c we have given so much of it away (debit cards, cell phones, utube, email, etc). We are accessible most always, and much of it isn't even human contact. It makes me question what kind of response you would receive from an unsolicited photograph. Perhaps I'll go find the answer.

The above image is taken of the painter Matisse.

hello, you have reached the winter of our discontent

...is how I want I want to answer the phone these days. Woke up to yet another grey, soggy day. sigh. This weather has beaten me down today for it has been several weeks, which has now turned into months, without a full day of sun. I was marooned indoors twice last week b/c of nasty storms and I suppose I'm feeling a bit antsy. My own hibernation is wanting to come to an end.

I recently received an email about a music festival in July which made me sit and think about how that time of year feels. My skin is brown and smells of the sun's heat. It's sunny and so deliciously warm you can sleep under the stars. Ah July, how I yearn for thee!
Wanting to lift my spirits this morning, I inhaled some essential oils and grabbed my pinhole camera to use through the day, and on my way to work was invited to join table tennis (pingpong).
I enjoy pingpong and if I remember correctly, was good at it too. It could very well be the change in my winter agenda that will help me move through these overcast days. I'll keep you posted.

BTW, anyone who can tell me the origin of the title of this post (without googling) will receive a lick and a slap on the ass.

p.s.

You can leave comments on my new photoblog too!
Don't be shy now.

your attention please

Okay kids, I have a new treat. Look to the right and see I've added a new link to my new photoblog. I am going to keep 'the beauty of life' blog in case I just want to ramble on or share something unphoto related, but please use this new link if you don't see anything new posted here, 'kay?
I'm using the photoblog b/c it gives my images the space and size they deserve.
Hope you enjoy!

the green machine

Burlington, Wa is the place of these past 3 images. There are old train tracks just beside this image that run right through the intersection of the main street. I would have liked to spend more time exploring this town, discovering its people and its past. I couldn't help notice there were many more old classic vehicles on the roads on the west coast. Understandably so given the difference in the winter weather from the east. Sure enough I saw a couple I would love to call my own.
I am currently working with the underbelly of PixelPost to use as a better quality forum for my images. Stay tuned.