This was another one of those great shoots. I had free reign to move through NAITs Productivity and Innovation Centre for Kerr Interior
Lying on my back in the middle of the floor. Rolling around on the ground. I love my job.
Kerr did the walls (curved walls are a lot harder than you think), and the baffling on the ceiling.
If you know of any construction businesses that would like to document the work they do, please pass my name onto them!
This was one of my favourite shoots ever.
Barrhead Museum has an old map they wanted photographed as they are restoring it. It is a bit of a hike from Edmonton to Barrhead, so I suggested that to make it worth their while, I could photograph some of the museum’s artifacts while I was there.
This was all entirely selfish. I am one of those geeky people who gets in trouble for touching things I am not supposed to. Occasionally I drool as I am staring intently at an object while I wonder who used it, and how many hands touched it before it wound up in front of me (just kidding about that part!) I love history and was thrilled to to this shoot.
This museum is worth the trip. While the building itself is small, the artifacts are meticulously displayed by theme. For example there is a “smoke shop” area; a war area, police artifacts and an amazing taxidermy display, amoung others.
A First Nations fishing basket, with quill work. Restoration work done.
Copper pan in the midst of being restored
Vegetable food grinder. (I’ve seen meat grinders but never for vegetables)
Xray machine
Violin (I believe from the 1700s)
Grain mill
Its fascinating to me that this is in a museum. It makes me feel old!
Telephone exchange
This display is amazing. I am no fan of big game hunting – my thoughts: “if you kill it, you eat it.” (something I have said to small boys throwing rocks at seagulls, on more than one occasion). But, this collection was donated to the museum, and its really impressive. I never thought I would get to photograph a zebra or a warthog, or a cheetah!
The museum is open May to September, but if you are up there outside of those months, they may open by appointment.
This was the most stellar fall I think I have ever seen in Edmonton.
I am generally not a fall scenery photographer type person, but this year the colours were spectacular.
I love that I found these maple leaves in rainbow colours!
We don’t often get a good display of reds in fall here in Edmonton (I know, because on the family photography side of my business, I need to keep track of what is turning and when) but this year, I think the long cool fall, rather than a freezing cold snap, let the trees change colour more slowly. These trees are stunning.
This summer was a bit of a whirlwind. I was being treated for breast cancer over the summer and was working full time as well. (By the way, I absolutely recommend you check into your disability insurance. I can hook you up with someone who is wonderful at this. I certainly wish I would have got on it sooner, because working while dealing with a health crisis is a bit tricky!)
That is why I have not been posting, but here are a few of my favourites.
Carolynne Melnyk is one of my favourite subjects. She is so joyful and enthusiastic. We headed out to the Devon Botanical Gardens on a smokey summer day and got these lovely shots. You can see more of what Carolynne does here: www.livinglifeinjoy.com
Karen Gregory is a psychologist who works mostly with children, and her dog Ben helps them out. Karen Gregory
This year in my community, we’ve had a wonderful addition – Norwood Dental
Dr. William Chin and his partner Amanda Neilsen have fully integrated themselves into the community, participating in everything from arts festivals to community leagues. I’ve worked with them over the summer to create a library of photos. They are incredibly welcoming and kind, and strive to make dental care a comfortable experience.
This is Amanda, and the team.
Dave Wolger and Dustin Beech are two Edmonton real estate agents who are teaming together to create Beech Woolger Realty.
Dave found me through my page on Instagram and wanted to do non-standard branding headshots for their new venture together – and am I ever glad they did!
Their new page with lifestyle photos for their real estate business is coming soon, but for now you can check them out on Instagram or Facebook at @dustinbeechrealestate and @realtordavewoolger
Thank you for trusting me and co-creating with me. I had so much fun on this shoot.
An update – as its ages since I posted!
The lunar eclipse in Edmonton. This did not turn out the way I had hoped – but it was a great learning experience. I knew (intellectually) that you can get compression with a long lens, but to get those cool photos where the moon is as big as the subject – well, the moon actually has to be as big as downtown. To get that photo, I would have had to go to Sherwood Park, I think.
But it was a super fun adventure getting up at 5:30 am with my stepdaughter on a freezing cold (-22C) morning in January. We weren’t the only lunatics trying to get a photo. There was a tiny traffic jam at McNally school at 6 am.
In these literal (and metaphorical) dark days – I am always chasing the light and the colour. This winter has been gorgeous in terms of light.
One of the other awesome things about photographing in winter is you only have to wait until 4:30 for twilight to get awesome house photos. Doesn’t this one look like you want to come home to it? $379,900 – 4613 160 Ave NW. Drop me a line if you want me to put you in touch with the realtor.
I am a firm believer in investing early and investing what you can. (have you read The Wealthy Barber?)
Melanie Wade with www.claytonfinancial.com works with families and individuals who want to invest but either don’t have a lot of money or know where to start. If you want to start saving for the long term (or even the short term) and have a limited budget give me a shout and I can connect you with Melanie. And she is a ton of fun.
Before becoming a photographer I studied microbiology and international development at the University of Alberta . One of the stories that always stuck with me was how during the green revolution, development workers gave a bunch of tractors to men in developing countries. They 1. completely neglected the fact that women in these countries did most of the farming and 2. there was little access to gas or spare parts. Then the aid workers were all miffed to see the tractors rusting in the fields and blamed it on the “lazy” locals.
Any development or aid HAS to be appropriate. It has to work locally, be useful and in places where access to technology is limited (either because of finances or geography) it has to make sense.
When I heard about @luckyironfish I thought it was one of the most brilliant inventions ever. 40% of women in the world have anemia About 20% of maternal deaths are from anemia. When you cook with this fish, it saves lives by providing iron – and potentially millions of them.
I bought this @earthsgeneralstore and was so happy to see that our family’s purchase will help another family get a fish in their pot.
And now, we are onto February!
This is Bill.
Bill fixes stuff.
Bill will do your gardening.
Bill loves working with seniors.
Bill is great.
Get ahold of Bill here:
https://willnightingaleblog.wordpress.com/
I had the pleasure of photographing the Pilgims Hospice Sunflower Luncheon event at the Hotel MacDonald a few weeks ago.
If you don’t know about Pilgrims Hospice, go and check them out. They are an amazing organisation which provides services for people who are facing a terminal illness, and people who are facing grief. At the luncheon, a teacher from a local highschool talked about the amazing services that the Pilgrims Hospice provides to their students who are experiencing loss.
This amazing organisation is doing a rather brilliant fundraiser right now.
You can find out more info here: Build a Community of Compassion: Pilgrims Hospice
And onto the photos . . .
You can find Anna’s work here: https://prairiepomes.com/
Anna has been a constant in Alberta Avenue for over 10 years – she was one of the first people I met when I moved there.
She is fascinating and engaging, throws a mean Robbie Burns party (and serves haggis!), loves the outdoors (we worked on the greening project at Norwood School together) and is a wonderful poet.
I love the light in this photo – Anna’s backyard.
With Anna being an artist, I knew we had to get in some art in the background. We are both in love with the panels at the Royal Alberta Museum by Ernistine Tahedl. When Anna showed up with a red dress, I knew we had to include them in her portraits.
Sativa Group reached out to do some more product photography for their online shop. They have wonderful products you can find here: http://sativagroup.ca/
If you have an online shop – using professional product photography makes the fabulous product you make more likely to sell!
