Snap!

Last week was a tough one. To make a long story short, I got accepted to show in my first ever juried exhibition called Scapes. I had made a blog entry about it earlier in the year, and had had high hopes about getting in. The problem as many of you already know is that my letter of acceptance got emailed to a wrong address and I never found out in time to get my work in the show. I was devastated and a little angry, but it was out of my hands, so I have chosen to move forward......

Tonight I will enter these four shots into a photo competition/auction/charity event called SNAP! I entered four last year as well, but did not make the cut. This event has alot of publicity and is held at the National Ballet School, and is a huge AIDS charity event. I may not make the cut again, but the submission fees will all go to a good cause so it is a win, win situation.

These photos are a first for me in that they have added effects done in post editing. They are all flower pictures taken the other day at Allan Gardens.

Wish me luck....

pedestrian..

I am usually a pedestrian, and actually take pride in the fact I love to walk all over this city. Granted, if I felt safer on these streets I would be a bicyclist as well. But I digress. Usually while walking through the city streets and parks it is the non human things that I notice. The textures, patterns, colours of common and often overlooked or unnoticed objects. Occasionally, as has been the case this past week, I happen to include pedestrians in my shots. I don't know what it is, but something about their pose, or their outfits, or the entire scene gives me the urge to capture the moment. I have two faux paintings in my apartment that are what I refer to as Motel Art. They are scenes of  busy streetscapes probably in Europe and they are full of pedestrians, but yet they almost seem blurred, and there are no fine details. I love them. And when I am out, and working on this new series I have these "paintings" in mind. I found these "painting" in a junk shop. Goes to show you can be inspired by another's trash.

The first image is a shot of my inspirational "paintings"...

strength from within..

Another day off, and another overcast one at that. Now many of you mourn the loss of the sun, but as you  may know, I love taking shots on overcast days. So I grabbed the camera, bundled up, and headed out to take some more shots for 'kaleidoscape". I didn't get as many as I had hoped, but there where a few winners from the bunch.

This one was one of my favorites. To me it feels like there is an energy from within his torso and it is radiating out, or giving him strength. I am sure we can all relate to days where we have to draw from an inner strength in order to cope or succeed at the task at hand.

The statue by the way, is the one standing in front of Union Station on Front Street. One of my favorite pieces of public art.

kaleidoscape

Did you know I am an avid reader? As I read the words on a page describing the places or spaces that the novel takes place in I tend to lose my train of thought and drift into a dreamlike state. I have traveled little, but in my mind I have gone to many places full of great history, stories, and fascinating people. It is with this mindset that I have taken on this new series of blurred, dreamlike pictures. You aren't supposed to be able to see the fine details, but rather feel like you are a viewer into my mind; my dreams. I will leave it up to you to imagine the sounds that go with the images. The murmur of people, horns of cars, the bells of churches, and the wheels on the trolleys. Welcome to my dreams. Welcome to Kaleidoscape.

charcoal..

Just sharing a photo I happen to enjoy that reminds me of a charcoal sketch. I'm drawn to the pattern and smudging of the lines which of course are branches reflected off of a creeks surface in High Park.

Many thanks to those of you who visited my last entry, and then gave me comments. critiques, and your pick to help me determine which image to submit for the exhibition I am attempting to enter. I couldn't make this work without your help and support, so I sincerely give you all my thanks. 

Landscapes..

I am not sure if I have ever posted two days in a row before, but meh, it is a New Year, fresh beginnings, and I'm feeling like sharing....  :)

This is a series of shots I've recently taken again using different exposures and zoom techniques to create blurred or dream like qualities. Instead of surface reflections on water, these ones are landscapes. High Park tends to be my usual setting as it has all different types of terrain to utilize, but I am hoping to venture to other wooded areas, or natural settings. 

Enjoy..

(After some thought, I think one or two might be re-posts. Guess I am drawn to those ones.)

untitled..

Happy New Year!

Now that the frantic pace of Christmas is a thing of the past, I found a fairly mild day to unwind and go for a photo shoot to continue working on collecting shots for another series. Submission season has started and the other day I sent my first package of the year with shots from the Surface Deep collection. I am slowly moving my focus back on land and trying things with landscapes and more specifically at the moment with trees.

I really enjoy the dream or trance like feel to these, or as some have joked, the 'drunk' like state. I am also thrilled with the multi layer effect some of these shots have. They are not for everyone, but for myself, what I am most proud of is that these are all 'as is' photos and done only with the camera and not with any photoshop or 'trickery' in post production.

By the way, I may be doing another show at Olivia's at Fifty Three, the restaurant I showed my work in last year, and also donated my charity piece to. I also have the show booked in May at the Runnymede library here in Toronto, so mark that on your calender!!