It might appear as if I was in hibernation mode all winter but in fact, I wasn’t. I’ve somewhat became a handyman for most winter doing plumbing, flooring etc… to make room for the new member of the family, see : http://blog.micael.ca/archives/267.
There are times were you need to prioritize things you wouldn’t feel like doing vs. things you would want to do, like shooting. Aside from shooting for various clients, it was barely possible to find the time to do my own photography. If I had an hour or so to spare, me and my wife would go out for dinner or relax, and to be clear, this is something I enjoy. I mean, shooting is my passion but love comes first.
Last year, around the same period I had spent part of the day in an old abandoned house, see : http://blog.micael.ca/archives/203
The house was able to withstand another cold icy Canadian winter so I venture once more, this time with a model. I need to give credit to my mom who kindly made the remark that it would be a good location for a photo shoot. Never before I had shot a model in such a decrepit house.
Those were all shot with one flash off-camera with a shoot thru umbrella about 2-3 feet away from the model. Here are a few from the photo shoot.
Shot thru broken glass window.
Last week we had an activity at work and we had the luxury to choose where we wanted to go, my pick was easy, a walk at Daily Point. It’s been almost two months since my last “personal” shooting but I have an excuse, we are currently renovating the house so it has kept me pretty busy but my motivation towards photography is always there are times in your like were need to find your priority. Initially, our only intention was to renovation one room in the basement to move my office downstairs so we could make room for the baby but after all that brainstorming we thought we’d be better of re-doing the whole basement which I’m working on at the moment.
My little walk at Daily Point was great, after all a snowstorm aftermath always make great pictures, plus the light conditions were great around diner time with warm low light filtering thru the tall trees with little branches peaking out of the snow enjoying the last glimpse of light while they still can.
On a side note, I’d like to thank those who visit my blog, when this blog was created 2 years ago I barely had 60 viewers per month. This has since changed and the traffic has impressively increased over those two years has the average is up to 456 unique visitor per month. Thanks again for viewing/reading/commenting on my blog, it’s greatly appreciated.
Listening to songs by Tricot Machine on my way to the Acadian Village, I must say it was a bit disappointed to be in such a great venue with gusting wind and pouring rain. That’s why you should never think about scenarios on how you would like things to happen or where to shoot in order to get the desired shot. There was one thing I was hoping for and that was the cooperation of the bride and groom. I must say thew both blew me away with their open mind and willingness to do or try things.
Some might give the photographer full credit for the image created, to me I might have taken the shot but after all it’s the people in the shot that make it look stunning. Even if you have all you can imagine to create a stellar shot, if your model don’t cooperate it will be hard to accomplish such image. Thanks for this wonderful day and here’s few images.
Under the covered bridge
At the Gas Station
For at least a year now I had mark October 9th on my calendar, it was Isabelle and Rémi wedding day, a couple I met for the first time while chatting over an espresso at the Mosaique Café Galerie Boutique in Moncton, we had a great time and not long after I was booked. The venue was at the Memramcook Resort, and exactly four years ago I was at the same location with my wife on our honeymoon road trip, we had visited Monument Lefebvre National Historic Site of Canada on a raining day. There’s no need to say I had been praying for “No Rain” for that day and true enough… we only witness a few water drop, one for which I was able to capture.
Water Drop ripple
It was one of my busiest weekend has I had 2 weddings back to back, after the wedding at the Memramcook Resort I left for Moncton where I “tried” to get some sleep and be in shape for the next day. “Please Note : If you really want to sleep well in Moncton, make sure your room isn’t facing Main St.”
Last weekend I shoot Mikael and Melissa’s Wedding in Campbellton, what a great time I had shooting. They were so cooperative and open minded with the ideas I shared with them, that always makes things easier. I also have to mention Sylvain and Rémi who gave me a hand on several occasion holding up the reflector since it was a bright warm sunny day. Melissa and Mikael, I wish you all the best and thanks again for this wonderful day.
Here’s a sneak peak of a few shots I’ve came across while downloading the few hundred shots taken on 12/09/2009.
The bride
And Groom
Cette année, fut la première à laquelle j’ai eu la chance de voir de mes yeux la fierté des Acadiens et Acadiennes. Il m’est impossible de décrire en quelques mots cette grande fête qui rassemble tant d’Acadiens. Caraquet est une ville qui détient un cachet spécial et les gens qui y vivent sont accueillants et chaleureux, ce qui en fait une ville très agréable à visiter. Festival ou non, Caraquet est un endroit où l’on aime bien aller visiter de temps en temps. La route du littoral acadien est superbe avec ses beaux paysages, que ce soit à Pokeshaw avec son île aux oiseaux ou Grande-Anse avec ses plages et falaises impressionnantes. Ils nous est impossible de passer à Caraquet sans faire un arrêt à la boulangerie Grains de folie et un petit souper au Mitchan Sushi lorsque le temps nous le permet.
Cette année, avec le Congrès mondiale acadien, Caraquet était d’autant plus vivante avec beaucoup de divertissements à différents endroits tels le violon fantastique qui s’est déroulé à la place du vieux couvent de Caraquet. Il est évident que cette année le tintamarre du 15 août qui se déroule entre 18h et 19h suite au son de cloche de l’Église Sainte-Pierre-aux-Liens ne pouvait passer inaperçu. Avec plus de 50 000 personnes présentes pour démontrer qu’encore une fois les Acadiens sont bien vivants et là pour rester. Lili Tintamarre escorté de musiciens y à fait sa première apparition, une géante d’environ 20 pieds de haut dessiné et construit par l’artiste Bernard Dugas et sa soeur Pauline.
Lili Tintamarre créer par Bernard Dugas et sa soeur Pauline
Environ 50 000 personnes ont assister au tintamarre de Caraquet
Lézardom Labo lors du tintamarre
If you ever go to Halifax, you should plan on being there on a Saturday to get the chance to wonder around the the Halifax Farmers Market. It’s the oldest operating farmers market and by far one one my favorite market, you can almost everything you’d be looking from fresh flowers to pottery while having local play guitar or the violin. It’s open year round from 7am till 1pm and located in the old historic Keith’s Brewery Building downtown Halifax. You can easily spend 1h exploring the market, there are lots of different section each of them different from the others.
On a side note, if you’re planning a trip to Halifax, make sure to visit Nova Scotia’s Official Tourism Website to plan your trip, a few highlights downtown Halifax is the visit of the Old Historic Keith’s Brewery, the Public Gardens and while you’re at the door of the largest port in Atlantic Canada why not hop on a sailboat for the evening.
Entrance of the Halifax Farmers Market
Fresh flower area, Halifax Farmers Market
Yes I know, I know, I was inactive for most part of summer with my blog, although I must say we’ve been traveling, hiking and enjoying summer to the fullest. In July the weather was not cooperative but it did not stop us from climbing the northern terminus of the Appalachian trail, Mount Kathadin with an elevation of 5, 268 feet. Last time we had tried to climb it without any luck, we went back in July, it was foggy/rainny but able to hike with precaution has there was a chance of thunder/lightning. Once at the top it was pretty exciting but we’ll climb it again, I sure hope so anyway. I’d like to be able to witness the beautiful scenery of a clear sky day.
Plateau at about 4,300 feet, Mount Kathadin
A few weeks later, me an my wife decided that on our vacation week we’d hike Mount Carleton which is relatively small compared to the previous mountain I had made. Mount Carleton is still one of the highlights of the Canadian portion of the International Appalachian Trail and the highest elevation in New-Brunswick with 2, 690 feet. The day started with the same foggy weather, we took the short way up to mountain and had lunch in the old fire tower. I knew the weather forecast was good before we left so we decided to wait until the fog would lift. We waited about an hour for it to clear up but it was worth it.
View from top of Mount Carleton toward Bathurst Lake, Park NB
Which will be the next one you might think, I still have to discuss with my wife but I’d love to do Mount Jacques Cartier, which is one of the Moutains of Chic-Chocs located in the central Gaspé Peninsula.
Spring is almost over and I was only able to enjoy one evening outside to relax without having to worry about time. Flowers are starting to bloom while some are dancing in the wind with their striking colors and vibrant green foliage. What I intended on capturing with my digital camera that night was movement. How could I accomplish this task around 7pm at night when light isn’t an issue, I could’ve added a polarizer, set my ISO and Aperture to the lowest and use a slow shutter speed but I wanted to try something else.
There are things we tend to forget, it’s always good to try and think outside the box, it can sometime create the most artistic shot and you’ll learn from it. For this one I’ve used the in camera multiple exposure setting, about 8 shots were taken. After looking at my Summer Snow Spirea for a few minutes, I’ve notice that everything was almost moving in the same direction in circles everytime the wind would blow. Here’s a shot done after a few try.
Down the Spirea (Multiple exposure, 8 shots done in Camera)
People usually try to avoid it around sunrise/sunset or even at night but it during that time that the scenery strikes you. I’ve driven on many road in NB and I consider this one to be the best, but the road condition are in bad shape. Driving that road you’re 100% sure to see wildlife so driving carefully is a must. I took it earlier this week, heading toward Edmundston on Sunday night I was in a hurry to get home before dark and missed most of the magic light but I knew I’d be taking the same road to come back home around the same time.
On Monday the weather was really cold for the month of May, wind was blowing with lots of cloud. The light was peaking thru the big white clouds at times but it wasn’t lasting very long before it became overcast again. I’ve stopped the car to one of my most favorite spot on that road and waited for that newly grown green weed be lighten up.
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