colleen leonard photography

Keeping it real

2011-12-17T23:40:00.003+01:00

Zen Puddle - chosen for the 2012 publication
Open to Interpretation: Water's Edge

I don't know about you, but this year has gone by WAY too fast. Yesterday I had to stop and think if my show at Mysteria gallery was THIS year or last year? It was this year...but it seems so far away now. I learned a lot from doing a solo show and had some hard bumps and some big highs.

There are moments of doubt along the way, everyone has them, but we don't talk about them much on Facebook and Twitter. This year has been a year of reflecting and questioning why I do this, who I am doing it for, and could I live without doing this...? It's the end of the year, a time to do the books, and I decided to make my last blog post about keeping it real.
So this is me doing that.

Thank you

thank you

to everyone who supports me in the possibility

to everyone who helps me in the realizing

to everyone who shows up (physically and virtually)
to celebrate successes
and to get me through the failures

to you brilliant collectors - thank you for allowing me to continue

AND

thank you to the

commenters

clickers

likers

and

sharers!

There are moments of big doubt, moments when I wonder if I have the courage and the energy to continue never knowing where it is all going and absolutely knowing the places that it isn't going. But then there are the other moments when you get a phone call out of nowhere from a collector who can't forget your work and it has spoke to them and stayed with them and the "unknowing" takes me to a place of real humility and gratitude.

It is easy to forget why I started. It certainly wasn't for fame, fortune or Facebook fans! It was because I couldn't imagine NOT making images. The fact that some of you out there like them, choose to live with them, and connect with them is just my very good fortune. So thank you.

OH! and thank you to the 10 people who read this blog! ; )
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Breathe

2011-08-31T01:00:00.003+02:00

Cape Enrage, New Brunswick

“All my life one of my greatest desires has been to travel-to see and touch unknown countries, to swim in unknown seas, to circle the globe, observing new lands, seas, people, and ideas with insatiable appetite, to see everything for the first time and for the last time, casting a slow, prolonged glance, then to close my eyes and feel the riches deposit themselves inside me calmly or stormily according to their pleasure, until time passes them at last through its fine sieve, straining the quintessence out of all the joys and sorrows.”

Nikos Kazantzakis
passed on from
Crashingly Beautiful

Rapture

2011-05-26T04:09:00.001+02:00

Oka © colleenleonard 2011

Rapture
1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy.
2. An expression of ecstatic feeling. Often used in the plural.
3. The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven.

The end didn't come, but we thought about it. Since I'm far from my family the only other place I wanted to be was in the forest. There is one part of Oka National Park that reminds me of the end of the world; ghosts of trees in a barren wasteland. This is the one place I photograph the most there, and this Holga panorama is from an April trip when the ground was halfway between ice and mud.

A One Way Street

2011-05-01T22:10:00.000+02:00

As the NDP rides a wave of popularity in Quebec and the Bloc rallies their sovereigntist troops I found this sign politically poignant (translation below). What do you think Madame Paillé?

English translation: One way eastbound from May 14 2011

The Road Not Taken

2011-04-23T03:16:00.000+02:00

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Parlons Election

2011-04-15T01:55:00.000+02:00

Treats from the Terroir Project Part 2

2011-04-12T17:09:00.003+02:00

My second school for the Treats from the Terroir Project was Royal Vale in Montréal. Their class was a real treat for me: dynamic, creative, and fun to work with they pulled out all the stops and created some magazine worthy images (which you'll have to buy the book to see) and inventive writings. They chose to visit Pearson Culinary School and were treated like royalty there. All of the dishes that the students saw being prepared were used that day to serve breakfast in the school's dining area. We were all treated to a multi-course breakfast.

The project has wrapped up now and I am looking forward to seeing all the kids from both schools in Montreal at the end of April for the book launch.
If you missed Part 1 with Onslow School just follow this link!

Cabane du Pic Bois / Woodpecker Cabin

2011-04-01T17:51:00.004+02:00

UPDATE!! The colour of the syrup depends on the outside temperature. Cold weather means lighter syrup and warm weather means dark syrup. Interesting, n'est-ce pas?

Our little Cabane à Sucre / Sugar Shack excursion this year with Aurélie and Alice who I met at Paris 8. They are both doing an exchange with universities in Quebec, Concordia and UQAM.

#2 on La Presse's list of 10 best Sugar Shacks in Quebec, hmmm, our visit last year to #5 (Millette) was way more fun, we felt like we were stepping back in time and the food was better too. Check out last year's visit and decide for yourself...look at the difference in the colour of the two syrups!

This is such a pretty area in the Eastern Townships! We took a little walk near the slopes of Sutton and there were still skiers enjoying the sun and the last (I hope!) snow.

Alice au pays du sucre


Aurélie et Alice trying to get that drop!

Aurélie

Maple Sugar High

2011-03-30T05:43:00.000+02:00

Too much maple syrup?

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For the LOVE of Hitomi

2011-03-20T20:15:00.001+01:00

Most of you know that I spent 2 years teaching with JET in Japan and while I was there I was introduced to Hitomi. She got me through the bad times and she was beside me for many of the good times. She was my best friend in Japan and she has become a friend for life. But I am not the only one who has this story. Hitomi has helped so many ESL teachers and showed them the very best of Japan and also listened when they were frustrated or just needed a friend.

So I know I am not alone when I feel like in this catastrophic time for Japan I want to give something back. Hitomi is fine, but I have been searching for a way to give back and also searching for a personal way to honour Hitomi and all the other Japanese people who touched my life. I hope if you know me, if you know Hitomi, if you know Japan, or if you know an ESL teacher you will consider donating something to this cause.

All the proceeds go directly to Shelter Box. ShelterBox provide emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items. A whole box costs $1,000 (US) and I am hoping that we can raise enough for at least one box.

I was just one person in Japan, but since meeting her, Hitomi has touched the lives of my family, my friends and many others around the world. I hope you will help me honour her and honour all the other "Hitomis" in Japan.

I have started the donations and I hope that all my friends and family in Saskatchewan and around the world will help me send one box.

Thank you. (Isn't the internet kind of amazing?)

Treats from the Terroir Project

2011-03-09T22:33:00.001+01:00

Since November, I have been participating in Blue Metropolis Foundation educational project called Treats from the Terroir. A food writer and a photographer were teamed up with an anglophone classroom in Quebec to explore the idea of terroir and to pick a food producer to visit, write about and photograph.

The students' will get to see their work in a book published by the Foundation during the Literary Festival.

It has been rewarding and I am sad to see it come to a finish. I worked with 2 classes, a grade 3/4 class at Onslow Elementary school in Quyon, QC and a junior highschool class from Montreal. Both classrooms came back with some dynamite images but, of course, you'll have to buy the book to see them! Here are a few outtakes of my own from the Onslow school's visit to a cider mill (minus the kids' faces of course because of model releases, but trust me they were there!)

Onslow School in Quyon, QC

Food writer and musician Barry Lazar

The Cider Mill

A Montréal Winter

2011-03-07T13:00:00.000+01:00

It is hard to believe that we arrived in Montréal exactly one year ago February 28th. It has gone by so fast and has had its highs and lows, but mostly highs. We are grateful that our first winter was a gentle one and free of ice storms. We are still constantly discovering the city and the smaller towns nearby and haven't really ventured too far in Quebec yet. Here are some Holga images from a skating day in the park. We hadn't skated since the day Dimitri asked me to marry him 7 years ago. We were a little rusty and I was really glad to have just brought my plastic camera!

Moving Land Exhibition Part 2

2011-02-27T23:08:00.000+01:00

Thanks to everyone who came out on such a sunny February day to the opening of the exhibition! It was nice to see so many familiar faces and so many friends that I haven't seen for such a long time. The exhibition will be at Mysteria until April 2nd, 2011 so you still have lots of time to pop in and see it.

The gallery is closed on Sunday and Monday during their winter hours.

The exhibition space is on the 2nd floor, but you will find a few of my Polaroid emulsion lifts down below.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book of the series it is only available on Blurb.

Here are a few images taken by Vienna DiRuscio ( a fantastic wedding and pin up photographer in Regina) during the opening. Enjoy!

All images © Vienna DiRuscio

A Laurentides weekend of snowshoes, skis and sun!

2011-02-07T01:11:00.000+01:00

I had no idea it was so hard to photograph and cross country ski. Luckily I discovered that I always fall on my face in cross country! I have decided that snowshoes are my sport! All these images were taken snowshoeing the first day at Parc Dufresne. The wall of ice was the highlight of the afternoon. Fantastic trails and perfect for beginners like us. A wood fire, a chalet and a raclette made this our perfect Valentine's weekend. Oh, it's not Valentine's yet?

all images © colleenleonard 2011

Moving Land Exhibition

2011-02-04T16:13:00.001+01:00

It seems like a lifetime ago that Mysteria Gallery proposed an exhibition of these works and it is really happening. I remember showing Marlo images that I had just finished shooting and hadn't even edited yet! It was a hard decision for me to make, unbelievably, because of the idea of it, my nerves, insecurity and the costs. But when I went back to see the gallery last September I could see the images on their walls and the decision seemed clear. I still needed the push of a couple friends though and the logistic know-how of my colleagues at work.

It has been a huge learning experience and I don't know if I want to do many more exhibitions that involve shipping from province to province!! But this is where the images belong, they were born out of Saskatchewan and I think their vibrant colours will be good February medicine!

I will be there for the opening reception and I hope to see you there if you can make it!

New Polaroid Works

2011-01-16T19:23:00.003+01:00

These new polaroid transfers are tinged with sadness...my last box of 669...and as always I had to roll with the punches. It's been a long time since I had used the Daylab and I had lost my touch un peu. The rollers were a bit cruddy and so the first polaroid got stuck. Which meant I had to take out the pack to clean the rollers, which meant I had to risk losing one or two polaroids to light exposure, which meant despite a concentrated effort at being zen I spent a lot of time cursing myself! In the end there were 4 wasted as I put in the rollers backwards...doh! The last 6 worked and I am happy with the results....and I will be watching ebay to get my hands on perhaps just one more box.
These will be available exclusively at Mysteria Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan.

I have been trying the new Impossible film for image transfers but I didn't take to it like the old polaroids. And I just don't like the way it holds to the paper either. I haven't scanned my trials yet but I will put them up soon, it works nothing like Polaroid 669 or 690 with emulsion transfers. It is much more delicate and difficult to separate from the emulsion. In any case, I am not very good at it.

Squeezing the max out of 2010

2010-12-31T22:38:00.002+01:00

Resolution for 2011: Shoot more Impossible Film

Reasons:

1. I still suck at exposing them.

2. They're magic when they work.

3. It makes people curious. Curiosity makes total strangers friends.

4. People love getting their photo taken with them. And love getting an image to take home even

more.

5. I feel like a pioneer and a magician and a child.

6. Strange beautiful things happen when you are out with a polaroid camera.

Like my dark slide below.

It's a little bit mystic for the last day of 2010.


© colleen leonard 2010

Holga Stream

2010-12-11T19:04:00.001+01:00

Autumn Walk: Parc National d'Oka

2010-10-24T19:42:00.002+02:00

"...At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost."
— Rainer Maria Rilke

Click on the images below for a larger popup version or click on the icon to view in full browser.

Back to basics...

2010-10-19T23:55:00.002+02:00

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park© colleenleonard 2010

Sometimes it is just nice to get back to basics and shoot with the Holga. Something always goes wrong and I almost always have to improvise and that is all part of the fun. My foam inserts inside fell out after years of use and the first time it got stuck in the film so I just pulled it out completely and now I tuck little pieces of cardboard under the film rolls to keep them in place. I just bought some weather stripping though and I am going to try that. Because when I was shooting these two rolls the film came loose and because it wasn't tight the focus isn't great (even for a Holga) and there was some light leak. But not much considering how loose the rolls were and how many months they were in my jacket pocket. You can see the worst light leak in the image of the bench in the slideshow...but I like the result! Hey, that's the beauty of shooting Holga, you always end up with a new definition of beauty.

Here's a few images that did turn out, I would say a third are keepers usually. Most of my throwaways this time are because of really wonky focus. I used a neutral density filter with texture too. And the first 3 are from Parc Mont Tremblant in Quebec, the rest are from Yoho, and the very last is from Saskatchewan.
You can click on the images below for a larger version or click on the icon to view in full browser.

Wise women: Agnes Martin and Elisabeth Gilbert

2010-10-03T23:53:00.000+02:00

When I was in Paris someone told me about the writings of Agnes Martin and since then I have been hunting her words. The rarity and price of her Writings makes me feel a little like Santiago from Coehlo's The Alchemist. I should just buy it, but that storybook part of me is waiting for it to come to ME. When the time is right it will be there.
She reminds me so much of my grandmother that it hurts.

via Crashingly Beautiful

Her words about inspiration reminded me of this TED video of Elisabeth Gilbert on the idea of genius. Super fun to watch and full of genius itself...try to forget that there was ever a movie...

The in between time

2010-10-02T00:26:00.001+02:00

Thanks to my new rubber boots (that were a godsend in Yoho) I went shooting in the ditches of Moose Jaw between wedding formals and reception.

Played around with some new textures that I found at Jessica Drossin's site via EW Couture Collection via...I forget. There are 3 fun and affordable sets and Jessica's site is full of inspiration!

All the images have layered textures and I have adjusted the hues, saturation and opacity on most of them too, to fit the image.

Et voilà! The Elaine Fleck Gallery Catalog

2010-09-13T01:00:00.000+02:00

©S.Vote, NYC Taxi No. 6

Follow the link to view the Fall 2010 catalog. I am really really happy to be part of this group and really excited to have my work get a little exposure in Toronto. There is a lot happening in photography in Toronto and I loved the vibe during the Contact Festival which is when I visited the gallery, got a really good feeling from the works there and had the pleasure to meet Elaine Fleck herself and Gary Ray Rush, the director and photographer as well. Enjoy the catalog! You can find my works on page 23.

Today I am in love with Tokihiro Sato

2010-09-10T15:48:00.003+02:00

We have been exploring the lakes and forests of Quebec and there are moments when we are overcome and have to stop and catch our breath and just be still. Sato's work reminds me of that feeling I get in nature ... a reminder of the spirit of the world. A feeling that there is a mystery, a secret life within the roots and rocks and dark places. The way Sato creates the lights is even more magical. He moves around the scene using a mirror to reflect sunlight back into the camera during his long exposures. You can see more of his work here as well as his lightbox installations. I would love to see them illuminated!

#389 Kamaiso, 1999
Black and white transparency over lightbox
image 38.5 x 47.25 inches/lightbox 41 x 50 inches

Shirakami #10, 2008
Gelatin silver print
20 x 24 inches (paper), 16-7/8 x 21-1/8 inches (image), 24-1/2 x 29 inches (framed)
Courtesy of Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects

On a little island in Indonesia we were walking along the path that ran between the beach and the bungalows and suddenly stopped because the stars had fallen from the sky and landed on the sand. The whole beach was twinkling in the night and it was magnificent. (We later found out it was glow in the dark coral that had washed to shore) This image reminds me of that moment.

#352 Kashimagawa, 1998
Black and white transparency over light panel
image: 20 x 24 inches/frame: 22 x 26 inches

More images and explanation of his work here.
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I'm back and I brought my Polaroid.

2010-08-06T01:59:00.001+02:00

July was crazy. FIMA was amazing. Nevermind the heatwave and the weather report telling us to stay indoors or die a hot death, artists lined the streets in Montréal's village and had a great time. I volunteered the first 3 days and I got to know the wonderful people that make up the FIMA organization. For me personally, it was a great way to meet Montréalers, other artists and see how people would respond to the series Moving Land. The response was overwhelming and I am looking forward to our life in Montréal. Sold some pieces which made the whole festival even better!

We are settling in and I am looking for work so if I haven't been blogging lately that is the main reason. But all job searching and no play makes Colleen a dull girl. We enjoyed all the free entertainment during the Jazz festival, the Formula 1, and took in a few shows during the Just for Laughs festival. The finale was amazing...better than the Cirque du Soleil I might add (may be struck down in Québec for saying that)! Went to the Kahnawake pow wow and had buffalo burgers, tried a Brazilian restaurant, the most amazing Mexican taco place on earth, and quite possibly the chicest and most authentic Japanese restaurant in Montréal (thanks Hitomi!). Meeting old friends and new, but it hasn't been all pleasure, we have been stripping paint, staining, sanding and fixing up our new home.

Kahnawake Pow wow

Cirque du Soleil

Dimitri, Hitomi, Norma, and Me

And I finally broke down and bought some new Polaroid film! I have to admit that it was the IMPOSSIBLE team's PIONEER program that made me decide to go for it. Um, what would you do if someone asked you if you would like to make history? Who can say no? So I am all stocked on the new PX70, First Flush and Silver Shade. Just took my first colour polaroid with the PX70 and I will give you all the details soon!

Today I am in love with Denise Grünstein

2010-07-05T00:42:00.001+02:00

Just stumbled on the work of photographer Denise Grünstein thanks to the lovely blog of Luke Storms from Toronto. It is a real gem of images and inspiration and reflection and I know I will be spending many happy moments there. I found it by "chance" while looking for more info on Agnes Martin. I am suffering from a case of butterflies because tomorrow I am showing new work in Montréal for the first time and I needed a little inner calm...

"Dear Prudence" Galleri Martensson & Persson Bastad 2008

©Denise Grünstein

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And the winner is...

2010-06-30T23:09:00.000+02:00

Boris Troha!! Congrats and I can't wait to see what you pick! Thanks so much to everyone else for all the lovely comments! I hope you have a wonderful trip to Paris Kate!

By the way, I used the Random Integer Generator online to pick the winner...it's pretty cool.

P is for Pont

2010-06-26T16:23:00.010+02:00


©colleenleonard 2010

Here is the last image in the Paris print giveaway. Leave a comment here or on facebook or just simply click the like button and you will be entered in the draw on June 30th. Bonne chance! Have a great weekend!

Today I am in love with Antonio Martinez

2010-06-23T18:23:00.001+02:00

Thanks to Brie Castell for the facebook heads up!

Near the Egress from antonio martinez on Vimeo.

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P is for Poetry and Patisserie

2010-06-23T16:27:00.004+02:00

All time favourite food in France: Patisserie. What can make perfect desserts even better? Scrumptious bite size versions!! What could be better than a box full of miniature éclairs, tarts and millefeuilles? Rien. Je te jure. C'est le paradis sucré.

So technically these SX-70 were taken in Versailles not Paris. And these are giant macarons, not miniature. I loved walking down the street and Victor Hugo appearing like magic on the sidewalk. I miss using my SX 70 and never knowing what colours I would get. Anybody got some old packs to send my way?

Merci beaucoup for all the comments so far! One more week left until I make the draw and I have a few more prints to add before June 30th.

Paris walks..Les Tuileries, Place Vendome et La Seine

2010-06-20T02:45:00.002+02:00

©colleenleonard 2010

Les Parisiens

2010-06-15T23:03:00.000+02:00


©colleenleonard 2010

©colleenleonard 2010

"In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French;

I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language" — Mark Twain

Taken on top of the Notre Dame Cathedral with my Holga! Love these little ghouls! So Paris.

Check out the details below to win a print of your choice from Paris from now until the end of June!

P is for Polaroid, Paris, and posies

2010-06-14T23:47:00.004+02:00

©colleenleonard 2010

Another print for the Paris giveaway!
This SX-70 was taken somewhere near the Gare de Montparnasse when SX-70 could still be bought
(and I still hadn't gained weight from French cheese and pastries) !
Check out the details below to win a print of your choice from Paris!
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Last night in Paris Contest

2010-06-14T01:23:00.011+02:00

A friend of a friend, Kate Schutz (a painter) contacted me recently because she wanted to know some secrets of Paris (and she thought I still lived there! lol) So I have been reminiscing and found these images that I took on our last night in Paris in February.

What did you do on your last night in Paris...keep it clean folks. Tell me and win the print of your choice.
If you haven't been, what have you always dreamed of doing? What's your favourite bistro?
Favourite Paris/Europe/Travel story?
Leave a comment and win a print! But it must be taken in Paris so you can pick from the images or other prints on the blog or my site that have been taken in Paris.

You can leave your comments until June 30th, 2010. And I will be adding a few other pics week by week here for you to pick from. So keep checking back. I'm feeling generous ; )

Check out Kate's blog HERE

Goethe for Angelica

2010-05-24T19:08:00.005+02:00

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation).

There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.

A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.

Wedding Jitters!

2010-05-07T20:39:00.000+02:00

Getting my stuff together tonight for my first wedding tomorrow in Montréal. I am getting really excited and nervous to be shooting for an agency for the first time and in a brand new city (and did I mention in another language!?). I am definitely getting out of my comfort zone...which is always good. I am shooting for Studio 55 and tomorrow I will be training with the owner Pat, who is great, and I know I am going to learn a lot from him. I will just be shooting and the retouching goes to the retouchers, the book design goes to the designers etc. etc. So that means I won't be able to show you my images but I thought I could share my experience online as a studio shooter, since it is new to me too, and let you in on some of the good, bad and ugly moments!

So what am I doing to get ready? Well, I have super comfortable, quite ugly shoes...but I can slip in and out of them easily which is nice because since I am short I often hop up on the bed or a chair during the getting ready session. I invested in a beautiful uniform that I will wear for each wedding...I hate to worry about what to wear....so a great black blouse and slacks that I can move in and don't have to fuss with. No worrying about the low rise slacks going too low or my black hole of cleavage distracting the wedding party...Anyway let's hope so! Tomorrow is the test and I will let you know if there are any rips, trips or showing slips!

And of course my gear is ready, all my lenses are dusted and cleaned, the body shimmers, the cards are emptied and ready and the batteries are charged! New batteries for the flash, but for the camera I decided to buy extra batteries instead of buying a battery pack because I just don't like the extra weight. I find that after 10 hours of shooting my fingers start to tingle already. I know that some people equate this little piece of machinery with pros but these people probably have never held it for 10 hours or have huge GMO hands.

I also stuck in my Tide pen (for little upsets that could happen...don't want a stain on the dress before the wedding), a package of Kleenex for any tears, lens cleaner, and a granola bar (for me just in case). I am probably forgetting something. What do you never go without, wedding photographers out there?

I try to keep it light but I always have a couple lenses and an extra body...but this time I discovered that my extra body is still in our shipping container! Yikes. I am also going to try to do more shooting with my 50mm as it opens up to 1.8 and I have been shooting with it a lot and LOVE it. They say that the 50mm is the closest lens to the way human eye sees.

Oh yeah, and an umbrella, because apparently it is going to rain tomorrow! It's a big Italian wedding and should be a great party! Wish me luck and check in later to see how it went!

Black Magic Boxes

2010-05-04T10:17:00.000+02:00

The best surprise. Just walking along Ossington and found the Meta Gallery in what used to be a garage. Fantastic space. And I don't know what to say about the artist Wayne Martin Belger: genius, avant garde, mad as a hatter, way more evolved than any of us... It was one of those moments that you just feel art taking it to the next level. For each project he creates a 4x5 pinhole camera that also contains objects, souvenirs, momentos, living matter that have significance to the final images. While I was in my albumen workshop Pam went to the artist talk and she can't stop talking about it. I think she should marry him and then I can come live with them in the desert and be in his presence too. His grandfather invented the jet engine, his father invented (something like) the laminator...some people are just blessed with genius. It was like the first time I saw Joel Peter Witkin's images or Joseph Cornell's boxes. Can you even imagine making our own 4x5 cameras??

This camera contains an infant heart. Isn't this image amazing? He explained during the talk how he has procured these questionable objects and they just seem to fall in his lap. No dodginess here.

A tibetan skull....

The camera uses the HIV positive blood from his best friend and the images are people who are living with HIV.

The only underwater pinhole 4x5 camera IN THE WORLD!!

Can you see the dragon fly in the bottom right corner?

This one is a little mind blowing. The world's first transparent pinhole X-ray camera...hmm...it photographs X-rays with a particle accelerator.
From his website:
The Divine Proportion camera is a lead glass encased pinhole camera, specifically designed to capture on film the scatter from the impact of a high intensity X-ray beam on sculptures representing creation and destruction. The sculptures will be selected based on iconic figures of creation and destruction from the region in which the particle accelerator is located.

If you are in Toronto you should really take a look:
Photographic journey from destruction through creation
April 30 - May 30, 2010
Meta Gallery
124 Ossington Ave
Toronto, ON, Canada
p.416 955 0500
e.info@metagallery.com
http://www.metagallery.com/
In conjunction with Contact Photography Festival

Egg whites=more than meringue!

2010-05-03T23:13:00.004+02:00

Albumen printing has had me curious for quite awhile (like years...slow and steady...)so when I saw that there was a workshop during my short Toronto trip I decided to go for it(finally)... What I like about it so much is that most of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen...except the silver nitrate. The instructor was Amanda Rataj, who was featured twice recently in Photo Ed, and as well as bringing her super stinky, super moldy egg white mix for us to use she treated us to her poppy-seed lemon cake as well...welcome to Canada...love it. I love discovering and using things like pyrex bowls, handmade papers and kitchen utensils in the photographic process.

We picked some paper, coated it with the egg white mix, let it dry, coated it with the silver nitrate mixture (using gloves and goggles) let it dry again and then we were good to go.

You can see the bubbles here from an uneven albumen coating.

There were 4 of us and everybody brought something different to print with so the results were pretty cool. Heather had picked up some antique glass negatives at a flea market, Hugh used some leaves, and Stacy had some raw files printed onto acetate and I brought the only black and white 4x5 negs I have. We used fantastic wooden contact printers that you could open up to check the negs without separating the paper and the neg too much. The albumen process only works with UV light, so we could have printed outside but we used the light box in the studio. My negs weren't the best to start with, it is better to have denser, more contrasty ones but Amanda suggested adding a mylar paper to the printing and that seemed to help the contrast but it also increased the exposure time so each print took 25 minutes to print and I think I could have gone longer. I can't imagine dodging and burning with a process like this so it is better to just start with a good neg, a good exposure and pre-visualize your print while you are shooting.

Left to right: 2nd test strip with Mylar (3min increments),
1st test strip without Mylar, print with a 15 min exposure and I could have gone longer.

I think that the contact prints Hugh made with the leaves turned out the best, they were really simple and had beautiful tones of brown. Heather's glass negs were fantastic too and she walked away with an amazing print but it took 1hour to expose! When exposing it was better to go a stop or a stop and a half darker because the fix lightened the print considerably.

So now, I am wishing I lived in Toronto and could join Gallery 44 and do some more of their cool historic process workshops. That will be my new mission in Montréal and motivation to get back to Toronto for another visit!

CONTACT! All aboard!

2010-04-30T17:17:00.017+02:00

Well, unfortunately I won't look as sophisticated as this for my second train ride in Canada, but it feels this exciting and nostalgic! I can't wait to look out the window and watch Canada go by! It's a 5 hr trip and I decided to take in the Contact photography festival in Toronto and get in some girlfriend time too.
My list is long but I know I won't see everything.

My Top 5

1.In Her Presence: Selected Photographs by Women from the Mira Godard Research Centre, Ryerson University
2.You May Feel Something
3.Photographic Works from the Gallery Collection Tarek Aboushakka, Claudette Abrams, Michael Kenna, Christopher Makos, Paul Solberg, Donald Sultan, Edward Weston
4.Louis Helbig Lecture
5.Clement Cheroux - Photographs of Thoughts, An Alphabet of Invisible Rays

Cherry trees in bloom (fingers crossed), brunch with the girls, and discovering Toronto! Take it away Joni! This song feels eerily spot on...Joni is just like that...

New Works

2010-04-21T17:00:00.008+02:00

When I was in Saskatchewan I contacted a few galleries to show my work. This is always hard for me because I feel a bit like an art imposter. But I have built up all this work and it can't just sit in a drawer, so I have to put on my suit of shiny, sticks-and-stones armour and trot it out to the public. It was the second time I had made an appointment at Assiniboia Gallery and the owner, Mary Wiebe, is always so wonderful. Lots of practical business tips and addresses in Saskatchewan and a good eye.

This time I contacted Mysteria Gallery on 13th for the first time and fell in love! It is artist run by Marlo Gebhardt and Chad Jacklin and full of treasures in every corner. Luckily, the feeling was mutual and I am really excited (and nervous) to be sending her some work. It is my first experience like this so I am really worried about forgetting something, looking like an idiot...I could go on and on. But it is so nice to find a gallery in Regina that accepts photography as art works. And even nicer to work with someone like Marlo.

The prints above are being pressed as I type. They are Polaroid emulsion transfers on Arches Watercolour paper and each one is a unique piece (1/1). It is really hard to part with them too (especially this one, which is my favourite) because Polaroid doesn't make this film anymore and so these really will be my last. I have ONE more box left and it is sitting patiently in the fridge waiting for a special project.

I just finished printing these yesterday and I will be sending them off to Mysteria as well. Hahnemuhle just brought out beautiful 4x6" cards with rounded edges, that come in this fab little tin. I will be selling the prints individually and you can collect your favourites (or all of them, gasp!) They are an open edition, but each one is individually signed.

I haven't decided yet if I will offer these online on ETSY, and I would love your input!

You've got mail.

2010-04-12T14:18:00.008+02:00

Who doesn't love getting mail? Real mail, I mean. I used to write letters like it was going out of style. Do you still write letters?

I love picking out a beautiful paper and a really good pen, the sound of the pen scratching the surface and picking out a beautiful stamp at the post office. I don't get to pick out the stamp very often anymore though, but I still prefer going to the post office myself and getting to know my postal ladies and sirs! Product of a small town I guess.

So I am super excited to finally be doing notecards and photocards on ETSY that you can pass on to people you love, mail, or frame.
Big thanks to everybody who left a note on facebook to win the first set of cards! The winner is Autumn Gossen and I am very excited to make a trip to the post office for you! I may even pick out a special stamp!

Embracing My Inner Tourist: Mile end, beets and bagels

2010-04-12T04:41:00.020+02:00

We love the Mile End neighbourhood of Montreal and wanted to find an apartment there, sadly we didn't but that doesn't stop us from exploring! Food! We had lunch at this amazing little soup place, they only served 3 soups and 3 sandwiches. I love making soup and Dimitri and I always dream of opening up a little soup shop everytime we eat somewhere like this! My egg sandwich on ciabatta was amazing. The parsley was so fresh and peppery that I am going to put parsley in all my sandwiches from now on. Love this neighbourhood on Sunday because it is full of Jewish families dressed up in hats and suits out for a stroll. The bagels and restaurant are on St. Viateur street. Nearby on Bernard O. is my favourite furniture shop ever, Style Labo. Everything looks like it came out of a photographer/scientist's lab/ mechanic's garage. Love the feeling that there is an atelier around every corner here.

Grandpa vs. Clint Eastwood

2010-04-06T19:22:00.004+02:00

I entered this photo of my grandpa in the PDN contest today. Last day to enter and I just saw it by accident.

I think it would be amazing if he could get more votes than Clint Eastwood, don't you?!
Clint has 18 at the moment. So go vote for my grandpa and let's whoop Clint's butt!

Go here to vote!

Seeds

2010-04-05T22:40:00.009+02:00

I have been working on an artist's statement recently because I decided to jump right in and enter the Festival Montréal en Arts (FIMA). All applications are on a first come first serve basis but are selected so I may not be accepted, but it is always a worthwhile exercise.

While I was researching writing an artist's statement I found the work of Frank Grisdale. I am always a bit relieved whenever I see something of my work in another artist's work. To me it means that I might have tapped into something in the collective, maybe I am not the first one to do it, but I am not on the wrong path either. Every once in awhile I decide to contact a well known photographer, and once in awhile they reply. So I emailed Mr. Grisdale and when I explained what I was doing this is the advice he had for me:

"I think the hardest thing to do is edit your work – and being aggressive about it. Be careful to only show those images that are perfect, rather than close enough.

The more aggressive you are with showing only the stellar images, the more likely you are to be taken serious by those looking closely. It’s always a sign of a rookie newbie when there are too many photos of one theme. Think about the ones that you said wow to yourself when you saw them vs. the others that you said, yes, this is in the right ballpark. Show the wows, file away the others, make them ask for more and you can show those interested the rest on request.

It's like FIMA – you can only show 6 for a reason – it shows that you have mastered the craft and understand how and why if you can show 6 and make a statement. Make a statement with each portfolio, by just showing the wows. Everyone has too much work. Few can show the short list only. Those who can are appreciated for being able to feature them clearly."

Good advice, huh? He also suggested consulting the work of Jack Spencer and I would recommend reading his notes section and if you scroll down to the bottom you will find a link to his artist's statement which is great reading. It is always amazing to me when pros take the time to share with aspiring photographers. Thanks to Mr. Grisdale for allowing me to quote him.

So, my application is in the mail, I whittled my images down to 6 with a 5 line artist's statement and now I cross my fingers! But even if I am not selected, I know my work better now and I am ready for the next time!

Behind the scenes: Polaroid Transfers

2010-04-02T00:50:00.004+02:00

I thought I'd put up this little tutorial this week to accompany the article that I wrote for Reportages.fr. David Roudier contacted me sometime in January and gave me carte blanche to contribute whatever I wanted. I had just finished the series of Japan Polaroid transfers with the guidance of Sandrine Bailly and so I thought it would be nice to publish some images that had never been seen before.

While I was working on the images I decided to photograph the process, which took place in my teeny tiny kitchen in Versailles, so that I could pass it on to you on the blog. I hope you like it, try it, can still find Polaroids and can avoid some of the mistakes I made along the way! These images were made using Polaroid 669 and Polaroid 125i. 125i is very yellow (see the image above) and while it gives crisper more contrasty images, I prefer the soft muted tones of 669. 669 can also be used for emulsion lifts (which I am just starting again this month so look for the tutorial) but 125i cannot. I tried even though I read that it wouldn't work...and it doesn't.

What I use: a Daylab to create the polaroids (I also use a Polaroid Land Camera too), Polaroid 669 or 125i, watercolour papers like Arches or Rives BFK that I have pre-hand cut, a roller, a timer, scissors, scotch tape to keep the print firmly in place on the daylab, 2 trays: one to warm (with hot water and aluminum) and the other is a vinegar bath to help the colour stay (1:5), the glass board to have a surface to work on under water and support the polaroids, and my Brita so that I have filtered water. Nothing fancy but it all works! The polaroids slip into the slot on the top right of the machine and the print (about 4x6) gets placed on the plastic window. You can see behind the plastic surface a tiny slot for inserting colour filters, but I never have liked the effect and don't use them.

So once the print is on the glass, place the black cover over top to block out any light. The white numbered tab (1-10) should be showing because this is what you will be pulling out to develop the polaroid. I set my timer for 4 minutes because it gives me an idea during the whole process of how much time I have left.
From start to finish the process takes me about 4-5 minutes, which is why I am anal about getting my workstation all set up in advance.

Set your exposure with the dial in the centre, this will depend on the print you have chosen and the effect you are looking for with the polaroid. Play around at first and do some testing to see what you like best. Count on wasting some polaroids at first. Press on the print button to expose the polaroid and when you are ready, pull out the white tab evenly and smoothly to develop the polaroid. Before I pull out the polaroid I make sure I have my watercolour paper ready and waiting, and my scissors next to me because the polaroid only needs 10-20s to develop before it must be transferred onto paper.

The development time depends on the freshness of the polaroids and the temperature of the polaroids. Read the development times on the box for different temperatures but at room temperature I have found 10s to be perfect for my 669's but I had to develop from 20-30s for the 125i. As soon as I pull out the polaroid I cut the tab off so that I can separate the polaroid evenly by pulling apart the two sides. As soon as it is pulled apart (and this can be messy, try not to pull at an angle, I pull straight away from the middle) transfer the "negative" polaroid side onto the support paper. The damper the paper, the softer and more painterly the image. I like more contrast and sharpness so I usually wet my papers before I begin printing so that they are just slightly damp by the time I use them to transfer.

On the left you can see the negative side and on the right is the positive. This polaroid was exposed too long (so that I could photograph) and so the positive is quite well developed. This won't make a very good transfer as you will see soon. The ideal positive will be faint and slightly sepia coloured because all the information will still be in the negative.

So once you have positioned your polaroid on the paper, use the side of your hand or a roller or whatever works to press the transfer onto the surface. I have found that if I leave the transfer on a warm surface it is much more successful, but not too warm or it will dry out the paper and cook the negative onto it! I have done that too!

Here is the second polaroid that I made of the same image and you can see the difference in the "positive". The second image is very faint and will make a much stronger transfer.

After about 2 minutes the polaroid negative can be gently pulled off. And you can see here that it was developed for too long and the transfer is very faint. After the polaroid is pulled off, place the paper in the vinegar bath for a minute. I keep the temperature of the bath on the warm side because I sometimes like to gently remove chemistry with my fingers. This probably isn't healthy. Use gloves! But it helps to remove stains that you can't remove later.

You can see the difference between the two transfers above left and middle. The one on the left was developed too long and the one on the right is better. These were done with 125i and you can see the yellow tones.

After the colours have set in the bath I rinse off the transfer gently under cold water and then place it in a dust-free environment to dry. Drying depends on the environment, and Versailles was very humid so it usually took a day and a half. In Canada, with central heating, maybe 5 minutes, lol!

So that's all there is to a Polaroid transfer, if you have any questions or have problems while trying it, send me an email and I'll be glad to help. Emulsion lifts are fun too and I will post a tutorial on that in the next month of two.
Some Polaroid links:
Polanoid for inspiration and community
Alternative Photography for more in depth info and tutorials
Holly Dupré a fantastic downloadable online resource FREE!
The Impossible Project for supplies and wishlists!

OPRAH will feature my prints next month is O Magazine! (it's past noon but I'm no fool)

2010-04-01T10:00:00.003+02:00

Poisson d'avril! April Fool's Day!

I wish!

In France for April Fool's Day they pin a little fish on your back as a practical joke (I never really got the joke). In our family April Fool's Day was serious business and I am looking forward to being in (almost) the same time zone as my father so that I can get in a practical joke this year, because in North America if you play a joke after noon then you are the fool!

At the Sugar Shack

2010-03-24T13:38:00.056+01:00

We wanted to take a day off of house/car/job hunting and get out of Montréal last Saturday so we decided to drive to Millette and go visit the cabane à sucre there that is listed in the Lonely Planet guide. It was awesome!

In 8th grade (give or take a year) we did a school trip to the French department at the University of Regina and I remember learning about maple syrup and dreaming about going to Quebec and visiting a cabane à sucre in the country. So when we walked into the gorgeous wood cabin filled with people laughing, drinking, dressed in traditional costumes, and the sounds of traditional Quebec country music I was in heaven! I told my husband that I had been dreaming about this since I was 14! Thanks Mrs. Peterson!

It was an all you can eat brunch and we started off with a glass of vin d'érable to wash down the pea soup and fresh bread and pâté. I think there was even maple syrup in the pâté.
So much food. A huge omelet, scrunchies (which I think are pigs' ears) sausages, beans, potatoes and the most delicious pickled onions we have ever tasted!
And of course maple syrup! For dessert there were 2 types of crêpes, buckwheat (galette in France) and plain with the most delicious sauce I have ever tasted! Dangerous. Sucre à la créme. And a tarte à la créme that I am going to try to forget about because it was like a slice of dieter's hell.

After all this, a walk was in order and we stopped for a dégustation de la tire d'érable sur la neige. (Note the flannel!)

We weren't far from Mont Tremblant so we went for a little road trip to the ski station and all the way to Lac Supérieur. Dimitri saw a deer which was good because I am getting tired of him shouting "Un écureuil!" (A squirrel!) There was still snow, skiers, lakes, rivers, mountains and wood cabins you dream about. We can't wait for next winter now!

Can't wait til the Big Day!

2010-03-18T17:21:00.012+01:00

I am so glad spring is here and cold days like these are gone! Travis and Michelle were terrific despite their freezing fingers and toes! Their lips were warm and the cold temps kept them snuggled up for the entire hour!

Can't wait 'til September, these two are so laid back!
She is going to be a beautiful bride and I can't wait to see the park in the fall!

©2010 colleen leonard

Jaysus, Mary and Joseph! Happy St. Paddy's!

2010-03-17T17:06:00.006+01:00

Something green for you! Do you remember the green milkshakes at McDonald's? Do they still have them? I might just check it out today. Nothing green to wear as most everything we own is in a shipping container! Will have to have a green beer if they don't still have milkshakes! My husband will be repulsed, ha ha! Should I tell him it is chemical colour ; ) ??

Did you know...Colleen means Irish girl, the St. Patrick's Day parade in Montreal has been running since 1824, and my Aunt Donna was onced kicked in the leg by a leprechaun (she denies it now but I swear she told me that when I was little).

New Blurb Book Widgets! Cool.

2010-03-15T19:31:00.010+01:00

I am testing the new Blurb BookShow™ widget. What do you think?
I want to see if I can use it to promote other people's books too. But here is mine to start!

Little Town on the Prairies Softcover by Colleen Leonard

Les Roses

2010-03-07T07:52:00.004+01:00

Sandrine Bailly's new book Les Roses came out February 25th and I was so excited to find it in Paris before we left! When I asked at the bookstore if they had it, they knew who she was immediately because they had picked her last book Une Saison au Japon as their Coup de Coeur.
(It was the little bookstore on Faubourg St. Antoine near the Bastille with the blue awning)

I knew it would be beautiful but I was really looking forward to seeing the images that were printed on vellum paper. The book designer did a fantastic job, and I love the relationships she found between the designs and images that include Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt, Steichen, William Morris, Seamus Ryan, Jen Gotch (mon coup de coeur), Sandra Arduini, Traci French and Yoshie Nishikawa.

©2010 colleen leonard
clockwise from top left: cover, vellum chapter page, detail of pages from
Pink chapter (both images © colleen leonard), detail of chapters by colours

It's a beautifully quiet stroll through the symbolism of roses by colour, and again Sandrine has chosen a surprising and breathtaking collection of images from the history of art, design and photography.

It will be available in Canada in French on April 1st here.

Versailles Photographié 1850-2010

2010-03-06T20:30:00.012+01:00

One of the last things we wanted to do before leaving Versailles was to visit the park one last time. We lived right next door for almost 6 years and over those 6 years I spent many many days photographing the park, the changing seasons, and its flora. Our last visit to the Chateau and the park coincided (a little eerily) with a photographic exhibition Versailles photogra phié 1850-2010. For me it was a wonderful way to close a chapter, and also reassuring to see I had unknowingly been following in the footsteps (or clicks) of many of history's greatest image makers.

The exhibition is a little expensive at 15 euros (maybe free for students), but worth every centime, and as always we were surprised to have once again seen something new. Even after 6 years of visiting the Chateau and its park we always seemed to discover something new. This time it was the Galérie de Batailles which has been reopened and is just magnificent, and it reminded me of the Louvre.

The exhibition was as much a history of photography as a history of the Chateau:Niepce, Lartigue, Bresson, Atget, Man Ray, Maar, Kertesz, Kenna, Leibowitz. The only criticism of the exhibition I had was the fact that they had included Lagerfeld. I don't understand how they could in good conscience place his images in such reputable company. He is not a photographer in my opinion, although he has the money and connections to have great prints and previous exhibitions in the Chateau (which was also questionable), including him is just a publicity stunt or a name-dropping if you will. Yes, I was, and obviously still am, disgusted. But Lagerfeld aside, the collection of images is an incredible education in the history of photography, the history of the chateau, and the history of print making. It was such a pleasure to see the range of images from silver base black and white prints, albumen prints, stereoscopic images, autochromes, c-prints, all the way to the Annie Leibovitz's Hahnemuhle prints.

There is a great video of the exhibition Youtube (in French with English subtitles) if you won't be able to get to Versailles before April 25th.
And enjoy some of my forbidden images (I always find the forbidding of taking photos of photos ironic) that I snapped with my husband's wonderful little Kodak!

This was probably my last exhibition in France for a long time and it was a completely fitting and moving experience that brought my years there full circle.

A Canadian Family

2010-03-05T17:07:00.007+01:00

In all the hustle and bustle of moving from France to Canada I forgot to tell you about the March edition of Canadian Living. It's a substantial little article on the town of Ogema where I grew up in Saskatchewan and how it is trying to survive. I was surprised when Yvonne Acton phoned to tell me that their family portrait that I had taken in 2009 would be featured in the article! I have been photographing the Acton family for a few years and it is always a fun time! I love their farm for shoots and you can't ask for cuter kids! We didn't know if this shoot would happen because the weather was crazy but we managed to get it done, in between hail storms!

I always prefer shooting with dramatic skies and I loved that they all wore their rubber boots! You can see more of the shots from that day here and you can sign up to join my facebook group if you aren't a member already.

I am planning to be back in Saskatchewan now for a few weeks in September so if you are interested in having family portraits on your farm or at your home email me at colleenleonardphotography@gmail.com for prices and appointments.

My favourite photos of 2009

2010-02-17T22:40:00.003+01:00

This photo of my Grandpa taken in the summer of 2009 is my absolute favourite image of the year. 4x5, in the field and even though I told him not to dress up he wore his fancy suspenders.

♥Happy Love Day♥

2010-02-13T15:45:00.012+01:00

Les amoureux de la Bastilles. 1957 © Willy Ronis/ Agence Rapho
Le Nu Provençal, Gordes, 1949 © Willy Ronis/ Agence Rapho

There really isn't anywhere more romantic than Paris is there? If there is....tell me please! I'll never forget the first time we stayed in a little boutique hotel in Montmartre and got lost in the little streets until we happened to find what is still my favourite bar in Paris, Le Rendez-vous des amis. I wanted to include the second image because it is the photographer's wife and I was really lucky to hear him in 2008 explain the place, the moment, and his wife and it was truly an image full of love.

Chagall, Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel

I went to my first Chagall exhibition in 2000, in Kyoto, Japan and when I saw this I thought that this is what marriage should be. And years later, I find myself living in France and married to a Frenchman, bizarre, n'est-ce pas?

In 1991 my mom gave me my first photo book for Christmas, A nnie Leibovitz Photographs 1970-1990, with this cover image of Yoko and John taken just hours before he was shot. What a love story.

Hope you have a lovely Valentine's...and that it lasts longer than one day!

The Impossible Project!

2010-02-09T13:54:00.003+01:00

Roses are...

2010-02-07T18:00:00.034+01:00

Valentine's is coming and I thought I would dedicate this post to 2 fabulous women that I met in Paris. In 2008 I met Nathalie at Paris 8 ( a mom, a superwoman, and social butterfly extraordinaire), and over coffee one day she was telling us about her superwoman of a copine, Sandrine, who was finishing up a book on Japan. I joked that I had lots of images from my time there and the rest is history....
Nathalie is one of those people for whom nothing is impossible. She loves people and putting the right ones together to make things happen.

Sandrine helped me navigate the world of publishing, inspired me, pushed me and amazed me raising 4 kids (who are extremely cute and polite...yes, the french are annoying that way...beauty AND manners) and continued to come up with new personal projects every week. I am really looking forward to seeing her last project with La Martinière, Les Roses, in print. And I can't wait to see what she has planned next.

Sandrine at the Librairie Nouvelle

I was thrilled to contribute to Une Saison au Japon and Les Roses. I know that sometimes people turn their noses up at flower shots, but take a look at these....if Steichen and Adams did it...

From left to right:
Edward Steichen, Heavy Roses, 1914,© Estate of Edward Steichen
Lili Roze, From the series Bondage, © Lili Roze
Tina Modotti, Roses, 1925
Ernst Haas, Rose, 1970, © Ernst Haas

♥Hearts for Haiti♥

2010-01-31T07:01:00.008+01:00

Hearts for Haiti is a cool, caring, community collective of ETSY shops that have joined forces to raise money for Haiti. All the sellers have donated their items and free shipping and so far they have raised almost $24,000!!! 100% of the proceeds go towards DoctorsWithoutBorders.

I needed to do something so I donated this new triptych of hearts! It's a 4x12" print on matte paper and all the production costs and shipping costs are taken care of by me! So if you have been thinking about buying something for the first time on ETSY and thinking about donating again (or for the first time) now is a great moment! Get a photo, a piece of jewellery, something to decorate your house or you and donate to a great cause!

For shopping go here
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartsforHaiti
and for information check out their blog or facebook page:
http://etsyforhaiti.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/heartsforhaiti

I ♥ Bokeh 〜 for Jill

2010-01-29T04:56:00.013+01:00

I am thankful for the opportunity of "life" in general.

I'm thankful for the everything I've been given or that I have earned thus far. The travels I've been able to complete. The experiences - emotions - I'm thankful for all of it good or bad (because it means I'm alive.) My family; the people and animals I have met, especially my dog, Buster.

Buster is not just our "pet" or our "dog" ...... he's truly a family member to us. He greets us at the door when we arrive home with a wagging tail, slobbery kisses & finishes with a heavy lean into us (to prompt us for a deserved pet or scratch.)

He teaches me something new everyday and reminds me each day to slow down, be patient and enjoy the simple things in life.
He came to our little family of two, almost three years ago. Buster is our pet, our dog; but, he's also our boy, our baby, our friend. I feel honoured and thankful that our paths have crossed and he's in my life.

- Jill A. Lanigan

I have had this image in my mind for a long time for you Jill. I wanted to create something unique in response to your wonderful comment.

With everything that has, and is still, happening in Haiti we can't all help but be thankful for what we all take for granted every day. The past weekend I was in Ogema on my parents' farm and for the first time in years we experienced a nasty blizzard and a power outage that lasted several days. We were lucky and had a propane heater to keep us warm, barrels of water, fondue pots....and an old fashioned can-opener. After the first day of no phone, no hot water, no electricity, no internet, and no tv, we were all thrilled when my dad remembered the battery operated radio! It was obvious how dependent we have become on technology and that we just are not self sufficient or prepared anymore. It was a real wake up call.

It was a reminder too, for me, of the power of mother nature and the other side of her beauty. The snow did stop, the electricity and phone did come back on, we still had our home, no one was hurt, and we got a little reminder of how lucky we are.

And despite the -35°C temperatures I still think Mother Nature is bloody beautiful...

p.s. the hearts are done in camera...no photoshopping...cross my heart!

Sneak peek!

2010-01-14T04:48:00.007+01:00

Here are a few brand new images from my series Moving Land I can't wait to print them! There is such beautiful movement in the fields and the trees, it looks like brush strokes. Gonna print these babies BIG!

Things you don't learn in photography school

2010-01-10T18:32:00.018+01:00

Thanks to Twitter I discovered this great blog today that is full of short helpful articles for anyone interested in photography. I love this list that they have put together of photography tips that they don't teach in photography school! There are lot of things to think about here, and I would also add something that I DID learn in photography school: Photography is sometimes more about problem solving than taking great images. (Paul Austring)
What's the best advice you've ever got??? or could give???

My personal favourites are number 3, 4, and 14.
You may agree or disagree with some of them depending on your personal experience but I think there is a little something for everyone here, and of course, a list like this applies to more fields than just photography!

Click on the title links for their explanations.

Photography tips they don't teach in photography school (1-3)
1. You don't yet know that you don't know...
2. Very few companies employ photographers.
3. Be aware of "happy accidents" in your photographs.

Photography tips they don't teach in photography school (4-6)
4. You're probably not as good a photographer as you think.
5. You'll need to reinvent yourself several times before your photography career is over
6. Don't burn bridges, the photography community is a small one.

Photography tips they don't teach in photography school (7-9)
7. It's okay to imitate good photography
8. Pictures are good for one (or more of four reasons)
9. The art students in school may end up being your photography clients some day, so be nice to them.

Photography tips they don't teach in photography school (10-12)
10. You can learn by posing photography models at the mall
11. Professional Photography is not a 9-5 job
12. It's harder to find new clients than it is to keep old ones.

Photography tips they don't teach in photography school (13-15)
13. You'll need to start out your professional photography career as a generalist.
14. You can improve by looking at photos rather than photographing.
15. Success as a professional is as much about marketing as it is about photography.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2010-01-07T20:25:00.017+01:00

I just find the idea of winter weddings so romantic...the temperatures, well, not so much. Maybe it's because I grew up going through my mom and dad's December wedding photos. Dimitri and I were married in the winter too, just after Valentine's Day, so I always love looking at other people's special touches for their winter wedding. Here are some of my favourite things from ETSY for winter weddings, and if you're like me and do your wedding last minute (I bought my dress in December and the sales ladies thought I was nuts) you still have time to add some special touches! Just click on the images and voila! you're there. Something warm and fuzzy for -36°.

If a picture is worth a 1000 words, how much does a corrupted CD go for?

2010-01-03T04:09:00.014+01:00

I was talking to someone recently about her family photographs and she told me about a friend of hers who asked why in the world she would want to print 400 photos, which had built up on memory cards over 5 years, or why anyone would even need them. 400 does seem like a lot but it really is just a drop in the bucket of a lifetime of images, especially in the lifetimes of children born in the digital age. This Christmas we celebrated my mom and dad's 40th anniversary and we were sure happy to have lots of family albums to go through when we decided to make a slideshow of their life together. I don't know if I would have wanted to go through millions of images on CDs, hard drives, or (god forbid) memory cards (there are people that do that)...I don't know if in 40 years those would even work anymore anyway. I don't know about you, but I have CDs from 4 years ago that are already corrupted, I have dropped hard drives, and I have lost images because of deleting in a fit of stupidity...so it still seems like a pretty good idea to keep photo albums.
Will these prints last 100 years like my grandma's? We'll see I guess, but I hope that my nieces and nephews will be able to look back at their baby photos that were printed at the beginning of the digital age on crappy paper with crappy inks. You have to admit though that it would be a lot easier to grab a few hard drives or a laptop rather than your photo albums while running from a fire!
When we were watching the slideshow at the party it was clear why I am a photographer, why photographs are important to me and why someone would take the time to print 5 years of photos: we want to be able to look back on our 40th wedding anniversary at all the moments that have led us there and we want our story to be told. Being a photographer means being a tiny part of telling other people's stories and that is such a gift.

My summer

2009-12-16T15:37:00.007+01:00

I spent all September entering contests and it feels like a relief that it wasn't totally in vain. Personally I don't think this was the best image I entered, but judging images is so subjective. Contests are a good way to learn how to edit, especially when you pay for each image you enter! But this contest, I have to admit, I entered because I really really really wanted one of the top 3 prizes! Beautiful Manfrotto tripods! But, ahem you can see the little bitty one I won (in the top right corner) as one of the top 10! It is a pretty cool piece of machinery but I now need a tiny camera to use it with!

The first time I entered one of the magazine's contests I got my name published in the top 20. This time I am in the top 10 and got my image in, so I guess I am making progress.
Sometimes I have days when I wonder if it is worthwhile continuing to photograph, if I have a voice as a photographer, and if one more image in the world even matters. I know I will spend a lifetime doing this and never get rich, never get famous, but I hope that once in awhile an image reaches out and touches someone. An image can set off a wave of memories or dreams, give us hope again, tell the truth or tell a lie, but a good image always tells a story. I think often that the problem is I am not sure of what story I want to tell. I guess when that is perfectly clear, and the moment is there, and the technique is there, the images won't disappoint.

For Vienna

2009-12-15T22:42:00.005+01:00

I'm thankful I am chubby cause it means I have enough to eat!!!

This statue reminded me of the god of plenty...and look at those hands...quelle perspective! Plus it was taken with the Holga, so I thought you'd like that. I will be thinking of you Vienna as I too thank the gods for all the Christmas goodies I will be devouring daily in the next few weeks! And then I will be praying to the god of skinny jeans....

And the winner is....

2009-12-14T18:20:00.010+01:00

Congratulations to Kat Ignatescu! Kat wins the print of her choice! Looking forward to seeing what you will pick!

We are leaving Thursday for Canada, yippee! Can you tell I am looking forward to snow?

I can't wait to get out shooting! But I hear it is -35° and -50° with the wind chill so I don't know how much shooting I will be able to do without dying from exposure! These images weren't taken in Versailles but in the French Alps...where there is snow! In 5 years I have walked in the snow in Versailles twice, and when it happens it is magic in the Chateau gardens. You have to go as soon as the gates open in the morning because by noon the snow melts, but it is so silent and the snowflakes are giant. It is becoming a once (or twice) in a lifetime experience!

Why? Because you're pretty great and it's Christmas!

2009-12-08T10:54:00.011+01:00

Thanks to everyone who has joined my blog, visited my new website, bought something on Etsy, and become a fan on facebook! And an especially big merci to those of you who are already my friends on facebook and now joined my photography facebook page! Some of you are doubling and tripling up links to me and my work!

So to thank you all I am going to have another little game!! What you have to do is become a fan on my facebook page and you are going to be entered to win the print of your choice. **If you abstain from facebook but want to take part just leave a comment on this post and I will enter you...Lara**The print can come from Etsy, my website or this blog. The size of the print and paper will depend on the image you choose (but I guarantee it won't be wall size). So spread the word, pass it on, do me a solid!

All the names will be put into a hat, yeah, I will do it old school, on December 14th and the winner 's name will be posted here. That will give me enough time to contact you and get the print off to you before I fly home to Canada for the holidays! So take a look at the blog, my site, facebook and Etsy and decide which print you want to win!

**Bonus for people who read my posts 'til the end! lol! If you leave a comment on this post I will enter your name twice!!**

Kupcakes + Kreativity = Kilos

2009-12-07T22:26:00.015+01:00

Jim: I'm grateful for knowing so many generous, creative, lively people like you. How can you show that in a photograph?

Okay, well, could you make it much more challenging Jim? ☺

I really was at a loss, I mean I started this for Canadian Thanksgiving and it is almost Christmas. I thought of just doing a self-portrait, a cool one like Picasso or Man Ray did with light-painting but I thought I should lose a couple pounds before undertaking that project.

I hadn't done an animation for a long time (and it shows in my editing) so I decided to do something creative, lively and full of spark just for you! A neverending spark of energy and ideas!
Hope you like it!

la musique: Rimski-Korsakov Le Vol du Bourdon

Cheese please.

2009-12-01T16:00:00.017+01:00

When I started this "things I'm thankful for" game with you I was thankful for people like Joanne Goddard and her blog, A Cup of Jo , full of lovely, happy things every day. So I sent off an invitation to her and I was really thrilled when she added her comment here. Luckily for me she is thankful for stinky cheese, and I happen to live in the land of stinky cheese, so this was a feasible little assignment. But, this is A Cup of Jo afterall, and she had just done a series of super cool articles and photos on finding Paris in America, so I had to make it good. I don't do much food photography, and I am not especially fond of stinky cheese, but I think we share a love of polaroids so I took out my polaroid land camera, one of my last packs of Polaroid 669, bought some fun cheese, good bread and a nice red wine and got to work (plus I had a great lunch afterwards). I didn't buy the stinkiest cheese ever (because it was for my lunch too) but if I had , I would have bought Neufchâtel. It is my husband's favourite and his Grandma always spoils him with it when we go to Normandy. It is a cute heart shaped cheese from Normandy with quite a bite, and best when kept in the cupboard....so you can imagine how stinky it gets.

This is a very, very soft mild cheese called Saint Félicien from the Rhone-Alpes region of France made from cow's milk. And after an hour of shooting...quite stinky.

These are 2 types of chèvre (goat cheese) called Rocamadour from the Perigord region. I like the tiny ones best. I prefer chèvre when it is baked and gooey.

We melted these for dinner on toast and salads! Simple and delicious! I like the way the colours turned out on these polaroids, really grey and mauvey, and I tried some transfers onto watercolour paper but I am not as happy with them. What do you think? Which do you prefer: the transfers or the actual polaroids?

Transfer onto Arches Lavis Fidelis 300g, this was a direct transfer from the land camera and a race against time!

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For my glamourous niece

2009-11-29T17:01:00.007+01:00

I know that my niece Avery is more into Lady Gaga's style than Elizabeth Taylor's, but her aunt isn't! So here is a whole new world of fashion for you Avery! I just love this era of fashion photography and I love that women still had curves, so I tried to create something with that feeling. This image was taken at...Eurodisney! Here are some great blogs with great images that I have been wasting my Sunday on...

http://glamourdaze.blogspot.com/

http://myvintagevogue.com/home
And this artist is one of my favourites so far on ETSY, I love her titles as much as her work.

Roots

2009-11-29T14:43:00.005+01:00

From Penny: I have always been grateful to the trees in my front yard, two big beautiful Dutch Elms. Whenever I am having a difficult time sleeping or getting through a rough time, I look to those trees. They remind me to be firmly rooted in the ground but flexible to move with wind in any weather. Show me a picture that emulates that feeling and then no matter where I am I will always have that picture to ground and center myself.

This tree is just magnificent, it is near Marie Antoinette's Hameau on the grounds of the Chateau. The colours just took my breath away. It wasn't windy, but the way it is firmly rooted and has been there for (probably) centuries made me think of you Penny. So I hope you like it. I also liked that this couple was just sitting there quietly. It is such a beautiful, peaceful spot and it was the first time in 5 years that I had seen it. What I love most about the gardens of Versailles is that there is always something new to discover because of the light, or the colour, or the season. Merci Louis!

Sunshine and Cream cheese

2009-11-26T19:58:00.010+01:00

Woke up this morning with a "coup de blues"...so what better thing to do than buy cake and flowers...for myself! Jen was thankful for her "mom's garden and the fresh flowers she would put on my birthday cakes." and I am thankful for photographing this for you Jen, because it pulled me out of my funk. Hope you like them. And I can't wait for Dimitri to get home and dig into these beautiful little lemon cream cheese babies!

Grand Opening of my ETSY shop!

2009-11-24T22:51:00.018+01:00

I have been wanting to do this for SUCH a long time so I am really excited to unveil

my new ETSY shop online!

ETSY is an amazing treasure chest of creation that includes artists, designers, craftspeople, as well as anything handmade or vintage.
All the listed prints are available for purchase through Paypal in U.S. dollars.
To celebrate the grand opening I am passing on savings when you buy 2 prints.
If you have any questions you can just send me a message directly or start a conversation with me on ETSY.
Little by little I will be adding more prints, cards and I hope calendars! If you have any ideas or requests I would love to hear from you!

Sophie's Moon

2009-11-22T19:43:00.008+01:00

Dear Colleen

Penny and I are having morning tea and coffee and enjoying your blog. Here is my challenge for you. Recently in Cuba the moon was beautiful, clear and full and bright. Sophie loves the moon and we would hold her up high so she could try and reach it. She would say - I need a rope to get the moon for mommy. Because my family is spread out I know the moon connects us as I often gaze upon it thinking that we can all share the same beauty. I would love a moon that Sophie could catch and hold close to her.

Love
Liz

Here you are Liz! And Sophie! Your post was so beautiful I wanted to repost it for everyone to read! Hope Sophie likes her moon, all tied up with a ribbon for Christmas!
I am wishing I had an amazing zoom now!!

Le Havre

2009-11-16T17:03:00.008+01:00

My apologies if you are checking back for your Thanksgiving images, I am still waiting for my film to be located at the lab!! Arrgh! I am going to take a short break this week to get my Japan polaroid project FINITO!!! I am planning a big post on how to do polaroid image transfers soon! Sorry to keep you waiting, I will get back to your shots really soon! Thought I would post this in the meantime.

We took a little sidetrip to Le Havre while visiting Dimitri's grandparents in Normandy. Grandpa Leonard landed there during WWII with the second wave after the city had already been destroyed (but my memory is bad and I have to fact check that with him!). It was added to the UNESCO heritage site list in 2005, the first urban city to be added, but it isn't the type of place you would imagine when you think of UNESCO. It really reminded me of the new cities in South Korea, big streets and an overall feeling of functional being more important than aesthetics. After the city was destroyed, the architect Auguste Perret designed the Saint-Joseph Church which seems to be the city's architectural mascot. You can see it in the photo below, it is the tallest building on the left.

In the centre of town there is a cultural centre called The Volcano designed by Oscar Niemeyer which is....interesting...my first thought was a nuclear reactor next to city hall.
I wouldn't mind going back though, and visiting the docks and Jean Nouvel's Les Bains, looks like a cool pool and spa complex that was based on Roman baths!

I am really happy to have seen Le Havre finally but if you want go to Normandy for the sea and the villages my all time favourite is still Honfleur.

French Cookies for Téah: Food photography

2009-11-15T17:11:00.030+01:00

When I first arrived in France I wanted to try to bake all sorts of desserts but I quickly got the hang of the French way...one does not bake desserts, one buys them.

When there are 5 patisseries within 5 minutes of the house selling frilly "Marie Antoinette" cakes and luscious fruit filled pies, and your freezer is the size of a bread basket, you don't mess around with pastry. Lots of pastries are available in little bite size portions so you don't even have to feel guilty, and you can try one of everything(twice).

Macarons are Dimitri's favourite dessert and every bakery has their specialty. What I love about these little cookies is that the eggshell like texture on the outside and the soft filling inside make them precious and fragile jewels. You can buy them in all the colours and flavours of the rainbow and they are almost too beautiful to eat...almost.

I hate to say it but my personal favourite is vanilla...how boring...!

macarons: fraise, chocolat, café, fraise, et vanille

macarons: citron, framboise, pistache, et vanille

le trottoir et Victor Hugo
SX-70 polaroids, 600 film

Have a great weekend!

2009-11-14T16:00:00.002+01:00

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend Kim, and a lazy morning in bed! This one is for you!

Roll the wheel of fortune it's Friday the 13th!

2009-11-13T16:00:00.003+01:00

Are you playing the lottery today? There is a 13 million euro jackpot in France!
In honour of Friday the 13th here is your image Brenda! The world is one of my favourite cards in the tarot deck! And just for you...a dictionary entry! And because it's your lucky day I highly recommend this funny blog of a group of librarians who are dedicated to eradicating typos!

Bicycles and Babies

2009-11-12T09:28:00.006+01:00

Thanks Tamara! You gave me so much to work with!! I actually have 2 images for you! Fall leaves and bicycles (sorry no crocuses or lilacs at the moment!)
And this happy little family goes out to you and my sister Richelle! Hope you like them! Bisous!

polaroid 669

Exploring the World

2009-11-11T15:55:00.009+01:00

I am always so proud to know that my Grandpa Leonard was a soldier here during World War II, that he saw some of the same country that I am seeing now, and that Canadians are given such a warm welcome in Europe because of those heroes. Dimitri's grandparents lived through the occupation and their stories are much darker than any of the stories I have heard from my grandpa. The cemeteries in Dieppe and Normandy are always full of beautiful flowers and are impeccable all year round so I am looking forward to visiting them this weekend. Hope to get to Le Havre this weekend, where my grandpa actually landed. It still amazes me to walk on the Normandy shores and think that Capa took his famous photo, that young men lost their lives while catching their breath, and that my Grandpa landed on these same beaches.

So here is an image for Andrea, and in honour of the soldiers who found their way home.

Thanks for your comments!

2009-11-10T19:25:00.009+01:00

Tomorrow is a national holiday in France because of the Armistice and we are off to Normandy for some time with Dimitri's grandparents in Dieppe. They live in the country and it is so nice to get away and get some "Grandma cooking"! She makes the best salads and if someday I can make a vinaigrette as good as she can I will have succeeded! But today....I have the beginning of your images!!! Yay! Starting today I will post one a day and thanks to the miracle of computers even though we aren't home I can schedule them for posting!! So check back every day!

Unfortunately, for me (and some of you), we cleaned the house the other day and a little fairy threw my film tags away and now the lab (Négatif +) is taking their sweet time to find my film...so don't lose your tags from Négatif +!! I had to fill out a form and everything! So some of your images were on those films and I will post them as sooon as I get it back....promise!! Liz, I am trying hard to shoot for the moon!!

So here you are, the first image

drumroll please....
(I hope you like them! I have seriously been biting my nails)

For my sister Richelle, a cup of tea and a moment of quiet

a polaroid 669 (one of the things I am thankful for)

Interview with Regard Public

2009-11-03T10:07:00.008+01:00

UPDATE: This site has been shut down unfortunately.

Imagine my delight to be interviewed...and to be interviewed by someone who once knew an exchange student from Saskatchewan in France! Regard Public is a great site with lots of great little interviews. I highly recommend checking out Sabrina Biancuzzi's work and the work of Isabelle L. I am in good company! We have all exhibited at the Foire de la Photo à Bievres in previous years.

Isabelle's prints are delicate black and whites taken with a Holga and printed on Foma by the artist herself. Sabrina works with alternative processes, is a printmaker, and has begun photography and printing workshops at the Centre Iris. Well worth every penny!

Louie Palu: photographer, motivational speaker, excellent Canadian

2009-10-28T16:03:00.024+01:00

Really his talk was just too good to keep to myself. Wish you could have been there too because he was positively riveting. Sometimes it is just nice to know that it takes time, that sometimes you have to work the door at a bar to make ends meet, sometimes you sell cigarettes to buy more 4x5 film, and that sometimes spilling a drink on the guy sitting next to you can be a pivotal moment that will change everything.
More...
Part advisor, part motivational speaker, here are some of the goodies I took away with me:

1. Stay positive. It's hard some days, but nobody likes to be around negativity.

2. On entering contests: it's not a waste of time or money to enter contests that you don't win because you always learn something editing your own work.

3. Create a longterm project. A themed body of work or a longterm project gives you purpose. It gives you an ANSWER when someone asks you "What kind of work do you do?"

4. It will always be hard work. Always.

5. You must: commit to what you're doing, be persistent, be a Photography Factory (while maintaining quality and integrity)

6. You need: business cards, Resume/CV, biography, artist's statement, a website, an email address other than hotmail, blogs, credit card rating

7. Go to photography festivals and get your work out there, go to talks, exhibitions, take the free printed materials and learn from other artists' bios and statements

8. Workshops are worth the investment. They are inspiration.

9. Create partnerships. Longterm relationships.

10. Build an archive. Work towards your future archive.

11. You effect change and influence society. That is what your currency is. Brilliant.

12. If you really want to make this happen it will happen.

Louie Palu, ladies and gentleman: leader, motivator, photographer extraordinaire.

Chewing on Rhubarb

2009-10-28T12:30:00.000+01:00

London College of Communication and Design, formerly London College of Printing

Back from London and I am still absorbing all the information from Rhubarb Cultivate. The focus was on the
f words: Finance, Folios, Future. It was geared towards emerging photographers, recent graduates and soon-to-be graduates. Friday was filled with talks from people within the industry and Saturday was a day of portfolio reviews.

St.Pancras Station

We arrived in the morning on Friday, yay Eurostar! Eurostar is amazing (when it doesn't break down)! I headed for the London College at Elephant and Castle and Dimitri headed for the pub!

Friday kicked off with David Birkett from DMB media, he works with Nadav Kander and other Magnum photographers, but he started off as an assistant and gave us an overview of his career, and how he ended up where he is now. Very interesting talk focused on finances, financing, and fear! Lots of great information but I took away
2 key things:
1. Send letters. It's easy to ignore an email but who doesn't open up an envelope that lands on their desk? It is even a pleasant surprise when we get a letter now that isn't a bill!
2. Nobody buys by price. We buy value. Create value.

Nicola Solomon, a copyright lawyer, took us step by step through the importance of copyright and what it means for photographers right now. A fascinating talk that had me fantasizing about going back to school and becoming a copyright lawyer!! She stressed using Digital Rights Management info to the max because it is an offense for someone else to take out that information later.
Useful clauses to include in your contracts: non-payment, payment before use, cut and paste, scanning, digital manipulation, and cropping.
She stressed using time limit uses and territory limits concerning images: where, when and for how long will they be using your images, not just how.

Louie Palu, a Canadian photographer was an amazing speaker and he was full of information as well as motivation and inspiration. There is just too much to tell you here so I am going to do a post just on his talk but go check out his 12 year long project on Canadian miners in the meantime! He treated us to a powerful multimedia presentation (that is supposed to be on his site soon).

Multimedia multimedia multimedia! The word on the street is if we want to keep up we have to incorporate audio, text, and even video into our still images. Ben Chesterton from Duckrabbit wowed us with multimedia storytelling: moving, beautiful to watch, and socially relevant. The new photojournalism is here. There is a shift happening from single images to narratives and storytelling. I think wedding photographers know this already.
Maisie Crowe's Hungry is a must-see.

Friday's talks wound up with a quick retrospective of Brian Griffin's work (the same one as Arles...and multimedia). He is a nutty and very charming Brit that made me wistful for a certain generation of Henry Woolfs and Harold Pinters with absurd senses of humour. He took us image by image through his work and how it evolved, how it happened, and where he is going now. A really wonderful treat, topped off by a sneak preview of his Olympic portrait project.

Voilà! If you would like to know about the portfolio reviews, let me know and I will fill you in. And stay tuned for the rest of Louie Palu!