Unimpressed Cat is Unimpressed

Remember that time when the dog was getting more attention than the cat? The cat sure does.
Caper C. Bottom is not impressed...

They Grow Up So Fast

Back in 2000, I was utterly delighted to have the opportunity to work with this little pumpkin: two-year-old Skyler. We set up shop in my backyard in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and shot (get this) a roll and a half or so of film!

Fast forward 16 years and 5000 kilometres later to March, 2016 in Edmonton, Alberta, and "the girl in the pumpkin pictures" is now a grown 18-year-old.

Well, kinda. ;)

 

 

 But when she's serious? So intense.

 

 

 

When there's a text from a boy?

I get one of my favourite shots!

Little bit of magic on that penny board...

 

And just like that, another favourite!

 Then back to the front step to dust off the ego and nurse a bruised bottom. ;)

Then there's this one:
 

other than desaturation and the watermark, with no editing at all. <3 

This was definitely an awesome undertaking. I love seeing how much things have changed: from film to digital, from east to west, from tiny toddler to grown adult.  

 

 And I love seeing how much they've stayed the same:

a personality that's still just as bubbly and a smile just as absolutely infectious. <3

Bloom Where You're Planted

A couple of years back, I embarked on a journey in a direction completely fresh from the path I'd been taking. I gave up everything that made my life what it was and decided to start over completely new. I was bored and needed to find something, although admittedly I had no idea what.

The transition's been the most awesome experience I could have given myself. It's true what they say about doing things on your own, about jumping in feet first, and about the amazing things you learn about yourself when you clear out the negatives in your life and consciously work toward figuring out what you truly want.

These days I find myself living in Okotoks, Alberta, in the midst of the worst provincial recession in over 30 years. Things are frustrating, but I remind myself daily that this was my choice and that of all the problems in the world, having too many options of what you can do with your life isn't the worst. So I take at least one step forward every day and try to keep my focus by doing the things I love: namely, of course, photography. 

In and around Okotoks, there is no shortage of opportunities for that. Southern Alberta is GORGEOUS! But don't just take my word for it. See for yourself:

Romantic sunsets.

 

  

And evenings when the Rockies seem to light on fire!

 

Cool, spectacular views.

 ...and on every edge of town, prairie that seems like it could stretch on forever.

 

 

 It's the land of chinooks and cowboys,

of exploring sweet country gates

and of walking on riverbeds.

 

It's where humans and nature have made their peace...

 

...large and small alike.

 It's the land of the majestic Rockies.

 

 

And the land of the great...

 

... big ...

 

sky. 

 And that sky generally has something to say.

 On this particular day, it was feeling a little dramatic.

 I don't know what it is in particular, but I LOVE this shot:

Random gorge carved by glaciers and once roamed by dinosars? Yeah, there's a couple of those kicking around.

 

And in the midst of it all, just off the highway, a proud and thriving town!

 So while I'm unsure where the next step will take me, I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to come back to this: for a bed to sleep in and a familiar face, and for family and friends who have had my back, no matter how near or far they may be. <3

 

"... Most of the time it's just too difficult, too expensive, too scary. It's only once you've stopped that you realize how hard it is to start again, so you force yourself not to want it. But it's always there. And until you finish it, it always will be..."  -unknown