I was taking some photographs the other day. There's a growing number of people, appearing in my world, who are happy to work with me in exchange for photography.
Tis grand ...!
I was 'on location' last Friday when I felt eyes upon me and I looked down, finding this cuter than cute little bundle of laughter and mischief.
I'll be adding new dates for further photography workshops in Genoa, Italy, and putting together some weekend workshops here in Belgium.
More news to follow soon. Meanwhile, check out beautiful Genoa.
I think one’s art goes as far and as deep as one’s love goes. I see no reason to paint but that.
Andrew Wyeth.
Exploring the depth of my love for a place seems like an inspiring reason to take photographs too. There is more passion, more depth and emotion, when you turn your camera on something you love.
Piazza Banchi, the place where I buy my pink flowers when in Genova. Taken one winter's night, January, 2012.
(Note: this was taken after the sun had gone down. I spun my Canon EOS 5D MkII's ISO up to someplace around 6000 (thank you to Canon for this option) then handheld the camera to see what I might get without a flash or a tripod.)
So ... Gert tells me, the last time we had more than 14 days without the temperature rising above zero degrees celsius was ... 1-17 January, 1941.
Tomorrow we hit Day 14 under zero celsius.
Back in 1987 and again 1997 there were 12 consecutive days under zero.
Zero celsius = 37 farenheit.
More often we've been down around -10 -14 celsius these mornings (converts to 7- 14 farenheit), and there have even been a couple of -20, when you factor in wind chill factor (-4 farenheit).
Nothing much in the way of snow but, by crikey, it's been cold here in Belgium lately.
I love the work of Steve McCurry ... and when I find a blog entry of his in my google reader well, I'm delighted.
Here's his latest blog offering. Accompanied by one of my images.
Wiinter has finally arrived. I've been trying to ignore it, despite preferring that the seasons come and go in a natural way, however ... minus 20 celsius is simply rude.
And I wouldn't know about -20 celsius (reached due to a -11 frost the other day and combined with windchill factor) but I sometimes get to do the 2 hour-round-trip that is getting Miss 7 to school this year. 4 trams and some brisk walking. A trip that involves a leather and sheepskin coat that weighs as much as an adult polar bear (my estimate in terms of weight) and multiple layers, with hiking boots, hat, gloves, and a scarf.
Tomorrow we have to be out the door by 7.30am and this morning, the radio weather people predicted a temp of -20 celsius. I'm not excited about this. I arrive home completely drained by the freezing cold bleak cityscape. As I write this, at 9.31am, I checked in on my old blog and the weather there ... it's still -11.
I phoned Gert. He works in one of the old guild houses in the city ... the pipes are frozen there. They
have no water. He's a bit glum too.
However,the sun is shining. The heaters at home are working. I did pick up my camera in an attempt to ward off thinking of the fact I have to race across the city later this afternoon. I did see some nice light outside. It's the view out the window behind me, here at my desk.
Yes that is snow.
Yes really, many Belgian home owners don't clear snow from the pavements outside their house.
Yes, walking anyplace here at the moment is increasingly treacherous as it freezes and freezes.
Well yes ... Monday is feeling kind of challenging, actually. I'm here trying to write myself into a better mood. It's not working, is it :-)
My very first newsletter is due out tomorrow. If you would like to take a look, leave a comment and I will forward you a copy. The first is going out to Everyone I know ... just that one time, then you are welcome to subscribe if it seems like something you would like to continue receiving.
And now ... to work. Tot ziens.
I met the loveliest man, via Francesca, when she was searching for Lupini ...
We decided they were surely something to do with my beloved flower, the Lupin, but the photograph on the bag of beans showed this enormously strange and beautiful tree. Google-searching tonight, Francesca ... it seems we were right. All photographs in the search pointed to the Lupin I know.
Anyway, I wasn't carrying my photography gear and Francesca asked if I might wander back along Via di Canneto il Lungo, to number 54R, for a photography shoot. The lovely man said, 'Si'. So here's a small glimpse of the magical drogheria where you can buy all kinds of everything.
He tried some of his English and I appreciated it immensely but here, you can see him chatting with Karla Verdugo, a favourite artist friend of mine.
I couldn't resist attempting to capture something of the colour and texture outside my window in the middle of winter, here in Genova, Italy.
There was a deep blue sky and these green shutters just sang in the light.
And the washing ...I couldn't resist. I'm sorry.
Those who know the New Zealand me, know how happy I would have been to beach-wander with Francesca, Ashley and the kidlets last Sunday.
A glimpse of something that fills me with joy ...
This photograph still makes me giggle ...
I have photographed actors on assignment for Canwest, and prime ministers, more than once, governor generals x two and high-ranking soldiers.
I have photographed musicians and world famous artists and authors but no-one made me shake until the Queen of England looked directly down my camera lens.
But no one ...
It could have been so good. I was so close, with an unrestricted view but, for me, this New Zealander who had grown up immersed in stories of this fabulous English queen, it was like seeing a unicorn and realising it was a true story.
Camera Shake ... best avoided.
Photographing people feeding the birds outside of Notre Dame is one of my favourite things to do when I reach Paris.
Second favourite thing ... a few hours spent in Shakespeare and Company, perusing the million books in English, with or without cash.
and made me laugh when she pulled serious faces.
I met this cowgirl.
Remaining creative and finding joy in that work isn't a sprint to the finish. It's a long run and if you don't pace yourself, whether you do this vocationally or not, you run out of steam. The creative process has a rhythm and requires not just time but energy, and to keep that energy you need to watch how fast you burn it. Whether you're a so-called working pro or not, your creative energy and drive are your greatest assets; do what you need to protect them.
David duChemin, extracted from Vision is Better 2.
I love this man's work and words ... his photographs too.
The owner of these legs makes me laugh ... often.
Sometimes, when you don't see a family for a few years, they have another beautiful baby and, if you're really lucky, you are invited to return and attempt to capture something of them all over again.
Nana with her great-grandkidlet back in those heady days of summer.
December 24th finds us hunting down a new oven, as ours died last night. Could be an interesting Christmas day, I'm thinking.
Wishing everyone the very best things in 2012.
