30.07.10

Day 27



The weekend at last.  And a long one, at that.  I can't wait for flea markets, coffee (and maybe!) a road trip.  What are you looking forward to?

Happy Victoria Day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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29.07.10

Day 26



I know, I know.  I'm a pretty lucky duck for getting to live in such a beautiful place.

It's ok.  I understand if you want to move here immediately.  Don't worry, we've got an extra room for you to stay.

Sometimes I wish I could live everywhere, all at once.  I love my home, and I'm keenly aware that's it's one of the most gorgeous places on earth, but I can't help but want to be at the coast and in the moors and in the mountains and on the Mongolian steppe NOW.  Yesterday, even.  I'm not sure how a heart with such wanderlust got stuck in such a lazy body.  Sorry Heart.

What's the prettiest place you've ever been?

Love,
Hearts & Photos

P.S. Happy birthday, Sarah my beautiful British friend!  I'm pretty sure that the time difference lets me off the hook for this being belated, right?

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28.07.10

Day 25


I love this name- Seabloom.  It sounds so pretty.  And it makes me want to go to the ocean.  Big surprise there, huh?

Only 5 days left in the contest!  Comment or follow to win free stuff!

Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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27.07.10

Day 24

LOMO!!!!  TOFINO!!!  It really doesn't get any better than this.  Two things before we kick today off:

1. Byran, how did you ever part with this camera?

2. Does looking at these pictures make you want to live on the beach as much as it does for me?


















I hope you get to do something that makes you smile today.  
Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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26.07.10

Day 23



My film is in!!! While I edit it all, here's a little summer-y polaroid for you :)

Have a great day (and go for a bike ride!)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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22.07.10

Day 22



Guess who's going to folk fest tonight!!  MEEEE!!!  Usually Steve and I go together, but he's in Texas until tonight, so I get to bring my brand-new sister-in-law and introduce her to the wonderful world of folk.  Don't feel too bad for him though- he gets to come on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The festival got a bunch of our favourite bands this year- Stars, Dan Mangan, Ohbijou, Jordan Klassen and about a million more (I'm tired of typing- just google the folk fest, k?).  But I think the best part is being introduced to bands you've never heard of and music styles to which you wouldn't normally listen.

Anyways my dears, I'd love to chat all day, but I must go find a tarp and umbrella since it's supposed to rain tonight.  If you're in Calgary, swing by the folk fest and say hi!

Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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20.07.10

Day 21



When I first moved to this lovely city, it was actually to study to become an architect.  It didn't take long for me to lose my heart to photography.  Or to Steve.  But even now, years later, I still love photographing buildings.

And Steve.  In front of buildings.


And I have some good news for you- I sent my film in to be processed yesterday!  Hooray!  A few more days of anticipation, and 156 lovely negatives will be in my hot little hands.  It actually seems like it's going to be a great week- Steve's back from Houston, and the Calgary Folk Fest starts Thursday.  So exciting!!!

Anything you're looking forward to this week?

Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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19.07.10

Day 20

This weekend could not have been better.  Friday night we got a pretty exciting surprise (you'll hear more about it below), Saturday was perfect for pictures, and Sunday we had Steve's parents over for an amazing meal (if I do say so myself!).

One of my favourite shots from the weekend:


I almost got run over for this one.  I need to start paying attention to traffic when I'm standing in the road.


And now for the surprise...


Bryan and Branden, the awesome guys from A Bryan Photo, sent our wedding photos and video!  I've watched them eleventeen million times already and they have blown my mind.  I think you should watch them, too.  Just make sure to have a couple of wet-naps handy for mind-blowage.

I don't think I've ever mentioned, but my LOMO was actually a gift from Bryan.  I'll make sure to post some photos from it when I get the film back.  Please don't judge me too harshly, but I haven't actually sent any of my film in to be processed yet.  There's always half a roll that I want to finish before I send it, then before I know it, I've finished it and am halfway done another roll.  I will send it tomorrow, I promise.

Oh, who am I kidding.  I was totally crossing my fingers.

Have a great Monday :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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16.07.10

Day 19


As you can probably see from today's photos, yesterday was not a good day.  I probably should have just stayed in bed, but someone tells me that days like this build character.  After yesterday, I should have a lot of it.

Steve and I headed downtown around 5 and Steve offered to run the light-meter.  I'm a bit of a control freak, and letting someone else have my light-meter physically hurts.  Honestly!  My chest tightens up at the thought of giving someone my things and trusting them to do it properly.



It's probably because I'm such a mouse when it comes to managing people, that I can't give them clear instructions and when they mess up, I just kinda brush it off even though I'm boiling inside.  "Aw shucks, don't worry that you just crashed my car because you were having sex while driving.  I never told you not to do that so really, it's my fault, not yours!"  The chest-tightening was a good indicator that I need to let go a little bit since I'm married to the guy now, so I handed Steve my light-meter (along with a look that wilted his hair).

It was going great and I was getting (what I thought were) some great shots.  We found the most amazing stuff in Inglewood- octagonal tile floors from the 1920's, shiny black bicycles, an old building named "Seabloom".  I was so excited!  Life could not have been better for those few moments.

Then I found out Steve had been metering at the wrong ISO for almost half a roll.  As in, all my photos were going to be totally black.  Crap.  Oh well.  He took me for dinner, fed me pasta and coffee and all was (mostly) forgiven.

We headed out west again, but since I had dragged my feet leaving town, we were going to get to Cochrane just at the tail end of sunset.  Thank goodness for iPhone maps, because mine showed us a side road that was closer and overlooked the mountains.  I never expected it to be as incredible as it was.  This windy, gravel road opened up to a beautiful little valley.  I thought that my luck was turning.  It was gorgeous!  Steve metered again and I took a polaroid for a test shot.

It takes a few minutes to develop a polaroid, and the sun was setting really fast, so I thought I was safe to shoot a few negatives.  Apparently I wasn't.  Again, it was metered wrong.  Steve thought that the 2s shown meant 1/2 second.  It doesn't.  Another half dozen frames down the toilet.  Then I needed to load a new pack of polaroid.

Remember that $33 pack of instant Fuji I was talking about last week?  Well, there's a band of paper you need to pull out before you can take any pictures.  It jammed.  And then it tore.  Then the tab you use to pull out the frame tore and jammed.  I had to open the back to get it out, tried another one and it jammed and tore, too, and this time I couldn't get to it.  I decided to wait until I got home to get it out in the dark and loaded my film back.  Only it didn't have any frames left, and I had forgotten to bring an extra roll of film.

"Oh well," I thought "I got some good shots today.  Tomorrow I'll send out the rolls I finished off tonight."  I got home to unload the film from my Hasselblad.  It was loaded backwards.  At this point, I was pretty pissed.  Then I decided to check the other back that I had loaded with film this afternoon.  Big surprise.  It was backwards, too.

"Eff it.  I'm going to bed."

Wish me better luck today :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

UPDATE:  The more I look at that top picture, the more I like it.  What's not to love about chemical crusts?

UPDATE:  Ok, not every shot sucked and I feel bad for not giving you anything nice to look at today.  Here's one I really liked.  Double exposure!

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15.07.10

Day 18


Around 8:30 last night Steve decided that we should drive out west to take some pictures.  It had been cloudy all day, but late in the afternoon it cleared and the sun was going to be setting soon.  Summer sunsets are incredible- they have that amazing light that seems to coat everything in honey.  It almost makes you believe that if you stuck your tongue out and caught a bit of sunlight, it would taste sweet.  I love that they last for hours, although last night it really didn't last long enough.

When we headed out, Steve drove and I was supposed to keep my eye for for places to stop.  I think this was our first mistake.  No one should ever let me decide when to stop because we never will.  I have this weird character flaw where I cannot, for the life of me, bring myself to say "this is where we'll stop for {lunch | shopping | gas | pictures}".  There might be something life-altering right around the corner, and if I decide to stop early we'll miss it.  I couldn't live with myself!

This makes us absolutely miserable when we travel.  I drag us down street after street, starving, but refusing to stop for food anywhere.  That menu has too many options but the next doesn't have enough.  I don't want to have to wait for a table where it's busy, but worry that the slow places are slow for a reason.

Last night was not much different (just no food involved).  Every view was amazing and each scene perfectly lit.  I wanted to stop at every turn, but something better might be just a bit further down the road.

By the time we got into the mountains, the sun was just dropping behind.  I wish this was one of those "I had time for just one shot and it was the shot of a lifetime" posts but, unfortunately, it's not.  We were really and truly too late.

So I did what any rational human being would do- I blamed Steve.  He was driving, so he should have decided when to pull over.  And he should know that I can't make decisions like that!  Really, it was his fault for even asking me.  (I never said decision making was my only character flaw.)

We headed back towards the city in silence but after a few miles, Steve had enough of my pouting (which he knew would get worse if we didn't stop for a single photo) and pulled into the turnoff for a little historical chapel.  I didn't want to get out of the car and only did so begrudgingly, grumbling something about how stupid this was.  I hate to admit that he knows me this well, but I don't think I had even closed the car door before I had forgotten to be crabby.  Tantrum?  Who, me??

There still wasn't much light, but just enough to get a couple of frames.  Don't tell Steve I told you this, but I'm glad he was right.

Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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14.07.10

Day 17


Exciting news!  Steve called yesterday (that's not the exciting part though - he calls all the time because he loves me!) and said that he had been doing some research on tilt-shift cameras, and happened upon the Rollei SL66.  He loves shooting with our Rollei twin lens reflex, and the SL66 looked pretty cool, so he did a quick search to see how much they sold for.  He found a few on eBay that were priced pretty high, checked on craigslist, and found nothing in Canada.  He was going to give up, but decided to click on a result from kijiji that had come up.  Normally we ignore kijiji since it's notoriously crappy- the searches never seem to work, they have a ton of ads, and half the time the ads are expired.

Yesterday it worked.  And the camera was in Calgary.  The SL66 with 3 lenses, 2 backs, 2 viewfinders, filters, and in mint condition.  All for way cheaper than anywhere else.  Umm... how could we not buy it?

I can't wait to figure it out and start shooting with it.  I've spent hours crawling through flickr, getting more and more excited with what you can do with tilt-shift.  Here's one of my favourites:


The other cool thing about the SL66 is that you can actually put the lenses onto the body backwards, and you've got an instant macro lens.  How smart is that???

So much better than a stupid old lensbaby!

Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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13.07.10

Day 16


You know those gray, rainy days that make you feel like you just want to crawl back under the covers?  Well today is one.  I was seriously contemplating shuffling all my work over my laptop so I could work from bed (and nap), but then I remembered that my package from the Impossible Project arrived yesterday with new polaroid film and a Holgraroid!  Exciting!!

I really want to get some new images for you guys, so, with the help of a couple gallons of coffee, I'm going to head out into the rain.  I've got a Holga to test, a roll in my LOMO to finish off, and 2 frames left on my Hasselblad.

Wish me luck! :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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12.07.10

Day 15



Today we're taking a break from our regularly scheduled polaroid programming to bring you film!  Yes!  Actual, developed negatives!  From a camera!!  I spent all of yesterday sitting on my behind, working on my portfolio.  It's been a while (cough*a year*cough) since I updated it, and I had a bunch of images that I had shot, scanned, and swept into the dusty corners of my computer, left to languish while I avoided editing them.

Normally, I would have left this project for a day that I was supposed to be doing actual work.  If I was supposed to do dishes or had an essay to write, you wouldn't have been able to drag me away from the computer.  But Sundays are my fun day.  Every Sunday, Steve and I head down to the flea market, go for coffee, walk around Kensington and point to houses we'd like to live in.  It's our thing, and it's a nice break to get out of the house.  And trust me, after working by myself all week, I need that break.

I'm not going to lie, working at home is great.  If I want to sleep until 10 and work until 3 am, I can do it.  I can make lattes all day without spending a fortune.  I get to hang out with my pets and have manic dance parties in my kitchen without coworkers wondering whether or not they should have put 911 on speed dial.  But working at home eight hours a day is isolating.  By Thursday, I'm having full-on conversations with myself, and by Friday all I can think about is escape.

What could have convinced me to stay home and miss the freedom of the flea market, then?  Money, that's what.  A few days ago, Steve's boss mentioned that he had bought a summer home with a lot of big, empty walls.  He and his wife had been thinking about getting some art for it, and they were leaning towards landscape photographs of Western Canada to remind them of home.

It came up that that's what I do, and he said he'd like to see my portfolio.  Yikes.  I'm a little anxious.  It's nerve-wracking to give your work to someone.  You question whether your stuff is good enough, whether they're going to like it, whether you'll ever be able to make a living at it.

Hopefully they like it.  It'd be a huge boost to my ego to make a sale.  I'm trying a new portfolio format- presenting it on an iPad rather than a traditional portfolio.  I'll let you know how it goes, and how the iPad worked.  But, for now I just wait.

Until I hear back from them, I'm going to plan my escape from the house.  Maybe Steve will take a drive out to the mountains with me so we can watch the sun set.  It's a pretty amazing view and anytime you can get a photo like this, you know it was worth the trip.  Hey, if you're lucky, you might even get to see it in a year or so!

Have a great day (and wish me luck!)  :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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9.07.10

Day 14


I know!  I'm sorry!  This post is late  :(  I almost had it ready last night, but a friend called and wanted to go for a run, and it's been so long that I just couldn't say no (although, today my knees wish I had).  It was really nice to use my legs again and feel my lungs working.  And work they did!

My friend is an ultra-marathoner and in ridiculously good shape.  He's such a nice guy, though, that he never makes you feel bad for slowing him down.  While I was wheezing and panting, trying to keep up, he was chatting away, going as slow as his mile-long legs would let him.

Anyhow, book.  Sunlight.  Cozy chair.  This is what I'd like to be doing this weekend.  What are you up to?

Have a great weekend :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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8.07.10

Day 13


Today has been a day of hurry-up-and-wait.  I was supposed to pick Steve up from the airport this morning, but his blackberry had a seizure in the night and froze.  That meant that it's alarm didn't go off this morning, so Steve missed his flight back from Texas.  He's been at the airport on standby all day, but it sounds like he finally got on a flight home.  I can't wait to see him!

I think he'll be quite impressed at how much stuff I got done while he was away.  I hope he doesn't forget all the responsible things I've been doing when he sees what a disaster the kitchen is.  Hmm... two hours is probably enough time to clean up....  Meh.  On the other hand, there are donuts somewhere in that mess.  I'll tell him I just made it a treasure hunt.

Another shot of Chesterman Beach.  Are you tired of these yet?  Don't worry- we're almost at the end of my Tofino polaroid.  You're safe until I send off the film!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the Stampede if you're in Calgary :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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07.07.10

Day 12



Three days in a row!  I think I may be turning into a responsible adult right before your very eyes!  Except for reverting slightly in the "adult's feed themselves" department.  It's no fun cooking for yourself, so while Steve's been away, I've been surviving on coffee.  Lots and lots of coffee.  The caffeine buzz is kind of awesome.  I think I've reached sort of a transcendental stage where food isn't really necessary.

Well, I suppose it wasn't technically lady-like or grown-up to use that bus stop downtown to pop the top off of my Pellegrino, either.  Whatevs.

I took this photo at Tonquin Park in Tofino.  I also got a bunch of images with the LOMO that need to be developed.  I really need to send that film away soon.  That sounds like something an adult would do.  Hmm... better cross your fingers.

Have a great (sunny!) day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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6.07.10

Day 11  













Listening to Phoenix and dreaming about Paris :)






but sitting in Calgary.  Although, when I look at buildings like this, I can pretend it's Paris.  Anyone know the French translation for "Grain Exchange"?

Have a great day :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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5.07.10

Day 10



Today I'm missing the coast and the guy I love the most.  But how could I help it?  Chesterman Beach is just one of those places you want to stay forever (and Steve is pretty amazing too!).  Luckily, I've got Joel Plaskett to help me get through until Steve is back and we get to make our home wherever we want it.

Talk to you tomorrow :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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3.07.10

Day 9


This is one of my friends' favourite sheesha lounges.  It's pretty lucky that it's still around.  A couple of years ago, the city passed a bylaw that banned smoking in public places.  Great if you don't want to get second-hand smokers' hack every time you go to the bar, not so great if your business is smoking.  The city gave the sheesha lounges and cigar clubs one year to close up shop.

But then, somewhere along the line, they decided that it was stupid to put a high-tax-paying store out of business, and the people going there probably weren't going to complain about second-hand smoke, so they let them stay.

Lucky for me.  I really like those tables.

Have a great (long!) weekend :)

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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1.07.10

Day 8


I went to the Camera Store yesterday afternoon.  It was pretty exciting.  Buying film is always exciting.  There are so many choices!  I can get Kodak, Ilford, Fuji, or Polaroid; black & white or colour; vivid or neutral; any ISO from 50 (!!) to 3200 (!!!!1!!); high contrast, vivid, neutral aghhh!

I ended up with 9 rolls/packs (I think)- 2 packs of black & white Fuji instant film; 1 pack of Fuji instant colour (which was $33 for a ten pack- ouch!); 1 roll of 35mm Ilford SPX 200 and 2 rolls of it in 120; 1 roll of 35mm XP2 400 and 2 rolls of 120.  Oh yeah.  And a 35mm roll of Ilford Delta 3200.  So excited!!!  (I also ordered a few packs of sepia and black & white polaroid from the Impossible Project.  Yay!!)

Ok, so maybe it was more than 9.  Stop judging me!

Alright, remember yesterday when I was telling you that I love downtown so much?  Well, like my parents used to say, I'll always love you, but sometimes I don't like you very much.  This picture was a pretty good example of one of those times.

I was walking along, saw something that I wanted to photograph, stopped, set up, metered, was about to take the picture when a group of German tourists walked in front of me.  No big deal.  Just wait for them to pass and try again.  Just as the last one passes, some douche-bags with blackberries, suits, and too much gel in their hair step in front of the camera.  Fine.  It's downtown.  People tend not to pay attention to other people.  Maybe they just didn't see my gigantic camera.  A few random shoppers pass through the viewfinder, but I look down the street after them- the coast is clear!  As soon as these women are gone I can get the shot!

Then this guy walks out of the pub door on the right, stands right in the shot, and stares at me.  Whatever.  I take the shot and walk away.  And you know what?  I kinda like it :)

Happy Canada Day!

Love,
Hearts & Photos

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