Nothing to do (and everything to do) with Photography

Oops, I let quite a while pass since my last post -with good reason! I've been crazy busy with photo sessions (fall colours/holidays) and retouching, printing and delivering orders. Now I can finally get down to some holiday shopping/decorating/baking!

The title of my post refers to a very special anniversary today. It's been five years since I had my pacemaker implanted (for those of you who were wondering about that large scar just below my collarbone, now you know). What a difference a piece of metal has made in my life! After frequent trips to emergency, hospital stays, tests, treatments, drugs etc. I'm so grateful that the pacemaker has worked like a dream and I haven't had one visit to the ER since getting my device.

My good friends know that my spell of poor health led to a decision to leave the corporate world to do what I'd always dreamed of doing and the rewards have been amazing. True, the security of regular income & benefits are sorely missed at times but I was given the gifts of spending more time with my amazing daughter, meeting the wonderful man who was to become my husband and the opportunity to do what I love (and get paid for it!) Paragraph #1 above wouldn't have been possible without paragraph #2.

There are a few things I can't do that were possible before I fell ill with a cardiac infection years ago, but I'm extremely grateful for all the things I am able to do again! The energizer bunny marches on......

Custom Orders = Treats, yum!

There are a number of reasons why I love to get custom orders through Arts on Queen (an art boutique in the Beaches area of Toronto). One being that after all these years, it still gives me a charge that someone would like to hang an image in their home that I've created. This order was for "Lane in Afternoon Sun", a black & white infrared image (created the old-fashioned way on film!) captured in Halton region soon after moving to Burlington.

The other reason is that when I deliver these custom prints I get to visit some of my old haunts (for about twelve years I lived five minutes away from Arts on Queen) and today was no exception!

Today on the agenda:

Vienna Meats on Birchmount (German specialties that I remember from my childhood)
Arz Bakery (Lebanese foods, far more than just baked goods. The freshest pistachios and at least a dozen different varieties of baklava)
Zane Patisserie (AMAZING custard danishes!)

I don't feel so guilty, after all - I do need to keep my strength up to capture new images, don't I? :-)

Fresh New Logo

I love it!

Let's toss the kids around a bit....

I'm wouldn't normally suggest that we throw our children about - but the hearty giggles that come when moms & dads do what come naturally when they're playing with their children make the best photos!

This young man wasn't so sure about having his photo taken when I came to visit his family a few weeks ago but once we got down to the serious business of playing he completely forgot I was there. Young "N" also showed me how he sweeps the garden walk, kisses his sister and does all the important things a 2 yr. old will do on a beautiful summer day in the backyard.

Thanks to the "Z" family for a fun morning!

September Mini-Sessions

Oops, I let a whole month go by without posting - so I'd better make this good!

I'm offering mini-sessions twice this month - 30 minutes, at least 10 proofs to choose from.

Either go a la carte at $50 which includes the session time and on-line proof gallery OR

Include 25 customized, press-printed holiday cards for $125

September 21st 9 am - noon URBAN LOCATION, Burlington

September 28th 9 am - noon PARK LOCATION, Burlington

Please email me for details or to reserve your session. Limited to five family members, $25 per extra person (includes an extra 15 minutes of session time)

If you'd like to be notified of promos, please sign up on the right side for my newsletter.

Holiday Cards (Yup, I know it's August....)

I'm back from vacation (we did a "stay-cation", enjoying time with family close to home, and trying out some local restaurants) and now I'm back at work getting my holiday packages ready for clients.

I'm getting so engrossed in "Jingle Bell-ish" thoughts that I'm pleasantly surprised when I occasionally look out the window and see that there's no snow. Banish the thought!

Here's the selection of cards that I'm offering for 2008, they're all customizable to some degree.

2008 Holiday Cards

Ordering deadlines for prints, photobooks and holiday cards fall around the end of October - your session should be booked to allow ample time for you to make your selection from the proofs. Many of the October weekend sessions are already booked up.

Happy (snowless) August!

Images Transcend Boundaries

It's often said that a picture is worth a thousand words...and I'll add "in any language"!

You may know that a publishing house in Miami represents my work, they in turn may licence images to other media companies. Two of my images have shown up as posters at www.art.com and www.allposters.com, but I was delighted to see that the international divisions of these companies are also offering my images in France (where my very lucky daughter is hanging her hat this week!), Germany, Spain, Italy, and the U.K.

However, the real surprise was to find my images on the website for the Baghdad Museum in Iraq. Although the images were taken in Canada (near my old neighbourhood in Toronto), it would appear that whoever makes the purchasing decisions at the museum felt that my images would resonate with their visitors http://www.baghdadmuseum.org/posters/qSandy%2BTrunzer.html

It makes me smile to think that someone so far away, experiencing a life so very different from my own might find joy in one of my photographs.

New Monthly Newsletter

It's easy to sign up, there's a box to fill in on the right hand side of my blog.

Articles in the June issue:

New Photobooks
Fall Colour & Holiday Session Info
Giggles and Grumples

plus a special offer on fine art prints.

Every issue will include info on upcoming promotions, exhibits, events, tips on portrait session success and more.

Your privacy is protected, your email address will not be shared/sold and you may unsubscribe at anytime.

"No Sitting Fee" Thursdays - just a few dates left!

No Sitting Fee on the following Thursdays:

June 12th
June 19th
June 26th
July 3rd
August 14th
August 28th

Morning or afternoon sessions (one session booked on each Thursday)
Choice of outdoor location (Mississauga – Hamilton area) or at my Burlington studio
Max six family members per session
Pets welcome at outdoor sessions
In case of inclement weather, outdoor sessions may be rescheduled for another available weekday prior to August 31st, 2008
50+ proofs will be posted to a private on-line gallery for 10 days
Prints available at regular prices (please email me for the 2008 price list)

To book, contact Sandy at:
http://www.theintrepidlens.com
416.888.4230
sandy@theintrepidlens.com

P.S. – this month I’m updating the Fine Art Porfolios on my website (see New Work – June 08 for recent additions).

New On-Line Calendar

Networking is a wonderful thing - I've recently learned about some useful web-based tools including Google Calendar. The potential of the internet continues to amaze me!

By clicking on this link http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=sandy%40theintrepidlens.com&ctz=America/Toronto you'll be able to check my availability for photo sessions.

If you would like a date that's already booked, please feel free to check with me anyway - if you're in close proximity to the client who has already booked we can likely work something out. Or I can place you on a waiting list, occasionally clients need to reschedule their session leaving an opening in my schedule.

June - December have been updated, I'm accepting bookings through to December 7th (the last session with guaranteed prints for holiday giving).

The "Two-Fer" "Three-Fer" Portrait Special

It's been a few weeks since my last post, it's been a busy time (mostly catching up from being off with the flu for over a week, thank goodness I was the only one in the family who caught it!)

The spring and summer are booking up nicely with weekend sessions, but I have availability for weekday sessions (either outdoors Toronto GTA to Hamilton, or in my Burlington studio) in the first part of July and the middle of August.

The "Two-Fer" special is this: if two friends each book a weekday session during July or August 2008, the fee for each sitting is only $50 (midweek fee is normally $125). It gets even better. Should a third friend book a midweek summer session at $50 each of you will get a $50 print credit!

Here's the fine print.
Available dates are: July 3rd & 4th, July 7th - 11th, July 14th - 18th, August 5th-8th, August 11th - 15th, August 18th - 21st. Some dates may be limited to mornings or afternoons due to previously booked sessions.
Each friend may book a separate date from the list above, or book consecutive sessions if desired.
GST is applied to the session fee.
Each session is limited to six people.

Contact Sandy at 905-335-6182 or 416-888-4230 for more information.

A week off work wasn't what I had in mind....and freebies!

I'm just resurfacing after quite a nasty bout of the flu, seven days spently mostly in bed (and it takes a lot to haul me out of service completely!) I thought I had dodged it this season, but no such luck. I still sound like I have a truckload of sawdust down my throat but at least I've been able to get back to work today.

The only thing I felt up to doing over the last week was to occasionally take a stab at sorting through the cupboard closest to the bed. Even when sick I still can't help organizing things..... I've ended up with a few armloads of photo magazines that I'd been collecting, but it's time to share. I have numerous of copies of "B&W" (a monthly publication for collectors of fine art black & white images , a joy to look through http://www.bandwmag.com/), Photo District News (industry mag for photographers), Rangefinder, and some one-offs.

I also have a Manfrotto #222 Tripod head (joystick type) for anyone who would like to give it a good home (a little scratched up with use, but otherwise in good working condition).

If you have an interest in any of these items (or know of someone else who might) please get in touch by email sandy@theintrepidlens.com . Everything is free, but shipping costs are yours if you need anything sent out to you.

(and I can't forget to add a thank you to my wonderful husband who worked from home for most of the last week to spoil me with melted ice cream on the rare occasions that I had an appetite!)

The "Melancholies"

I'm in the midst of assembling an exhibit going into Artway One at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington for the (merry, merry) month of May - I measured wall space yesterday and I can't believe that I have 91 linear feet of wall space to fill! I'll be busy over the next two weeks getting some new work ready, and also issuing more of the limited edition prints that have been client favourites.

I find it interesting that my best selling images have been what I call my "Melancholies". They're the black & white (usually infrared) photographs that are often described as such. By those bolder/curious viewers of my work, I'm then asked if the mood of these images reflects my own personality. I find myself quite amused by this, I'm definitely a glass half full kinda gal!

However what I do feel when I capture these images is a sense of serene solitude, an appreciation of the beautiful places that exist whether someone is there or not to appreciate them. I suspect that it's the use of black & white film that adds to the perceived sense of loneliness. Maybe it's my foray to the dark side (in case you don't know me I'll add that I'm laughing as I write that........)

It's funny, the grand majority of my clients' children are girls - it was a pleasure to have these two young men in the studio on the weekend. The camera loves Carter, and his brother Jack is going to grow up to be a handsome young man too, don't you think?

Photo assistant for a day....the secret assignment

I'm required to be a bit vague on the details.....but if you're female, and would like to assist me on a photo shoot to give a Mother's Day present to some very deserving women I'd be very grateful for your participation. This is an unpaid assignment for me (however, I am offering my volunteer assistant(s) a photo session in thanks); this opportunity promises to warm your heart. No previous experience necessary, you would be holding reflectors, moving lights etc. (not to mention meeting some very special people). *



If you're available approx 9 am - 5 pm on either Monday April 7th or Monday April 14th in the Halton area, and are intrigued by this opportunity please either email me at (sandy@theintrepidlens.com) or call me at 416.888.4230 for more information.



In addition, if you know of a make-up artist or hairstylist who might be willing to donate her time (again, it has to be a female for this particular set of sessions) please send me contact information and I'll be pleased to follow up.



*If you have a teenaged daughter needing to complete some of her high school volunteer hours, this project qualifies - but it would mean missing a day of school.

New Summer Vacation dates

My daughter has a wonderful opportunity ahead this summer, a trip to Europe (yes, I've already asked if I can come along as official trip photographer but no go!), and this has resulted in a change in our family vacation plans. I'll now be on vacation from July 19th - August 5th inclusive. I won't be taking any weekend bookings during this time, but may take on some weekday sessions on short notice if it turns out that we're in town for a few days during that time.

May weekend sessions are booking up nicely, so if you have your eye on a weekend shoot during the warmer months please contact me to book a session (it can be held tentatively and changed (pending availability) if you've not yet nailed down your own summer plans).

We just have to hold fast to the idea that eventually this snow WILL be gone!

Ribbons and Bows Part II

Here are a few images from the second "girls only" session this past weekend (and I'm fortunate to be an aunt to these three lovelies!)

Ribbons and bows - Part I

Had two amazing photo shoots here at my studio over the last few days - five young ladies all tolled! Here are a few pics from the first session - Mom is so amazingly creative, she brought a suitcase full of goodies that would rival Mr. Dress-up's Tickle Trunk (I may be aging myself there.......) Visit my website under "Portfolio - Studio" for more images from this session.

http://www.theintrepidlens.com/

Images for the second "girls only" session coming soon.....

Launched my new website today

Same URL at http://www.theintrepidlens.com, but a whole new look!

Feel free to take a look, I welcome your comments. Look for frequent updates (yup, so easy to maintain that I could update it every day if the mood strikes me!)

To your health! March portrait session bonus

Here's a twist on an early booking incentive....

For all 2008 portrait sessions booked prior to March 31st, you'll get a $50 credit that can be applied to your sitting fee, prints, fine art images or towards one of my workshops.

Not only that, I’ll make a $50 donation to the Ontario hospital/hospice/health-focused registered charitable organization of your choosing (in the name of a loved one if you’d like me to so).

Either call 416.888.4230 or email sandy@theintrepidlens.com for more information.

Out and about soon...

Enough already! Unless you're a diehard winter sports enthusiast, you've probably had your fill of winter. I can't wait be shooting outdoors again without having to wear seven layers and clunky boots that make me feel like the Michelin man (mind you, I'm often dressed in three or four layers indoors so I guess it's not that much of a difference. How come men seem to have been blessed with better internal thermostats?)

As soon as I can see something other than white on the ground I'll be off scouting in Halton/GTA for new spots that make good (yet not distracting) backgrounds for this year's sessions.

If you're thinking about booking me for a shoot this year and have an idea for a location, I'll be happy to check it out in advance. Just drop me a line at sandy@theintrepidlens.com with your thoughts. Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no river........well, you get the idea. I have lots of creative locations in mind for this year, and also looking forward to discussing locations which reflect the personality and interests of your own family!

I leave you with this image as a reminder that April really is just around the corner.......

Some sad news for thousands of photographers last week, Polaroid plans to discontinue the manufacturing of film at the end of this year. Polaroid was the forerunner of immediate gratification in seeing your images moments after capture (of which of course digital cameras can now do in milliseconds), but Polaroid in their wide range of films could offer film qualities that digital just can't rival.

I use Polaroid 669 film extensively in my fine art work, creating Polaroid Image Transfers and Emulsion Lifts that are often described as vintage, dream-like and painterly. There is particular joy in these processes for me due to the randomness of the final result, it's impossible to duplicate the nuances in the final result of each print. Each is truly an original.

Sure, you can approximate the look of these processes in Photoshop - but it really isn't at all the same. I feel part of the creative process as I "cook" my Polaroids, anxiously waiting to see the final result as I peel the film back slowly. It's the same feeling I get when I pick up my infrared film negatives from the lab (Kodak will have me on their front doorstep should they ever discontinue their HIE film). More than enough images don't turn out due to the variability in the results, but those that do give me particular delight.

I'm not knocking digital, I use digital cameras almost exclusively in my portrait work. I can review my images immediately after capture, and can experiment more given that I'm not keeping a running tally of film costs in my head as I shoot.

I just can't see myself digitally creating Polaroid-type image transfers in Photoshop, it just doesn't feel right to me. What a sad thing to be losing so many great films over the last few years.

I won't hide next time.....

A client of mine passed away a few days ago. I first met him last May at a family reunion session arranged by his wife. We had a great time photographing different combinations of parents, children, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandchildren and spouses (and the dog too!)

Only one week after our session he was hospitalized, and in less than a year lost his battle to cancer. In memory of a dearly loved man, his family gathered hundreds of photos for viewing at the funeral home (and I'm honoured to say that photos from our session were there too).

In seeing the huge collection of photos documenting a life well lived, I make the promise to my family that I won't hide the next time a camera comes out. I've joked for years to my daughter that she'll have to swear that she had a mother since there's no photographic proof. She deserves something to look at (hopefully many!) years from now that reminds her of our very happy life together.

I'm not suggesting that you hire me (although I'd be happy to do this for you), but the next time the camera comes out when you're with the ones you love - make sure you're in the photo too. It doesn't have to be a session with a professional photographer - just proof that you were a part of something special.

Art & Culture in Burlington

I had a great opportunity yesterday to participate in a meeting held by the City of Burlington to discuss the growth and support of culture in our community. Some of you may know me for my portrait work, others may know that I also create fine art photographs for galleries/publishing house and that I have a vested interest in this issue (I was invited as a result of my association over the last two years with Artists Walk in Village Square).

At the end of the day this very diverse group of participants come to several clear recommendations:
- create an adequately staffed and funded Department of Culture (City of Burlington)
- create an Arts Council (the cultural community together with the City)
- adequate funding for the proposed Performing Arts Centre
- create a web presence that allows for members of the cultural community to easily communicate (and a single source of info for "consumers" of culture)

There were numerous other positive and creative suggestions, too many to summarize but know that there are plenty of individuals/groups in Burlington who want to help create a vibrant, thriving cultural community.

Many thanks to the City of Burlington for making yesterday possible!

New Macro & Botanical Photography Workshop

I'm leading two sessions this spring, taking place at the Tulip Celebration at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario. The variety of tulips and other spring bulbs will amaze you!

I'll be covering:

Lens Selection

Macro Tools & Equipment

Light Modifiers

In-Camera Creative Techniques

Dates are Wednesday April 30th or Saturday May 3rd, 2008, 1:30 pm - 5 pm

Fee is $80 plus tax and admission to the RGB. Session is limited to six participants.

Optional one-on-one print review as a follow-up to the the workshop is available, and so are customized courses for individuals or small groups.

Please call 416.888.4230 for more information or to book.

www.theintrepidlens.com

March Break Portrait Special

If you're looking for something a bit different to do with your children over March Break, visit my new studio where I'll be doing one hour sessions at a very attractive price!

Each session is $50 (plus taxes, payable at time of booking) and you'll receive a $50 print credit. Essentially there's no sitting fee for March Break! Proofs will be posted on-line within one week in a special "March Break" gallery, and you can select one 8 x 10 print (or two 4 x 6 prints of the same image) at no extra charge. Additional prints can be purchased if desired, but there's no obligation to do so.

Sessions are available at 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1: 30 pm and 3:30 pm on Friday March 7th, and Monday March 10th - Friday March 14th inclusive. I'm located in Burlington, just a few minutes from the QEW.

The fine print...... each session can accommodate up to four family members. Extra family members are $25 each, and larger families are booked for the last session of the day at 3:30 pm to allow for the extra time required. Unfortunately I can't accommodate pets in studio shoots (although they're always welcome in my outdoor sessions!)

Please call 416.888.4230 or 905.335.6182 to book or for more information.

I'm also booking now for outdoor spring, summer and fall sessions. Reserve now to get the date that works best for you!

Inspirations

I'm sometimes asked where I've learned some of the photographic techniques that I use in my work. It started with a wonderfully supportive photo instructor in high school, Joanna Hewlett (I spent the better part of my spare time in the darkroom for those years). I've been fortunate to attend some great workshops conducted by:

Richard Martin http://www.richardmartinphoto.com/

Craig Tanner http://www.craigtannercreative.com/

Michael Reichmann http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

I also spend a great deal of time poring through photography books, and visiting photography related websites. Some of my favourites are:

http://www.radiantvista.com/

http://www.andregallant.com/

http://strobist.blogspot.com/

http://www.studiolighting.net/

Although it's important to establish your own style, I love to see what other photographers are doing and to expand my own photographic experiences (such as expanding into portrait work as I did a few years ago).

Thankfully, I have a wonderfully patient subject for all my portrait experimentation in my daughter. Here's a shot from last evening (Suzanna wanted a new photo for her Facebook page, and I wanted to test out a lighting set-up - so we both accomplished something). This is shot very simply with an on-camera strobe (moved off camera with a remote trigger), an umbrella and lots of white matboard surrounding Suzanna to bounce the light around. A soft look that suits a youthful face!

A new way to use Photoshop......

Here's another image from the pool shoot (see Jan 7th entry below), Miss M. has such a gorgeous smile!

I shoot my portrait work digitally - and use Photoshop to "clean" images of distractions (lint, blemishes, the graffiti that spoils an otherwise great shooting location).

I've recently realized just how ingrained this program has become in my workflow when the other morning I woke up to some pretty mean looking dark circles under my eyes (I'm blaming my recent cold!) and for a moment thought to myself as I put on my make-up "No problem, I'll just Photoshop those away before I go out". If only it were that easy........!

Two hours for a photo session?

I'd like to share a few of my favourite images from 2007 over the next few weeks. This one was taken in my client's backyard where they had recently installed a beautiful swimming pool (they all changed into their swimsuits to enjoy the water for the last part of the session, we all enjoyed getting splashed a bit as the two girls practiced jumping into the pool over and over again!)

When clients are setting up an outdoor portrait session I suggest that they set aside 2-3 hours, and I'm often asked why would we need so much time. Simply, children (and often the adults too!) need a bit of time to forget that my camera is pointed at them. It's then that we can get the unposed, natural shots like the one of the lovely E. above.

Jumping into 2008!

It sometimes takes me awhile to adopt the latest technologies (which is a bit ironic given my many years working in high-tech!) I wasn't the first in line to get a VCR or DVD player (which would still be blinking 12:00 if it weren't for my daughter's savvy), or to buy a digital camera (I use several now, but still use "good ole" film most of the time for my fine-art work). Not that a blog is high-tech, but it seems a good way to communicate with my clients so I've jumped on board.

On a regular basic I'll be posting news from The Intrepid Lens, including session specials and last minute availability when a client has had to cancel a session date.

I'll also be posting info about gallery exhibits, and will include some proofs from portrait sessions from time to time (which may give you ideas for locations for your own session!). Feel free to submit your comments and/or questions - and sign up for this feed if you'd like to know when I've updated this page.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2008!

Best wishes,
Sandy