Business Portraits don’t have to be a typical head shot!

As a photographer I am most comfortable behind the camera!  So I have put off having a new portrait taken for far too long and finally decided it was time for an update.  I had such a great time and was left wondering why I had procrastinated for so long.  Marlene put me at ease right from the start and we laughed and giggled and before I knew it we were done.  Marlene created an amazing collection of wonderful images that I can use both professionally and share with my family and friends and I love them all.  Thanks Marlene you are a true artist.  Carmen Matthews  MPA, F.Ph., Stonewall, Manitoba

 

Carmen and I go way back! We both joined the Professional Photographers of Canada  around the same time.  We’ve gone to conventions and seminars together and have watched each other grow in business.  I was thrilled when she called me to capture some great portraits for her business as well as for family.

It’s always interesting photographing another photographer!   And I mean that in a good way!   It’s like we’re both tuned into the same outcome and  the flow and posing (I like to say I’m ‘directing’ them to the best position and best angle), works like we’re both in sync.

It was such a fun session (but then, I have to say ALL my sessions are fun).  Check out Carmen’s work here.

 

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Beautiful – timeless – children’s portraiture!

Yesterday 18 month old Raine came into the studio.  She was inquisitive, pensive, smiling, laughing, busy – everything that an almost 2 year old can be!   Sometimes, the very first image that I take is the one I like the best.   I was just doing a test image to fine-tune my lighting, but I knew instantly that this would be the one I would choose.  What do you think?

 

 

The essence of a child – timeless and classic portraiture.  This truly will stand the test of time and be enjoyed for future generations!  This is what I love most about photographing individual children – you can absolutely capture a ‘work of art’!

“Sometimes, said Pooh, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”  ~ The timeless wisdom of Winnie the Pooh

 

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Roxanne at 60 – wow!

At the beginning of February I received a phone call from Roxanne inquiring into my photography after a recommendation from Joel Ross.  She told she was turning 60 and wanted some portraits of this time in her life.   After a lengthy chat, I realized that she had a lot of ideas and I knew this was going to be a fun session!   When I arrived at her home on the 22nd of February for the portrait session, and walked in her door I was captivated by the wonderful view she had through the huge expanse of windows!   She gave me a tour of her home and I knew there were numerous opportunities to photograph.  She appeared a bit nervous at first but didn’t take long to relax.   Here are just a few of my favorite images from the session.

“Ron & I talked about you & my pictures all the way back to the city & then went to lunch to celebrate. They truly are wonderful. I was very nervous when you arrived to take the pictures. I questioned why I merited a picture on my 60th birthday. Half way into the snapping of the pictures I was so glad I went ahead with it. Now I have these amazing pictures & would do it again. Thanks for coming to my home & making a wish come true.”

Roxanne and Ron came to the studio for their Private Showing/Ordering Appointment where she saw her images for the first time in a slide show set to music.  In some special software that helps visualize what a album would look like, I had created a lovely Coffee Table book for her with 15 of my favorite images but she went on to say, “I couldn’t settle for just 15 of the pictures & I am making you work extra hard including all 29. No way I wasn’t having every one of your wonderful shots!”    Roxanne Poole, Winnipeg, Manitoba

She told me she loves her kitchen and wanted to do have a photograph taken there - what to do that wouldn't be cheesy? I thought this pose (with her suggestion) would be fun and different.

 

Loved this black chair! I noticed it as soon as I stepped into her home and just knew I was going to use it!

 

 

Towards the end of the session, she brings out a fun pink hat and asked if I could 'do something' with it. Absolutely! I love how the painting on the back wall mimics the colours in her bathing suit top and the hat and I adore her expression! For some reason it reminds me of Audrey Hepburn.

 

When she left after the Ordering appointment, she said that having a professional portrait taken is like an addiction – and that she would definitely be back!   That was the best complement she could have given me.

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April 5, 2013 - 12:01 pm

Diana - Photographer and model did a beautiful job. Ron you are one lucky man!

April 2, 2013 - 7:54 pm

Tammy - Wow! I’ve never seen such nice work or a more beautiful 60 year old….roxy, you’re amazing!!!!!

April 2, 2013 - 7:13 pm

Lana - WOW!! Roxanne! YOU look stunning!!!!!

April 2, 2013 - 3:37 pm

Roxanne Poole - Marlene you are so good, those photos are amazing. Roxanne

April 2, 2013 - 3:36 pm

Roxanne Poole - Marlene you are so good thanks for those amazing photos Roxanne

Peterborough Cathedral, UK – one of the country’s top 10 landmarks!

Looking east through the Sanctuary to the high altar.

On Thursday, March 14th I visited Peterborough Cathedral – see above photo.

I had already visited The Church of St Mary the Virgin  in Warmington, (Pop. 874), which was built in the 12th century and considered to be one of the best examples of a rural parochial churches of this style and period.

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Warmington

 

Then I visited the St Peter’s Parish Church, which is located at the heart of the community in Oundle (Pop. 5800).  Its 210 foot spire, the tallest in Northamptonshire can be seen for miles around. There has been Christian worship on this site since the year 709 AD.

St. Peters Parish Church, Oundle

 

And then I saw the church in Fotheringhay (Pop. 123).  The work on the present church was begun by Edward III who also built a college as a cloister on the church’s southern side. After completion in around 1430, a parish church of similar style was added to the western end of the collegiate church with work beginning in 1434. It is the parish church which still remains.  The large present church is named in honour of St Mary and All Saints, and has a distinctive tall tower dominating the local skyline. The church is Perpendicular in style and although only the nave, aisles and octagonal tower remain of the original building it is still in the best style of its period.  Fotheringhay Castle is where the scene was set for the execution of  Mary, Queen of Scots, who had spent much of her 18 years of imprisonment at Sheffield Castle and Sheffield Manor, spent her final days at Fotheringhay, where she was tried and convicted of treason. Mary was only given the verdict the day before her execution, and spent her final night praying in the castle’s small chapel. She was beheaded on a scaffold in the castle’s great hall on 8 February 1587.

St. Mary and All Saints Church, Fotheringhay

 

We also visited The Church of St. Andrew in Cotterstock, but it was not open for us to go inside.  A lovely, quaint little church – I got some great photos of the exterior when a wash of sunlight peeked through heavy grey skies and lit the church.  The Church of St Andrew is located to the east of the village, adjacent to the River Nene; it dates from the late 12th century.  (Pop. 139)  The main period of construction was in the 13th and 14th centuries and the building was restored and extended in 1876. Cotterstock Hall was built in 1658 with alterations in the early 18th century and a main staircase added in the 19th century.  The village consists of a single street with Cotterstock Hall located in the centre and St Andrew’s Church in the east. Cotterstock has a village hall.  In 2010, Cotterstock Hall was used as a film set for ‘The Woman in Black’. Star Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) said of the Hall: “Cotterstock Hall is a remarkable building bursting with Gothic grandeur – perfect for The Woman In Black”.

St. Andrews Church, Cotterstock

 

The next church we visited was in Olney. (Pop. approximately 6000)  Olney is a market town and as you enter the town travelling North on the A509 you will see the 185ft Spire of the Parish Church of St. Peter & St. Paul blending in beautifully with the surrounding countryside.  John Henry Newton (24 July 1725 – 21 December 1807) was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career at sea, at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years, and was himself enslaved for a period. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of slavery. He was the author of many hymns, including “Amazing Grace” and “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken.”   Another feature Olney is well known for is the annual Pancake Race held on Shrove Tuesday, which dates back to 1445. The Olney Race is based on a tale that a housewife was in her kitchen making her pancakes on Shrove Tuesday when she heard the Church Bells ringing for the Shriving Service. Desperate not to be late she made a mad dash for the Church with her frying pan still in her hand. Moving on to 1950 the town of Liberal in Kansas USA read about the Olney Pancake Race tradition and decided to adopt the tradition themselves and then challenged Olney to an annual race with the fastest time from the two races declared the overall winner. Olney accepted the challenge and the two towns have competed each year ever since.

 

Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Olney

 

So when my friend Inge suggested we go to Peterborough Cathedral I thought,  ‘Oh, not another church!’.   But I must say, this was the culmination of all my visits, and if I never visit another church in the UK, I’ll be happy!

Here just a few of the many images I took at Peterborough Cathedral.

 

The Choir Stalls - these date from the late 1800s and daily worship takes place here at Evensong. An eagle lectern is a lectern in the shape of an eagle on whose outstretched wings the Bible rests. They are very common in Christian churches and cathedrals.The symbolism of the eagle derived from the belief that the bird was capable of staring into the sun and that Christians similarly were able to gaze unflinchingly at the revelation of the divine word. Alternatively, the eagle was believed to be the bird that flew highest in the sky and was therefore closest to heaven, and symbolised the carrying of the word of God to the four corners of the world. The Eagle Lectern of Peterborough Cathedral was donated by Abbot William Ramsay : 1471-96

 

 

A section of the painted ceiling of the nave, which dates from 1230-1250 and is the only one of its type surviving in Britain today.

 

When we first arrived at the church - it was mostly lit with natural light streaming through the windows - but towards the end of our stay, we noticed the lights come on, and the lights at the choir stalls made all the beautiful wood just glow!

 

The Hanging Crucifix - this was donated to the Cathedral in 1975. The Latin inscription means 'the cross stands whilst the world turns'.

 

 

My favorite image of this series. This shows the amazing detail of the ceiling and from this angle it looks like he is looking right at the viewer!

 

 

The Central Tower - standing at 44 m high,

 

The ceilings on the south aisle of the nave, which once formed one of the four sides of the monastery cloister.

 

North Transept from the Central Tower.

 

South Transept as seen from the Central Tower.

 

I tilted my head back, parallel to the foor, and my sun glasses fell off my head when I photographed this scene. The ceilings are just amazing!

 

The original medieval ceiling decoration was destroyed during the Civil War (1643), but was restored in the 19th century under the supervision of JL Pearson; the apse ceiling, showing Christ and the saints, was painted by Sir George Gilbert Scott.

 

The Eastern Building - the newest part of the Cathedral with a superb fan-vaulted ceiling.

 

The superb fan-vaulted ceiling of the eastern end of Peterborough Cathedral, which is west beyond the Sanctuary and High Altar, dating from ~1500.

 

At this point it was ready to leave because they were preparing for their 5:30 service.   When we made our way back to the entrance of the church, I noticed that they had turned on more lights and had prepared the altar for the service and I saw the following image.  I like the simplicity of this image – one of my favorites!

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Peterborough Cathedral as much as I did!

 

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April 4, 2013 - 7:06 pm

Sandra Sawatzky - Your photographs of the cathedral are stunning. My Selby ancestors come from Pilton which is nearby to Oundle. Thees fantastic pictures make me even more keen to make the trip!

Farmers Market Day in Oundle

Today was Farmers Market Day in Oundle.  This happens once a month and the town square is filled with vendors.   All products sold here must be produced within a 40 mile radius.  Fresh meat, veggies, baking – amazing!   My mouth watered just walking through the market.  People were friendly and very proud of their products, knowing it was definitely ‘farm fresh’.

The most popular vendor there was the Fish vendor.  Since there is nowhere within 40 miles to get fish, mussels, lobster, crab legs, squid and fresh fish – they do allow this vendor to bring in the fish.

Another vendor that interested me was the one selling ‘Floppy Chicken’.   This is completely deboned chicken, stuffed with a variety of fillings and tied up.  No waste whatsoever!   Inge had purchased this before and prepared it and said it was wonderful!

Fresh, crusty breads and a variety of cheeses were so tempting!

New Lodge Farm had the most amazing meat and featured lamb!   Yesterday Inge prepared ‘Toad in the Hole’ for lunch, using some delicious pork sausage which came from New Lodge Farm.

Roast pig on a spit… they started it at 1:30 in the morning and was going to be ready to eat at around 10:30 – we were gone by then, so I couldn’t taste it.  It smelled fabulous.

 

I loved the way the veggies were displayed and, of course, there was a large area of flowers.   Coming from 3 ft. of snow to this was surreal.

 

More to come!

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March 9, 2013 - 2:35 pm

Inge - Beautifully captured, Marlene!