The Wickaninnish Inn Artists in Action

 A month ago, I had no idea that I would be exhibiting my prints at the Artists in Action event at The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, BC.  And here I am!!  I feel so honoured and grateful that The Wick invited me to be on of 4 artists to participate in this New Year's celebration.  


I don't celebrate New Year's Eve because it's such a fake and forced event.  However, this year, I am thrilled to be able to start 2012 in Tofino, walking on the beach with my dog, Lauer.  What a perfect way to begin the year!


Last night, the Inn threw an awesome reception for the guests arriving for New Years.  Charles McDiarmid, the managing director of the Inn, introduced all the management team and the 4 artists and welcomed everyone to this special place.  The reception was an outstanding event - fab food!!  Smoked salmon to die for!!!  I could have eaten all of it - so yummy!  The rest of the food was delicious too - sweet potato samosas, crabcakes, pasta, cheese, chocolates - yummy, yummy.


Several people expressed an interest in my work, which is flattering and lovely.  Hopefully, some sales will come through.  


Yesterday's walk on the beach was a perfect metaphor for my life in 2011!!  It was a really windy, stormy day with sunshine, clouds, rain and hail squalls, huge waves hitting the rocks hard on Frank Island - strong enough to blow me over if I stood for too long.  I sat on the rocks with Lauer and watched the waves for about an hour.  All that power, that prana - life force - hitting me at one time.  It was good to be grounded on the rocks.  


While I feel somewhat lost in my life, that's okay because it makes me strive harder to find the place where I feel connected.  The rocks around me aren't lost, the waves aren't lost, nor are the trees, the birds, eagles, wolves................  they all know where they are.  And I'm okay to be exactly where I am - sitting on the rocks on Frank Island on Chesterman Beach, watching the breakers hit the island.  


Who knows what 2012 will bring.  I'm staying open to the possibilities and opportunities that come my way.  I have some ideas of what I want to do, directions I want to move in and life often has other plans for us!!


All I know is that a month ago, I didn't expect to be in Tofino for New Year's Eve and yet here I am - so staying open to the Universe, grabbing opportunities when they come by is an important learning for me.  Being spontaneous and open to those gifts that come along when we least expect them.  2012 is a year of change - I feel that deep within myself but I just don't know what kinds of changes - challenging changes - but isn't all change challenging?


Stay in the moment, set intentions, be grateful for that which comes into your life, notice the opportunities and possibilites that the Universe offers.  Let go of that which doesn't make you happy or content, forgive yourself and others, be compassionate, love what you do, practice yoga!!  Be here in this world, in this life and share your true self with others!!  

Painting with My Camera - Intentional Camera Movement

Ever since I started taking photographs about 30 years ago, capturing the sense of movement, creating abstract images has been a passion of mine and when I discovered ICM, a whole new world of photography opened up for me.   Intentional Camera Movement is the when the camera is moved in horizontal, vertical, diagonal or random directions while the shutter is open.  The resulting image is deliberately blurred and often abstract.  ICM images are not what most people think of as traditional photographs because motion is captured and created in the image via the technique.  I describe it to people as “painting with my camera” because my images are painterly and impressionistic.  Others can be more abstract.

Each photographer finds their own process and develops their own style and signature – this is true for all photographers and for those who employ ICM in their work, thus, I offer these tips and techniques aware of our individual approaches to photography. As a photographer interested in ICM, you need to find your own way through the inspiration of others and develop your own style.

Tips and Tecniques

Tripod

Using a tripod is the best way to introduce yourself to deliberate camera movement.  It’s an invaluable tool to start with by employing long sweeps from right to left and left to right in 2-3 second exposures under low light conditions.  You need to be under low light conditions or use neutral density filters to allow you to shoot in daylight.  Study your EXIF data after you’ve discovered what you like in your work and it will give you important information about how to set your shutter speed and aperture to achieve the look you’re going for in your photographs.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is probably the most important element to control what you want in your photos.  I prefer, for my own work, to work between 1/20 sec and 1/5 sec.  In order to accomplish good results at these fairly fast slow shutter speeds, one needs to move the camera very quickly with a strong follow through and camera set on “continuous shoot”. In daylight, setting your camera at its lowest ISO and closing your aperture down will help you get the shutter speed that works for you.  I prefer to use aperture priority on my camera to achieve the slower shutter speed because I’ve found that shutter speed will vary as the camera is moved particularly around light and dark areas in the subject matter.

Choosing Your Images

When it comes to choosing your best ICM images, it’s subjective, like all art.  However, here are some guidelines to help you see beyond the initial photograph before you delete it!!  When you choose your images, certain interrelationships within the image you’ll want and others you won’t.

For example, the balance of colours, gradations and tonality, lightness to darkness within the image will improve your photograph.  Looking closely at your photo to find the image within the image is a great skill to develop because you can take an okay image and make it better through cropping – other images just cannot be improved.  Interrelationships between light and dark, the “heaviness” in colour or darkness needs to be balanced in an image.  You do not want an image that is too dark or heavy on one side but rather, is equally weighted visually.

Layers of colours and tones need to be balanced too.  For example, a heavy layer at the top of an image that takes up 2/3 of the space with several smaller layers at the bottom of the image is not the best option because it’s not as pleasing to the eye.  Cropping that layer to balance the bottom of the image is an option to consider.

Conclusion

Finally – experiment, experiment, experiment!  Find inspiration in photographers you admire who take ICM images and have fun with it – play!!  Experimenting with ICM will help you, as a photographer, find your own style, your own way of working with this approach to photography – you don’t want to copy another photographer but be inspired by them!  If ICM is for you, you will find that your passion for it will grow daily and you’ll need several memory cards because this technique takes up a lot of space!!    

Gallery Exhibition Installation

Wow!!  It's finally here - my very first gallery exhibition - at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery.

Pulling this show together has been both a labour of love and an incredible lesson of self compassion and strength.  Over these past months (years really), I've been on a spiritual journey of transformation and growth that brings me to a sense of worthiness.

Masterclass in Long Exposures with Michael Levin

Went to Victoria a couple of weeks ago for a photography masterclass with award-winning contemporary black and white photographer, Michael Levin.

I know Michael through Tricera, the printing company he owns with his girlfriend, Erika.  He'd seen my work and pretty much insisted that I attend the workshop - that encouragement from him means alot to me as I lack confidence in myself.  He's a good guy - down to earth, honest, straightforward.  He gave me great feedback on my portfolio - what to keep and what should move to another portfolio - seems I've got several bodies of work on the go!  At the end of day 1, we all went to Ogden Point and spent 2 hours shooting the pier - so now I can say, I went shooting with Michael Levin!!

Learned about his process, processing, how he makes a photograph after he takes the photograph.  Fascinating!  Here's one of my long exposure shots.