The top Russian pairs figure skaters and Japanese speed skaters have been using the ice at the Abbotsford Rec Centre to practice and members of the public are allowed to watch for free. Being fans of free Olympic entertainment, we took the kids and the camera.
The skaters were amazing! I’ve skated the same ice as these Olympians and it seemed like they shrunk the rink for them. The distance it takes me a minute to wobble around they could glide over in seconds. I found someone to confirm that the rink is indeed Olympic regulation size.
Jason has some art on display and for sale at Mystic Mug at the Mt. Lehman Station in Abbotsford. The licensed coffee shop is a great place to meet up with lots of comfy seating and also is a proud supporter of the arts in Abbotsford. Yay!
The art that Jason has up is a series that he took around my parent’s cabin at Green Lake. All the pieces are 8×8 black and white photographic giclee prints of circular objects. The look great in groupings of 3 or more depending on the space you have to display them in. Here’s a sneak peek at a few:
We have a few more places lined up to have our work on display in Abbotsford and will let you know as they are set up. If you have a location willing to display or sell our art, please contact us at 604-864-6339.
The 2010 Winter Olympics start tomorrow and I am looking forward to watching it on TV. There is something about people pushing themselves to achieve the impossible that is contagious. I always find I am inspired to push myself as an artist more after watching athletes at the peak of their career vie for Olympic medals. As a child, I loved watching the Olympics. Partly because I hardly ever watched TV so it was a treat, but also because it somehow made me feel validated for all the hours I spent practicing piano.
When the Olympic torch came through Abbotsford this week, we bundled up the kids, put on our Olympic mittens and participated in the historic event. It was a great evening. I have never seen so many people in one place in Abbotsford! The torch was carried into Rotary Stadium by Gerry Swan. Premier Glen Campbell, MP Ed Fast and Mayor George Perry made speeches. Plus there were performances by the West Coast Chamber Singers, Victoria Duffield and Aerial Dance + Acro Academy’s dancers as Hannah and the Inukshuks. However, the highlight of the evening for our kids was that each got their own can of Coke from the Coke tent. Here are a few pictures …
Part of the W.J. Mouat High School yearbook class came by our studio to get a taste for of our life as photographers in Abbotsford. Jason graduated from the same school a few years ago. We shared a bit about our career path and gave some composition tips before pulling out the lights and doing a photo shoot. We went all out and even used the wind fan for a few photos. Here are a few of our favorites …
Phew! We just finished our annual website update. It gives us a great feeling of accomplishment to look back at our work and see so many favorite photographs in the same place. I’m feeling a little sappy after it all and want to tell you that we are incredibly privileged and blessed to do what we love. Behind every picture you see on the website there is a story. We are thankful to the hundreds of people who have shared a part of their life and story with us.
Be sure to check out several new galleries under the “features” section. We have added some quotes and a home decor section with sketches Jason drew overlayed with potential portrait displays for your home. Imagine coming home everyday to a beautiful art display of the people you love most.
The weather has been beautiful and after taking a break from shooting, we are ready to get back at it. I am starting to call people to set up Imagine Kids sessions and if you want to book a session for something else, please give us a call at 604-864-6339.
Filed under fun stuff • Written by browns @ 8:00 am
When we’re doing photography, we always give people direction on how to pose to look their best. So what do you do when we’re not around? This video features a few tips on how to stand and pose when someone’s taking your picture.
Filed under fun stuff • Written by browns @ 3:48 pm
The deadline for the Take the Challenge make over contest through Go Fusion Fitness was published wrong in the newspaper so you have 2 more days to apply! Go to www.takethechallenge.ca to apply. If this is the year you’ve decided that it’s time to make some changes in your life and take care of yourself I encourage you to enter. It is a great experience to go through this with a group of fun, supportive women.
20 lucky contestants will receive between $1000 - $2000 worth of health, fitness, personal growth and beauty services.
Top 20 Contestants receive:
- gym membership
- weight loss coaching
- weekly weigh and measures
- vibration slimming sessions
- infrared sauna treatments
- tanning
- hair wash and style
- professional before and after photos (by us!)
- dress and style tips
- eye brow waxing
- personal growth workshop
Top 10 contestants: All of the above plus …
- airbrush tanning
- cut, colour and style
- another photoshoot with us
- modeling and fashion show
- makeup tips
- manicure
Top 5 contestants All of the above plus …
- toastmasters
- trip to Sunpeaks Chalet
- pedicure
- massage
Top Winner All the above plus …
- trip for 2 to Las Vegas
- 1 year gym membership
- other sponsor gifts
Thanks to all the sponsors who are making this possible:
Go Fusion Fitness, Fusion Hair Design, Island Tan, Revival Arts Studio, I Change, E.A. Corporate Care, Photography by Davina, Platinum Bliss, Pistachio Fashions, Minx Salon, DAG Marketing, Blackbox Headquarters, Abbotsford Village Dental Centre, Ann Marie’s Care, Rendezvous Restaurant.
Filed under fun stuff • Written by browns @ 8:00 am
After our family session in the bathtub, Jason keeps sneaking his cameras into the bathroom to do experiments. One night he photographed water. Another night, after discovering a leaking container of red food colouring, he mixed water, ketchup and red food colouring together to do some red water pictures. I wondered why his hands were all red one evening! Here’s the photo he put together from it.
We will be offering our popular SLR Overview class at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford on Thursday, January 28th at 6:30 - 9:00. This class is for people who own an SLR camera or other kind of camera that can do manual settings. We will cover basics such as modes your camera has and topics such as focus, aperture, shutter speed, iso, shooting modes and metering.
In the class after talking about each topic, we go around and help each person find the setting on their own camera. It’s a lot more engaging and less confusing than reading a manual.
This is the only class we have scheduled so far in 2010 and our winter/spring shooting schedule is booking quickly so we may not have time to add more. If you’re someone who wants to take a class with us this year, now is the time to sign up! You can register by calling The Reach 604-864-8087. Please bring your camera and manual to class.
The pics on this blog post were taken by Jason two days ago with our old (in digital years) point and shoot camera when he was out and about. You can see more of his “December Wanderlust” pics and other random things that he photographs when no one’s watching on Flickr.
Yes. It’s photoshopped. We’re more talented with trick photography than we are with cirque arts.
The short version of how we did it is the card is four pictures combined. We photographed each person in our studio on a white background. We knew what we wanted the final card to look like so we did a couple poses for each person to give us some flexibility in case it didn’t work. Jason did the rest, including the beautiful sketch of the tree in photoshop. Fun times!!!
We don’t send out cards every year but here are a few of our past cards: 2007 2006
