Follow your bliss

"Follow your bliss". Joseph Campbell

This has been one of my favourite quotations for a very long time. My particular problem was that I didn't know what that was. At least not until I became passionate about photography about 3 years ago.

I finally heeded that advice. Today, I worked my last day as a Technical Writer to pursue my photography career. I'm about 90% excited beyond belief and 10% utterly terrified. But I suppose that's perfectly normal, and not a bad ratio.

And now, off to celebrate!

Whatever happened to my modelling career?

When I was about 9 years old, my mother signed me up for a modelling class. I think that someone convinced her that I could start bringing in the big bucks … perhaps as the new face of Woolworth’s. As a single mother (my father had recently died) who had immigrated from Poland only a few years before and suddenly had a mortgage on her hands and a child to raise, money was a serious concern. Nothing ever came of it, except that I learned how to twirl on a runway. And pose. Awkwardly.

I looked up some posing tips for models on the Internet. Let’s see how I did:

• Don't keep both arms entirely straight. Bend one or both arms, even if only a little, to make the pose look less artificial. Likewise, don't keep both legs entirely straight.
  
  C-: I fail this one miserably in both standing poses. At least all limbs are bent in the seated pose.
  

• Don't always look straight at the camera. Instead, use a variety of head and eye positions: Try turning your head, tilting your neck to one side or the other, or looking off to the side for some poses.
  
  A: Okay. Not bad. There’s a variety of positions here.
  

• Don't use a big smile for every pose. Sometimes try a small smile, a pout, a laugh, a scowl, or even a frown, to give some variety to your facial expressions.
  
  D: Hmmmm. I had big smile and slightly smaller smile in my repertoire.
  

• Rest most of your weight on one foot or the other instead of evenly on both feet. Doing so makes poses look less artificial and gives a slight slimming effect in most positions.
  
  A++: Maybe my arms were straight, but at least I pass this one with flying colors. And look at how slim I look!

Talking to strangers

This weekend I finally had a chance to take my Polaroid camera out to play. And what a great day I chose to do so. I timed my visit to the Montreal Botanical Gardens perfectly. The trees in the arboretum were in full bloom and the scent was intoxicating.

I also managed to overcome a photographic hurdle that I have, which is approaching complete strangers to ask if I can take a photograph of them. But I couldn't resist. I spotted these three girls dressed in kimonos walking around the arboretum, and an image popped into my head. Essentially the one at the top ... their three feet and kimonos peeking out through a cascade of blossoms. I started to essentially stalk them, taking photographs in their vicinity, while watching them out of the corner of my eye.

At one point I chickened out and started to walk away, but then I realized that I would go away disappointed in myself if I did so. Instead, I turned around and finally approached them about taking their photograph. Of course, the entire exchange ended up being a great pleasure and they were really into it. It turns out that the three of them get dressed up in their kimonos once a year to come to the botanical gardens and walk among the blossoming trees. How sweet is that! One of them, upon seeing my polaroid camera, exclaimed "I love polaroids!". So naturally, I took a photograph of the three of them and gave them the polaroid.

Now that I'm emboldened, look out strangers!

Pendants!

A few months ago Lori Patton, a jewelry maker in Culver City California, contacted me regarding a collaboration. Well, the fruits of our joint labor are now available in my store as well as Lori's Etsy shop. Each photograph measures 1"x1" and is printed on Kodak's gorgeous metallic paper. Lori then mounts the photograph in an antique oxidized brass filigree frame. They are rather stunning, if I may say so myself.

Anthony Minghella (1954-2008)

I was saddened to hear that Anthony Minghella, the director of the films "The English Patient", "Truly, Madly, Deeply", and "The Talented Mr Ripley" (among others), died on March 18.

The English Patient will always hold a special place in my memory. It was one of my favourite movies for a while. I must have seen it five times the year it came out. In fact, it inspired a trip that I took to Turkey in 1997. I know, I know, the movie isn't set in Turkey. But, my entire trip was inspired by the following scene:

Almasy (Ralph Fiennes): " I claim this shoulder blade -- no, wait -- I want -- turn over -- I want this! [Tracing the hollow indentation of her throat] This place, I love this place, what's it called -- this is mine! I'm going to ask the king permission to call it the Almasy Bosphorus."

And that was that. I had a huge crush on Ralph Fiennes at the time, and that scene put the idea in my head that I had to get to the Bosphorus, which it turns out, is the strait that separates the European part of Istanbul from the Asian part. Basically, what happened was:

That year, Ralph Fiennes was appearing in a Chekov play in the West End, so I stopped over in London for a few days just to see the play. Inspiration is a funny thing. So, thank you Anthony Minghella, for inspiring a wonderful trip, and for many wonderful movies.

Featured Etsy Seller: Vintaj

Before waxing poetically about jewelry designers Vintaj, I'll first explain a little bit about Etsy. To put it simply, Etsy is an online marketplace where people sell handmade goods. You can find all manner of items on Etsy. The only criterion is that the seller has to have made it with their own wee hands. You’ll find jewelry, soaps, lotions, clothing, art, furniture, paper goods, toys, makeup, and, of course, a $500,000 handmade motorcycle.

You might be thinking ... oh, like Ebay! Take my advice and don't mention Ebay to an Etsian. Items aren't auctioned, but instead have a fixed price. It's more like an online arts and crafts fair than a garage sale. And, it's a far more pleasing aesthetic experience. If you haven't already, check it out for some wonderful, unique handmade items. And don't bother asking what Etsy means. When it comes to this topic, they're as secretive as the Bush administration.

From time to time, I'll be featuring an Etsy seller. It may be someone from whom I've made a purchase, or it may be a seller whose work I simply covet. I'm starting with one of my favourite Etsy sellers: the jewelry designers collectively known as Vintaj. I know a thing or two about this seller, as I own a thing or two or six of theirs.

Vintaj specializes in natural brass (bronzey brass, not brassy brass) jewelry with a vintage flair. I love the intricate swooping filigree patterns combined with beautifully coloured stones, pearls, and art glass. Many of the designs are inspired by nature and include motifs like butterflies and dragonflies. I own a few stunning necklaces and earrings that I can easily mix and match. Here’s an excerpt from their profile:

“We hand embellished each and every piece of natural brass to achieve it's rich unique bronze color and luster without the use of chemicals or plating. We have an exacting, 7 stage, environmentally friendly, hand process. This bronzey vintajey color that we achieve is what we have painstakingly built our findings company on.”

Spring is just around the corner ... can't you tell?

Okay nature, enough with the snow already!

Here in Montreal we got hit with two whopping snow storms this past week, bringing the total snowfall this winter season to 347 cm (135 inches). This is just shy of the record set in 1970-71 of 383 cm. Are we going for the record this year? Is that it?

In case you're curious, it took three people a total of 45 minutes to dig out the car (that's over 2 man hours)!