Dear readers,
The moment has finally come that the new blog is out and going! Due to the fact that BLOGGER is allowing HTML/CSS editing on the blog page, I was able to implement my own taste and liking and thus this new blog interface was born. I was debating importing the old posts from the other blog http://stefansphoto.wordpress.com but I eventually decided that I should compile a “Best Of 2008” instead. This should give anybody who visits this blog a better overview over the past year and fit it all into one entry. So hang on tight for here it comes:
Engagements 2008:
Joe and Jenny’s engagement, Summer 2008.
This was indeed one of the highlights of the summer of 2008. It was my second engagement shoot and I think one of the best I believe. I caught some very lovely lighting and discovered a spot that I think I will be using a lot from now on.
Gotta love how their hearts visibly glow with the light of love.
Andrew and Kelsey were my first engagement photo session. There are really very few things that help set the mood other than golden light.
Portraits 2008:
This autumn was the first time my darling Alyssa came to visit Ontario. We had quite a fun time filled with many unforgettable adventures. Alyssa is indeed both an outstanding photographer and a wonderful model. Check out her photography and consider hiring her for a photo session if you live in the Vancouver area. http://alyssaschroeder.blogspot.com.
Photography 2008:
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal, Quebec.
The view was fantastic and I do not believe this picture does it justice at all. Having forgotten to take the tripod from the hotel room, I had to make use of the lens cap and a plastic filter box to prop the lens up to take this picture. Boy how I love improvisation…
This was truly an intense experience. It took me quite a while to find the location of this, a lot of asking random strangers in the street, some of whom did not speak English (which was a challange for me, not being an amazing French speaker). I must say the searing for it was quite enjoyable, adding up the subway and bus rides that it included. The building is HUGE! and located upon a tall hill. It is basically a church built upon another church, while underneath it, St. Joseph, the person who started the project, is buried.
The steps you see in the middle, the brighter ones are made of wood. The cement ones on their sides are
fo
r tourists to climb up, while the wooden ones are meant for pilgrims, who, it is said climb them on their knees, as a tribute.
A truly impressive, massive building. Just the way I like cathedrals to be for photography. The building is in the shape of a cross, with the altar at the intersection of the cross’s axes, and seats along all sides of the cross.
I shot this at the docks in Montreal by the St Lawrence River. There were many ships there, mostly yachts and one or two freight ones. When I saw this man I thought to myself “wow he looks cool!” so i pulled out the Tamron 70-300mm and quickly shot a few shots of him. They weren’t great so I decided to forget about it and leave him onto my memory. But then as it was time to embarque the little tour boat that I had a ticket for, I noticed that from the lower part of the dock, in this position he looked great. So once again, quickly before he had the chance to leave, I put the eye to the lens and off I was shooting. Was very glad I caught a glimpse of this most mysterious looking character. And I went onto the ship.
Only later, when I looked at this picture again did it occur to me, “could he be a sailor? …leaning in most a poetical fashion over the railing, waiting for the ship that shall take him back home, to his beloved sea…” Who knows. But I most certainly love being blessed with the opportunity to capture such stories full of emotion.
This building that has not been of much use to anyone for a long time will soon be rehabilitated into offices/ apartments and an artists’ corner, which my sources say will feature an art gallery and caffes. I personally am quite looking forward to that. Also according to what happened to other old buildings in the city, the facade will remain, which I also find a good thing. Looking forward to when it’s done.