picture folder clear out

During the months leading up to the wedding, I spent a fair deal (major understatement) of time browsing Pinterest, wedding blogs, event blogs, fitness blogs, lifestyle blogs, fashion blogs... OK, I may have gotten sidetracked a little. 

Anywho, I saved a lot of pics during this time and now it's time to clean out the proverbial closet that is my hard drive. But I couldn't bring myself to delete all those months of hard(ish) work, so I decided to give this blogging thing another go, and start off with something as simple as posting pretty pictures.

Here's the flower edition:

the sense of grace evoked

A couple a weeks ago, I met Jane Heller at souk@sat. Jane is a Montreal-based photographer with a background in graphic design. I was drawn to her kiosk by her simple yet compelling photographs. Among the farm animals and the vintage-inspired scenes, I found some wonderful prints of unexpected Montreal landmarks. 

There were so many great options to choose from, it was an exercise in self-restraint to limit myself to just two items. A lovely print of a white horse that seemed to beckon and a magnet with a beautiful black mare set against a plain, weathered barn.

The Jane Heller etsy shop is definitely worth a look. The items can add an unexpected element to your home or make a great gift. You can also check out Jane Heller's blog and website.

{images: my own}

{jane heller's etsy shop}

yeah, but can you drink from it?

 I generally find most novelty mugs dull, but something about this one really puts a smile on my face. It makes a great stocking stuffer for the photographer in your life. Which is why Rob probably thought it the perfect extra little gift for me. 

But I beat him to the punch. 

Because shouldn't spoil ourselves a little at Christmas?

 And you know, it's true what they say. Everything does taste better in a camera lens.

timeless cities

 McCord Museum has an exhibition going on right now of Italian photographer Mimmo Jodice's work. The Sublime Cities exhibition has definitely earned its name based on his photographs. I had never heard of him, but every morning I would walk by a poster announcing Sublime Cities with a beautiful black and white of Venice. I looked into his work, and I was fascinated to read about his techniques. By applying the painting technique of chiaroscuro, inspiration from surrealist artist Giorgio di Chirico, a very personal development technique and lots of patience, Jodice manages to make the bustling cities of the world timeless, quiet, still.

His work has been showcased in some of the most renowned museums in the world including the Louvre. This past spring, Montreal welcomed Jodice and his camera where he managed to capture this city in a whole new light. Jodice is known to wait hours for pedestrians and cars to be out of his shot. He wants to capture the city—only the city—and show his audience a side of their home they have never seen. He want "silent images". 

So much can be said about his technique: the subtle distortion of the photographs; the way he plays with the light like it was subject to his every whim; but see for yourself! Check out some interesting articles here and here about Jodice and his recent visit to Montreal.

The exhibition is on at the McCord Museum until March 10. 

{images: real venice}

{le devoir}

{mimmo jodice - official site}

let's go countryside

When I was 10, my mom, my brother and I went to England. Among the many places my aunt and uncle brought us, we went to the Lake District. It was simply beautiful. Beau-ti-ful. It was my first taste of the English countryside. As far as countrysides go, the Lake District might be the best first taste you can have. 

I consider myself a city girl, but I can't deny that the countryside enchants. I dream of living in a charming cottage with a red door; vines climbing up a house with painted window panes and window boxes filled with delicate flowers, a thatched roof and maybe a pond with some ducks quacking about. And of course, tracts and tracts of land.

 

{photo credit: a trip guide}
{etsy shop dreamyphoto}
{the chive}
{geordies and pubs and sheep, oh my!}

malteste

While strolling down St. Paul Street in Old Montreal for our e-session, we stumbled upon Malteste, a fine art photography gallery. The artist, who goes by the same name, follows the maxim in search of the sublime. And I for one believe that he may have found it. Immortalizing the fleeting, ephemeral beauty of nature, his pictures are simply breathtaking. Looking at The Chief, a close-up of a lion, it seems like you can reach out and touch it's rough mane. The detail is so incredible, you can feel, smell and hear with your eyes. That is Malteste's gift.

The pictures all have a magical quality; a touch of the impossible. It's the crispness of the image, the surreal colours of a landscape, the sheer visual weight of the subject. I was impressed by the beauty of Malteste's work, but I was floored when he told us that none of his pictures were digitally retouched. Using different lenses, natural light and his incredible talent to his advantage, what he captures is what you see!

But simply describing it is not enough. Check out Malteste's work here. Take a look and see the stories these photographs have to tell.

Due to copyright laws, I won't post any of his work here, but I will post a picture from our e-session that was taken in the gallery. Now, you can witness the work of two genius photographers.

The pictures are even more beautiful and spin-tingling  in person, displayed with a high gloss acrylic finish. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a look. For information on Malteste, his work, location and workshops, click here. And for the Playboy interview, click here.

wish for rain

 Rain gets such a bad rap. Rain is to summer what a traffic jam is to your commute; an uncontrollable force that you have to deal with no matter how much you hate it. It's a necessary evil. It's like the pariah of the  meteorological world.

That's how most people see it.

Yes, it might cancel a Sunday afternoon at the beach, put a damper your morning run, or ruin your hair before a hot date. But it can also turn that Sunday afternoon into a cozy day listening to the rain; turn that morning run into an invigorating way to kick off the day; and that hot date into the most romantic one of your life.

The smell and sound of the rain are two of my favourite things in the world. I wish I could bottle them up and keep them for a sunny day. There's nothing in the world like sipping a coffee on a terrace, watching the raindrops fall as they form into little puddles.

 listen to the rhythm of the falling rain

{photo credit: click image for source}

let's run away...

to a faraway land.

{photo credit: unknown)

happy friday

Friday already! The week just flew by. This weekend,  I'll continue prettying up the garden, meeting up with old friends and catching up on some sleep.

Here's to lazy mornings and fun days. Have a great weekend!

{photo credit: my flickr}

le pouvoir des fleurs

I went flower shopping this weekend with my mom. And I finally discovered the power of flowers. Everyone knows flowers are pretty, but I never appreciated the effect they can have on people's moods and outlooks.

And by people, I mean me. They're such small, simple things; easily obtainable, yet they can brighten up any room; make any garden look cozy and lush. The smell of lilacs on a nightstand will put you in good mood on an early morning, roses on the window sill will give you a sense of home, hibiscuses on the front porch will put a smile on your face after a long, stuffy day at the office. Flowers might be fragile, but they are not weak - they are powerful.

I suddenly have a strong desire to quit my job and open a flower shop. I'll have to settle for dressing up my backyard for now.

{photo credit: my flickr}