Beach Bud

Last night we decided to take a quick trip down to the beach – I couldn’t believe just how warm the water was already, it was perfect!  Our little bud of course had to chase the sea gulls between castle building too.  A Beautiful way to end the weekend!

Fire Proof

Daniel and Ashley are one of the sweetest couples I have ever met.  Their love for each other is so evident, and the support of their parents is unquestionable.  Yesterday Daniel and Ashley were married at Ashley’s home church Elim Bible Chapel right here in Arkona.  The congregation were invited to come to the ceremony, followed by a mini reception in the beautifully decorated church gymnasium.  Thanks to Mr. Kaz, we were able to have an appearance by the Arkona Fire Department’s fire truck from across the street, symbolizing Daniel’s chosen profession.   Additional pictures and the reception where then held at the Beautiful Saw Mill Creek in Camlachi between Sarnia and London.  A gorgeous site, and a reception room that any photographer would love!  The staff were excellent, and the guests were treated wonderfully.   I also had the opportunity to have Kelly Easter drive up from Indiana, Indianapolis, to second shoot with me which is sure to give one very large collection of memories for the couple, their family and friends !  Enjoy a recap of the day…

Showit Tour

David Jay has just announced an upcoming Showit Tour.  For those of you who are not familiar with Showit, it is basically a photographers best friend :D  Showit allows a photographer to have control over their site using creativity and interactive software – but not needing to know anything about programming!!  In addition to a variety of other opportunities you can take advantage of with Showit, the tour will have big name speakers AND with every ticket – YOU can Save A Life !

Here’s a little example of what’s in store:

First access to SHOOTit so you can create an interactive video game for your clients!

Speakers: Jessica Claire, Jasmine Star, Bob Davis, The Grays, Promise Tangeman, Rudy Arpia, Ron Dawnson, Gabriel Ryan and some very special guests!

Free Music for use on your website and slideshows!

Video downloads of all the speakers in every city!

Special giveaways from our sponsors and friends!

and more...

For More Information Go Here !  Buy A Ticket – Save A Life!

 

Now Playing

Now Playing At The Forest Kineto Theatre

Death at a Funeral

May 28,29,30, June 1

Starring: Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Danny Glover, Regina Hall

Show Time 8PM  All Tickets $5

First Cut

It’s that time of year already, and the farmers are out getting off their first cut!  This is Roxburgh Farms, the farm owned and operated by my brother and his wife and their family.  Today, they were working together to cut and bag with incredible speed,  I took these around 4:30 in the afternoon, and not long after they were completely done with this field. 

 

  

T- Bird Style

I’ve been taking a series of shots of this Beautiful Thunderbird in it’s various stages – hard top on, off with the boot, and mid point.  A very cool car…and so much quieter than my husbands 1970 Monte Carlo :D (I know, I know, it’s supposed to sound that way :D)

 

Party In The Park 2010

It’s Coming!  -  Party In The Park – June 19th 2010

This is a FREE event here in Arkona!

 

Plan to Crash The Party, & Enjoy the Fun, Friends,

Fidgets, and Fireworks!!!

 

This event is sponsored by Elim Bible Chapel.  For More Information Contact 519-828-3076

Textures Project

I really appreciate the look of textures on an image – not all images – but the right texture on the right image can make a difference between a good shot, and a piece of art. Lately I have been working on putting together a series of textures, so thought I would share a little sneak peek.

  Before

With 2 Textures Stacked On Top Of The Image

Jessica Claire Workshop In New York City!

I found this first thing this morning.  Jessica Claire is doing a workshop in New York City – Actually within my range!!!  And, it could be absolutely free!  Just click on the link to enter…all the while diminishing my chances :(…but that’s ok, the more the merrier!

Check It Out Here and let me know if you win!

Now Playing

Now Playing At The Forest Kineto Theatre

Death at a Funeral

May 28,29,30, June 1

All Tickets $5

Show Time 8PM  Doors Open At 7:30PM

Summer Safety

What happens when the lawnmower meets golf ball ?  It’s not pretty!  This is exactly the reason I do not want my children anywhere near me when I’m mowing the lawn.  Only a few short years ago I was mowing the lawn, and the kids were safely playing in the sandbox – or so I thought.  Suddenly I hit a rock that somehow ended up on our lawn.  The rock SHOT out of the lawn mower with amazing force, and struck the post on the side of the sand box, which was the only thing standing between the rock and both of my children!  I now have the lawn mower set to mulch with the door closed to avoid these shots, on top of which, the kids are generally inside or on the opposite  yard when I’m cutting grass.  I remember years ago as a kid when my youngest brother was in the hospital (either with his broken arm, or leg??) a little boy in his room was there with a really messed up foot due to a lawn mowing accident.  Lawn mower accidents occur in an instant – please be careful this summer :D

How I Work-Not Your Typical Day !

I love looking at other photographers work.  Today I thought I would share some of my own.  Take a peek at a “typical” wedding day for me….there is nothing typical about it – Every Wedding Unique & Exciting!!!

Just click the play button :D

Power Director

I get asked this quite often after making up a quick video – what software do you use?  Well this is it – and seriously it is great, there are lots of free add-ons, and the purchase price for download is really reasonable as well!  Users of Macs would obviously stick with iMovie or Final Cut, but for PC users, this is really my choice!  I used to use Pinnacle a few years ago, but user friendly – it was not!  I don’t believe you were even able to run as many tracks as you are with Power Director.  I’m not a videographer – I believe I’ve mentioned this before, but for those interested in something on the consumer level for a PC, this is where I would give two thumbs up  :D

The Dragon Wagon vs. The Swagger Wagon

When I was a kid we had a vehicle we affectionately referred to as - The Dragon Wagon.  All of our vehicles were named, come to think of it, most everything on the farm got named, except the cows, though I’m sure a few of them had their own unique names as well.   There were 6 kids in our family, so the Plymouth station wagon  was perfect, and in those days, car seats were just, well…not :o  A few of us would ride in the back, and everyone fit perfectly; and on at least one occasion, I even rode in the front seat…but we won’t go there -  lets just say, I get motion sickness, and car vents can be very unforgiving.   Well, today I found this posting for The Swagger Wagon, and of course it just brought back such wonderful memories – enjoy!

Pioneer Times

Our daughter came home from school yesterday thrilled about Pioneer Days, and the fact that her teacher was pretending to be a Pioneer Teacher as part of getting into the lessons.  Fortunately she was able to relate on a number of levels, between reading the Laura Ingles Wilder books, seeing Little House On The Prairie, and being able to walk through the shed on the farm where I grew up  – the shed that was once a one room school house, complete with slate boards.  Last week the old school came down, the decision was made to demo it instead of move it as a result of it’s condition.  It was nice to be able to take one final look, and shoot these pictures the night before the demo.

 

Now Playing

Now Playing At The Forest Kineto Theatre
Iron Man 2

May 21,22,23,25

All Tickets  $5

Show Time 8 P.M.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell

Running Time: 125 min.

Synopsis: The world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts, and James "Rhodey" Rhodes at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.

Moving A Home

I’m no videographer, but along with the still shots I took on this day, I decided to catch some video on the Canon T1i of the Zavitz home arrival and “flight home”!  Congratulation on your new home Herb & Peggy.  If only it were really as simply as this looks :D

Before & After

My husband shot this picture this past weekend.  The CN Tower – one of the most recognized structures in the world – obviously due to it’s record breaking height.  The picture was shot out of the window of our vehicle as were driving down the highway on our way home, not much time to play with exposures etc, but still a nice shot – but here’s how to make it even better with 5 easy steps in photoshop…

1. Using the quick selection tool, select and copy layer the CN Tower

2. Add effect to tower with Troy from Doug Boutwell’s  Totally Rad Action Pack

3. Insert cloud layer between tower and background layers

4. Brighten and pop colours of cloud layer using Michael Andrew Lollipops

5. Flatten image, crop and frame to your preference  :D

 

The making of a tornado

 

This past weekend we decided to take a mini vacation.  So with a minor bit of prep, we were packed and out the door on our way to Toronto, Ontario :D (actually we stopped at Mississauga for the first day and night, right Andrew :D )  The kids got to play with the cousins – always a highlight!  And then back to our hotel – Another Huge Thrill!  Our next Big excursion though was to visit the Ontario Science Centre.  This place is always buzzing with activity, and hands on activity for the kids.  Our guys had a great time, but one of the things they enjoyed the most was helping make a tornado!  These pictures show how the air is swirling in the centre, just outside of that is where the kids run around it, I believe to help the swirling get started – Pretty Neat!

 

Mother’s Day

I absolutely love being a Mommy!  Many of my friends have heard me say with each growing stage of our children “This Is the Best Stage Ever!”   The skinny little legs during the infant stage, seeing them smile for the first time, the cooing.  Watching those first bites of food go in their mouths…and then seeing it slide back out again.  Seeing those first steps and the look of trust in their eyes as they try to make their way to you – it’s like nothing else.  My favourite time of the day is nuzzle time.  This is the time of day when the kids get up in the morning and jump in bed for a nice nuzzle, or on the couch at bedtime during our wind down from the day…I also accept nuzzle time during any other time during the day :D  I just love being a Mommy!   So we are having a celebration day today, a day of thrills and seeing all sorts of cool new things – a day with my Hubby and our Children – a true Mother’s Day!

Family Time

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend – time for some family time – a games night!   Here’s a unique idea I found to personalize any one’s game night!

PHOTO-OPOLY

 

Do not pass Aunt Aggie's house. Do not collect $200.

Bummer. First you landed on Uncle Herman's garage - and had to fork over exorbitant rent fees because he's a greedy, monopolistic tycoon - and now you're being sent to the slammer, without any hope of a visit from dear Aunt Aggie (or her $200).

Oh well. The dice don't always roll your way in life.

The good news is that you can now play the classic board game any way you want - that's because you're using your photos in it! Photo-opoly - it's everything the original one was, but way more awesome.

Here's how it works:
Step 1 - Pull out your photos from the ol' shoebox and use the included glue stick and materials to put 'em in the game in place of the normal Monopoly real estate spots. Use the included labels, or create your own, to name your spots. (A sharpie's even included to write with!)

Step 2 - Get the family together and play! In no time flat, you'll be rolling your way to mom-and-dad's anniversary or reliving the glory days of Junior High softball.... (Photos of Grandma June's cats not included.)

Name your game!
Sure, you can use whatever photos you have lying around. But by planning ahead around a particular theme or occasion and using photos to match, you can make a totally unique game that celebrates life's particularly awesome moments.

Info Copied From Photojojo.com

Now Playing

Now Playing at the forest kineto theatre

The Last Song

May 7,8,9,11

Tickets $5  ShowTime 8PM

Starring: Miley Cyrus,Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear,Kelly Preston

LMATD 2010

LMATD 2010 from Heather Jennings on Vimeo.

First Draft Now Complete :)

Dragons

 

 

If you missed it in Forest, I’m sure you will still be able to catch the movie in theatres for quite some time.  How To Train Your Dragon is a fun movie for the family, and like most movies out with the option of 3D, it really does add to the experience to add in this option.  We were able to see the movie on Saturday as a family, and our son was literally on the edge of his seat, and other times standing!  Young or old, check it out :D

Sweet Dreams Baby Boy

This little cutie had such difficulty waking up for his shoot.  The nice thing is that there are lots of different things that you can do with a sleeping baby when it comes to recording the memory of their amazing little life and features!   Congratulations Adam & Tina!