tubeLOVE: flashback.

Wow. Just, wow. Have not heard this song in about a bazillion years. LURVE it!

tubeLOVE: crash tests

If I put my cynicism about insurance companies and try to believe for a minute that some engineers out there designing crumple zones are trying to save lives aside for a few minutes, I think I can trust my eyes enough to see the obvious. In 1959 Bel Air v. 2009 Malibu, the Malibu wins. Pretty trippy, hey?

babyLOVE: mad crafting skillz...

OK, so wedding season is over and I haven't had a chance to upload the last of those yet, but I don't want y'all to get bored with the blog so I thought I'd post a gooder.

Serejane and her Grandpa Bear wearing matching fringed vests made from the leftovers of the seamless backdrop from our fabu pin-up sessions last week. (I can't share those yet, either... not until after Christmas... shhhh!)

meLOVE: time spent well, even in Calgary

This past weekend I spent in Cowtown. Saturday was spent with a handful (90 or so) other photographers to attend a workshop put on by the renowned Orange County snapshooter Christopher Becker of [b] school fame. I won't break down the seminar here - it was really more of a social than learning event for me - but I will say I felt affirmed in much of what I've been teaching in the Dirty Little Secrets workshops.

However, I would be remiss if I didn't wax poetic about 2 things: hanging with my friend Tammy of Smiley Eyes photography, who I never get to see anymore because we're always so darn busy - I am so grateful to have had a chance to reconnect. Then Sunday was spent hanging out with mein seestor, which brings me to the second reason to wax poetic, about Sunny the muskox. He lives in Calgary, and who has the best dreadlocks EVER. Love him, even if he was cranky and even if he did snot leech-sized (and shaped and coloured) boogers on my hand when I tried to feed him some yummy pellets.

Isn't he gorgeous? I love him.

tubeLOVE: oh, so funny...

A warning there is some potty mouth in this video, but it's too ridiculously hilarious not to share...

newLOVE: a precious little boy

There are no pictures to accompany this newLOVE.

On November 11th, 2009, an angel was born. Although I am a participating member of NILMDTS, this one was off the books because I wasn't there as a guest or a photographer, but as a friend of the family. While it's never easy to see someone lose a child, it's infinitely different when it's a person you know, love, and respect, who has shared coffee, laughter and tears with you, and who already holds a special place in your heart, whether it's a friend, colleague, or blood relative.

I'm grateful for the busy-ness of the past few days because it was a distraction from the heartache of my beloved friend having to leave the hospital with empty arms. But, as is the case with these things, procrastination only gets you so far. I just keep thinking, it isn't fair. I acknowledge that these things just happen, while some believe it is part of a master plan, while others have equally valid philosophies, it does not change the fact that my heart is broken because it just isn't fair. Tonight, after the fanfare of a busy week, I am able to grieve, not just for my friend, but for all my mother-sisters out there who have endured the pain of losing a child.

To my humble and cherished friend, I have no words of wisdom or condolence, nor do I offer a prayer for your beloved son who is in good hands already, but a wish for peace and strength for you and yours. Out of respect for the privacy of the family during this difficult time, if you wish to leave a comment or a kind word I ask that you please refrain from using their names.

If you are a photographer, please consider becoming a member of NILMDTS.

togetherLOVE: loveliness x silliness

It's impossible to pick just a few pictures from this session, for a number of reasons.

1.) I have a soft spot in my heart for Mama N, who I picked up on the internet and fell instantly in love with. She broke my heart when she moved away.
2.) I have a soft spot in my heart for Daughter M, who I had the distinct pleasure of hanging out with for a week in the Dominican earlier this year collecting seashells, wearing piña coladas, building sand castles, and not seeing any whales.
3.) I have a soft spot in my heart for rural Alberta, which includes cow pies, cafes, tall grass, rickety fences, barns, dogs, dilapidated buildings, farm equipment, long stretches of highway, and a whole lot more.
4.) I have a soft spot in my heart for N & M's entire family, who welcomed Bill & I with open arms not only into their home but their lives, and for that we are both forever grateful.

For those reasons I'm simply going to post a link to the Picasa album and dare you not to fall in love with these two. Thanks to the proprietors of the Long Branch Trading Company and S-bar Ranches for their invaluable contributions to this photo session.

meLOVE: like Phil Collins says...

It's less than 2 months until the new year, and for 2010 there are some exciting new things in the works: simplified photography pricing, a dedicated website for the DLS workshops, a fun new site for chicks who click, a new and improved referral site for all your photography needs, and a user-friendly page for exercising photographilanthropy. Before anyone asks, NO, my prices for photography services WILL NOT increase, but they will change...

So, the countdown begins...

tubeLOVE: for the love of being a hillbilly...

Classic. Thanks to our Hosting Halloweiners for the tip on this one, and a shout out to Heather 'if you believe the Jersey Milk wrapper that there is a Jersey Cow' Duperron of PixelPie, who will appreciate the cow humour today.

youLOVE: pin-up/glam opening!

Unfortunately one of our pin-up girls scheduled for November 11th has had to cancel.. The good news is, this means I have ONE OPENING at 9:15a.m. For complete details, please read this post and contact me at h [dot] walls [at] shaw [dot] ca to book now!