Wet Dreams

I fnally have some down time to get caught up with blog posts and other indulgences, like sleep. May has been non-stop shooting, with over 40 properties, 3 weddings (one of which was in Prince George, fer cryin' out loud), a birthday party and some product photography. Not that I'm complaining. I still remember late 2008 when I thought my phone was broken because it didn't ring for about a week.

Got a lot of new clients this month too, particularly on the North Shore. I shot two waterfront homes in Deep Cove recently. They don't come on the market very often. I think Deep Cove has got to be one of the very few places where you go in the front door, and walk down a flight of stairs to get to the living area.

Both of these places pack a lot of house onto a small property, with multiple levels. And of course lots of windows on the water side.

Here are some photos of the first one. you can see the complete listing on Patricia Houlihan's website








The second listing is just down the road, and can be found on Eric Christiansen's site.

Portrait session: Jason Cohen

Local musician Jason Cohen and I were going for a gritty, urban look for his portrait session, to match Jason's style of music. So we decided on an evening shoot somewhere in Gastown, and since it was raining we opted for an indoor location. I mean, we're both dedicated artists, but come on, it's cold and wet out there.

We agreed to meet at the Lamplighter, which, I recalled from the lost days of my youth, was a pretty run down pub with quite a few windows for light, a perfect backdrop. I guess I don't get out much any more, because when I got there I found that it has been converted to a relatively upscale sports bar.

But we went for it anyway, trying hard to avoid the dozens of plasma TVs lining the walls, until management noticed my Speedlights popping off in the corner and politely asked us to leave. Not the first time I've been kicked out of a bar...

So we ended up in the back alley, thankful that the rain had stopped, leaving a lot of shiny bricks and concrete for our backdrops. After a couple of hours we retired to Salt Tasting Room to warm up.

To get enough light I had to shoot at a high ISO, which meant lots of grain on the images, but that just added to the look we were going for. Both Jason and I were very happy with the results.

Sure, I take bribes

This classic looking bottle was a gift from a homeowner whose house was going up for sale. He had 28 years worth of stuff in his basement so he asked me what kind of booze I drank. I told him scotch, but he had already given that out, so I took this bottle of Old Grandad bourbon. It was bought by his father 40 years ago and never opened. I happened to be taking a course in glass photography so we used it as a prop. It's still unopened. I'm going to wait for a special occasion, like maybe the Canucks winning the Stanley Cup. Or the next time it rains. Whichever comes first.

Leavenworth is worth the trip

Having been raised in Kitchener Ontario with a mother of German extraction, I grew up on a steady diet of schnitzel and saurkraut. So when I learned of a little town in Washington State called Leavenworth I had to pay a visit. It's an easy drive from Vancouver, about 4 hours. After you get off I-5 at Everett, take Highway 2 which winds through a narrow valley, up the Cascades through Stevens Pass.

After the railway abandoned it in the 1930's Leavenworth fell into a prolonged depression, but around 1960 it went through a makeover, and was reborn as a Bavarian village. I believe they chose the theme because the town is nestled in a very narrow valley surrounded by towering mountains. Buildings along the main street reflect the Bavarian motif, as do many of the restaurants and shops. The town is thriving, with over a dozen festivals that attract more than a million tourists a year. We spent two days there before heading to Stevens Pass for a morning of skiing and enjoyed it thoroughly.

If you're looking for a cheap, quick holiday off the beaten path, I recommend it highly.

I can see my house from here!

While shooting a penthouse suite at a downtown highrise this week, I went out on the rooftop deck and found a ladder that took me to the very top of the building. You don't often get an unobstructed view of Vancouver from that height on a sunny day very often, so I took advantage of it and shot a couple of panoramas.

Here's a small version of one...

Tulip time in La Conner

If you're not busy next April I would highly recommend a trip to La Conner Washington for the annual Tulip Festival. I've been there a couple of times and enjoyed it immensely. There are thousands of acres of tulips, daffodils and irises. I'm not a huge fan of flowers, but I don't think I have ever seen such huge, brilliant colours in nature anywhere else.

If you decide to go, phone them in early April, since the blooming period is only a couple of weeks long, and the timing depends on how sever the previous winter was. This year we almost missed it since the winter was so mild.

Bring your camera and some gumboots, it can get a little messy...

De-clutter de place!

I have to hand it to realtor Dale McGauran - she has her clients well trained. Every time I show up at one of her listings for a shoot the place is spotless. Today her client said she had been cleaning for 4 hours before I got there. All the knicknacks and miscellaneous clutter were carefully tucked away in closets and under furniture. And to top it off, the sun was shining for a change. It makes my job so much easier, and Dale enjoys a steady parade of potential buyers to her listings, mainly (well, partly) because of the great photographs we end up with. Her last listing sold for $25K over asking. She knows what she's doing!