Pac Rim Curling Featured
Big Chop Aug Featured
Convention Centre Featured
Ruby Featured
Dustin Featured
Lou Steve Vanier Featured
Falls Lake Featured
Canmore Featured
Palm Springs Featured

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Opening Week of Pacific Rim Curling Club 2011/2012 Season

If you haven’t noticed – we’re well into the colder part of our year, the leaves are changing colours, Starbucks has their winter drinks out, and the curling season has begun. I was invited to take some team photos at the new Vancouver Curling Club headquarters at the Hillcrest Centre in QE Park. For those in the know, curling is a sport that involves precision, momentum, teamwork and lots of ice! It’s a curiously difficult sport to shoot – although the movements are slow, the lighting can be tricky and in such tight spaces there are up to 8 people on the sheet at one time. I tried my best to stay out of their way, not bump any rocks and take some great pictures of the curlers in action.

The teams are in the LGBT-friendly Pacific Rim Curling League, the second largest hosted at the centre, which feature mixed teams of differing skill levels. I had to hurry hard and get shots of the action while trying not to get swept away by all the activity. The players were in great spirits after their first games of the season and look to have a successful and exciting 2011-2012 season. Take a look at the VCC’s website, and the league’s site, for more information!

MEC Big-Chop Paddle Series

Every two weeks through the summer MEC title-sponsors (alongside MOMAR and Vancouver Ocean Sports) a paddle-race with Kayaks, Canoes, Outriggers, Surfskis and Stand-up Paddleboards. The organizer, Bryan Tasaka, was looking for a series of photos to describe “the Big Chop experience”. I’ve paddled in the race the year before, and it’s an amazing way to see the beauty of the city, meet some good people and get some athletic energy out.

The event culminates with the final race, and a year-end party at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company. The prizes are worth the entry-ticket!

Sunset at Convention Centre

What do you get when you gather four plucky women, mixed in with a healthy amount of liquor and good humour?

Some gorgeous photos at the lovely new convention centre downtown.

I headed downtown with trusty Bear and Ruby in tow to meet the other three ladies who were at a local bar getting their evening started. As we waited for them in cobblestoned Gastown, we took a few shots of Ruby making a shoe change from her day heels into flip flops. Unfortunately we had missed the light in Gastown, so we were off to chase the last vestiges of sunlight and headed towards the Convention Centre. We found ourselves (with another shoe change for Liz and Patricia) at the Centre where others were also taking advantage of the stunning scenery – a bride and groom were posing away behind us – we began our photoshoot.

We know Ruby from the previous photos, she was dressed considerably differently today. Our other coworker Billie-Ann had spent the day getting pampered and was game to add a bit of theatrics to her photos. As our office communications specialist, she helped break the ice with the two less experienced models by sharing humorously exaggerated details of her day. Liz, a lawyer by day, enjoyed her comments and responded well to my cues to help bring out the best in her photos. Patricia, a Bay Area native, is in that adorable glowing stage of pregnancy where her belly is really starting to show, was every inch the model mother-to-be.

Ruby

Ruby has built her life around “when am I working out next”? She is a runner – participating in the Vancouver Half-Marathon late this year, and works out twice a day or “when she is bored” :) Great location – very Vancouver, amazing light and Ruby put up some good athlete-worthy looks. Great set, Ruby!

Weekend Preview

I’ve been busy the last week, and the previews below are some of the fantastic things I’ve shot. Ruby – a fitness-crazed gal, the Big Chop paddle series race, and a good friend’s birthday are coming up on their own soon – until then, enjoy the previews below!

Dustin

Dustin came to me early last year interested in having some shots done to showcase the great work he has done physically. Aiming for a bodybuilding competition, Dustin has come a long way, and looks great! Shot indoors for studio and at Jericho Beach Park with the cloudy Vancouver skyline in the background. It was a long shoot, and the results were fantastic!

Louise & Steve

Lou & Steve had their baby (Grace) arrive March 29th, and at almost four months old, wanted some family portaits taken.  I’m sure there will be many more to come in the next few months.  On location at Vanier Park and a cute little garden just outside of Granville Island.  Beautiful family and a gorgeous day considering our poor weather in YVR lately. Thanks Lou and Steve!

Falls Lake (Travel)

Falls Lake is a small alpine lake nestled in the mountains above the Coquihalla Valley, BC. For anyone that has driven the Coquihalla Highway, you’ll know the unique scenery that you find along the way. We packed up the car, our dog Bear and took a day trip from Vancouver to Falls Lake. A short 15 minute hike from the dirt lot off the highway and the trail opened up into the beautiful scenes below. Worth the 4-hour car drive from Vancouver if you live in the region.

Canmore (Travel)

A weekend trip to Canmore, Alberta recently unveiled some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Western Canada. The Canadian Rockies – if you haven’t visited them before, they are an amazing sight stretching along Canada’s Highway #1. Canmore is a gorgeous town, with friendly people and tons of activities if you love the outdoors. Driving through Banff and into the National Park, all you have to do is point your head in any direction and you see unbelievable beauty.

Palm Springs (Travel)

A quick trip to Palm Springs in February brought some amazing blue sky & desert opportunities.  Harsh, dry and artificial – Palm Springs has its own beauty. I took a few hours to drive around the city from the far north end (with the Windmills) to the far south (with the dry desert roads). As a Canuck who is used to 20 degrees being toasty, it was a nice break from the damp Vancouver weather and picked up my spirits.