Archive for the Category ◊ portraiture ◊

09 Dec 2009 Smiles At The Nail Salon
Author: Gail |  Category: Humour, portraiture  | 3 Comments

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I’m posting on the fly again, because I’m working to another deadline tonight and I want to get more than three hours of sleep (which is what I had last night, but at least I finished that job). I wanted to post this photo of the Vietnamese lady working at the salon because she sure looks happy for someone who works on people’s feet. Feet are pretty nasty, if you ask me. That’s the only time I’ve ever had a pedicure and it could be that my photo timing was good, but I can’t take that sort of credit — not this time. I’m told by the regulars that the ladies who work there smile and joke on a regular basis, and I hope they get tipped accordingly because laughter is the best kind of contagious there is.

The video for today isn’t music this time, it’s classic Bill Cosby… if you haven’t laughed yet today, this should get you started!

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07 Dec 2009 Uplighting
Author: Gail |  Category: Music, Videoclips, portraiture  | Leave a Comment

Justin

Have I mentioned uplighting before? I don’t think so, but I will now because it’s quite underrated and it makes spaces (especially at weddings) look quite beautiful. Case in point, Brookfield Place. This was from Justin’s photoshoot last January — wow, can it be that long ago?? We ducked in here while it was quieter on a weekend. For the interested, it was shot at 1/200 sec at f/2.0 ISO 500, 50mm with the 50mm f/1.8 prime (aka “Thrifty Fifty”). Processing in Nikon Capture NX2, PS10 (CS3), and Lightroom 2. No flash, just ambient light. I don’t usually list the specs for each shot; the very thought of that makes me want to weep, but if you want to know, write a comment and I’ll post it by request.

Music for today: one of my favourite bands of all time (long since disbanded), Massive Attack performing “Unfinished Sympathy” live at the Phoenix Festival in England in 1996

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05 Dec 2009 The Best Light
Author: Gail |  Category: Music, Videoclips, portraiture  | One Comment

Jacky

The family portrait shoot today went pretty well, but at the time I was shooting outside (can you believe it’s warm enough to be outside in December?) the sun was far too strong. It sounds counter intuitive, but strong sunshine is actually NOT good for shooting portraits, especially when people are fair-skinned and light-sensitive. The best light to shoot in is actually window light — it’s filtered and makes great catchlights (those points of light in the eyes) without your subjects squinting.

This is one of my favourite portraits of today, where the light strength was perfect through the window beside the front door. I found it on my way out, when I was putting on my shoes. Sometimes it takes a random moment like that to make the discovery.

Today’s video: Pink Martini of Portland, Oregon, performing “Una Notte a Napoli” on Italian TV (I love China Forbe’s voice)

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12 Nov 2009 Little People, Big Hugs
Author: Gail |  Category: portraiture  | Leave a Comment

Aw, what could be better?

One of the photos from the family shoot on October 18.

20 Oct 2009 The Unbearable Cuteness Of Being
Author: Gail |  Category: portraiture  | 3 Comments

the unbearable cuteness of being

Two incredibly cute munchkin cousins from my family photoshoot last Sunday at Wilket Creek Park. I have so many adorable shots of the toddlers with their parents, but I’ll wait a bit longer first before posting while everyone gets a chance to make their selections from the contact sheet.

26 Sep 2009 Previews To The Previews
Author: Gail |  Category: Food + Drink, Working Life, events, portraiture  | 3 Comments

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I’m between functions at the moment, which means I should be napping but I’m uploading a couple of photos first. This week’s been unbelievably crazy-busy, which means I haven’t been able to do anything with last Saturday’s photos of Beth and Shawn and their kids in High Park except do backups and make a contact sheet. Here’s one photo of Beth and Shawn I will be enlarging and displaying at their upcoming wedding. Call me biased, but I love this picture!

And here’s one photo from the wedding I shot today at Brassai on King West. It was a FAB-ulous affair, with the funniest officiant ever, plus a robot, cat, owl, sailor, and… well, I shouldn’t say anymore — this is a pre-preview, after all.

So many details about this wedding won me over, but a wedding brunch? GENIUS! I dug right into the croissants, bacon, eggs, and easily the best granola I’ve ever eaten (with macadamia nuts and coconut–yum!). This pancake tower is a work of art:

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Wait’ll you see the rest of the pictures! Let’s see if I can get any sleep before the post-wedding party…

09 Sep 2009 The Editing Room
Author: Gail |  Category: portraiture  | 8 Comments

Shamim (v1) Shamim (v2)

Was I ever glad to sleep in today! My colleague’s back from holiday and I can get back to my so-called “normal” routine of late nights and late mornings. Tonight I’m holed up in my virtual editing room with my friends Lightroom and Photoshop and a side of music to keep me motivated to finish the laundry, too. Last night I was working on two wedding photography contracts, and I’m gearing up for shoots next week and back-to-back weddings coming up very soon.

BUUUUUUUUUUT — I’m taking a well-deserved break this weekend: for those of you with the password, it’s in the “Where” page. I’m flying there late tomorrow night, hence the current pace!

Also, I’m trying to get my disaster of an apartment in some kind of order because DJ Moka (my younger brother) is coming to visit next week. I’ve been living in Toronto for three and a half years and this is the first time someone in my own family is visiting me! Alvin’s never been to Toronto, so you will see another batch of photos around the city. By now I’m a pretty seasoned tour guide, so the invitation is open to anyone who wants to come and visit. But if I’m busy, I’ll have to put you to work! I’m putting my own brother to work: he’s going to be my second shooter and photography assistant while he’s here. I’m not kidding!

OK, now it’s YOUR turn: I need your opinion. The two photos of Shamim at the top of the post are processed differently, and I’d like to know a general preference. I don’t even need to know why you prefer #1 or #2, I just need a gut response. (Although you are certainly welcome to offer your opinion in the comments.) The poll is anonymous and will be open for 7 days.

poll by twiigs.com
07 Sep 2009 Justine At Cape Cod, MA
Author: Gail |  Category: Friends, USA, portraiture  | 4 Comments

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the water fountain had a mind of its own

Justi wrangling with an ornery water fountain in Provincetown, Massachusetts. I’ve seen her every year for the past three years — twice in 2006 — and as soon as I saw her this time I noticed a major growth spurt. Justi no longer looks like a little kid, she is REALLY TALL for six! I’m 5′3″ and she’s not far from a foot shorter than I am.

Also, Justi looks so much like her brother now, it makes my heart ache. She was only two when Vinny died, I wonder what she will remember of him.

Justi

06 Sep 2009 Front Street Dance
Author: Gail |  Category: portraiture  | Leave a Comment

Front Street dance

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love night shooting! It’s technically challenging, but with enough practice it works out more often than not. I did this engagement shoot in the early summer last year, squeezed in a brief period in Toronto (a week?) between my annual birthday trip (Norway & Germany, in this case) and a trip to Vancouver. Taken with my Pentax K100D, it’s the first time this particular photo has seen the light of day. I like motion blur, and this photo has two sets: the high-speed of the cars on Front Street and the slow-speed of the twirl.

Best viewed larger over at my photography site: Front Street Dance

04 Sep 2009 Photoshoot Preview With Shamim
Author: Gail |  Category: Working Life, portraiture  | 2 Comments

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I’ve had a crazy long day that started at 6am at The Firm followed by a photoshoot that ran from about 4pm and finished at 9pm, so why am I still awake at 2:30 in the morning??? Because I am still so wired about the shoot that I previewed the batch of 326 photos after archiving them and did some tweaking.

It’s a sickness, I know. Most people prefer sleep to sitting in front of a computer, editing photos. What can I say, it doesn’t get much geekier than this…

I was fortunate to have impeccable weather and a great subject in Shamim. When she said she wanted to have some photos taken, I knew we had to get to the harbour and take advantage of this fantastic light. With so many excellent shots, it was hard to pick a few pictures to tweak and show. But I have another 6am start, so I need to be selective and get to bed!

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