I love it here, especially on a hot day. Don’t drive by too fast or you’re guaranteed to miss this spectacular place. There’s limited parking, and drive slowly over the hills in the area! Lots of people visit here on the weekends. Pack a picnic and your cameras, and please don’t walk on the mounds!
|
|||
|
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
Just a couple updates! I have been working on all the portrait sessions from my free studio over the last month… wow, what a thrill that was! I’m happy that I was able to get in as many friends & family as I did, and for all the fantastic comments I’ve received – so thanks! Commercial studio has finally wrapped up in class for me, and it’s time to start working on my own studio. That being said, I picked up some new gear over the past couple weeks – wireless transmitter for my flash, as well as a 45″ umbrella and stand to put it on with my flash unit (kind of how photographer Lisa Bettany does many of her setups). I’ve only set it all up once while I was down visiting friends in Rochester (Thanks Sara! Hope you like your portraits!)   That said, I will be working on improving my business plan for this Fall, which includes offering additional products to clients and creating a new pricing structure that reflects the commercial quality I provide my clients. So, from now until August 31st, my portrait sessions will be just $75! Contact me here to book a session! I must admit, I’m really happy with how my little business is progressing! It is allowing me to be creatively free, challenging me to break out from my comfort zone and really improve my skills as a photographer. Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
A few more portraits from the studio! 
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
What an exciting week. First there was the Canadian earthquake that struck on Wednesday, and two tornadoes that ripped through two cities in Southern Ontario. And then today; I attended the protests downtown Toronto. What I experience was not what I was intending on experiencing. Like many others, all I wanted was to be near the hype and excitement, and of course, to get a few pictures. The first blockade was at University & Richmond. Nothing exciting, lots of cops and mounted police. We could hear a little bit of the protesters up on Queen Street, and overheard from a cop’s radio that they had smashed in a Starbucks. 
We were not allowed to walk north on University, and a few people that attempted to were immediately stopped. In the half hour I was standing there, only three people had been trying to cause a ruckus. “For your safety, I cannot allow you to pass. If you do, it will be a threat to police and security, and you will be taken down.” From University & Richmond, we walked south to Adelaide and over to Bay. We ran into the protesters heading south, and continued to walk with them. It was intense, with lots of yelling and tears, passion. These protesters were passionate, and I give them credit for that. They’re standing up for something they believe in. But it’s the violence that silences everyone else. Violence will not solve anything, ever. And to quote Toronto Mayor David Miller, “…they call themselves anarchists when really, they are only criminals.” 
Eventually there was a cloud of smoke, and the first thought was it was tear gas being dispersed. I ran to get closer to see, and then I saw flames. Seeing the flames, and the crowd running in every different direction was like being in a movie. It was unreal. I kept thinking, “This isn’t Canada, we don’t experience such displays of violence here…”
As I got closer to the car I realized it was a police cruiser, which was even more nerve-wracking. If these protesters (anarchists, criminals, terrorists…) were torching cop cars, what else were they capable of? The police formed a line around this time and started beating their shields with their batons. A scare tactic, echoing between the buildings, sounding a bit like gun fire. I realized we were in trouble when they would no longer let us pass, and get away from the burning carnage. Instead, they were pushing us even closer, causing increased panic in the people around me. A small group of us gathered under the BMO building roof, right at the corner of King & Bay. We were maybe 50 feet from the burning car, and there was a mix of emotion behind me: tears, sheer panic, yelling, laughter. One girl was screaming, “You can’t leave us here! If the car explodes we are all going to die!” We stood behind the pillar until the police line on the other side escorted us out of there. We had to raise our hands like prisoners in order for them to lead us out, as if we were the criminals. Then we were stopped alongside the south side of the building, and told to stand still and keep our hands out of our pockets. A few minutes later we were told to keep walking to safety. We made it to the next block and stood there, waiting for the car to blow up (it didn’t). It was intense.  Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
I’ve been busy lately! But here are the latest cute kids to come by Studio Lisa at Conestoga College. LOVE THEM. It’s kids like these ones that just make photography so easy! (I think this would make a great Goldfish advertisement :) 
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
I am just loving this mini studio sessions! I’m still such a beginner but I’m having a blast! Here are a few more photos I’ve done with the professional equipment! 
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
I’m working towards my photography certificate at Conestoga College, and I have the opportunity to utilize the professional studio equipment from now until July 9th. I am looking for willing candidates to sit for me for just half an hour. I promise to bring out your best features, and I welcome any suggestions and feedback! Studio Sessions are now FREE! Contact Lisa by email waterstonephoto@gmail.com or call 519-575-6027 to book your preferred session, and/or to see my portfolio. Availability: *Friday, June 18th: 6:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, or 9:30pm *Saturday, June 19th: 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, or 4:00pm *Friday, June 25th: 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, or 8:00pm *Saturday, June 26th: 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, or 4:00pm Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
Since the beginning of May this year I’ve been studying commercial studio as part of my photography certification. It’s been great, and I’m learning about studio lights, posing and art of operating such equipment. I’ve always been more of a one-light, natural/dramatic lighting kind of photographer, and for the teacher to introduce two lights and fancy equipment, it threw me for a (little) loop. Well as it turns out, I love it. I think the results I’ve achieved so far have been awesome, and I can only imagine where I can take my photography creativity to next. Below are some of the photos I’ve taken in class. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be able to book studio time for anyone interested in “professional” studio portraits. Interested in a free portrait? Email me (waterstonephoto@gmail.com) for details. First off, a few of my classmates in an awkward family photo :) 
And then Tyson & Ally came in for us to photograph. They were our superstars!
Welcome to the blogsite for Waterstone Photography. It's a mix of all my photography. Oh, and comments are welcome!
What a great day it was for this annual festival, and for my first visit.  A lady and her friend were happily browsing the market when I asked for their photo. I noticed they were trying on hats and seemed to be enjoying the still-quiet, early morning out at the market. The lady in pink agreed, and took a few moments to pick out the best hat for the photo.  (almost as soon as I’d taken her photo, I wish I’d composed it a lot better)  When I first arrived at the park, there were two people lined up to take a ride. I wanted to wait until there were more spectators before I went up. It just gives a photo more juice than if no one and no cars were around.  While I was up in the hot air balloon, the operator told me he’d been flying hot air balloons for over twenty years, but did not own his own. I stated the obvious, that it was going to be a hot, busy day, and he chuckled in agreement.  Standing in the basket, taking in the view, he then pointed out a tiny car in the lineup of antique cars. When it was time to disembark, that’s where I went.  …this is not the Mini After checking out the mini Mini Cooper (it’s 26″ shorter than a Mini), Bill captured my photo, and then made the connection of how we knew each other. Wandering through the vendor zone, I met Randy, owner of a kiosk selling various home decor items. I purchased a small bench picture frame with shells and oceanside flare. He agreed to let me take his picture while he was still setting up a few items for sale. Randy has been to a variety of markets in Southern Ontario, and is almost always at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. (Maybe I’ll track him down next year and give him a copy of this photo :)  An hour or so after I visited a few neighbourhood garage sales, I stopped in at a kiosk full of ethnic charm. Drums, necklaces, crosses, rings, tribal decorations. I’m always drawn to these kiosks to get a dose of distant culture, without actually leaving town. Handcrafted items have not just their unique, sometimes imperfect looks and feels, but they also carry the love that flowed through the artist’s hands. Victor introduced himself to me and we chatted about the variety of items he was selling. El Salvador crosses, Indonesian necklaces, Mexican drums, Peruvian bean-bead necklaces. I purchased the Peruvian bean necklace and asked Victor if I could take his photo. Such a nice man!  One of the garage sales happened to be a fund-raising effort put on by the youth of St James Lutheran church. I purchased custom-made reusable bags to support their cause, and then asked to take a group photo of the youth helping out. I hope they had a successful day!  Sights, smells, sounds… colours, shiny cars, dusty books, greasy foods, condesation covered cans of pop, sweaty kids, diesel, jet fuel, fried foods, cooling off in the shade Met Donna, owner of a 1947 Dodge businessman’s coupe and a 1956 Dodge Coronet. Donna and her husband have owned these cars for about five years, and travel around every weekend during the summer to show them off.  I told her I was a student photographer at Conestoga, and Donna offered to let me in one of the cars to get a few interior shots. I gladly accepted. 
|
 |
||
|
Copyright © 2010 waterstone photography - All Rights Reserved |
|||
