Time.

I don't seem to have enough of it! Do any of us?

My poor, neglected blog.


I think I'm going to try and give this project some of my time. I have so many images to blog from 2008, perhaps I should start afresh while humming Auld Lang Syne?

365 images?


Can it me done?

By me?





This is a fitting image to start - this is the clock at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris. I had been planning this shot in my mind's eye for quite a long time. I suppose I was inspired by the lovely children's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It just so happened that my imagined vantage point was roped off, and my urge to set a good example for my children overcame my urge to leap over the myriad barriers in place to keep me out.

I'm sorry we're slow on the blog posting lately - I haven't had the time to check for releases, so I haven't been able to post some of the wonderful images that clients have agreed to have on the blog.

Here's a fun snapshot from this summer:

I love this image of the other members of my family.



Bonus points if you know the location.
Double bonus points if you can name the art.

One more storyboard sample. This is a six up:

Trying something new.

Go vote! Again!



So, I know we've been to the polls once in the last 30 days, but today is your CIVIC election day. Thanks for making your voice heard, and if you haven't, go vote!

Twins?

More storyboards . . . isn't this little subject lovely?

10x20"



20x24"



10X20"

A storyboard for a greeting card.
Our family sends out Easter cards instead of Christmas cards. Here is our card from last year - I also have this printed as a large storyboard for my wall. I love combining images into one print!

In an effort to post a few more storyboards, and to be a better blogger - I want to tell you about a wonderful local find for kids. I discovered4Cats Arts Studio while looking for a Vincent Van Gogh art class for my kids. This art studio focusses on hands-on art education for little ones ages 2-15.



The five day class was enjoyed by each of my children (they were 5, 7 and 9). The studio was in a great location, and was attractive, orderly and interesting. The participants heard stories about Van Gogh, examined his work, and studied about his style by creating their own art using Van Gogh's techniques. They produced a silk-screened tote bag, a charming watercolour self-portrait (using the basics of portraiture), a canvas painting (based on Van Gogh's Sunflowers), and a textured acrylic painting a la Van Gogh's Starry Night.
The teachers were engaging and patient, and my kids were eager to go back every day. The kids were very interested in 4Cats' other offerings, including the stop animation Star Wars class.

4Cats has just released their Holiday/Winter schedule. Go go go check it out!

Bad blogger! Bad blogger!

A client asked me ever so nicely about storyboards - so I've been looking around my archives for examples. Here is a favorite one from this summer - this is a 10x20" storyboard featuring snippets from 7 images.


The images were taken on Dunbar Street in Vancouver - the kids and I had a busy week swirling around this area during our lovely summer. I can't wait to write about it!

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing.” - Judd

Today is election day in Canada! You have from 7am to 7pm to make your voice heard. If you don't know where to vote, click here.

I voted, mostly as part of an effort to make a better future for these three:

If you were an 80's teenager . . .

you have to see this video!

Remember A-Ha? I still have them on my playlist . Did you ever wonder what the deal was with the Take On Me Video? (Warning: coarse language)

Literal Take On Me

Enjoy!

This is one of this year's TED prize winners. James N. is a photojournalist that has dedicated his life to witnessing and documenting world events.
Warning: these photographs are not for everyone, and certainly not for young children.

Portrait of a Husband



Well, not really. But sometimes a portrait can be an image that tells a small story about a person.

This is a delicious loaf of COBS White Bread. We don't often eat white bread, so it is a treat when a loaf makes it into our home. COBS white bread is really soft and fluffy. Rather unsliceable, if you ask me. When I try to slice it, the bread ends up compressed and pyramid-like. But my husband can slice it perfectly and precisely. He sliced the loaf in the photo. The fact that he can slice it in this way speaks to his patience and tenacity.

I won't be keeping this image in my wallet, though.

So cute . . . .

Relay For Life

I had a remarkable evening documenting this amazing gathering. If you haven't attended this event in your community, I encourage you to do so - you won't regret it! I left encouraged and inspired by the survivors, caregivers, families and friends who participated. It was a cloudy, grey evening with dramatic dark skies - many of the images were very symbolic of the light that people associated with the Canadian Cancer Society bring to the darkness of cancer.

Thank-you to all who came out to support the Canadian Cancer Society at the first Cloverdale Relay For Life event. A remarkable amount of money was raised (see the comment from the Cloverdale coordinator on my last Relay post).

I was deeply touched by attending the Relay For Life. Here are some images that capture a bit of the event - grab a coffee, the slideshow is just over three minutes long. You can press play to start the slideshow, and you can page through the images without music if you click the gallery icon at the bottom right edge of the slideshow.

The Cloverdale Relay For Life runs tonight!



I am a community sponsor and will be photographing the event from dinner to approximately midnight.

Please come down and visit to lend some support to the runners, to witness the survivor lap (at 7pm) and to light a luminaria in memeory of a loved one lost to cancer (at approximately 10:30 pm).

Find me and say you saw this on my blog and I'll make an image of you (or your group) and send you a 5x7 print.

See you there!

Stories Wanted for Junior Authors Writing Contest!

Here is a press release for a contest sponsored by one of my talented clients. She is an inspiring teacher - if you know any tweens/teens that enjoy writing, this is the contest for them!



Ladner author Laura Thomas has partnered with Delta Parks & Recreation to offer a short story contest for kids. Top prize is a free spot in her Junior Authors creative writing course, a $144 value. Delta businesses including Albany Books, Black Bond Books, Ladner Starbucks, Staples North Delta, and Ricki Willing of Sutton Seafair have generously donated prizes for the second to sixth place finishers. There is no fee to enter and the contest is open to any student between the age of 11 and 17.


When asked what makes a winning story, Thomas says, “I’m not looking for Nobel laureates, but my standards are high. It’s an author’s job to sweat the small stuff like spelling and word choice. The winning writers will be those who show potential as storytellers. After all, writing is just telling stories without moving your lips.”

Aspiring authors are asked to send in their best story of 250-500 words, typed or neatly printed and with a creative title. Only one story per student will be accepted. Contest deadline is August 31st and entries can be dropped off or mailed to both the North and South Delta Recreation centres. The winners will be announced September 12, after which prizes will be presented at an awards ceremony.

Junior Authors launched in January of this year and is the brainchild of Thomas who is as passionate about teaching as she is about writing. The purpose of the workshop-style course is to help budding authors work on their creativity and writing technique as well as boost their self-confidence. After delving into short stories, script-writing and poetry, Thomas rounds out the course with a practical discussion of how to get published using examples from her own career. The course wraps up with a reading for family and friends.

In September, Junior Authors will be offered on Monday afternoons in North Delta, and Thursday and Saturday afternoons in Ladner. Enrolment is limited to 14 students per class. Registration opens August 14.

Laura Thomas is an accomplished author and storyteller from Ladner, BC. Her stories and poetry have been published in national magazines and during the last year she has done more than 40 preschool performances. Other courses she will be offering in September are: “Storytelling for Parents” with Delta Parks and Recreation; and “Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling” with Delta Continuing Education. Laura does her preschool and family shows as “Agent Story.”

You can catch Agent Story at the following venues: “Wonderfaire” at Gracepoint Community Church in South Surrey July 7-11; Tsawwassen Arts Centre stage July 19; Greater Victoria Public Libraries July 24- 26; and at the Firehall Centre for the Arts on August 22.

Ride For Doug is today!

Preschoolers week! I've recently been able to photograph the cutest preschoolers in BC. I'll be posting them up this week . . .

On turning 90.

Nonagenarian. Ninety. 360 seasons.



One of the many wonderful things about being a photographer is that you get a glimpse into peoples' lives. I'm still thinking about the marvelous surprise 90th birthday party I photographed two weeks ago.



I think about the beautiful hands of a lady who raised four children and how those children taught their children to love and respect their grandmother. I can't help but remember the easy family interactions, the inter generational conversations and laughter, and the way everyone came together to make her day wonderful.

Please drop Candice an email if you would like a link to the slideshow of the party highlights.

Happy Birthday, Betty, and thank-you for allowing me document such a lovely celebration!

Too many great photos from your session? Storyboards are the perfect answer.
Sometimes a client will get into a 'funny face' grove - the expressions are priceless when put together side-by-side.

Happy Mother's Day!

Please enjoy this sneak peek of a recent session featuring a fabulous mother and her two sons. If you are a mom, I hope your day was wonderful!

Don't be fooled by his dreamy expression . . .




this little two wears this expression most of the time!


Thanks, Mr. K, for sitting for me!

Since when do they make tweens . . .




. . . that look this old?

Thanks for allowing me to make your portrait!

Earth Day - The Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company



In honour of Earth Day, I'd like to share with you a company that provides a "community and organising dining experience" - the Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company.

This lovely restaurant located between Cypress and Burrard on 1st in Vancouver (and one in Canmore, AB) aims to revolutionize pizza. Their pizzas are handcrafted on site, with locally sourced organic ingredients. They extend their commitment to the environment and their community on many fronts, included local school involvement, neighbourhood nights, use of reclaimed materials in their decor. Read all about their achievements in sustainability here.

A lovely thing they do is have family nights on Sunday and Monday evenings.
Your kids get to go into the back kitchen and make their own pizzas!

The exceptionally patient and kind Jade helped our group out.
You start with a thorough hand washing, and then get instruction on rolling out their delicious pizza dough.






After a thorough saucing, you get to choose your own organic pizza toppings. Favorites from our visit were the mangoes, prosciutto, green peppers, tomatoes and olives. Not all on the same pizza.






They are then brought to the clay oven for firing. You can feel the heat from it, it was a pretty dramatic way to cook!





The yummy finished product! I can tell you that it tastes amazing - crispy, chewy crust with perfect toppings.

a

They have a fun little play kitchen (from the cool store Natural Pod - check out the cardboard rocket ship!)where kids can don aprons and chef's hats and pretend to make pizzas. No plastic toys here!







Part of their commitment to sustainability is their use of biodegradable pizza boxes, cutlery and straws. The kids were incredulous that the pizza boxes and take-away cutlery was made of potatoes and the straws were made from corn. No pizza boxes were harmed in the making of this photo.




We highly recommend it for both dining and entertainment. We're excited to try out their curry night soon . . .

And if you are inspired to increase your own commitment to the sustainability of our planet, check out their list of simple things to change the world.

Happy Earth Day!

Five is a wonderful age for a photo session (although you will hear me say this about every age!). They are so precious, so clever, and about to step over the threshold into their formal education. Fives love to please, take direction well, and are not shy of me or my camera.

Meet my lovely and charming five year old friend T:




This is her session storyboard:


Thank-you, Miss T, for sitting for me!

Amazing mom, amazing boys!

Our workflow here at Theresa Wiebe Photograph involves the mundane yet crucial task of backing up files. Part of the fun in backing up is getting a peek at some if the session images! Here is the very last image of today's session:
.

This beautiful mommy visited us to get some images of her boys sitting up, and although she didn't plan it, we got some images of her, too!

Thank-you for coming in, L, and allowing me to document your boys' first year. Your slideshow will be up shortly, and perhaps we can share more images of your lovely children here, too!

So that you can see how much they've grown, here are the boys as newborns:
.

I had the privilige of having Mr. J sit for me.

Here is one for his mother:



And one for him:



Thank-you, J. Your images will be ready soon!

A rare photo of me . . .