My 100th Post!

Well it is the 23rd of December and I just realized I have to get a couple of last minute gifts. Just when I was feeling smug about being all done my Christmas shopping, 90% done online without leaving my house to boot, I am going to have to enter the lair of insanity (ie.the mall) today after all and so comes to post my 3rd installment in the LML Christmas Memories.

I should first note to anyone who watches this video, it is a very powerful document to the suffering of war. Something that I really think Lennon himself would have been proud. I chose this version instead of the original one because I really think it, more than anything, will make us reflect on how lucky we are, how little we really need, how much we have the resources to give and the necessity for us to act. It also brings into question the idea of conflict and the objectivity of violence for peace, when the innocents always suffer the most. As Mahatma Gandhi's quote at the end states "An eye for an eye will make us all blind"...may every world leader watch this video and realize nothing is more true.

Below the video is a charity I heard about on CBC News this week. A charity that really takes a unique approach to helping the 2nd and 3rd world in the development of their economic structure. Rather than offering straight charity to be distributed by an umbrella organization, http://www.kiva.org/, gives an opportunity to give to a person with a business idea and a dream to not only prosper in his/her community, but in turn help his community prosper. We become a mini WMF (World Monetary Fund), helping the often forgotten individuals throughout the world that have the initiative to change through business at a ground level.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

The Draper Sisters

Another weekend and another portrait another acquaintance made. The thing I love most about being a photographer is being able to meet new people on a weekly basis. You have the opportunity to develop a relationship in a short time that will last a lifetime. It is really my hope that by giving my clients that special unique view I try to capture I give images that will not only give a document to treasure, but a memory of the fun and memorable time we spend together. The 3 Draper sisters and I sure shared a few laughs and had a great morning out at the Elsie Perrin Estate in London, Ontario. I had them climbing fences, looking out of broken windows and, as always hiking the entire property so we could use many different existing props to get that perfect picture. Thanks girls for being so great:-)

The following video (#2 in my LML Christmas Memories) is a true time capsule. Just watching it is part trivia exercise in the where are they now game. Other familiar faces are a symbol of how so many fell through the cracks of the 1990s and only made headlines in the scandal of smut journalism. Others, like Bono (or is he The Fly) and Sting, the conceded holier than thou, pompous, arrogant ethereal beings they have become, (although I give props to Bono in his efforts with the RED campaign) were able to adjust with the times and retain their massive music careers. More than anything what I really get out of this video is how squeaky clean and innocent the mid-80s where. Honestly, fast forward to Band-Aid 2006 the entire gathering of musicians would be clad in bling, thongs and tattoos, not mullets, makeup and tartan pullovers. Merry Christmas:-)

Do they know it's christmas

Christmas Special #2

For a limited time I will be offering "print freebie" offer. For duplicate orders of the same picture, I would like to offer a 3/1 deal. If you order 3 prints of your favorite image, receive one free of a duplicate size. If ordering online, I will manually deduct the image(s) value and email you a new total and if you pay using PayPal, I will issue you a cheque for the rebate. Offer is valid until January 25, 2007.

Turning away from photography and the business of photography for a moment, I have decided to add a little Christmas music to my site. As many of you know, music is a close second to photography and a running mate to travel in my list of favorite things, so I will be adding some of my favorite Christmas songs for the next week, along with my specials and photo updates. I hope you like this little bit of cheer:-)

Sean

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Dave, Claire and Jeff

Ahh, what do I say about Claire, Dave and Jeff. Here we have 3 great kids, whom I consider good friends (we worked together at my previous job as dining room manager at the Westover Inn), whom not only know the essence of life at a early age, but also know how important and heartfelt a picture can be to other family members. We had a great time trudging through the snow alongside the CN Rail line on the South end of town. With the clear skies and warm winter sun at its brightest I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Thanks guys for being you and for supporting Lucid Musings Photography. Catch you on the rebound:-)

Faq: Using my Canon 30d, I shot almost everything spot metered, some with a little fill flash from an on-camera 580ex (my slave was acting up because of the brightness). Working with little shade, reflective white snow and clear skies, exposure often became an issue. In this situation, I always chose to expose for the subject's mid-range at expense of the background and try to bring it back in (if wanted) in post-process burning.

The Thynne Family

My shoot later in the afternoon took me to a small bush, with untouched virgin snow stuck to every branch and forest floor, a winter portrait dream. The sun was beginning to reach a great level, reflected through the trees. It really was perfect. The Thynne's have always been a big supporter at the local dance studio, where their daughters attend, but this was the first family portrait I had done for them. Bringing in the 3 aspects I try to capture with all portraits-posed/fun/natural-we really had a great time. It really isn't hard to get the photos you want when you have 3 girls as beautiful and naturally cheerful as these 3 though. Thanks to Tara, Steve, Emmy, DD and Paige for making my job a true joy:-)

Faq: All pictures where shot without a lens change. Using my Canon 30d with a 580ex on a Stroboframe bracket and another 580ex, on slave, usually just above head level, angled down at a 45 degree angle, ahead and to the right of the camera. The walking picture was shot without flash, spot metered off the subject to give a more natural effect. Most where touched using the Kubota "Lord of the Rings" plugin in CS2, to soften and give the highlights that "pop".

Concert Break

The other night I got to see one of my favorite things, an up and coming band with a lot of future potential and talent in one of my favorite locations, Call The Office in London, Ontario. The band was Wintersleep, a thoroughly energized outfit with introspective, often dark lyrics about life and living. I have included a photo poster I created for a friend and fan who was at the show with me. Support Canadian music and check this band out http://www.wintersleep.com/ .

December/January Portrait Special

The family portrait, an often neglected part of the family heirloom. With the reality today that so many of us own a digital point and shoot camera and are constantly snapping away pictures that end up in unsorted, forgotten regions of a hard drive, the idea of the professional portrait to display on a wall in the homestead seems redundant to some. For others, the simple answer is a visit to the local WalMart, or Sears studio, where a discount, generic package is to be had. Here at Lucid Musings, I believe in capturing more than that. I believe that in this world of hustle and bustle and quick answers to everything, an hour spent capturing your family in a natural setting, with true emotions is not something that should be an afterthought. From humourous pictures that make you laugh and question their thoughts (as in the picture of my son and his cousin) to pictures that make you cry remembering a special time in your life, a real portrait is not something that should be even questioned, but done. A baby is only a baby for a short while, and adolescent, an adolescent for a moment, a kid for a second and a teen for a an instant. Capture all these moments, cherish them and most important, remember them in a way only a professional portrait can offer. You owe it to yourself.

For the months of December and January, I am offering one 8x10 archival enlargement (a $21.95 value with every portrait booking-also applies to spring/summer bookings made before January 31, 2007). On location portrait sitting rates begin at $135.00. Contact me at 519-284-2356, or email me Sean@lucidmusings.com.

Sean

Happy December 1st!!

December 1 for me is the official start of the Christmas Season. A time to reflect on the year gone by, appreciate the gift of family and friends and, of course....exchange presents. In this spirit, throughout the month of December Lucid Musings Photography will be offering many discounts on everything from enlargements to booking rebates, all listed here on Lucid Musings Photo Lite, so keep an eye out. It is my little way of giving something back after my most successful year yet:-)