She

It was cold and overcast, I was alone, searching for something. Searching for what? I don’t know, just something. Everywhere I looked I found a cold, unfriendly stare aimed squarely at me.

But on a quick glance to my left I spotted what I must have been looking for.

She strode confidently past. Chin up, shoulders back. She had an assertive gait, one of purpose and importance. It was she who I must have come to this place to seek out on that day.

She had blond hair, probably dyed. She was older. She had shoulders that were both broad and slender at the same time. She wore clothes that were tailored perfectly to suit her slender figure – a well-fitted red leather jacket, a pencil skirt with just a kiss of flare at the bottom to allow it to flow in the slight cool breeze, and heels that showed off well defined calves and delicately slender ankles.

Who was she? Where was she going? What was her story? I’ll never know.

She strode swiftly and with ease through the streets. I tailed her briefly and wanted to know more. But just as quickly as she appeared, she had vanished…

P.S. This was just a story I made up about this image. I took it earlier this year in Kensington Market in Toronto. It’s the first time I’ve attempted such a thing on my blog, and it’ll probably be my last. I think I’ll eave it to my friend Nicole Sander from this point forward.

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Texture in Street Photography

I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow I managed to build my blog on a solid foundation of street photography. Honestly, I just stumbled into it. I bought a new camera and wanted to use it. I wanted to learn how to get myself out of “P” Mode and create my own images. I loved people watching, I loved walking, and I loved taking pictures, so street photography just seemed like a natural fit.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that draws me in so deeply, but perhaps it’s the multi-layered textures of the street. You see, when I’m out walking or cycling through the streets, I’m drawn to the sights, sounds, and smells that surround me. One layer that grabs my attention above all else is colour. For me, there’s nothing better than walking the streets after the rain has fallen, while the sky is still grey, and while the streets still glisten with the yet to be absorbed rain droplets. These are the times when colours erupt into their most beautiful and daring. Perhaps it’s the girl on the corner holding red balloons, or a display of lanterns outside one of the shops. 

 

 

Another layer of street photography that engulfs me so deeply is the rich amount of historical architecture that surrounds us. I have learned so much about the history of Toronto by photographing many of it’s 19th and early 20th century buildings, that I have gained a new appreciation and respect for Canada’s greatest city, and how Canadians have lived for more than one hundred years. 

 

But then there are the little things, the details that catch my eye, but might have gone unnoticed by the hundred people that passed before me. A shattered store front glass door that when looked at closely, reveals the shatter lines follow the leading lines of the street it reflects; the fashion details you can only find in a big city such as strategically chosen coloured socks, or a hand made ring constructed out of gears and bits and bobs of watches; chipped paint on a century-old church door; the beauty of dusk and the soft glow of lights in the office towers that overlook the organized chaos of evening commuters; or a lonely oak leaf resting on some old railroad ties.

But my favorite layer of all is the people. People are what make up the lifeblood of the streets and they are the most important texture layer in my street photography stew. I love watching people – how they stand, how they move when they are alone or with other people, and how they interact. In one city, you’ll find that people look different depending on where they reside, where they live and work. It’s an interesting analysis on society.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern

I’m participating in this week’s photo challenge with a last minute entry. The theme – pattern.

Patterns appear everywhere you look, and show up in everything you do. Just track your activities on any two consecutive days and you’ll probably notice that you operate in a consistent pattern. Or, take a second the next time you pass a fruit market and look at the display and you’ll notice… patterns.

Here a just a couple random photos of patters that I encounter on my daily walks at lunch.

Childhood Memories: 3 Objects In My Childhood Bedroom

As an only child, I was spoiled growing up. We were not well off by any stretch of the imagination, not even close. Thinking back, we were probably living a shade above the poverty line, if that. But, for some reason, I had everything. I not only had my own bedroom, but I also had my own “toy room”. the toy room had shelving from floor to ceiling on all four walls, and I’m not proud to say it, but I was able to easily fill each and every shelf. And though toys were a huge part of what consumed my time as a youngster, the three things listed below invoke stronger (and fonder) memories than any of my old toys. These three things weren’t toys at all…

1. Return of the Jedi bed sheets
There wad nothing bigger for someone growing up in the 80s than the Star Wars movies. I loved those sheets. I wish I kept them so I could pass them along to my sons, but they probably wouldn’t be much more than the consistency of a wet Kleenex by now. I studied each character on those sheets. My bed probably didn’t see anything else on them, which makes me question how often I let my mom wash them… um, gross.

2. A horse-shaped bedside lamp
Growing up, I was uncontrollably afraid of the dark. I’m not sure why, but maybe it was because of the creaky floors and doors in the house, maybe it was the unknown of the black night that you only see in a rural setting, or maybe there really were monsters trying to get at me. For peace of mind though, I’d like to think that a monster could have gotten at me 🙂 Having that lamp on at night kept me in a safety bubble and allowed me to sleep soundly… when I eventually fell asleep. It cut through the blackness with power and authority. It also had such a beautifully detailed horse statue as the base. That horse was my protector.

3. A massive closet
The closet provided me with a gateway to an alternate universe. I could step through the door, and be anywhere or anyone. I think closets are one of the best play spaces a child can have. Today, my older son pretends his closet is an ice cream truck from which he serves us ice cream almost every night.

What were the special items in your childhood bedroom? Did you have a favorite toy, piece of furniture? Or clothing? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

The idea for this post came from a book I picked up recently called 642 Things to Write About, by the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. It’s full of wild and random topics. If you’re ever stuck for something to write about, I strongly recommend picking up a copy for yourself and thumbing through it. Many of the titles will make you laugh out loud.