500px.com

It's amazing how many websites there are out there to sell your images. A few days ago I came across one called 500px.com. Truthfully, I had never heard of this site before but, upon closer inspection, I quickly got the idea that it's been around for quite some time. So, liking what I saw, I immediately opened an account with them. One of their best selling points is the fact that I don't have to deal with the details of shipping and handling. That is all them! This leaves me completely free and clear to wander outside my house, in whatever state of creative inebriation I find myself at the time, and completely concentrate on taking my images.On top of that, they always answer my questions in as timely a manner as possible. And, as all of who've ever waited on pointed tinder hooks for any kind of response from any website on which we've just posted a query,all of which are of the utmost, press the red button now!, importance, this is very much appreciated. So far, I'm very happy with them. If you would like to take a look, then, here are my images. http://500px.com/llongmore (having tried to attach a link to this blog before, I'm really hoping this works this time) But, if the link doesn't work then, just look up my name, Loretta Stephens, and see where that gets you. Alright, fingers crossed, heeere... weee..go!

Washington Bound!

I love visiting my uncle and cousins in Washington D.C. Not only because I don't get to see them as much as I'd like but because the city is such a wonder to me. Everything about it is so new and open to me, so welcoming. Okay, maybe that's just in the tourist area, but still, I felt invited there. Speaking of tourists, there is such an influx of tourists there that at times it's hard to tell the natives from the invaders. They pool around the famous buildings and open areas like ants at a picnic, each pushing and pulling their way to the next stone attraction before the sun goes down or anybody else gets there. I didn't mind them that much, really, I was with my cousin and we just flew through them to get to our own attraction, of which my favorite was The Newseum. It's located near the Capital building and right beside the Canadian Embassy. It was truly the most informative and the most surprising. Who knew that News could be so interesting or had such a profound history. And, I know how foolish that sounds, the news has been around for as long as we'ved had people on this earth but, still, it blew me away to see so many periodicals of newsworthy items on display in there. They had pages of newspapers from The Civil War depicting how the battle was going that week, they had an early printing press, a Klansman robe, including what was left of the car that the very first journalist was sitting in when he was assassinated. Not to mention a plethora of articles on Katrina. The place was an amusement park of information! I would definitely go back. At the very top of the building was a long promenade that gave you an almost 180 degree look at the streets below. From up there I could see the museums across the way and if I looked all the way down the street I could see The Capital Building. It made for such a stunning vista. The other museum I really liked was the Native American Museum. It was such a beautiful, curvaceous piece of work that housed a grand fountain on the outside. The inside was nothing to sneeze at either. It was another wellspring of information that completely took me by surprise. I can't wait to go back again. For, as with all things on vacation, there was so much to see and sadly, so little time to see it in. Maybe I'll see the zoo next time,or explore the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, either by kayak or canoe, or maybe I'll eat at one of the many food trucks that litter the city. Whatever I decide to do I know that my next time in the city will be just as good, if not better than the last.

All Aboard!

A little while back I went on a trip to Washington D.C.with my mother. We went to see some family members whom we hadn't seen in a very long while and, as with all of my other trips, and any trip I venture on, I took my camera. My preferable way of traveling is by train. Call me old fashion, or just plain romantic,but I love traveling by train. It's so much more comfortable, and leisurely than any other mode of transportation. C'mon, think back to the last time you traveled: do you remember feeling enough leg room to spread your feet out and stretch your toes without pissing off the person in front of you when your legs hit the underside of their seat? How about standing up? When was the last time that you got the opportunity to wander from plane to plane or bus to bus on any of your travels? And not to mention the view. What do you really see up there? Even the bus only gives you a driver's view of what's going on outside your window. Now, While I truly enjoy the view of the earth from the sky, there is just nothing like the scene outside your window that lingers along beside you on a train. It's like the country your in has finally gotten a chance to meet you and it doesn't want to miss the opportunity to wave and say hi! This is it's chance and it's going to take it. There is also no rushing on trains- to some extent. Although the train may be speeding along, you and your luggage are still going to get to your destination at least ten hours well past your compatriots in the air. But, you don't mind. You've come to fully accept this. It's all part of the train experience, the train mystique. I saw some great vistas on this trip. They ranged from lakes, oceans, to mountains and valley's. It was definitely a side of this land that I'd never seen before, even when I took this same trip years before. I didn't remember seeing the things I saw this time around. The voyage itself was also very different the first time, as well. For one thing, We had to take a bus from Montreal at some un-Godly hour of the morning to St Albans New York. Once there, my mother and I, and a scattering of other passengers, had to walk through some patches of bushes to a tiny, near minuscule, shack in the middle of nowhere. It was so tiny the only thing that fit inside was a ticket counter and a patch of space on the floor big enough for only, maybe, six people to pace around on.Then, to get on the train we had to step off of the postage stamp platform and walk the five or six feet across a swath of rocks and pebbles to a massive waiting train, on which we had to step up to to get on. Great adventure for me, not so much fun for my mother with arthritic knees. But, none of that on this trip. This time the train left from the Montreal Gare Central station, downtown.It was so much easier for my mother this way. Barely any up and down to go through. Okay, so on the train you have to buy your own food. Have you tasted airline food? Wouldn't you want to buy something better if you had the choice? Granted, it was a tad expensive, and if you are going on AmTrak you are already spending your American loot but, it was totally worth it, if not for the cold beer then for the walk from your seat to the dining car alone. To some extent, I've become very spoiled by this way of traveling. Barring the times when I couldn't afford to pay out the high price for a very long and winding train ride in the short time that was allotted to me during my break or vacation, this has always, and will always be my first choice of getting anywhere outside of my city, my province, or my country. God, help me if I have to go to overseas. Seriously, they can build a Chunnel from London to Paris but they can't build one across the Atlantic?! Where's their ambition?!

Workshop 2012

On March tenth of this year I hosted another successful photography workshop
for McGill University.
This time around I had eleven students ready to learn the basics of photography.
We met at the usual place on Mount Royal Park in front of the lower chalet facing
Beaver Lake.
Once again, we had a glorious day of sunshine and blue skies.
But, being that this was March there was still a bit of a chill in the air, which
picked up a bit as we ascended to the top of the mountain after the lecture part
of our class was over.
As with all of my workshops I took a group photo at the end of class, but, by the
time I took it this year some of my students had already departed, so, sadly, some
of them are not represented in the shot.

Thank you to all of my students that took my workshop! I had a great day with you all and
am truly proud to have met you!
Happy shooting!

At The Zoo...

This must be a stellar year for me and the United Photographers Of Montreal! Two outings in a row! I really hope this streak keeps up!

The next outing we went to was to the Eco Museum in Ste. Anne De Bellvieu.
Until that day I didn't even know we had an Eco Museum in Montreal. But, after that outing I was very glad we did. It was such a pleasnt surprise!
The place was bigger than I thought it would be, considering the area it was situated in. It wasn't too far from the highway and was practically surrounded by trees and all manner of foliage.
It looked like it could have been taken out of any adventure book you might have read as a child.
It was such a beautiful place!
We got to see it on a very sunny and chilly Saturday morning. Once through the main building we pushed through the back doors and the first creature we saw were a group of Snowy Owls. They were of a good size and so amazing to look at. As we wandered around the place we came upon a long man made bridge that traversed a body of water that could have been out of a Louisianna Bayou, green moss skimming across the surface and all.
There were a set of very playfull Sea Otters, a rather pungent porcupine, White Tailed Deers, at least three Black Bears, and so many opportunities for nature photography that my cup runeth over.
I particularly loved this aspect of the day. I shot so many images that I had to change cards!I was both surprised and dissapoint to find that the lake where the water fowls were to be was under construction. But,from what I hear it should be finished by next summer.
A real surprise was the basement of the main building. there they housed the anphibians, turtles, and snakes. I got a great shot of a turtle with his nose just barely poking out of the water's surface. I shot it without a tripod so, I was klucky it came out the way it did.

My other picture, albeit, a bit more shaky, was an abstract of the turtle's body, toes on their tips torso reaching up towards...what? Food, another turtle, maybe just to get some air...

I really enjoyed this place. The price wasn't too high to get in, from what I remembered, so it's a perfect place for families. It's somewhere I would definitely return to and highly reccommend to others.
Keep the activities coming UPM!

Abandoned

One weekend in October I got to do something I've always wanted to do.
I got to shoot inside an abandoned building.

It had been about a year since I took part in any activities with my photography group, The United Photographers Of Montreal. For one reason or another I found myself constantly waylaid by all kinds of outings or work related activities that kept me out of their reach and off of their radar. But when the outing to shoot in an abandoned factory came up I quickly checked my schedule and made a note to be there- come Hell or High water!
The factory in question was the abandoned sugar factory in St. Henri. It was a bit hard to get to but, oh, so, worth the trek.
First, we had to walk under an underpass, dotted with various size mud puddles, then, reaching our destination, scamper down a slightly steep hill before we entered the crag-like opening of the factory.
Victory!
It was as I had dreamed.
There was this great, and vast opening before you as you ventured inside. Watching your footsteps you could either take the tiny stone steps to your right or you could walk out onto the landing,the edge of which revealed the gaping maw of the center of the building.
I was in Hog heaven!
Sadly, I could stay as long as I wanted to. I had to meet a friend later that evening. But, I did make the most of my day while I was there.

The one thing noticed about the building was that it wasn't as lonely as I thought it would be.
The amount of people lurking in the shadows or galivanting in plain sight was astonishing to me! Here I thought I was doing something clandestine, something beneath the scope of the law when all the while the place was hopping like a club at two a.m.!
Among the other things I noticed was the artwork. Because, let's face it, that's what it was. Great murals lamenting the recent or not so recent passing of a loved one, friend or family, lavish stokes of bravado splashed all across the various walls of the buildings interior.

There was also refuse, debris left from someone's other life. saw this sad, dilapidated stuffed tiger drowning in a pool of fetid water.

At first, I thought it out of place in a setting like this but then I looked around me and saw all the stories of people's lives displayed all around me and I thought better if it- it probably fit in there more than I did.
The place was huge!You could probably walk through the whole place and still forget that there's a roof!
The roof was a real treat. Up there you could get a really good view of the overpass, and at the right time of day the lighting must be breathtaking.
I know that I couldn't stay there long that day but I was extremely happy to have gotten the chance to see the place and photograph it. I hope to go back real soon(I wonder what it looks like in the snow?)but not alone- it might have been crowded that day but, it may not be all time! I'm not crazy!

Workshop 2011

Back in October I hosted another workshop for the McGill Mini Courses.This time around my class containedcthree amazing students. Ateeya, Deveney, and Sarah. It was such a pleasure to have them in my group. They were so open and interested in the things that I said. I loved that they asked all mannor of questions of me, all of which I tried my very best to answer.
I hope they have a great holiday and continue shooting!

As always I took my class to Mount Royal Park- but this time we made a tiny detour and ventured into the Mount Royal Cemetery. As some of my group had never been in there before I was more than happy to give them the ten cent tour.
Inside, we passed by some of the oldest tombstones in the cemetery. Some so old that the names engraved upon them were barely ledgible, and others still had stones that were hardly able to stand upright any more. Of course there were the angles, some on high, some down below, some with all of their parts and, some missing quite a few. The cherubs, too, were on display, stioically watching guard over thier sole charge.
It all made for a very picturesque tableau.
We ended our workshop in front of the large chalet that over looked the city. If I am not mistaken, I walked down the other side of the mountain with Deveney (if this is wrong, I give you my humble appologies..). The view from, what I think is trhe steeper side of the mountain does have it's beauties. Like the Stream of water that poured out of a pipe in the side of a hill that I had never seen before.

As you walked down the wooden staircase you couldn't help but follow the path of the softly trickling water as it pooled into a tiny basin at the foot of the hill.
A truly beautiful sight, to be sure!
It is a wonderful thing not to be too complacent about your surrundings. Always leave room to be surprised from time to time.
My next workshop begins in March.
Happy shooting everyone!

A Drumming Beat

As with all surprises we did not not see this coming.
Breaking through the foliage at the rear end of Mount Royal Park we came upon a sight that both shocked and excited us: there before us lay an expansive spread of bodies writhing to the rhythm of the Tam Tams.

Even before we caught sight of the drums and the mass of gyrating bodies we could hear them. With each step drawing us closer and closer to the primal beat we could feel the pounding of the drums within our chest. We could feel the call of the music like a spell that put us under.

The main attraction was the the giant grouping of drummers in the far upper corner of the square. They huddled together as if to keep warm despite the blazing heat of the day.

Around the drummers you could find a variety of people with varying body shapes. Some came together, some came alone, some even brought their kids.

It didn't matter what level of dance ability you had, no one took any notice. They were all too busy with their own movements to pay attention to your frantic flailings. Here, you were free to stomp, and wave, and swing your body in any direction with nary a scant look of disgust or distaste from either your neighbor or your friend.
No one cared.
It was freedom at it's most liberating.
I am ashamed to say that I have lived in this city for a very long time and have never been to the Tam Tams before this summer. Despite the frequent invitations extended to me by my friends over the years, it took the surprise siting this May to finally show me what I was missing! And to be able to introducing one of my students to the event, especially one so relatively new to our city, was a real treat for me as well!

Before it was over, though, I had to be brave and tear myself away from the spectacle of music and crowd and end my workshop for another season. As I walked away I could feel the thrumming beats of the drums pulsing against my back like a melodic reminder for me to return.
It was a vow I fervently intended to keep.

Oasis In The City

I recently hosted my final photography workshop for this season. And, once again, I took my class to Mount Royal Park. This time my class consisted of two students of which one got sick the day before the work shop and had to back out. My main student was a guy named Hannes, who was from Germany and had only been in Montreal about two months.

Weather wise we had a great day: the sky may have been overcast at the beginning but the sun came out later completely making up for the flatness of the sky. In our tour of Mount Royal we headed up to the Chalet at the top of the mountain and shot a few pictures of the fantastic view and then ventured down a path, up til now, I have never taken before, but was so glad that I did!
We explored this, at first, steep trail that led deeper into the trees of the mountain, then took a left on another path that opened up to a scene that, I can only say, transferred me to a whole other place. Looking at the scene i could not believe that I was still in Montreal.
It was like something out of a Louisiana Bayou.

It was such a beautiful place that it very literally took my breath away. We hung around here for a little while, shooting like mad scientists on the verge of a great discovery with every new shot. But, all too soon, we had to leave this place as our time together was coming to a close.
But, the day was not through with us, yet. It had another surprise in store for us.
Til next time...

What is Ghoul For You...

Ghoulish tho it may be, I love cemeteries. Always have, always will.
My love for them started at an early age when I would hear whispers of this mythical place being bandied about at family gathering, but in such delicate and hushed tones that you would have thought that the very mentioning of the name out loud would bring the wrath of the great God's themselves.
What was in this place? Why did people go there? Why did we put our people there? More importantly, why did we leave them there?
As I got older some of these questions got answered, and some just gave me new questions.
You never forget your first funeral. Mine was, of course, for some woman I didn't even know, being as young as I was. It was back in Jamaica, in the country, not far from my Grandmother's house. I remember the rain, the somber mood of everybody here, and in particular, I remember the absence of beauty.
Why did we put our loved ones in such an ugly place, and leave them there no less?! If we really cared about them shouldn't we put them somewhere more aesthetically pleasing to the eye?! I'm sure that if they had the strength they would crawl up out of their graves and walk themselves to a more pleasing plot, never bothering to give us a final look on their way there.
After seeing this muddy well of a hole I wouldn't blame them.
It was only later on in life that I fond out that cemeteries can be some of the most beautiful places to visit imaginable. My first foray into the world of the dead aside, I've learned that burying people can be very expensive but when they can afford it people tend to take great and loving care of their dearly departed. They display such emblems at their grave sites as large angels, tiny cherubs, scrolls, Jesus Christ, in his many manifestations, and crosses a plenty.

Recently, I got the opportunity to pay a return visit to the Mount Royal/Cote Des Neiges Cemetery by way of an outing with my photo group, The United Photographer's of Montreal. As was usual for me I was running late, so I had to wander around by myself and hopefully meet up with my group later on that day.
Five minutes in and I was immediately immersed in my comfort zone. Lost amongst the marble and stone I was helpless to find my way out of the mazes of ancient Mausoleums and garish shrines. Everywhere I looked, either up or down, I was spotted by some monument to a loved one or other that was eying me with as equal an intensity as I them.

I wondered if it was my imagination that I thought they looked angry with me.
Did they not want me there? Did they think me an intrusion into their final peaceful lives? Were they wondering if, even now, could they not avoid the bothersome noises of the living?
While in the midst of my shooting a grand ode to someone's father, as my own response to these questions, I quietly said an apology and gently tiptoed my way to the next grave.
But, not before I got the shot, of course.
I was deeply in my element. I ventured farther in the cemetery, or as far as my almost spent battery would allow, shooting many of the same scenes over and over again from just about every angle. But for an almost empty second battery I never got bored and I never had a reason to stop.
I also never did get to meet up with my group.

United We Stand

Earlier this year I joined a photography group called The United Photographer's Of Montreal. I came across them on the meetup.com website and haven't regretted it since. One of the things that drew me to them was that they were very active. From the very beginning they have always had an activity on their calendar for the members to take part in. Such as a photography workshop for beginners which, as my own skills with my camera were somewhat waning at the time, I was only too happy to join. We've also been to the Botanical Gardens for the Butterfly exhibit, and Jean Talon Market, an outing I am sad to say that I didn't get to take part in because of scheduling differences.
Photography groups are a great way to meet new people and to keep in touch with your craft, I would highly recommend them to anyone. But, if you should want to join a photography group or club there are a few things that I would suggest that you do first.
Number one: Research
Find a group that you like and is well suited to you. If you're not interested in going out on a lot of outings but would rather sit around and discuss the topic of photography then find a group that is less excursion orientated. But, if you do want to take part in outings where you can practice your photography skills then, that is the group you should be looking for.
Number Two: Look for variety
If you don't see any diversity in the types of discussions or the kinds of outings that the group displays on their sites then maybe that is not the group for you. Having said that, if the monotony of the group does not sway you from joining them then by all means write to the head of the group and ask them if they have any new topics or excursions on their upcoming schedule.
Number Three: Check the usual and unusual hideouts
When looking for a group check out your local camera shop. They may have some fliers laying on the counters for some local clubs. Listen to word of mouth. And if that doesn't work then give Meetup.com or other websites like it a try. You could also search Kajiji, or Craig's list for a local group, even to go so far as to post an ad yourself stating that you are looking to join a local photo group.
If all else fails, take the initiative and start a group or club of your own.
If you are having trouble getting in touch with your inner photographer, or just reaching the depths of your creativity, then taking part in a photo group or club could be just what you need to get you shooting again.