JAMES HODGINS PHOTOGRAPHY

Well there are no roses around here now, not even snow LOL.  We slowed down this week so that we can visit some friends and family and I have my new point & shoot camera with me at all times now.  Lumix GF2.   It’s great to be able to grab a few scenery shots just for my own amusement.  Here is one from yesterday of Duschenay Falls North Bay.

Thursday was the last day for hunting Grouse (something I have gotten into this past year) and I decided to take my camera a long with me this time.  It just finished raining which melted all the snow in the bush and I was amazed at how much green vegetation there was still on the ground.  I snapped this quick shot with my new Lumix  Point and Shoot camera and decided to play around in P.S for a bit. It reminds of something out of LOTR.

Well it’s raining today here in Vancouver (whats new) so Joce and I decided to check out the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park.  I watched over and over people trying to get that perfect photo of the jellyfish only to get frustrated as their flash ruined the image, or it was too dark, or why the jellyfish wouldn’t stay still, why the jellyfish was blurry, why the jellyfish are in water etc…

I managed to grab a few images myself with better results, but then again, I knew the answers to all their questions.

You don’t want to lick these frogs…or maybe you do.

Nuff Said.

Well we made back from Punta Cana safe & sound and after going through our emails and phone calls we are back at it in the office (actually on Tuesday).  This was the first trip I have taken where all we did was just sit on the beach or pool and do nothing.  I managed to almost finish 2 books, get a tan, gain a few lbs and come back with money still in my pocket.  I hardly took any images except for a dive I did and some night shots the last night I was there.  I didn’t even take the 5D Mark II out of it’s case.  I am sorry to say that I didn’t think of any of you while I was on vacation, I actually managed to disconnect myself from everything and truly relax.  It was fantastic. (Ok, that was a lie.  I did think of you, I did miss blogging and posting images, but I couldn’t bring myself around to get out of the sun long enough to do it.  Plus, the ice melted fast in my rum. )

Here are some of the images I took with my good ol Canon G11 Point & Shoot Camera.  I did have the  Canon underwater housing for the underwater shots (of course) and a small mini 6 inch tall tripod.

We are still relaxing on the beaches of Punta Cana.  Forecast for the next few days is sun, fun & rum.  We have had nothing but sunshine since we go here although it did rain for 4 seconds today.  See you in a few days.

Since it’s a bit chilly outside today I thought I would start to create some artwork for my new Xbox Room (yes I have a room dedicated to Xbox and UFC in my new home).  I have traveled to many places, seen many things, but I find with digital, unless you print the images right away they tend to just stay on the computer or placed on DVD and archived.    So I just spent the last little while going through some fabulous memories and picked a few images to be displayed.    I wanted to keep them all B&W for a consistent theme and each image has a story to tell, so when you come over ask.  The first image is already hanging in our living room, it’s 50 inches in length and is an image I took in Belize last year.  I plan going through more of my past images and hopefully Jocelyne will let me hang them throughout the house.

Yesterday (on our day off) Joce and I had the pleasure of hanging out with our good friends Cindy & Gaston.  We opted for a motorcycle ride to Manitoulin Island, a trip that we have planned for a few months now, but unfortunately has been rained out everytime.  Even yesterday as we left our driveway, the showers started, but by the time we got into Lively the skies cleared and we had beautiful weather for the rest of the day.  We have said this before and we LOVE the fact that is keeps getting proven to us year after year, our clients are our friends.  We met Cindy & Gaston (and their lovely family) when we photographed their wedding at the Saenchiur Flechey Resort just over 3 years ago.  I remember being at their reception after we were all said and done and the both of them sat at our table talking to us for quite some time.  This was their wedding, with all their family and friends, but they sat at our table and we chatted for a good 45 minutes.  I also remember after being there for the first 15 minutes as Cindy was getting ready, looked at Joce and I and said “I am SO GLAD you two are here”.  Little things like this stick with us for a long long time.

After the wedding was all said and done we agreed that we would get together another time and “just hang out”.  It’s hard you know, to find the time.  We are busy, they are busy (running a successful dairy farm and raising 3 wonderful children) but we seem to  make time at least once a year.  It isn’t a lot, but we do jam pack it with memorable experiences.   The next time we met was at their farm where Cindy & Gaston took us out horseback riding on their property.  I can ride a motorcycle, a horse?…………..not so much, but it was fun, and after that we photographed their family portrait as the sun was setting and the wind was dying down.

Here are some images of the from the wedding, to their family portrait to our recent  fathers favorites event.

It’s amazing how they change in such little time.  These girls are growing up to be beautiful ladies.

You never know, I might be in this business long enough to photograph their weddings, wouldn’t THAT be something?  It’s amazing how we get to see these ladies grow up year after year, and Jocelyne and myself feel very privileged to be the ones to capture those transitions.  But let’s not forget about Cindy & Gaston eh?  We had a great ride yesterday checking out Bridal Veil Falls, having fish ‘N’ chips of course and let’s not forget Farquars ice cream “TIGER TAIL” (that’s my favorite), finishing it off with some Hodgy’s Famous BBQ and Cindy’s famous Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips.

Luckily I remembered to pack the Canon G11 in the saddle bag.

Let’s hope that year does not go by between visits OK?