Freedom Photography

Taking advantage of the down time to do a major cleanup of 20+ years of photos (200,000+), so it is no surprise to come across some really good memories. This is from a family wedding in 2007 - my late Dad, my son Dave, and yours truly.

We've come a long way!

Took a walk down Wellington Street through Hintonburg earlier this afternoon. I was looking for an outdoor music concert that was nowhere to be found - so I just looked for interesting people and things.

Finally dusted off my camera after a bit of a break and caught up with my Granddaughter for a victory in the finals of the Ottawa West Ringette Association gold medal game. Well played young ladies!

Happy to be shooting some baseball this past weekend, at the beautiful Clyde Park in Lanark, ON. That's my grandson Austin behind the plate with his grandfather's catcher's mitt (MANY good years with that on my hand), Austin's friend Connor, and South Bend Bears player Wyatt (son of Sharon, an old friend I haven't seen in years). A great day at the ballpark!

Back at the arena again this weekend - this time for granddaughter Regan and her Ottawa West Wild Ringette team.

Stittsville Rams, Bantam hockey

HUGE congratulations to our daughter Sarah and husband Kyle on the upcoming addition to their family. Can't wait to welcome another grandchild!

Thrilled to get the chance to shoot some baseball this evening, at the beautiful RCGT Park in Ottawa, as my grandson's Kanata Cubs took the field.

Arena session number two today for our grandson Austin and his Stittsville Rams hockey team. Great game Austin Sykes!

Our granddaughter Regan has taken up Ringette this winter and I had my first opportunity to get some shots of her today. Go Regan Go!

Chamberfest wrapped up last week in Ottawa, and as usual my camera was busy. Highlights of the second week.

Last week's Chamberfest wrapped up with the Art of Time Ensemble and their re-imagination of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The vocals were performed by Steven Page (formerly of the Barenaked Ladies), Craig Northey (The Odds), Andy Maize (Skydiggers), and British pop singer Wesley Stace. It was an AMAZING performance in front of a sold-out audience. There are some photos in my Best of Chamberfest album, but one image caught my eye. At the pre-concert reception, Chamberfest had on display one of my photos from the last time this performance was in Ottawa - in 2013. Very cool to see.

Catching up on photos from week one of this year's Chamberfest festival.

The 2017 edition of Music & Beyond wrapped up last week and here are some of my favorite memories from the festival.

Life is like a camera... Do you agree? #outdoorphotography

Certainly the highlight of this year's Music & Beyond Festival for me, as Wallis Giunta performed this evening.

One of the highlights of Music & Beyond for sure - an evening at the National Gallery of Canada in downtown Ottawa, with hundreds of mini-performances. Some of my favourite shots.

150 artists in 30 rooms, an incredible event!

Juno Award winner Alexandre Da Costa concert/ Southminster United Monday night....(thanks for the fine pics Michael Gauthier!)

Music & Beyond moved to the Diefenbunker for a series of concerts last Saturday evening. If you are even remotely interested in Canadian history, you need to visit the Diefenbunker. Completed in 1961, it is an underground, four-storey, 100,000 square foot bunker, designed to house 500+ Canadian officials in the event of nuclear war. It is an amazing place to visit, made even more special by Music & Beyond.

Thursday evening at Music and Beyond, the Auryn Quartet II

It must be summer - classical music concerts for the next couple of weeks at Music and Beyond. The Kronos Quartet entertained on Wednesday evening.

Last fall for Lorrie Gauthier's birthday/Christmas present, our daughter Sarah McNeely bought her a 20 minute Ford Mustang experience at ICAR in Mirabel. Lorrie LOVES speed, and has loved Mustangs since the day she first laid eyes on one many, many years ago. So today was redemption day, and we headed off to Mirabel, near Montreal. Since Lorrie was the only English speaking student today, she got her "classroom" education by riding with the instructor in the red pace car. That was followed by 20 minutes in her own 8 cylinder, 6 liter, powerhouse Mustang - and she rocked the track! With the instructor in the pace car and her in the Mustang, she had the track to herself. What a day! And NO, I did not let her drive home :-)

Canada's 150 Anniversary Tulip has caused quite the uproar (well, a Canadian uproar so you probably don't know about it LOL) this year. Hundreds of thousands of... bulbs are planted in the Nation's Capital and we got the chance to buy some to plant ourselves. I have 50 in my front bed. They started out looking a bit more yellow and red than white but as they grew they morphed into these gorgeous, big white flowers with red markings that look like our Maple Leaf and kind of like the Parliament buildings. About 3/4 are about 3" tall and the rest were about 1 1/2 inches tall. My leaves had the white edging on them. They were perfect. The uproar? Someone in the Netherlands where they were grown tipped the orange paint into the giant flower making vat and lots of people got orange tulips. Not the fault of anyone here. Still stunning but not what was expected. I have made these behemoths out of sugar (next time I'll make 2" ones) and even put my one tulip that was a result of 1st cousins marrying with one half orange petal in because I think it was my favourite. And some contorted hazel which I have never seen. (just for you Robert Haynes) The one in the beer bottle is titled "After the Party". And modelled after a dead one in my kitchen. Thanks to Michael Gauthier for drinking the beer and taking one for the team and for his gorgeous photography! And Robert Haynes I want your honest opinion when I see you next month at Jennifer Dontz' . I need advice on the colouring at a minimum. You can be brutal and I won't cry. Maybe. ;-)

Love this. Some very talented (and funny) people with way too much time on their hands :-)

Looking forward to another great summer of classical music concerts with Music and Beyond!

Back on the ice to shoot some hockey today. First time in quite a while, and today it was Sledge Hockey at the 13th Ottawa Invitational Sledge Hockey Tournament. WOW. The dedication and effort was simply amazing!

If you are heading out tonight to the Proud To Be Bullyfree Gala at the Brookstreet Hotel, be sure to check your swag bag for a $1500 coupon for our portrait studio. We would love to take your portrait!

A new post (Happy Birthday Abby!) has been published on Freedom Photography

It was an honor to be the Photography Sponsor for the Viennese Ball again this year. What an incredible evening! Congratulations to all involved.

We are pleased to welcome Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties to our studio partner list. Marilyn is the #1 choice for luxury real estate in Ottawa, and will be including our studio coupons in her client closing gifts. Sounds like a GREAT reason to buy your next luxury home from Dream Properties. Welcome aboard Marilyn! If you would like to have a great gift for your high end clients, please give me a call to find out how to partner with us.

A new post (Our Future Is In Good Hands) has been published on Freedom Photography

Proud to be a sponsor of the upcoming Viennese Winter Ball - it is an AMAZING evening and we will be there to capture all the beauty and grace. @VienneseBallOttawa @vwbottawa

Speaking of hand-painted art...

A new post (Dinner at the Viennese Ball) has been published on Freedom Photography

"We have more capability at our fingertips than ever, but as a byproduct, we're more impatient and in a lot of ways, less easily fulfilled."