Fallen

As the festive Christmas season dims and the week steadily moves towards the end of the year, a drying poinsettia leaf reminded me this morning just how beautiful the fallen can be. Beautiful and stoically poetic.




© Dwayne Brown

Home for the Holidays

Merry Christmas - What does it mean? What does it really mean? It's something we've all heard quite a bit this week, and today of course. It's how people answer the phone today or what the checkout girl said to you as you bagged your own groceries this week, and it's what friends and family members say to each other as they exchange gifts. But today I heard it from a bunch of total strangers on the street. From the kind of strangers that most of us don't even make eye contact with. And when these folks said it, they really meant it.

Today I went for a walk downtown and then into the Market. I wanted to do a walk and take some photos, not sure of what exactly. I've always struggled with the day - a special day in the year that we all, who already have so much, give even more to each other. It's a predetermined day to shop, wrap, give and get. Today I wanted to go to my bank machine, then meet some deserving strangers and just give them something with nothing in return.

Now I've never gotten preachy with my blog, except to open our eyes and hearts to the simple and beautiful that is often right in front of us. Maybe that's what this post is about too. Today I saw and met some folks (all men), that didn't have a home for the holidays, or a tree, or a family, or a pile of gifts to help them celebrate this day. But all of them had a smile and handshake for me as I put a little something in their hands. And they all offered me a very generous Merry Christmas!

Did I do this today for them or for me? Good question. It's doesn't really matter really, because today I learned that the expression Merry Christmas is intended to make both parties feel nice, and it did! :)




© Dwayne Brown

Christmas Traditions

It's one in the morning, a couple days before Christmas and I'm strongly reminded that I don't have any traditional Christmas traditions. (and I'm okay with that)

I just got back from a quick 11 hour round trip to Toronto with my 11yr old son Alex to pick up his sister Claire to bring her home for Christmas. Yeah I know it would of been much easier and probably cheaper to of just bought her the train ticket. But I wouldn't of had all that time in the car this afternoon with my son on the way, just chatting about stuff while we shared bad-for-you timbits. And what price can you put on hearing fun stories about retail drama from Claire's part-time job at Victoria's Secret?

What price can you put on any of this? You just can't.

For me I guess the best Christmas tradition is just being where my kids are, as much as possible - doing what ever. Christmas is truly for kids - hug yours and hang on tight to them. Happy Christmas!


© Dwayne Brown

Time Flies

Considering Dec 20th marks another birthday passing for yours truly, I thought I'd post this image for a couple of reasons. One, to prove that there was a day that I looked pretty young and handsome in a suit - and secondly, to prove I haven't always had a beard. ;)

Seriously, the marking of another year always reminds me just how lucky I am. I'm healthy, I have two awesome kids whom I'm enormously proud of, I have a loyal group of very supportive close friends (one in particular who has taught me to have faith in myself and to believe in the invisible), and I'm also reminded I have the best job in the world!

It's been a great year working on some exceptional projects, with and for some really wonderful people. And I've been supported by a couple of the city's best assistants - Brent and Lindsay!

So as I'm reminded how time really does fly, I'm also appreciating just how lucky I truly am. :)


© Donius Brown

Following a Dream - one universe at a time

A number of months ago my buddy Rob Smith, of greenmelon fame, asked me if I'd like to help him with some photography for Amanda Cottreau's CD project. I make it a practice to always say YES, if a good friend asks me to help out with a project - I trust it'll be fun, creative and done for good folks.

Tonight I got the final CD in my hands over a beer, and I have to say I'm blown away with the end result. Great music - great design and packaging - and most importantly an extremely appreciative artist. Congratulations Amanda for following your dream and helping others follow theirs!


© Dwayne Brown

1000 x's Brighter than the Sun....good enough for us!

There's no doubt we get to meet some cool people and get to see some pretty cool geeky equipment when we shoot. This equipment looked like some kind of bizarre photographic darkroom enlarger, but it's really a devise that emits a light that is 1000 x's brighter than the sun! Yep, that's bright!

There's some super interesting research happening at uOttawa - Karin Hinzer and her team are working at creating and testing more efficient mini solar receptors. Definitely a fun shoot for Brent and I - super nice folks....... and science equipment. :)


© Dwayne Brown

Every day is Mother's Day

I had the most amazing day yesterday photographing some young Moms at the Youville Centre. I shot a press conference for the folks at The Youth Services Bureau a month or so ago at the Centre, and I wanted to go back and offer myself up to shoot some Christmas portraits for these wonderful and deserving young moms. It was truly an enriching gift for my own heart.

The Youville Centre helps adolescent mothers complete their high school education as well as receive a wide range of other assistance, including crisis intervention and counseling. These young Moms can get this much needed assistance and guidance while the Centre's on-site daycare provides stable and nurturing care for their children. Amazing young Moms and a fantastic group of people helping them!






© Dwayne Brown

Connection Matters

I had a great shoot this morning with Martin Charlton with 'Content Matters' for his new website. It's always cool to photograph an interesting face and to do it in a way that allows character and personality to rise to the surface. Martin was so easy to photograph - and super easy to connect with.

Connection and content both matter so much - without them, a photograph would merely be a picture.




© Dwayne Brown

A little bit of Lennon......

I used to get it a lot in the eighties and a bit of the 90's - I never quite got it, but maybe there's a little bit of Lennon in all of us. :)

The Festive Colors of the Christmas Season

Yesterday Clare Brennan and his family donned their festive colors for their annual Christmas card photo. A colorful and eclectic fashion display - yes. A second to none and wonderful family - absolutely!


© Dwayne Brown

Weekend Free Download - Stark

As I said in my previous post, I just love the graphic and stark look of the transition between fall and winter.


© Dwayne Brown

Please use this 'link to download the file'. Feel free to print and frame it, just please don't use it for any commercial applications. Enjoy. :)

Stark

I know it's not a traditionally beautiful time of year, but I've always loved this transitional period between fall and winter. No leaves and no snow - just a monochromatic graphic starkness.



© Dwayne Brown