Fisheye Fun

In the thick of the fall portrait madness I took a trip to Nova Scotia. There was a large family gathering not to be missed.

While there I visited some old friends. Some old long lost friends. Some I have not seen in 10+ years. Like a lifetime and a blink all at once.

A few days into the trip I started taking these fisheye group shots so I could be in the photo. My only wish is that I didn't start from day one because there are some special people missing from this series!


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I'll also include a few other fish eye fun shots from the family party. I have not even touched the colour film from that party. It might have to wait until the madness dies down . . .


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Coo Chi Coo Contest!

So this session was the winning session from our latest draw at CooChiCoo. The prize was a free session with a framed 8x10 print. Thanks to Michelle at CooChiCoo for helping to fill out so many ballots.

It was a great winner with perfect timing with a new baby due only a few days later!

Here is a sneak peek for mom, since I have to postpone our proofing meeting to hop on a jet plane . ..


WIth proud big sister.



I love this. Baby getting to know mom. The look of love. :)







This dog trying to get through the cat door = funniest thing in a long time!!

Halifax sessions

I just wanted you all to know that I am currently booking sessions In
Halifax.

The following dates are available: Sept 28/29. The exact times will be
negotiated once all sessions are booked. I will be booking the slots until
Sept 18th.

All sessions completed in Halifax will have finished prints delivered in
time for Christmas. This is great news, because portraits are a perfect
Christmas present for those hard to buy for types. Consider a wonderful
portrait of all the cousins . . . if you can arrange that without Grandma
knowing about it it is guaranteed to be a great Christmas morning.

If there are any questions, e-mail donna@donnaramsay.com

Thanks, and please pass this along to anyone you think may be interested.

Donna

A few quick ones of mine

A few from a recent roll or two of my kids. I tend to take a lot of snapshots with the Holga camera. Sometimes even in colour! I'm considering starting to develop my own colour film. Not printing, too many variables, but I think I could handle the film part. My next order of darkroom supplies will likely include the gear and chemicals to try it. As I tell the kids . . . the first step to doing is trying!

Nanny is a rower at the regatta. Go Nanny! Nanny didn't win, but not for lack of effort!



Another from the Regatta. Uncle was happy to spin her around and around . . . and around.





Boy distracted by baseball. We were on our way to the swings but never made it.



First day of school. Guess the grades!



The best big sisters let baby brothers ride their bikes.



Lastly . . . me 4am at a recent birth. Excuse the out of focus. I didn't take the picture!

baby-palooza

Last week was a week of wee ones. Here are some favorites:

Newborn from a recent maternity. So sweet, reminded me of my oldest when she was born. Mom sat back and let me do my thing which is always nice. I just love what I do, it is simply fun. Like playing with dolls when I was a kid.



With her brother. Note his hand in his pocket. That was very intentional as he was trying to close the lid on his sister! That pocket kept her safe. :D



And with her 10 week old cousin. I love this one. I hope they grow up to be best friends. No pressure. ;)



Another babe. This little guy was 9 weeks old. Sleepy and sweet. He was very clearly adored by his parents.







This one is funny. Like a behind the scenes *how to take a baby's picture*.

(click to enlarge)

Panda Birth

So I've been pretty immersed in birth culture and newborn babies lately. I'm looking up this, researching that, photographing all of the above . . . generally all about little babies and their pregnant mothers.

In today's time wasting episode of surfing the web I came across this video of a giant panda in Japan giving birth:

Panda Birth

Apparently it is the first giant panda in Japan to give birth by artificial insemination . . . so it has made an impact on the news.


I have watched humans give birth. I have watched dogs and cats and mice give birth. I have watched videos of numerous other mammals give birth. None of that prepared me for the sight of that new panda!! Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I knew that panda babes were small . . . but this is nuts! I looked it up, and according to The National Zoo "At birth, the cub is helpless, and it takes considerable effort on the mother's part to raise it. A newborn cub weighs three to five ounces and is about the size of a stick of butter. Pink, hairless, and blind, the cub is 1/900th the size of its mother. Except for a marsupial (such as the kangaroo or opossum), a giant panda baby is the smallest mammal newborn relative to its mother's size."

My last babies averaged about 1/12th my size. Seems a little unfair, yes?

How I spent my weekend

So as I've previously mentioned I took a Doula training course. I took it as a leg up when it comes to birth photography. As I thought about it I realized that it would be a great compliment to the volunteer work I already do with women and families at the Association for New Canadians.

Fast forward to this past weekend where I had the distinct privilege of supporting this wonderful lady as she had her 7th child. She had a long and difficult labour and faced some fears of birthing in a new country. Her wonderful friend was able to help translate and between us all we were quite a team.

Baby Boy, 7lbs 6oz. Happy and healthy.

I was not there as a photographer . .. but I did take photos. I did not take any photos leading up to or including the birth because I was busy focusing (no pun intended) on mom's needs. After baby arrived mom collapsed into the pillow and dozed on and off . . . I snuck away on and off to see the sweet sweet babe.

I will gift her with a set of images. These are a few from that set:

I think I'll send a few to this nurse as well. There is nobody in the world more comfortable with newborns than delivery room nurses.









Mom's wonderful friend. We should all be so lucky as to have friends like her. Here she is showing off baby to the doctors.



Baby is checking me out!



I sang him happy birthday and he really liked it.



I am not going to post many of mom here. She was in and out of sleep and utterly exhausted.




But by the next day she was in fine form. Amazing what a little sleep can get you! Check out baby, he was so alert and ready to take on the world. I think he looks like he is a pretty smart little fellow.




And lastly, mom agrees that wee little babes look pretty funny in their big seats.



It was my pleasure and joy to be there. I am so grateful that I am able to help another woman in this way. It was a great way to spend a weekend, even if I do have to work double time to make up the time I was away!!