Photography by Leanna Rathkelly

Red Rain Boots

2011-11-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

For all of those who wanted red rain boots as a kid, here ya go. Now they are soooo in fashion, and thank goodness 'cause this is the place to use 'em. A day of low November sun, cold air and warm dry new boots feature in my first real photo shoot in Victoria. Now that my eyes are familiar with the area my camera is coming out of hiding.

Iphone snaps in Victoria

2011-11-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Travelling Light...with only an iphone and credit card. Lovely. Victorian. Autumn. As we fall into the season of quiet, like the leaves as they disappear into the earth, I'm exploring Victoria, BC. At this time of year the tourist spots are closed or vacant, and the locals are directing me to their favorite spots. They are all now my favorite spots, too.

Victorian Autumn

2011-11-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

News Flash! Note my new phone number - 250-882-3732. I'm spending the fall in Victoria, BC, enjoying milder weather and exploring a new part of the province. We had the opportunity to stay in a delicious Italian-inspired apartamente for as long as we want, and well, after 26 winters in Whistler a change is good. The pooch has adapted to dog-friendly Victoria quite well, racing with other dogs in the grassy fields of Mystic Vale, checking out seagulls and tasting salt water for the first time, and Taylor and I are having a wonderful mama-daughter time before she begins a life of travel as a young adult. Richard is manning the fort in snow-land, and we'll all be back there for the holidays. Look forward to some peaceful autumn shots, although with no time crunch be patient as this sabbatical is more about looking than editing...!

Good things

2011-03-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Shopping shoot for Whistler-Blackcomb had us out on THE perfect day. Started out as winter grey with abundant fresh snow covering the village, and as the sun broke out it turned to spring. Great models - thanks Vanessa, Jordyn, Katie, Jessica and Christian!

Inspiration and Motivation

2011-02-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

Ideas become things – concrete items we can touch, see, taste, feel, use, understand and ultimately use to expand our knowledge. Wow. Powerful stuff. That’s what a photo is, though, an idea that illustrates a concept that helps us perceive the world in new ways. Could be an emotion, the visual representation of an idea, a culture, a moment in time. Imagery changes our world one shot at a time.

As a creative communicator I see my role as that of a mirror. I reflect what is going on in my world (cause that’s what’s closest to me, my own world). I understand, from the logical side of my brain, that translating an idea from an art director has to go through my own filter – the way I perceive the world. When you give the same assignment to ten different photographers you will get ten different images. I often tell my kids, “everyone is different” and maybe it’s to remind myself that we all think slightly differently. And it’s so cool to truly comprehend that we really do think uniquely.

“Creative people don’t need to be motivated by anyone else. They motivate themselves. They listen to and use both sides of their brains for maximum potential. They find inspiration instead of waiting for it. And they use their brains in the biggest way possible.” – thanks to Donald Trump for that inspirational bit of wisdom. I’d love to see how my brain works and what parts are firing as I write. Somehow I think it would be slightly different sparks than when I’m shooting. When I’m out there taking photographs its really as if the sound is turned off inside, like my eyes are open wide and I just become a conduit to the camera sensor. Photographing an event is an exercise in meditation for me, almost, as I just flow along, watching. It’s an expected surprise when I’m ready for that emotive event and get it, sometimes in the right second. Other times I plan to be in a certain spot, like lakeside at sunrise, and being there to see the light strike gold in the sky for the briefest of moments is like a paycheque – an expected reward for work well done. Sometimes I’m up early just because I can feel that a photo is waiting for me to take it. Creative inspiration is everywhere – in the makeup-plastered face of the girl getting coffee, in the flakes of snow on my puppy’s nose, in the sweet arms of my daughter’s hug, in words from Donald Trump.

New Ideas

2011-01-26T11:00:00.001-08:00

3am – Why am I thinking? …. tossing and turning, the fast-paced rumble of a restless snore next to me belies anxiety. The outside noise is restrained but my inside noise is deafening. I go downstairs.

The key to change is visualization. Managing thoughts takes a lifetime of practise. I seem to be reminding myself of this while sleeping. Sleeping? That is the time to simply be. One shouldn’t have to manage thoughts in slumber! Ah, there’s the rub.

I’ve had great success with visualizing goals and living the life I imagined so far. Imagined myself as a successful photographer 20 years ago, reached my goal of breaking 90 after 5 years of playing golf, and raised a gentle son and a confident daughter. Usually I see some way I’d like to be, rather than some-thing I’d like to be. The world moves in mysterious ways and because we can’t see what’s ahead I simply imagine what I want it to be like when I get there. Creating a destination that is clear, with a lifestyle complete with good feelings and a sense of honesty can be, however, a rough road to travel.

Now, I visualize working with a team of bright, enthusiastic people, aware of things that I am not aware of now, with whom we have mutually beneficial relationship – I teach you and you teach me.

Intuition (and the internet) tells me that the world of imagery will undergo a big change this next decade. Video is gaining ground and can be used in media previously unsupported; my iphone can take reasonable photos and with a little Photoshop Express tweak I can upload it to my online gallery from anywhere. Buyers can find those images quickly, license and download immediately. A decade ago to know how to do this, or even to imagine that this could happen, was specialized knowledge. Not today. I’ve kept ahead of the curve, ran fast as the big ball of progress rolled toward me, but this time I think I may just duck out of the way as it rolls past. Time to learn something new.

Whistler Village at Christmas and Snow fun!

2010-12-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Me to You!

While blogging is fun in the same way that going to the gym is….when I’m busy its hard to think about just sitting down and writing for fun. Words come easily to me most of the time, and my experience as a photojournalist taught me to write fast and communicate clearly. Aaahhh, but there are no deadlines in blog-land, and no pay cheque either. This will be my last blog of 2010, a year that was so much fun professionally. To finish it off I’ve included some shots of Whistler Village taken a few days ago. The Whistler Olympic Plaza has opened and the fresh snow and Christmas lights completed this inspirational new photo location. What else kept me away from you millions of fans…– oh, business portraits galore, stock shots for Getty, family portraits for last-minute Christmas presents, cookie-baking and Christmas tree cutting. Tree cutting was hilariously easy for us this year – we cut one of our hemlocks from the front lawn as things were getting pretty squished for the evergreens out there. We have a gorgeous, home-grown 16-footer in the living room, in front of the cathedral windows. Beautaceous!

Enjoy the snow, the peace and the joy of the season!

Portraits of the Mayor

2010-12-03T12:55:00.001-08:00

Pique Newsmagazine hired me to photograph the Mayor, Ken Melamed, last week. As with many busy politicians the time alloted to do the images was short - 30 minutes - so in order to maximize the shooting time I had lights and location set up before he arrived. His assistant had arranged for an office to be available so once it was set I wound my way back through the building, outside to the adjacent building and to the reception desk to let the Mayor know I was ready. From here it's kinda funny, because the boundary of protocol and chivalry blurred. Ken and I have known each for decades, and our kids are very close in age. We've been to social functions together and shared chairlift rides. But he's the Mayor! and I'm on assignment. We had to go through at least five doorways to get to the office that we were using as a studio, and it was a comedic - who should go first - he's the mayor - but also a gentleman - and I'm a lady - but providing a service now - ha! You go first, no, after you...we alternated. After the indoor shots we went out to a fave spot where the village and mountains rise behind and did a few outdoor environmental portraits. They are both reflective of who Ken Melamed, Mayor of Whistler, is all about. He's gracious, efficient, no-nonsense and yet sentimental about what is best for Whistler, and I appreciate the opportunity to reflect these character traits in his portraits. Read Stephen Smysnuik's profile of the mayor here.

Christmas Advertising Photos

2010-11-23T10:40:00.001-08:00

Last week I had a call for a photo of a Christmas present wrapped in newspaper, and that was the inspiration to create some new photos - view them here - now added to the gallery of winter holiday photos. Whether you need a shot of Whistler all decked out in Christmas lights or a simple photo of a snowy Christmas lights on an evergreen tree check out this gallery. I'll also be adding shots over the next two weeks. Images are rights protected and available for licensing now. For us in snowy Whistler, Christmas is the height of the season, the epitome of what we are all about. The village sparkles with fresh snow and holiday lights. In contrast there's the peace of the valley away from the village - the snowshoe trails where you may see a lynx if you are quiet and watchful, the silence of the snow-covered wetlands and the sparkle of snowflakes on a windless day. Mountains opened for skiers on Friday, and the Callaghan cross-country ski area opens soon. I'm planning my cross-country ski shoots for early this winter, lots of family and accessible ski shots on the horizon.

And snow makes it Winter!

2010-11-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

The transformation came this morning, as huge fat flakes drifted from Heaven....snow heaven! Whistler has become the gorgeous winter village today by the first snowfall that made it all the way to the valley. At this time of the year we watch the snow creep down, every day more trees are coated in white on the mountainsides. My spaniel rolled and leaped in the cold snow, rubbing his black face into the fresh white. And this is what it looks like....next week it will be totally different and all the leaves dead, but today with the autumn still hanging around the leaves have color.

Our History - Arts Council Fundraiser

2010-11-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Goin' to Mexico! In a flash of inspiration I bid for and won the accommodation in Mexico at the Whistler Arts Council fundraising event Saturday night. What a great way to support my fave arts group in Whistler, and gather the family together for a warm holiday to boot. As I was there "working" and having a wonderful time shooting the event for the Arts Council here are some of the photos. Andree Janyk won Citizen of the Year and probably gets my vote as the Most Entertaining Speaker, Steve Podborski, Julia Murray, Britt Janyk, Rod MacLeod, Grant Cousar, Chelsea Walker all were part of the casual living-room-style setting for the Olympic retrospective.

Halloween portraits

2010-11-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

It was soooo scary! A gorgeous young girl is transformed into a....teenager! No!!! We know how to have a good Halloween in Whistler - one of the neighborhoods is transformed into haunted houses, complete with smoke, lights, scary sounds and hundreds, yes, hundreds, of kids dressed up for the holiday. It's been going on for decades now and a night that is so easy and different than any other time. Here's some shots of the evening and a video of excellent pumpkin carvings, both taken with the iphone4.

Promoting Whistler to the World during the Oympics

2010-10-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

As one of my contracted photo projects, during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Whistler I had the pleasure of recording the village events for Tourism Whistler. Every day a new email newsletter was produced by the marketing department, and featured a photo taken that day of something that was going on in the busy resort. It was a fun time, and definitely a surprise for all us 'locals' as the security and transportation issues that plagued the pre-Olympic media hype vanished. The community of the world came to our beautiful resort town. Walking down the stroll you saw teams dressed in their country colors, heard languages rarely heard in western Canada, and felt the connection of humanity. Strangers stopped each other on the walkways to trade pins, to congratulate a countryman on a winning athlete and to share an experience. Here's a few of the e-blasts sent out during that time.

Family dynamics in Portraits

2010-10-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Boys are busy. In family portraits with young boys sometimes the best I can do is take them to a fun and interesting spot, get them engaged (with the surroundings, their brother, a bird, whatever) and shoot fast. If there's water, bring extra clothes, I tell the parents. Actually, always bring extra clothes! In a family session on a cloudy day we had everything - busy boys, lots to look at and explore, parents who were calm and understanding. It's a great recipe to create an album of photos to remember for the rest of your lives. And when the boys are grown and gone you'll have time to rest then....

Headshots for Success

2010-10-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are part of business now, and the need for a good business photo (one that you like and that truly represents you!) is important. I've been updating my LinkedIn profile this past month and maybe it's because I'm a photographer but if people don't have a photo, or have a photo in which they are a small part, it doesn't look like they've spent the time creating a professional impression. Like a good resume, a proper business photo can get you the job. This past week I've been shooting headshots for local real estate agents and professionals. Here's a few that work, and will also work cropped really tightly for those tiny 1-inch shots on your social media pages.

Signature Golf Photos

2010-09-29T12:51:00.001-07:00

Snow tipped the mountain tops last week. Bittersweet, the end of summer and the anticipation of winter. On a rare clear day Dan, Mei and myself headed up to the Signature hole, #16, on the Whistler Golf Course for some tee shots. Dan is a wonderful teaching pro at the course, and Mei is a passholder who breaks 90 regularly. Thanks so them for their great modelling!

Great Golf Technique photos

2010-09-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Shots from a stock shoot this summer, featuring my son, a 2-handicap golfer. Love shooting great form in any sport, and Brett has it! More next week from the Whistler Golf Course.

Shopping Summer

2010-09-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

Spent time this summer making shots of a different kind - with a golf club. I'm kinda reluctant to admit but there was such a post-Oly hangover here that it was almost like a sabbatical of sorts with more time to enjoy things other than work. And I broke 90, shooting an 88 in August! It's taken plenty of practice and time, all enjoyable and mostly mind-freeing, and I kinda needed the break from the busy photo routine this summer. I'll be posting lots of golf photos in the next while, but here's some recent shots of a shoot for Whistler-Blackcomb showcasing their retail stores in Whistler.

Peace and Money

2010-05-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

More on the concept of financial issues - thought of things that money can bring, and one of those things would be peace. Security from financial stress brings peace of mind, ability to choose, freedom. With this in mind I created origami cranes from paper decorated with international currency and shot that. The idea of the money crane floating peacefully in space kinda illustrates this idea. What do you think? Is the concept clear? It's great how much you can learn on the Net - found lots of info on how to fold a paper crane, and through a few mis-folds and a teeeny bit of swearing finally figured out the process. By the 10th crane I was folding them with my eyes closed....

Money and the Pup

2010-04-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

An addition to the family can mean an addition to the budget....and sometimes it is sooo worth it. The love this little guy has brought to us in the past week cannot be measured in dollars, even ones ripped to shreds. Thought I'd start Marley out early as a model. As a rescued dog he's pretty skinny right now, a bit scraggly, but very entertaining and totally loving his Whistler life. Longs walks, good food, lotsa love. This is part of a self-assignment for Getty Images about how we interact with our money and what we choose to spend it on. Look for other ideas coming next week.

Spring Grey

2010-03-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

Rainy Sunday, a good time for catch-up. Caught my breath, caught up on work, caught up on visits with friends. Aaahhhh. The Olympic hangover is done. All the branding is being trucked out of town and the blue and green is gone. From my point of view it was great. When the Olys were announced 6.5 years ago I imagined shooting the interaction of people during the Games, and how my hometown was affected, and that's EXACTLY what I got. Wow. As a people person and a photographer who loves to shoot relationships that really was one great month. Now it's grey and time to update and change my web look. Twittered for the first time today. I may speak in short sentences from now on! With # and @ symbols all over the &%$#%$^ place! Here's some fave photos from time gone by....

Olympic Recap

2010-03-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Gold! Thar's gold in them thar hills! With more gold medals than any other country Canada came out of the Olympics smilin' and happy. And so it is in our small resort town of Whistler as well. We're smiling because everything went better than planned, we hosted the world with grace and ease, and one of our own homegrown kids came home with a gold medal. Ashleigh McIvor has inspired many of the town's youngsters to greatness, and having known her and her family for decades I feel like things are the way they should be. So, my month of February was a whirlwind of shooting and photo processing, having scored excellent photography contracts for both Tourism Whistler (daily banner photos on www.whistler.com plus plus) and The House of Switzerland in Whistler. A great compliment of work: TW needed imagery of daily village events, and Swiss House had a lot of pre-Olympic photo shoots and evening medal celebrations for winning athletes. Great people to work with, in both groups! Aaaahhh, and as I reflect on this sunny day after a stroll to the village for a coffee, it was soooo worth it. Inviting the world to come to our village was all around great for me. I love languages, and hearing the swirl of Russian, German, Italian, Slovenian, everything, all around me was fantastic. To top it off with an overtime win in hockey just made the Games. Here's some images of the event as I saw it - for a larger gallery visit my Olympic Games in Whistler gallery.

Callaghan Country 2010

2010-01-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

First ski trip of 2010 found me in 70cm of fresh snow! Quite the lucky surprise as it had been raining in the valley for days, grey and dark in the January wet. As I met the other 15 women on our annual trip to the Callaghan Backcountry Lodge the rain turned to snow, and we cheered as the temperature dropped to freezing. The 12.5 km ski up to the lodge was slow-going, though, with fresh tracks in XC skis being just about as fast as snowshoeing. Next day woke to blizzard conditions so a nice tall coffee was perfect, and by noon the sky started to clear. We played around in the snow, skied the one tracked loop around Conflict Lake, and tried to snowshoe in the new snow but 3 feet just wouldn't compact enough. Next morning dawned clear, and the brilliant pinks that crept down the mountain as the sun rose made me glad to be alive. What a place. I've posted a new public gallery of the images HERE.
Not going to say "the countdown is on" or "let the games begin".... I'm ready, here comes the World.

2009-12-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

We were skating last week. Oh, how freaky and fun. The air that settled like an arctic refrigerator froze the lakes solid enough to skate as of Wednesday, but the groaning and funky echo reverberation under the ice made my stomach drop. I'm not the first out on the lake, but its such a short period when the ice is snow-free that ya gotta go when ya can. So we did. Grabbed the skates I got when I was 15 and headed to Nita Lake with Deanna for a skate. While we were having a hot toddy at the Nita Lake Lodge another friend called to say they were on Alta Lake, and it was the first day it was safe. We headed there at sunset, walked onto ice so clear that you could see the bottom eight feet down.
I wanted to see if I could re-create an old image that I took in 1986, when I worked for the Whistler Question newspaper. It was a self-portrait, taken with a manual Rollei camera with no autofocus. My assignment that day was to capture some winter sports, and since the lakes were frozen I went out to do some shots of people skating. Only problem was, there were no people skating. I was the only one out there. So I had to be my own model, and bent over, pre-focused and positioned my camera upside down on the ice, and hoped for the best. It was film and I didn't know how the image would look until it was processed. Well, that image went onto the front page of the paper, won at least one award, made the cover of a book and has sold worldwide. Funny. Not sure this one is as good, though, and it was sooooo much easier with a digital camera and autofocus. More will be posted in my library here ! And as always, check out my website at www.leannarathkelly.com

Rainy Day in a Warm Cafe

2009-11-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

Aaaah, the quiet of a warm drink in a peaceful cafe on a rainy day.... here it is, the wet season. Our West Coast Monsoons have hit, dumping meters of snow on the mountain, and watering our lower elevation forests after a beautiful dry summer. Guess I'm weather-tuned, but of course I would be living in a place like Whistler, where most of our fun is had outside. Today I'm meeting a friend for a coffee here, in this very cafe, on a rainy day. She just returned from Kauai, lucky gal, and needs a warm spot to acclimatize to Whistler again. So, this photo shoot was part of a series done for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, through Karyo-Edelman PR and Communications. The purpose was to illustrate residential life in the resort, rather than the tourist amenities, so was a lot of fun to shoot. The standing under a golf umbrella while the rain pounded down, looking into a warm cafe, had a voyeuristic quality to it, giggly yes, cold yes, glad it's done, yes. Fun looking at the photos from my warm dry studio! For more images, check this out.
Leanna

Art added to website

2009-11-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

Painting is physical and manual, and messy. Yep, and fun. I've been exploring creating original photo-oil paintings, and here are two of the newest. Check out my portfolio of oil photo paintings on my website here.

Last day of Autumn

2009-10-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's over. Or, it begins!! Snow is falling in the valley today, real snow that sticks to the road. The mountains have disappeared into the grey, and the leaves fall in wet frozen clumps. Here's some shots from Saturday, five days ago. Check out my Summer Taster gallery of images on Facebook. Cheers,
Leanna

End of Summer

2009-10-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's almost the end of the real autumn here, too. Trees went from bright yellow to dead brown in the matter of days when that heavy frost hit. So, I have the time to edit photos that were shot over the summer for my own stock. Here's some village shots, ready for Olympic use. For more images of Whistler Village check out my gallery.

Running a Successful Photo Shoot

2009-09-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

I love a big photo shoot, with lots of action, people available, staff at hand. There’s so many opportunities to capture expression, that chance to serve up a slice of real life recreated for the camera. It’s the opportunity to create what many people determine a difficult image and make it look easy. Last week I presented a seminar to Whistler Blackcomb’s marketing department on How to Run a Successful Photo Shoot. I’ve been involved in quite a few bar and restaurant shoots for the company over the past few years, and organize my own stock photo shoots in which I hire people as models, stylists, makeup artists, and any additional help such as caterers or assistants. I’ve found that it’s 90% planning and 10% shooting. Throw in some good luck and keep an open mind and the images will be interesting and valuable. Here are some of the things that I’ve found make a shoot successful:
Determine the Primary Message of the photo: in many cases the advertiser wants ONE photo to tell the whole story. I may shoot 500 images, but each image has to tell the tale. So, the photo buyer should clarify what that message is before we go any further. In this case, the message is that Merlin’s Restaurant is a great place for a good time with friends.
Develop a script – write the photo ideas like a script, not a list. Some good photo ideas came from a script developed by Origin Design in Whistler: “A scene where someone has reached for a nacho and accidentally got 10, and her friends are grabbing at the extras and giving her a hard time” or “One friend has just bought the round for the table. Friends are sitting and he is standing, reaching into the centre of the table and has three or four beers in each fist – about to put them on the table. All the friends are reaching up to relieve him of the bottles and laughing” Now isn’t that more evocative of images than, “people dining at Merlin’s patio”…..??
Gather your team: get animated people as models (I rarely hire “models” in our small town here, but get good jokesters, the life of the party, to be in the photos.) Hire the stylist, get an assistant, make sure the location staff are fully briefed on what, where, and when, and if they are participating get a preview of them before the shoot.
Confirm the details. Reconfirm the details!
Hope for good weather, but plan for not-so-great weather. That’s the one variable you can’t control, but bringing lights, heaters, shade, etc to make it look the way you want is imperative. I try to make the shoot go ahead if at all possible.
As the photographer, it is my job to get those emotions from the models. Talk with the talent, let them know what we want to get, be easy, fluid, calm, helpful, a coach for nervous models and a fan when they deliver! Expression makes the shot, after all.

2009-09-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

What a great summer for golf, and a fun one for shooting golf, too. We had smoke drift in from the fires in Pemberton and the interior and it created an interesting ambience here. I like it because the softness and diffusion it offered was quite different from our usual crystal clear mountain air. Here, the Pro teaches a new golfer on the Whistler Golf Course. Much to his chagrin I did not pose them in the "just let me put my arms around you to show you how to hold this here club, darlin'" instructor shots that are way too prevalent. She's gorgeous, yes, but also athletic and interested in learning the sport. Hope that comes across in the pix.

Forest Fires in BC

2009-08-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's cooled off, now, in typical Whistler style. From 38º down to 11º, the rain has cooled the earth and put out the fires. Here's some shots from the Terrace Mountain fire in the Okanagan last week. Wow. The power of nature at work.

Portraiture

2009-06-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

I love capturing the soul of a person in a portrait. There seems to be a moment in a photo shoot when it's there, and I know that image is the ONE, the shot that says, "This is Me". And we're done. Things are less busy now, so I'm enjoying the golf course and great summer weather, and doing regular portraits as the community requires it. Cheers!
Leanna

Shotgun Golf Start

2009-06-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

Shooting a shotgun start: Images that convey a sense of anticipation, excitement, the start of the game, the scramble, and the fun. Smoke drifted down from the Interior this morning, and the pink light of the early morning golf start was a great addition. I shot more photos for the Whistler Golf Club, this time of a shotgun golf start, with all the carts lined up ready and waiting. The symmetry of the carts, combined with sun lighting the edges of the cedar trees and the dew sparkling on the fairways made for an easy creative shoot.

Pro Shop

2009-05-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

Ah, golf season is here. The green has overtaken the white in the valley, leaves are sprouting and the grass is growing. As a golfer I always look forward to a new outfit (or two) for the course and the Whistler Golf pro shop is full of great Nike, Adidas and Lole sportswear. Glad to shoot it last week, and leave with a few yummy pieces of athletic wear!

Isobel MacLaurin, an exuburant artist

2009-04-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

I presented at the Whistler Museum's fun story-telling event, Icon Gone, last Sunday, and chose Artist Isobel MacLaurin as the Icon of Whistler 2009. Here's a recount:

Alex, Izzy, Stephen, Chili, Joan, Stella, Grateful Greg and Guitar Doug:
Capturing a mountain moment, soloquizing our love for trees, Seuss-ifying the winter forest, choosing to be part of a Vicious Circle, and farming hair.
Cary and Paulo, Binty, Penny, Borgi, Monica, Blake, Feet, Cristina, Eldon just to name a few.
We’re in the teenage years of Whistler’s pimply faced, scratchy-voiced metamorphosis into a cultural society – and artists are happily asserting their place with our sporty parental forebears.
Whistler is becoming a society that includes artists who live here for their entire careers and export their art like valuable treasures. We’ve been around just long enough to start saying that we actually HAVE a culture, and live in a town that is old enough to claim a history. We are expressing what has inspired us to live here in the first place.
It’s not easy for those to create something from an idea and show it to us in a way that we never seen before. Think about it. Take Chili Thom, for instance. When was the last time you saw purple trees with your own eyes, but then you see Chili’s painting, titled “And they stood and stared”, and as you stand and stare it seems that of course trees are purple when they are in the shade of an incredible winter sunset.
We see more when artists share their vision with us. We feel more, we learn more, we become more than what we were before. Now what I say next may surprise some of you and others will silently confess their support, but I didn’t move here for the skiing. GASP! I moved here for the beauty.

And you know what? So did Alex and Myrtle Philip. Sure, fishing was the “hook” to get people to visit, but once visitors arrived it was the magnificence of the place that kept em coming back for more. And Alex was an artist of sorts, too. His reputation as a “ladies’ man” aside, he was a sentimental romantic at heart.

As a writer of soapy western novels, he was also the one who named the River of Golden Dreams. During my first few days as a “local” Richard was touring me around the valley, proudly showing off his favorite places along the Valley Trail.

When he said the name of this beauteous babbling brook I scoffed – how dumb did he think I was to believe a name like that! –and then he added that the name was originally the River of Golden Dreams AND Romance! Ha! Fool me once…

Alex also named the Bridge of Sighs. Not as a namesake of the famous Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice, but because of the exclamations of anticipation and contentment from newlyweds as they crossed the bridge to their private cabins.

So we have our first artist in Alex Philip. Somehow in my good fortune I bought the Polaroid Land camera that belonged to Myrtle at a fundraiser in my first or second year here, so she did some picture-taking in her day as well. Artist number two….

In 1961 along came young Isobel MacLaurin. Yeah, she came on holidays with her husband Don and they spent summers in their Alpha Lake cabin. She had four kids under four and half years old, and Isobel said it was easy in those days cause a family could flourish on one income. “I was never a starving artist,” she says, “but I was always an artist”

A visit to her studio leads you down a stone path through a forest lit with twinkly lights, decorated with bird houses and a chairlift from the old Red chair. You land at a cozy home overlooking the lake, and enter the world of Isobel.Izzy loves the mountains, and she especially loves painting mountain flora and fauna. If I had an hour I could describe more of her creations, but here are some of them.

She created signs for Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains that directed people to go places that they never would have gone before – all in exchange for ski passes for the family.

She painted murals that named the mountains and flowers throughout the valley as interpretive signs that were sponsored by the Rotary Club.

She loves a good joke. Isobel attempted to insert the name of the Pope, as a ski racer in the World Cup Downhill in the batch of hand-painted racer names that she created for the old-style manual place chart until the coach bellowed, “MacLaurin, we are not amused!” Well, she was.

She painted posters for Art Council events, did calligraphy scrolls done “gratis’ to honor citizens, and eventually paid for the restoration of their MG sports car with sale of her art.
21-22 Tucked under a sun umbrella Izzy sat under the Village Chair during a winter snowfall to draw a Christmas Card of the new Whistler Village for mayor Pat Carleton. Don’t forget – she says – these were the days before computers and painting from photographs!

She and Don are going to prove that you can take it with you, too – Izzy is sassy enough to build and paint their coffins. She’s finished hers now, decorated in her now trademark brilliant wildflower meadow, but she’s far from finished herself. Don’s will be a tribute to their fun MG painted fire engine red.

There are few artists who have spent their lives here – so far. In the most recent survey commissioned by the Arts Council 202 souls proudly asserted that they are ARTISTS living in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Maybe we will all be artists, for it is the creative thinkers who can see a village where only a dump lay moldering, and the artists who share the beauty of our surroundings with the world. And it is our first life-long artist though, that should be granted Icon status, Isobel MacLaurin.

Portfolios for acting or modelling

2009-04-01T13:25:00.001-07:00

We live in a vibrant small community of doers and shakers - and it shows in the portraits I'm asked to create. Check out more personality portraits on my website. This past weekend I shot two portfolios, one for a young teenager interested in a modelling career, and another for a woman getting into acting. With New Moon being shot in the area and The X Files and others having had a good run in the Sea to Sky corridor, there's always a need for new faces. Maybe you are the next!

Whistler Public Library photos

2009-03-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Looks like we may have had the last of the real winter snowfall last week, and just in time! Hired by Hughes Condon Marler, the architects of the Whistler Public Library, to create images of the building for award and advertising use, I was waiting for a day just like this to shoot. For more architecture images check out my gallery on photoshelter. Also did some updating to my website at www.leannarathkelly.com in the 'art' portfolio as the Whistler street banners that I created were glowing in the winter sunshine. Now, it's dang cold and dry, very beautiful but no new snow. What a year for skate skiing!

Snow texture

2009-03-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

I see why the Inuit have over 30 words for snow. Living in an area with weather that changes daily and snows six months of the year it's a good thing I'm interested in the texture of snow. Here, we have three images, one of snow blurred, falling off the tree and backlit by the sun. In a google search, the Inuit word is Pukak for this dry snow crystals, like sugar powder. The second image is Maujaq : deep and soft snow, where it's difficult to walk, or maybe Quiasuqaq : re-frozen snow surface, making crust. It's deep and soft, but layered over land under construction. And the third, I think may be plain old Aput : Snow on the ground (close to the generic Snow!). It's all different, and today after a snowshoe up Rainbow mountain I'd say the snow we hiked over was Munnguqtuq : compressed snow which begins to soften in spring. Tavvauvusi! (goodbye to you all) For more images of this shoot check out my library on Photoshelter

Olympic Preview

2009-02-26T13:27:00.000-08:00

With nine World Cup events in Whistler this winter we have a chance to shoot and enjoy the pre-Olympic winter sports events. It started with the Cross Country and ski jumping at the Whistler Olympic Park, and moved to the Whistler Sliding Centre for the bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events. We had great weather, and the venues sold all the 3000 $5 tickets as a tester for the 12,000 people next year. For a more complete gallery of images check out my Olympic Sports Gallery in my archive.

Callaghan Country ski trip

2009-02-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

For a season with not-so-much snow you'd never know it by looking at these images. Taken last week on a backcountry ski trip with nine other gals, the snow in the Callaghan is metres deep. Located right next to our Whistler Olympic Park, the Callaghan Backcountry Lodge was built 10 years ago by Brad Sills, a long-time Whistler contractor. Skied into a Whistler blizzard, one in which the snow falls straight down and in copious amounts (no wind - it's simply mahhhvelous to be in one), enjoyed a misty-clear midnight snowshoe after a gourmet dinner and woke to clouds dancing with blue sky. Gobsmacked, I was. And here I can share it with you. Check out a new gallery of images of the Callaghan Country lodge and ski area at www.leannarathkelly.com

Winter wedding take one

2009-02-11T15:22:00.001-08:00

When it's just the couple and myself in the wedding what an opportunity for photos! Rosie wanted lots of fun shots, and it was her suggestion that she do a snow angel....in a wedding dress! Snowball fights, writing in the snow, and lots of scenic portraits made the day a lot of fun for all of us.

Whistler Winter wedding

2009-02-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

A sunny day becomes a foggy day in winter. Perfect for photographing a couple who decided to tie the knot in our Whistler wonderland. After travelling through snowstorms from the UK, Rosie and Steve had a perfect day in Whistler for their wedding.

Speed - a preview of the Olympic Games!

2009-01-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

Speed - oh yeah, these wippet-like athletes are fast! Shot the Nordic World Cup ski event yesterday at the beautiful Callaghan Valley, close to Whistler. It's kinda like my backyard, only enormous and one that the whole world is welcome to share. And the world did! Italians yelling, "Vie, vie!" to cheer on the lean racers, Austrians waving cowbells madly with eyebrows furrowed, and Canadians jumping up and down and yelling at the top of our lungs as the home-Country athletes speed by. The weather was spectacular, course fast and hard, and the sun warm but not melting the course. We are so lucky to live here....!

2009-01-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

'Twas the Season

2009-01-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

I'm a Christmas-lover, to be sure. Chestnuts roasting in a big copper pan, sipping hot chocolate by an outdoor fire, decorating deliciously fresh pine trees, these are a few of my favorite things. This was one of the best, and the joy of photography is that I get to relive the fun moments as I edit. Today is a wet, slushy, grey, generally ugly January day, but I'm snug and happy in my office editing the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Christmas shoot. I've been hired to add images to their general advertising stock library, and this is the first of a series of wonderful shoots to come. Now, if I were to go on holiday at Christmas this hotel is where I would go. The ambience is honestly holiday, with the open Mallard Bar serving hot drinks to skiers dressed in wintry gear, a chef roasting chestnuts (and they are good, too- got to taste it all as I shot), young Renaud from Quebec out in the snow making maple taffy, kids sledding down the hill behind the hotel, and mixed in are guests wandering sleepily in fluffy hotel robes from the spa to the elevators, wandering unconcernedly by the bar, through the main lobby, and maybe even stopping for a chat. Like it was their own home....! That's holiday time.

2008-12-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

Best of the season! In this last week we did a special portrait session for two of Whistler's real estate companies. Here are some of my faves....!

Connecting

2008-11-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

There is a sense of connection increasing in our world today. As cultures blend and we discover the commonality of our humanity a sense of belonging to the land and each other heightens. Dislocation from land or family is something experienced by so many cultures around the world, and something that continues today. We, as the human representation of all living things, belong to the Earth, and are not separate from the trees, the wind, the land, and each other. All of my ancestors, on my Father's and Mother's AND Inlaw's sides, came from various parts of the world, after dislocation from that land through war, famine or lack of opportunity, and brought their cultural heritage to a new land in which they were a part of the Canadian caucasian culture. Perhaps there is inspiration to artists from both cultures to represent the separate cultural histories finding human commonalities through the creation of art. As people move to different lands, by choice or by necessity, tools are developed to create a better and more enjoyable life. We find through our relationship to the land, to the earth, and to the other people around us that tools improve our quality of life and increase our connection to each other. As it is with this blog....
Some photos of an event at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler shows the connection of our senior citizens coming together to celebrate being, and they travelled from as far away as Texas, close as Victoria, and experienced such fun as laughing yoga, nature walks and this Hat's Off event that opened imagination avenues.

Painting and Photos

2008-11-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

My dad lives in the Okanagan, and when he bought his house a few years ago there was a stack of old window frames behind the guest cabin. Hmmm, I thought - great frames! So, we dragged the heavy 3-foot windows out of the dirt, removed the glass and sanded them down. Turns out they are antique yellow cedar, and were great inspiration for some personal art. The original photographs were printed on canvas, mounted to a larger canvas and then hand-painted with oils. Very fun. The images have been sold to personal collectors, hung in group shows at Millennium Place in Whistler, at Sea to Sky Real Estate, Kier Fine Jewellery and at Premier Properties. I have some in my own home, and they really add an energetic vibe to the rooms.
For more images, check out my website at www.leannarathkelly.com

The summer Edit

2008-11-13T15:02:00.001-08:00

It's November, the month when I have a chance to catch up with summer shoot projects that were on less of a deadline... so here's some New York pix that are 'shopped and ready for sale. Some are uploaded to Getty, others available through my own stock business. Speaking of which, read about the class-action lawsuit against Getty for the Premium Access fee royalty rate offered to volume buyers. Now I'm all one for a fair deal, but when I saw my first $2.81 cut for a rights-managed image I was rather confused. What??? That's a very low rate, and one I'd expect for an easy-to-shoot image, but not one that I've carefully crafted and selected for the collection. With our economy is re-adjusting to a new value-for-service and -product fees it will be interesting to see where this goes.

2008-11-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

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2008-10-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

2008-10-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

Teaching and Learning

There’s so much we can learn from sharing information. CAPIC, the Canadian Association for Photographers and Illustrators in Canada, (whew, that’s a mouthful!) held a seminar in Vancouver as part of the Portfolio development series last night. A panel of distinguished art directors from both advertising and editorial worlds discussed what they look for in new work, and what makes them hire a photographer. Turns out that real human contact and inspiration is what sells every time. But, they are busy. The phrase, “friendly stalker” was playfully thrown around, and be fast about it! Living here in this small (yet vibrant, dynamic, creative) town a two-hour drive from the Big City has encouraged me to communicate by email and phone, with websites as a big promotional tool, but ya know, when I hire someone I want to know who they are. Sure, the background on what they have done helps, but a personal interview seals the deal. I can’t count how many email inquiries I have from photographers all over the world who are considering working in Whistler, and want me to give them work. Well friend, I reply, move here first. See if you can live in the snow, make a life in this small resort, and find a place to live….. woops, that better come first. I need to know who you ARE.

And along with learning comes teaching. I’m a mentor in the CAPIC program, and met again with my new-photographer-mentee. When I talk about the business of photography and how I run things I always learn something new, and it’s so great to pass that information along. Please don’t make the same mistakes as I did, okay? If I can make it easier, faster, better, smarter than the road I have traveled for her then I have succeeded!

On Tuesday night I attended the All Candidates Meeting for Arts and Culture at Millennium Place in Whistler. As a director with the Arts Council it is so important to me to find out what the potential candidates know about the history of our arts culture in Whistler, the development of amenities and programs, and what their own interest may be in supporting the arts and cultural programs in our community. With a large roster of would-be councilors there’s a few duds, some with an unlimited capacity for embarrassing themselves, and a few stars. Want my vote? Show me you understand that globally arts and culture has historically drawn more visitors than recreation ever has…….

Soul Story

2008-10-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

In a conversation with an artist today we talked about the evolution of an artist’s work. I asked her what she feels and thinks about work she did 7 years ago, and she replied, “Well, you are looking at my soul. That (piece of art) was my soul then. When you look at my latest art you are looking at my soul now.” Wow. I replied that maybe the artist’s creations are a mix of where he/she is in life, what chapter of the book of life she’s living, along with a combination of environment and knowledge. Knowledge is experience blended with learned craft. But that’s not really soul, it’s mind. So, the age-old question appears: What is Art?

But the answer that art is soul didn’t quite resonate with me as complete when I left the gallery. I clearly remember when I learned to “see”, to view a scene in front of my eyes and quickly determine how to frame that scene in camera. It was an epiphany, and from then on I could find my image, know which lens to choose, define the mood, and create the light. I had been using my camera for at least ten years at that time, so it was surprising that the moment would be that clear… and take that long. I finally had the knowledge and experience to create something from somewhere else.

Are you seeing my soul in my work? Sometimes. Maybe. Not always. I do yoga, meditate, strive for open-mindedness and just be, but stuff gets in the way. Perhaps you see a portion of my soul in my images, but that soul story is muddied by the layers of living. The Medici family were ahead of the times with the whole patron-of-the-arts thing. My impression of the work of Leonardo da Vinci is one of a soul reaching, so far out, beyond, peeling the opaque layers of obscurity and obfuscation that defined existence of the Renaissance people from their eyes that it still inspires instant emotion. Under the painted sky of the Sistine Chapel tears are brushed away, and noses and minds blown. It’d be reasonable to say that da Vinci had no cares other than to create art, but I can’t really comprehend that. Even with his daily needs covered there may have been relationship issues, inspiration droughts, and periods of self-doubt. Somehow he must have figured out how to push aside the veil of worries, and just let his soul appear.

Thanks Giving

2008-10-10T14:10:00.001-07:00

Gratitude is something I'm working on today, this week, this life... I have so much to be grateful for and yet in this tumultuous financial time I find myself thinking about the bad stuff, the losses, the unfortunate possibilities, and what ifs. I'm grateful for my family, for my son returning for a weekend visit from University, for my daughter who dances delightfully around the kitchen while helping clean up after dinner, and for my husband who makes the BEST cafe lattes every morning and loves me with all his heart. I'm grateful to live in a peaceful town, in a peaceful country, with a diversity of population and a plethora of ideas. It's interesting to shoot when my emotions are in turmoil, but I find that with my camera in hand everything else fades away, forgotten, like a meditation on being aware. For these gifts I am truly grateful.

My website went live last week, and with SEO tweaks and an email blast next week it should be fun. Impressed with google analytics, too! So, this past week I shot:
- three business portrait sessions, one for a mayoral candidate
- two family portrait sessions
- one gorgeous condo for rental
- and a rather high score at the Nicklaus North Last Kick and the Pin golf tournament on a cold Monday. Happy Thanksgiving,
Leanna

First Day of Autumn

2008-09-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Whew, that was some summer! On this first day of autumn it's quiet outside, clouds reluctantly giving way to sun, and cool. Wonderful weather this past few weeks, and so I have been very busy. Did two shoots for Whistler-Blackcomb, one a patio shoot with 8 talented people and lots of food and beer, another with five ladies for a "girls on the town" shopping shoot in the village. THAT was Very Fun, capitals intended. Great to shoot something that I am so intimately knowledgeable about.... What else? Oh, yeah, two weddings, five portrait sessions and the first Vancouver meeting with Linda Mackie, a new photographer that I am mentoring with the CAPIC program. Arts Council jurying for member grants, participating on a jury for the RMOW public art program and various meetings have kept me busy. Website is just about ready to go live, and I'm really excited to launch the new version of where I am now this week. Stay tuned!

Wings

2008-09-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Our first born has left the nest for University and things are a little quieter around here. He's doing well, getting settled into class and life away from home, and we are so proud. It's a big change for our family, however, and a bittersweet time for us all. And I have the photos of him - among the hundreds of images there he is, three years old, tongue stuck out in concentration as he holds up only three fingers to the camera; as a seven-year old ripping around on his bike, mouth wide open as he yells with joy; as a chubby 12-year old swinging a golf club with all his might; and as a strong, lean young man walking proudly through the crowd of grads after accepting his scholarships. The moments that make up a life preserved for all time. I love being a photographer because as a mom, as a daughter, as a wife, and as a friend, I know that as each day passes those photos become more valuable. You may go there again, but it will never be the same.

Who am I?

2008-08-20T14:22:00.001-07:00

Working on my new website today - introspection is the name of the game. What images do I choose to represent what I shoot - what do I say to describe how I shoot - and how should it all go together..... fun. NOT! My favorite image is the one I took yesterday!
Did my bio update, and wanted to add some humor, some lighthearted banter to show I'm an easy-going pro. Yeah, right. I'm not a jokester, more of a soul-ster, but I'm not so serious when I shoot. After trying to add some humor I figured I'd be professional and elegant in my website and save the chat for the blog. This is me - I'm efficient, professional, good at getting to the heart of the matter, empathetic and inventive. At least that's what I am today.....

The Abundance of Summer

2008-08-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just back from family time in the Okanagan, where my Dad grows an abundance of fruit. Peaches were ready to pick, the red blush and soft fuzz inviting to touch and to eat. My favorite is to wander sleepy-eyed out to the orchard, climb the fruit ladder and gaze over the blushing fruit as the sun heats up the land. I carefully squeeze the fruit, and choose a fresh peach. Leaning over the grass so the peach juice doesn't run all over me is a wonderful experience. Yum.
Now it's back to work in Whistler - shooting on Whistler Mountain at sunset tonight for some WB ad work, a wedding tomorrow (one of the two last to shoot - ever!), portraits Sunday and Monday and the interiors of a home on Tuesday.

SECOND hole-in-one scored!

2008-07-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

Golf is a lot like photography - just a few good shots will keep me in the game. Had a good game last night, (understatement!) as I shot my SECOND hole-in-one. How does that happen?? When I scored my first hole-in-one last year I described it as "my first hole-in-one" and surprised myself when I realized that I had said FIRST hole-in-one. Both shots had a similar feel when I think of it. I'd looked at the flag carefully, really picked out the right club and imagined the swing while staring at the ball on the tee and just breathing deeply. Visualization, positive thinking, enjoying the moment, being with the ball, not thinking "get a hole-in-one" but having a clear target in mind. It worked. Wish I could say there was a Range Rover waiting for me after the hole-in-one, but instead there was 50 women in the bar for Ladies Night! I bought champagne to celebrate and I was given Jeannie, the Bear-head cover for my driver. Lovely. What surprises this life has for us.

Mountain woman shoots big City!

2008-07-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

July 27, 2008

Back from New York, what a place. Like water flowing in a rushing river, I moved among the towers of the city with ease even in the most crowded of streets. Flow though Time Square, burble around Soho, cruise the Upper West side in heels and big sunglasses, and flag a cab: it was surprisingly easy to move with the crowds. First time: I was in the city as part of PhotoShelter's Shoot! The Day event, one of the lucky 20 photographers chosen to shoot for the collection. So here I am back in my home in Whistler, editing pix of the City while mountains rise beyond the windows of my office. It's cool and cloudy today - a contrast to the 100˚ plus humidity of New York.
The shoot went well. I arrived at Studio Digital just after 9 am Sunday morning, and when the moving party that was our lighting, techs, assistants, video teams, were finally set up in Marili Forastieri's soho loft it was noon. Hot as as sauna, I was glad to have brought light clothing. Marili set her lighting and did an intro shoot, Leah Fasten chose to shoot "homework" as her topic next and I planned my shoot. The talent was a mom and her two boys, and a dad fill-in, so the dynamics of the group required attention. I'm always looking for real expressions, so a couple of hugs for mom later and some goofing around had the boys real smiles restored. Did some shots of washing dishes after a celebration, others of a birthday celebration. My time quickly disappeared. Makes me realize how much we accomplish here with our shoots. Typically I'll have a stylist on hand and models, but I set the lights myself and do it before the models arrive. A lot of shots, various angles and camera settings, move lights quickly, try to get what we need before the kids get worn out. We'll see how the images go.