This past weekend was my birthday. My heart was so filled with joy with our long weekend. The golf course, home, beach, macro back road tour.
I took a lot of photos of family, which I love, it reminds me of the photos I cherish of our kids growing up. The pure innocence of children is like a breath of fresh air. The toddler negotiations, when those happen, ah takes me right back 😉 But I don’t share those publicly, I did snap this one which I love. The geese are gathering at the point and someone enjoys the sunshine on the sand down the beach.
It was a beautiful fall weekend, cool evenings and warm days.
This afternoon I had mentioned to my husband that I would like to go on a photo tour. Sometimes I just need that little bit of a reset and that does the creative boost just right.
With each “thing” we celebrate or embrace, its one of those firsts, reminders of what will never be. Previous communication, meaning everything and especially the here and now. Capturing, the moments, for one day they will be memories.
I said it to him, and then didn’t act on it. Continued to sit on the couch on the deck. My legs were beginning to feel restless, got up and walked around, didn’t calm them. Finally I grabbed my camera and said lets go.
Just when I was beginning to feel frustrated that the beautiful roadside wild flowers were gone, we opened up to this.
“Spiritually, bees symbolize hard work, community, fertility, and prosperity, representing wisdom and a connection to the divine or universal spirit. They are often seen as messengers between worlds and serve as a reminder to embrace change, focus on collective well-being, and harness one’s inner strengths for personal growth and transformation.” Google
When we were golfing the other night, a beautiful fox ran up the course beside us and through to the next hole. I had thought to bring my camera, and unfortunately ignored that desire, so I have the joy of a mental memory of its beauty.
“A fox crossing your path spiritually signifies the importance of wisdom, resourcefulness, and adapting to change. It serves as a guide to trust your instincts and intuition when facing decisions or complex projects, encouraging clever thinking and a new perspective on your current circumstances. The appearance of a fox can also be a warning to be aware of deceptive people or situations, or an invitation to embrace your playful, wild nature and find harmony between work and play.” Google
I have noticed, when I am creative in the morning, my mental health gets an incredible boost and the day flows magnificently!
Within an 8 week course I have been doing, she has challenged us to do something creative, that we haven’t done before that will also stretch us. I of course gravitated to photography, thats my wheelhouse, my home, my comfort, but that’s not enough. I then grabbed my sketch book and thought ok Ive had the odd urge to get back to this. No, its not this.
This morning, after I posted my Lens-Artists Photo Challenge blog for this week, I felt that flow and I knew what my creative project would be.
Start my day blogging, whether its just writing, images or whatever. Allow my creativity to flow. Truthfully, I am hoping this will also help dissipate some deep anger and frustration – creativity and artistic abilities is much more free flowing than the resistance and roughness of anger and frustration. Here is the reality, no amount of bitching or complaining about the current “free” system will change anything. Making the choice to step into an even more empowered stance, that yes will have an energetic and monetary exchange for this to happen, feels much more aligned with my soul.
I began writing this blog a couple days ago, at lunch on Wednesday as I was sitting in my back yard with my dog, we were both in our own little world for a bit and things shifted in such a big way. Blogging has helped me immensely, it takes me back to when my passion for photography really blossomed, my true authentic soul feel. I began writing, in a form I hadn’t in awhile. I even could feel my ego beginning to step in, I had to say stop outloud, when I re-read what I wrote yesterday at lunch, after work, the words hit my soul. A true connection that also wrapped around and immersed within our creative challenge to share next week. This was just the beginning. I have one more step before I complete it. What I do know is when you choose to step into your full truth, everything around you IS forced to either shift with you, or away. Especially choosing to step into it, with confidence regardless of who else is involved and regardless of their status. Never be afraid to speak up, even with someone who appears to have a higher education.
As soon as I saw this theme, my heart took me to my kids in hockey. Our daughter about to enter her final year of minor hockey! Wild where the time has gone. I enjoy taking photos of anything and all that our kids are into or do.
Our family was also involved with the local Jr C team for years, our kids were quite young when we began and what is truly heart warming, is our son naturally gravitated to the same team helping with equipment and training etc – very cool! If you can find the smallest in this photo, thats our boy back in 2012.
To this last fall, taken with my cell phone. I just realized also under our family company sign, hits the heart even more!
This was the biggest part for us, the family being involved. The kids helping Cherie. If we were at the arena, our kids were typically with us!
About 10 years later… through the nets and glass! Above mentioned son, also at the glass.
My absolute favourite to watch is my kids. Our son played hockey all his childhood, and finished a year ago. Our daughter did for a year then back to figure skating and then took a leap and went back to hockey at the beginning of U18! We were so proud of her!
Our son’s final year, was our daughters first year of being back in hockey, so many weekends were split if there were over lapping games. It was always so heart filling to me to get to any and all of our kids games. Especially knowing it doesn’t last long, while you are IN it, it feels like an eternity, now that we are on the other side, holy crap where did the time go!!!
This game below, was our daughters first game after we experienced a big loss in our family, my brother, her uncle passed. Within the first 3 min of the game, she scored! Over the couple years it was incredible watching her growth.
Our boy was given the C – Captain, for his final year of Minor Hockey. It truly was heart warming, he took that C to heart and was a true honor. He was also one of the tallest on the team, so he literally ‘watched over’ them.
Going through this challenge was a good reminder for me to get more of the kids sports up on Flickr into albums!
Fishing, our kids fav thing to do at a family cottage!
I saw a quote the other day, “Their world is only as big as you show them…” Unknown
I instantly thought of a dogs life.
This weekend we took him on an adventure – he loved it!
Truthfully, our boy didn’t get the socialization he should have, I had a hard time myself socializing and after falling once spring graced us, it was challenging walking with sand or rocks. I am grateful I overcame that fear so we can bring him on more adventures and socialize him as we desired to!
He did amazing! Since he was little we have always traveled with a harness and seat belt buckle, so this was no different. I am so happy how comfortable it was! I was leery and worried, however after the test run, I felt confident, amazingly comfortably confident that it would work. It did. Of course.
We stopped half way to the cottage.
The sun streaming through the trees, it was incredible!
Trust on your adventure, you are on the right path.
I was promptly reminded yesterday, ‘Do what you love’ after being hit with what felt like another double whammy from modern medicine.
After 3 months of waiting for 2 referrals, I called to find out where they were at to then find out… nothing… nothing in 3 months had been done. No referrals had been sent. I honestly froze when I heard those words, which was after the initial laugh from the person on the other end ‘that’s a normal time to wait’… When I questioned why nothing, in 3 months had been done. There was no answer. Nothing. No reason. Sadly hitting issues with the medical system has been our norm since 2020. My husband, my son, earlier this year my daughter and now… the one who took care of them all, now me. As people who rarely use the medical system, its extremely upsetting when you have a legitimate issue that needs modern medicine to help you figure out whats going on and you are literally just a number and get lost in the system. This has been something that has been bothering me in such a deep way, being extremely stressful, which it feels like has been almost all of the 2020’s with our modern medicine being screwed around with in such deep and dark ways.
As soon as I hung up the phone, the tears hit. Given all we have faced, I know when I need to cry, I just need to allow myself the permission regardless of where I am to cry. Crying for me is very cleansing, after many years of just bottling that up.
When something is completely out of my control, as much as I wanted to scream, hit something very hard, or wrap my hands around… I came home at lunch and grabbed my camera – the safest and most satisfying option. As I arrived home, I looked outside and could see the bee’s happily flying around our two trees at the front door.
The first group of images were blown, I was not even thinking straight and my settings were messed up. Once I realized I recomposed myself again. But it honestly pissed me off more.
I thought I had lost all the good shots… I was beating myself up about not even being able to do that right. See your not worth it. That voice of judgment can feel so damn real at times! Its not by the way…
I was also shown some love by the plant… Sometimes the littlest thing can have such a profound shift! I noticed this wee heart in the leaf and couldn’t help but stop and admire!
I kept hearing just shoot, its ok. So I did… Over 180 photos that I narrowed down to approx 50. I would normally delete ALL the blown ones, those are not my style and to be reminded of a screw up kinda sucks. However something pulled me to hang on to them. Like life, it doesn’t always go our way or flow how we feel it should. Taking a moment to recompose, find your true north, align your heart and soul and magic happens.
And then I saw this one above… The connection. Meet… THE MAGIC!
This image could never be planned. A reminder to trust. As I was shooting, I could feel the heaviness lifting, trust Pam, you will get the shots you desire – Trust!
Sometimes when you do lean on trust and honor your word, not being afraid to speak up, things come into alignment. Without fear.
The variety of bee’s of all kinds over these two trees was incredible and the fact that both my dog and I were around them and didn’t land on either of us once. I do talk to whatever I am photographing, may seem silly to some, however Ive never been bit by an animal, bird or insect when photographing them – for that I am grateful!
Taking the photos didn’t help my medical issue, however emotionally it was a HUGE shift. I was able to then take the time to write a letter and submit it with confidence asking for answers – and this time not just for me, validation of how patients are treated, no one deserves to live in discomfort and be gaslit or ignored by the medical system. Especially when someone calls and are met with a voicemail that indicates they are not answering the phones to ‘get caught up on work’.
You are the patient, YOU are allowed to push for answers and demand to be treated with respect.
Of course, being the spiritual person I am I had to look this up. Check out the meanings… of course they were all over my trees when I got home (they weren’t in the evening!).
The bee’s symbolism has many facets and many collective, individual, physical, and spiritual meanings:
Efficient communication and interaction
Endurance and tenacity
The capacity to imagine and build
The capacity to observe and gain a thorough understanding
The sweetness of life
Love and sharing
Authenticity
The urge to look within
Affinity with light, with the divine
Harmony with the rhythm of nature and life
Healing or increased vitality
Fertility and productivity
Support and encouragement
The symbolism of the bee is a powerful reflection of their lives and the numerous myths this insect has inspired throughout history. According to ancient mythological tales, bees purify and strengthen the soul. They elevate us to the rank of civilization-building heroes, nurturing harmony amongst men with their knowledge and the powerful acts they accomplish despite their small demeanor.Source: Spirit Animal
Even though I just blogged about this last year, I feel I should do an update! Although I still have, and love my EF L lenses, I have begun to branch out with my RF lenses and as Ive been loving them, I am happy to share!
Canon RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM – I bought this one used (and on sale) from Henry’s – my reason for trying this lens, is that its 28-70 f2.8 – so a perfect lens for indoor use as I can open up with natural light to f2.8. This is also a great light all purpose lens as it can go from 28mm to 70mm. You can see some test shots with this lens here. Within the same post is also some test images of the 15-30.
Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM – I bought this one used (and on sale) from Henry’s as I wanted a wide RF lens for wide angle landscape shots. I plan to use this one similar to the next one, when shooting landscape my minimal aperture will be 6.3 if zoomed in and truthfully if its landscape I want as much details as possible so even though at 15mm I could shoot at 4.5 – I will for sure stop down so that more of the photo is in focus. The images within this post were taken with this lens.
Canon RF 24-240mm f4-6.3 IS USM – I bought this lens new from Henry’s before our trip to Halifax last year. Although hesitant, as my EF L lenses are all fixed aperture of f2.8 or f4 etc I am so happy I took the leap. This is a fantastic travel lens. When out and about I simply set my aperture to 6.3 and then I am free to shoot and trust the images will work out. I LOVE that it goes from 24-240 – the image results are breathtaking as well! I primarily used this lens on our tip. Check out the images here.
Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM – My first RF lens! I bought this one with my Canon RP, what I love about it is the macro capabilities and the aperture can be wide open at f1.8 – amazing for low light and indoors. This lens is very affordable and produces beautiful images. There is a couple examples of the 35mm in this post too.
Canon RF 85mm f/2.0 IS STM Macro – My newest lens, if you know me you know I LOVE a good macro, adore it actually, it makes me melt the images are soooo delicious! This lens, highly recommend! I love the extra reach from the 35mm and the creamy background is just beautiful! Check out images taken with this lens here.
Canon RF24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM Lens Kit – I just actually sold this lens, this came with my R6MII and although it is a very sharp fantastic lens, as I purchased the 24-240 last year and the 28-70 for lower light, it was a redundant lens. I am truly SO excited for the new owner of this lens. A couple girls who are hobbyist photographers like me, and are beginning to photograph some friends weddings. My heart was so full watching them look it over and test it out! The excitement of new to you camera gear is so fulfilling, even to watch someone else get so excited!
The image below is a great example of the capabilities of the RF 35mm f1.8! You can see more in my portfolio here!
As a hobbyist photographer artist, as much as I adore the L lenses, I went with the more budget friendly lenses, this took me time to decide as I am used to the quality of the L lenses. If you are thinking of upgrading from your DSRL. Consider taking a gentle step, speaking from experience my mirrorless camera came with an adapter so I could use my EF lenses, this is awesome because it gives you time to decide what you really need, want and desire. Although a lot of my lenses do over lap, I specifically wanted to test these lenses for weight and quality – when traveling I need and desire something lighter and produces the quality images with it. I am extremely happy to say, these lenses do it!
With the RF lenses that I have, what is exciting is that with the size and weight of the cameras and lenses, I can carry all of them in my one big bag – which for travel is perfect!!!
What is missing? Not much as when I am at home, I have my EF L lenses with the adapter to use – which include my bigger zoom lenses – 70-200 f2.8L (used for hockey games) and my 100-500 f4-6.3. I honestly would like to eventually get the 100-400mm zoom at some point. I was considering the 100-500 and 200-800 however the cost, is a huge deterrent – even used for the 100-500 its still almost $2900 cdn. When I was shooting with my DSLR all the time, there was a drastic quality improvement of the L lenses from the “kit” lenses. The kit lenses offer a wonderful starting point to learn and figure out what photography is for you and how you may want to grow in the future!
Curious about all the RF lenses offered by Canon, check out this comprehensive list HERE!
This evening as it was raining I had the urge to get out and take some photos. A great opportunity to get out my Canon 5DMIII + 180mm f3.5L lens, its a big and beautiful combo. Perhaps a little nudge, little reminder of the benefits of strength training! I haven’t had the urge yet and if I have learned anything about life, when I am in resistance, thats ok, its more than ok actually, its the time to be patient, to not push and to trust. Until I am ready to go back to my heavy lenses, I am quite happy with the RF collection I now have!
When the wind and rain truly work for you… check this out!
When I first read the challenge theme yesterday I was initially disappointed. The previous challenges I have been a part of over the past month, have been images I already had within my collection.
Ease, we all need a bit more ease in our life.
I could feel the frustration, doors!? What doors would I take photos of?
Then it hit me…
Our town is full of churches, I asked my husband if he wanted to go for a drive, he was in! He drove me, while I jumped out and in taking photos of the doors of the local churches. Then I rememered a couple more doors in town that I, from my own childhood, will always remember. Plus… I could test out my new 15-30mm lens!
The old town hall and the library. As well as a couple close by older buildings.
This week, Sofia leads and takes us back to Challenge #20. You can see her post here. The doors, lines, patterns are so unique and beautifully artistic.
In the next one, you can’t actually see the doors, however you can see the door step, with the older building, so timeless, peaceful.
My most favourite door ❤ ours!
We completely updated our home, including the front door. It was previously a single door with two side lights. I love how the simple shift in changing the door and colour, is such a dramatic change! We also added the peak as I like textures and depth.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists challenge, please click here.
Testing out the Canon RF Macro 85mm f2.0 STM lens and I am extremely impressed at the macro capabilities, sharpness and creamy background.
This image taken at f5
Image below and above both shot at f4
All photos taken with the Canon R6MII + RF 85mm f2.0 Macro STM lens. As a mom, who is a passionate hobbyist photographer I highly recommend this lens. This lens has a real quality feel to it, there is a some weight to it, close to the EF L version, however still less than the EF 100mm f2.8L. If you currently have the EF L version of the macro lens – it IS a fantastic lens. This is a lighter version to use, especially for travel as I do not need to use the EF to RF adapter, which adds extra length and weight. See the comparison between the EF 100L and RF 85 f2.0 Here! If you are curious the difference between the RF 100mm f2.8L and the RF 85mm f2.0 STM, check that out here. I personally opted for the 85 STM because I have the 100L in the EF version and, given that, I couldn’t justify the more than double the cost for the RF L version, especially with results like this above! The weight is also 1.5 times as heavy as the 85.
My husband and I have decided to explore Ontario more and Canada as a whole, weight for a travel kit is key and I am feeling incredibly confident in the RF lenses and even more grateful to have my adapter and EF lenses that also still work with my R6MII and my RP as well as my 5DMIII!
If you are looking to add a macro lens to your Canon mirrorless set up, I highly recommend the Canon RF 85mm f2.0 STM in combination with the Canon RF 35mm f1.8.
