Insight Eye Photography

I am not afraid of experimenting with portraiture at all! A couple of years ago I picked up a magazine and I saw the most amazing portrait ever. The woman was dressed in 1920’s makeup and clothing and I knew the perfect person to help me with this image.

Michelle. Michelle is a woman I have known since childhood and she can be the ultimate chameleon! I asked her to pose for me and she was more than ready to do anything that I asked of her. So after hair and makeup we got to shooting.

The major thing that I wanted to get from her was the mood in her eyes, they were going to be the prime focus, hence the name I gave this portrait - Look into my Eyes. After multiple tries I got the intensity I wanted and the look just followed through. The end result is what you see here. I am really happy with the result of this, and I am still looking to find another portrait that I can get some insight on. Really, it is ongoing.

History is around us everywhere. It educates us about the past so we can look into the future.

As you see here, this is a fort in the Caribbean. It has been there for many years and now it sits abandoned with lots of tourists coming to see what was inside the walls. To try to figure out the history behind this place. To try to feel what it was like back in the day when this fort was active in the time of battle.

Where this image was taken was in the old moat area of the fort where I was under a bridge and the lookout point is just by that tree. In a sense it is an image that instantly draws you to an area and transports you into that time. That lookout point would be where a guard would look into the forest area and the river to see if there were any enemies approaching.

I wonder what was going through the soldiers heads at that time?

I have to admit that I wanted to do something for our Canadian soldiers, but did not know what to do. When this opportunity came, I could not refuse. I had the honour to shoot military families this past weekend in order for the soldiers to get photographs for Mother’s and Father’s day.

I did not know what the lives of the soldiers are like nor for the families. That specific day that I helped out I got a firm education about what happens. These soldiers and the families are extremely brave and strong in this time of war overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of the families that I photographed were very pleased with what we were doing. They also were looking forward to seeing their loved ones coming home.

So, there are no pics to show as I do not want to spoil on which soldier is getting an image. I simply say to the Canadian soldiers.

“Come home, safe and sound. Your familes and friends miss you very much!”

Alberta has been home for me for many years. My family moved here when I was five from BC, and we have remained loyal to this province in Canada. Where else in the world will you find prairies, mountains, badlands, lakes and amazing skies?

One of the many things that you will find year round are amazing sun rises and sun sets. The colours are astounding. You will see different sun rises and sun sets when you look at them closely. As you see in the image above, this specific sunset was pink and blue against Pigeon Lake. Many people think that this image was doctored in the colour area but I have the original and that is what came out in the camera. I remember when I took this image that I was finishing a long day of shooting and this gave me a sense of calm when I was looking and shooting at this sun set.

I have yet to see another sun set like this. Like I said, nothing is the same.

It is interesting how one can find a gem in their own backyard. When my husband and I bought our house, we found out that it was involved in a huge fire and that the front and the back were BLOWN out. There was only the skeleton of the house left. We knew nothing about what the previous owner has planted in the garden at all. When spring came and all the snow had melted away we were very surprised to see tulips coming out from the soil that had been riden with ash and debris.

The tulip here has a yin yang sequence to it, (”The concept of yin and yang (or earthheaven) describes two opposing and, at the same time, complementary (completing) aspects of any one phenomenon (object or process) or comparison of any two phenomena” Wikipedia.com) and the past of the explosion as well as the renewal of another season and plant life to come about after a tragedy is wonderful to see. Especially if it is in your backyard.

Cuba is definitely another place that is worth revisiting. The blue ocean that you see here is one of the many reasons that I would love to go back. The people there are poor but they are kind and genuine. They would do anything to make any tourist happy.

I always say that there is always a jewel in every country that you visit. Havana was the jewel, it was a great place to visit. The history and the architecture were amazing to see. I also rode in old cars that have been torn apart and put back together again. Went to a cigar factory and saw how the process was for these infamous cigars. We also went to the rum factory and saw the history of it as well. Rum and cigars are the major exports of Cuba-and they do very well at it.

This jewel in the Caribbean is definitely worth another visit! I would go again if given the chance.

This image is my personal favorite. It was taken in Batalha-a monastery that was not completed. I was lucky enough to see that there were some nuns from the Philippines sight seeing.

I am very lucky to have been to this country more than once. I personally like to call it my second home from Canada. This magical country has so much history in it. From the architecture, royalty as well as religion. I have never had a bad day there ever. The people are very friendly and life is very simple. The food is great and the wine is plentiful and delicious.

I am blessed to have my husband take me there every two years as we love to see the inlaws. Along with that though I have made some wonderful friends over there that I am longing to see. Every time we go I always come back with new images of places that I have never experienced before and it makes me want to go back every single time.

This is a special project for me. I talk about insight into photographs all the time when I am taking them for clients. Well, I got to thinking about taking portraits of me. So I decided to shoot myself everyday for a full year. This ends up to be at least 366 days. I am proud to say that I have completed 107 images so far and I am having lots of fun in the process. Please go to the blog roll where there is a link to see the images so far.

This is very personal project for me as I would like to gain insight upon myself at the end of this process. If you have any ideas for me to shoot then send me an email with your idea. I will credit you with the suggestion.

I have been getting lots of requests to shoot portraits later in the year. Slots are filling up quickly so make you booking today.

I love shooting Portraits. I like bringing out the best in people when I shoot. It doesn’t matter if they are babies, teens, adults and seniors. All you need to do is to book an appointment with me to get a time.

This image of Emerson with his mother Meadow is one of my personal favorites. You can tell that Emerson loves his mother very much. He was a preemie but he had lots of character as you can tell. In this image you can see that he is comfortable in the position that he is in. This is what I love about shooting babies and children…nothing is contrived and it is what it is.

For Portrait information please give me a call at 780-482-2022 or email me at melanie@insighteyephotography.com

My hair stylist has a wonderful promotion that you may be interested in. She is really good as you can see-she just did my hair last weekend since I had a formal function to attend to.

Looking to make a steamy impression this Valentines day? Well give him a picture…it will last longer.

“Boudoir” Photo Package includes:
Hair color and cut
On site make-up and hair styling
1 8/10 print, mounted in folder
All for $210
*Hair color and cut to be done before photo shoot day, all additional colors $10

Reserve soon to guaranty print availability for February 14th. For bookings please contact Meadow 271-4845, meadowr@hotmail.com.

I will be doing the photographs if you are interested. If there are any questions about the photography please contact me and I would be more than happy to talk to you.