Trying to fix the post below...

Hmmm... I'm no coding whiz, so, the post below in a little messed up. I'm not quite sure how to fix it, so it will take me some time to figure it out. Sorry if you can't read that post or the previous one properly.  I think if you load the posts individually, you can read each of them better.

UPDATE (2/11/2015): Found the picture on Jonathan Scott's FB Fan Page, so now the post is as I originally intended.

Sometimes a photo just makes you smile....

Courtesy of Jonathan Scott's Facebook Fan Page

Sometimes you just happen upon a picture that totally makes you smile, and for me this was just one such photo.

I was looking for a picture I had seen of these gentlemen for different post, and stumbled upon this photo, and it just put a HUGE smile on my face. This image just has the right combination of elements to make it so... sort of like a perfect storm of elements.

After living in rainy BC for a couple of years, I became somewhat of a pluviophile. I'm not kidding; I actually love the rain, especially as pictured here. I know a lot of people dislike the rain, for various reasons, but I find a beauty in it. In spring, I love seeing the rain waking the world up from it's winter slumber; and in the fall, it has a sullen beauty, as it rids the world of the remnants of summer, as it prepares to hibernate. But the BEST kind of rain is when it's COMPLETELY sunny!  That is what we have in this picture. So, personally, this image speaks to me....

Even if you can't empathize with my love of rain, there is also the the juxtaposition of a sunny day and a rainy day that is completely harmonious in the image.  I love things that are a little unexpected -- it makes for a great story. Think about it, when you think sunny day, you probably don't think it was raining, and reverse is also true.

I have to admit, though, in the context of this photo, it's not the surprise element that works, but more the harmony. The subjects of this is image are the twins who (from what I can tell from social media) compliment each other very well, just as the rain and the sunshine in the image.

What perfects the image as a whole, is the softness of the image and the photographer's choice of black and white.  Because the image is not pin sharp (at least as it is pictured here), it has ethereal feel. I think this is further highlighted by the fact that the image is in black and white. This image is perfect in black and white. I don't know if the photographer shot it that way or did that in post; I love the choice. I feel that if the image was in colour, it would actually take away from the story.... the image would just not be the same.

So, yes, I know this is probably a publicity shot of some sort, but that doesn't mean it can't have a wonderful story.  What do you think? Does this image not put a smile on your face?

It's not important for the post, but these men are "The Property Brothers". From what I gather, they are total ergophiles (workaholics!), and do some really great work. If you want to know more about them, just do a search for them... they are easy to find!

Adventures of "The Legographer"

(c) Andrew Whyte

I can't remember how I got to this article, but I'm so glad that I found it!

This is a very clever way to keep yourself engaged with the world around you, and keep pushing yourself to see things from a different perspective with simple tools -- all important for a photographer to keep their skills sharp.

I love that this was a 365 project of a UK-based photographer, Andrew Whyte, who used his iPhone for the whole series.  He seems to have only used apps for lighting, which would let him separate focus from exposure, which makes sense. The effects are amazing.

I think it's funny that during that year, he never left home without out his pocket-sized companion, Legographer.

Andrew's work on this miniseries here: The Legographer.

Next time I take on a 365, I want to do something similar... not necessarily a Legographer, but something that will shift my perspective on the world... and keep me rethinking, re-engaging the normal everyday things.