The Missing Piece of My Inner Martha Stewart

Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2010 by Amanda

At the well into my adulthood age of 33, there is something that I am totally embarrassed by, something that I hate admitting to people, especially women, something that many people can do, that I cannot. I, Amanda Gilligan, cannot cook.

The reason that I find this so embarrassing is because I am supposed to be able to do this simple task. It is what all the women in my family do, it is what my personality dictates I should be able to do, it makes sense that someone like me should be able to cook. This one little thing is the missing ingredient in my Domestic Goddess make up.

I love to decorate, to have people over to my house, to buy kitchen utensils and fluffy pillows. I would much rather spend my time looking at housewares than going to nightclubs and parties. I am a cancer crab, for god’s sake. It’s even part of my starsign- the domestic homebody!

I do believe that it partly to do with the fact that I am a really boring eater. I don’t really enjoy exotic foods and have a really weak stomach. The smell of tuna induces stomach churning and the “Lemon and Herb” alternative on the Spice-Meter at Nando’s is too hot for me.

I would like to blame my no cooking manifesto on my lack of adventurous eating but I want to be one of those domestic people who can whip up an Upside Down Pear Cardamom Cake and wish I could get excited about a seafood crab bisque. My personality dictates that I should be an apron wearing, dough kneading foodie and I want so badly to be able talk about my favourite foods and recipes with friends. I guess this is why I love to shoot food- it helps me fill that gap in my inner Martha Stewart.

I know I can take lessons and give it a go, I’ve tried. I own recipe books! Is anyone else out there like me? Are you afraid to admit that your husband does all the cooking? Tell me I’m not the only one whose inner chef is trying to break free.

These amazing people inspire me to cook and create food masterpieces. You should check them out.

Tartelette, Canelle et Vanille, a la mode, 101 Cookbooks, La Tartine Gourmande, Pictures and Pancakes and of course Orangette.

I also love these three Aussie foodie magazines: Gourmet Traveller, Donna Hay and Delicious.

Wandering Neighbourhoods: Suburban Magnolias

Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 by Amanda

Rather than sharing a well known Vancouver area, this week I have been photographing a more suburban walk. I have been doing a lot of wandering around the streets gazing at the beautiful Springtime colours that have popped up in suburban gardens.

The cherry blossoms arrived early but right now the magnolia trees are blooming all over the place creating dotterings of pink and white. I love their floppy petals which seem to droop like bunny ears.

Finally some warm weather for this chilled to the bone Australian. Aren’t these lovely beginning days of a season just filled with joy and hope for a happy time ahead?

Magnolia prints in my etsy store.

Cupcake Awesomeness

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 by Amanda

Choc and Blue Cupcakes

I was supposed to meet him at the bookstore. I made my way through the doors, peering over shelf stacks and bargain tables trying to spot him. He was meandering in the fiction section when he noticed me clutching a box of cupcakes.

Most males would ask if one had been bought for them. Not him. He took one look at the box of cupcakes and instantly made the “camera click” gesture with his fingers. He knows me so well it’s frightening.

Sure, cupcakes are sweet fluffy cake explosions that taste oh so good popped in the mouth, but damn they are made to be photographed. Eating them is just a bonus, right?

I shot these bad boys with my Yashica FX3 camera and Kodak Portra 400NC film. No flash, just natural window light. I was pretty pleased with how they turned out. I’m now offering these prints in the store.

*****

In case you missed it yesterday, I was interviewed on Shutter Sisters. I’ve been following their photography website for quite some time, so I was honoured to be asked. You can read it here.

Interviewed on Shutter Sisters

Posted on Sunday, April 11, 2010 by Amanda

What a lovely way to wake up; sleepy Sunday morning, sunshine and an interview on Shutter Sisters.

The lovely Irene interviewed me for the Shutter Sisters six questions. She asked me all sorts of questions about my photography and life as a photographer. You can read it here. Thanks so much, Irene!

Speaking of photography (when don’t I?), there has been an arrival of more Springtime goodness in the print store. Check out these blossoming beauties and this magnolia above. I’d love to send you out a pretty, Springtime package. I can also do those prints as 5 x 7. Send me an email or etsy conversation if you’re interested.

I hope you’re all having an enjoyable Sunday. I had a 30th last night and am having dinner at one awesome chef’s house tonight followed by the Spoon gig. How has your weekend been?

Tie Strings To Clouds

Posted on Friday, April 9, 2010 by Amanda

Go Do lyrics by Jónsi

Earlier in the week I was lucky enough to be at the opening show of the Jónsi world tour. Jónsi, lead singer of Icelandic band Sigur Rós, started his first solo tour in Vancouver and it was phenomenal. Anyone who knows Sigur Rós knows that their music is incredibly uplifting, joyful, full of emotion and magically atmospheric. Jónsi’s first solo album is just as beautiful and full of imagination and spark- yes, all those words we used to describe “dreamy photos” are words I would use to describe his music.

As I have seen Sigur Rós 4 times, I knew the show would be brimming with fantasy and spirit. I cannot contain how inspired I am by the masterpiece that was the Jónsi gig. It wasn’t just another concert. It was magical and full of light as animated owls and wolves flew across the stage in time with Jónsi’s angelic voice. The lights and animations behind him were so powerful that I had tears in my eyes.

The set was styled with broken down walls that lit up and shone dancing butterflies and overflowing waters into the audience. Jónsi worked with the dynamic 59 Productions to create the Icelandic forest which managed to weave itself into my heart. It was pure magic.

Usually I come home from a gig and want to listen to the music again or watch old concerts on DVD. This show inspired me to paint pictures of woodland creatures in my head, to imagine sleeping under a moonlit sky on a forest floor, to wear feathers in my hair, to romp on the wings of owls, to shoot the dances of sprightly butterflies.

It inspired me to go…do.

******

Jónsi official site Listen to the music here. Please. Joyful!

Making of the set: 3 videos about how the set and animations were made.

Inga Birgisdottir: Album artwork and photographs

Arni and Kinski: Go Do video

The Impossible Project PX100 Film

Posted on Thursday, April 8, 2010 by Amanda

Dreamy, soft, dark and light, subtle and faint are the words that come to mind when I think of this beautiful new film the Impossible Project gods have granted down upon us.

On Tuesday I briefly met up with the lovely Ashley to pick up my film (she was a doll and went in on a shipment with me) so yesterday was PX film testing day. Of course, Vancouver chose to be rainy and miserable so I only took one shot. I am hoping to do some more tests when the weather clears up.

Overall, I was pretty happy with my first shot as I have read about some rather unsuccessful first tries and was very nervous that it wasn’t going to turn out at all. My advice is to read this and look around the flickr forums for as much information as you can before you shoot.

I thought I would share what I did to achieve this first shot.

I opened the pack inside and inserted it into my SX70 camera with no problems. This was the first time I’ve not had to manipulate the film to get it to fit into the camera. It slid straight in, I closed up the door and out shot the dark slide like magic.

Once I had figured out what my first test subject would be, I set it up near a window with lots of light as it was pretty overcast and grey outside. I had my exposure dial set to the middle, composed my shot and hit the shutter button.

The film ejected and I quickly pulled it out and turned it over.

I covered it with the dark slide and quickly put it in to the pocket of my jeans.

Now this is where I sound like a loon. I then stood in a dark corner with my hand on my butt while the image developed. I must have looked like something out of the Blairwitch Project hovering creepily in the corner. I waited around 2 minutes just to be sure and then took a look at my picture.

I was overjoyed to see a nicely exposed shot when I first glanced upon it. I wasn’t happy with the blurriness but I will hopefully get a chance to try again tomorrow outdoors.

The black spot you can see is because of the dark slide. I didn’t realise at the time but it had a teeny little indented bump which I guess pushed into the film as it was developing.

I think anyone can have a go with this film. You just need to read up on the best conditions for shooting and developing. It will take a while to get to know this first flush, but I get the feeling that we are going to become happy friends.

What do you think of my first go? Have you tried any of the new film yet? I’d love to know about any tricks you have!

EDIT: New tests done today in the sun: Not so great. Sun was shining and I got a totally white overexposed shot.

Went inside with south facing window light and was still over exposed but better.

Tried it a third time with a blind on the same window and it was a little better.

******

Check out my Words To Shoot By and flickr bud Dave Tuttle’s first go- a gorgeous shot of the beautiful Whitney.

Putting Things Into Perspective

Posted on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 by Amanda

This morning I had the most happy of happy news that made all my concerns instantly disappear. Isn’t it amazing how one little sentence can make everything else fall into a heap of nothingness? All the petty worries of an everyday life can be squashed with one teeny word.

Today I found out that there is going to a be a new baby girl in my family and seeing as the last one is now 18 yrs old, it’s pretty exciting. There has been a lot of surprise news in my family in the past couple of months and as wonderfully exciting as it is, it makes living abroad that little bit rougher on the soul.

When I moved to Canada I knew that being apart from my family was going to be the hardest part of my new life. That has remained to be the case and I imagine will continue to be my biggest struggle. Hearing news that there is a new baby girl on the way and an engagement to celebrate over the phone means that you don’t get to jump up and down with your loved ones, that you don’t get to give the congratulatory hugs and that you miss out on all those little planning conversations.

It’s something that I am learning to deal with albeit slowly and with heavy heart.

Despite it all, hearing the words “we are having a girl” knocks every daily complaint into a quick paced reality check. Everyday botherings that caused me grief only a couple of minutes before became pointless pieces of dust and my face became an instant beacon of happiness.

I think I will now go check out some baby love in these happy places.

What are you thankful for today?

Ways To Inspire Kids To Love Books

Posted on Monday, April 5, 2010 by Amanda

Just when you thought you had little ole Mocking Bird pegged, I’m throwing you a curve ball and am going to write about something I never write about. Today I will not be writing about anything to do with photography or cameras or Polaroids! Try to take your jaw from the floor, kids.

It occurred to me recently that I assume Mocking Bird readers know everything about me which is pretty stupid on my part. For those of you who haven’t read my About Page, I am actually a teacher by trade. Back in Australia, my day to day was a teacher of gorgeous little cherubs of the infant kind. I know a lot of you who swing by here have bubbas and I want to share something else that I am very passionate about other than photography.

Reading To Children

You probably already guessed that from my rather obvious title though, right? One thing that I am often asked by parents is “How do I get my kid to enjoy reading?” The simple answer is show them how.

There is a BRILLIANT piece of writing by Australian children’s author Mem Fox about how to inspire a love of reading and I urge you to read it.

These are some ways to inspire children to love books and reading:

Love books yourself- children model their parents behaviour. If your child sees you reading books, enjoying books, buying books and sharing books, they will want to do the same thing.
Fill your house with books and reading material- the saddest thing a teacher can hear from a student is that they don’t own any books. I am probably one of those boring people who always gives their friends’ babies books as presents but for a child to have their own library from the youngest age is SO important.
Allocate daily reading time- whether it be an hour, 20 mins or 5 mins. 5 minutes a day is better than nothing at all.
Go to the library and borrow books on a weekly basis.
Allow them to borrow weekly from their school library by making sure they have their library bag on library day. School librarians are sticklers for not allowing borrowing without a bag.
Discuss their favourite books and book characters- talk about books with your kids so that they are immersed in a book rich life.
Draw and paint their favourite books- children learn to draw before reading and writing and it’s instinctively natural for them to want to create through drawing.
Write stories together about characters in their favourite books- retell the story, change the ending, write a new complication (problem), make up back stories for the characters.
Take photos of them reading and stick them on the fridge with “Darcy is reading” or “Darcy is a reader” written underneath- ha! I knew I’d get photography in there somehow.
Call your children “readers” even if they are aged 3 and just turning the pages. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t physically reading the words- they are still “readers”.

Do all of this from birth. Books and reading need to be a part of a child’s life long before they get to school. Worrying about a child not being interested in books in Grade 1 or 2 is too late. They need a book rich life from birth.

I hope this list is helpful to some of you Mums and Dads out there. I’d love to know what some of your strategies are for inspiring kids to love books. I know there are lots of other ways and would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

p.s. I hope this wasn’t too off topic for those of you without kids. I want to bring a bit more of my children oriented life into this blog because I’m really starting to miss working with them. I’m not teaching right now, so this is my little way of getting it out there.