Hi Folks:
Well, this is our fifth year of hugging Victorians (and others); mid-July and we’ve already had six free hugs sessions this year!
Basic Hugging Attire – Poster, Sun Hat, Winning Smile…!
Tag Archives: Victoria
Photo of the Month – June: Collecting Stories
Hi Folks:
There’s an old adage that says ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’, and since we’re both writers and we’re both photographers, in a given month we can collect a lot of ‘words’. In June we shot nearly 600 images between the two of us, and choosing one image is never an easy task. That’s my excuse for choosing two images for June. 🙂 These two images were chosen both because they’re good images in their own way and because of the stories they have to tell… Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday, Canada!
Hi Folks:
While we may not always be very vocal about it (typically Canadian), us up here in the Great White North are proud to be Canadian, and that’s never more evident than it is today – Canada Day.
When we were downtown yesterday there was someone from the local news channel who was asking people whether (as with this year) Canada Day should be celebrated on July 1, or whether it should be celebrated on say the Monday of that week (like Easter Monday, for example) to allow for a long weekend. While there are some celebrations that are based on a certain day of the week (for example, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox), July 1, 1867 marked the signing of the British North America Act that made Canada into a country. We’ll keep our date, thanks – quietly, but proudly! Continue Reading →
Photo of the Month – April
Hi Folks:
One of the (many) benefits of living in Victoria is that we have the beauty of Beacon Hill Park to enjoy year round. In addition to the many wildflowers, the wildlife, natural landscapes and gardens populated by flowers, shrubs and trees from around the world, the park is also home to about three dozen peafowl. The vivid displays of the peacocks are very popular with tourists and locals alike (not to mention, hopefully, the peahens), but many people are surprised to discover that peafowl can fly.
The image of the month for April is one Marcia captured with her new pocket camera. We trust you’ll enjoy it!
Okay, that’s it. Now go out and make some photographs!
Hugs,
Marcia and Mike.
Victorious Voices, 2014!
Hi Folks:
Earlier this month Marcia and I were pleased to attend the 5th Annual High School Slam Poetry contest known as Victorious Voices. Started by Jeremy Loveday, this fifth year had contestants from more schools than ever before, and this is wonderful news!
Slam poetry was founded by Mark Smith (So What!) in the late 1980s. For those new to slam poetry, the competition rules are fairly simple. Each poet (or team) has three minutes to present their poem. Following that is a short grace period, but going over that time results in a time penalty. All poems must be original and poets can read their work, but props and costumes are not permitted. A few poems this year (or rather parts thereof) were sung, something we’ve not seen before.
Photo of the Month – Angel Wings
Hi Folks:
It’s been a challenge to select a Photo of the Month for March… partly because together we made over 1500 images in March (admittedly many are for composites), but also because, in addition to Victoria’s colourful beauty this time of year (with the explosions of blossoms all over the city) we also made a trip to Tofino for a little beach walking and storm watching time. The weather while we were there was blessedly cooperative for a pair of photographers! We also made a stop in Coombs at the the Butterfly World and Gardens on our return trip. How to pick one image to represent all that?
Finally decided on this one as it sums up the best of everything from the past month. The beach sand and the shell remind us of our walks on both Chesterman Beach and Tonquin Beach in Tofino and our own Dallas Road shoreline here in Victoria, the shape pulls up memories of the butterflies in Coombs, and the butterfly also brings us to the many wonderful flowers we experience every day in our walks around our Pacific island paradise. Might also be a nod to the invisible ‘angels’ who seem to guide serendipitous events around us… 🙂
Angel Wings
Original image made by Marcia on her Samsung Galaxy S4, pushed around some in Lightroom. Okay, that’s it. Now go out and make some photographs!
Hugs,
M&M
Photo of the Month: February Flowers
Hi Folks:
Well, one of the (many) benefits of living on our Pacific island paradise is that spring comes earlier here than it does to the rest of Canada. As a promise of something yet to come for friends and relatives back east, in February we went out one day with cell phones in hand and captured images of the various flowers we found in bloom in and around our neighbourhood. We then put them into a photo-mosaic using Lightroom’s Print module. We offer it here for you to share in as well!
Okay, that’s it. Now go out and make some photographs!
Hugs,
M&M
My Favourite Image of the Year
Hi Folks:
At the end of every year it’s become more and more common for photographers to go back through the images they made over that year and choose what they feel is their best work. This can be an immensely challenging and yet creative project, because what one feels is one’s best work is often not the work most popular with others. Marcia and I do something similar, choosing one image from each month to use in our annual photo calendar.
However, I know without hesitation what will be my favourite image of the year, and I don’t have to wait to find it – it’s made on New Year’s Day. Every New Year we head to Government House to participate in the Lieutenant Governor’s levée … we have the opportunity to meet the Lieutenant Governor in office (and his or her spouse), share in some coffee and treats, listen to the speech and the bagpipes, and at some point we wander out to the balcony at the back. There’s a great view of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains in Washington from there, and I use my cell phone to capture an image (okay, several) of Marcia at the rail. Being New Year’s Day it gives me an opportunity to marvel at all that this amazing woman gives to me every day, and an opportunity to look forward to another year of adventure with her. Without a doubt, it’s my favourite image of the year.
Marcia on New Year’s Day, 2014
From Marcia and me, we wish you a new year filled with as much happiness, health, prosperity, excitement, love, peace and adventure as you can handle!
Okay, that’s it. Now go out and make some photographs!
Hugs,
M&M
P.S. Santa Claus brought us both new cell phone (cameras) this year. Who knows where that may lead!
Happy Holidays!!
Hi Folks:
Whether you celebrate Christmas or Festivus, Solstice or Saturnalia, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or something entirely personal, we wish you and those close to you a safe and happy Holiday Season, and a New Year with as much joy, love, adventure, peace and excitement as you can handle!!
The blog has been a little quiet of late, but we’ll be back with much more in 2014, so our continued thanks to you for stopping by!!
With Hugs,
Marcia and Mike.
P.S. The photograph is a composite made from 75 images, shot on the corner of the Legislative Grounds. If you’re not familiar with Victoria, the Inner Harbour is on the far left, then there’s the Empress Hotel, the Royal BC Museum and then the lights of the Legislative bldg.
International Free Hugs Day, 2013
Hi Folks:
As you’re surely all well aware, Saturday, July 6 (the first Saturday in July) was International Free Hugs Day!! Marcia and I dutifully marched down to our spot at the Homecoming Statue at Ship’s Point and unrolled our ‘Free Hugs’ posters, then eagerly awaited the onslaught. We didn’t have long to wait. We both commented on how terrified we were the first time we did this down at the inner harbour, and how much we look forward to these outings now! We meet some amazing people from around the world (and around the corner), shared some great stories and some great hugs!
Thanks to everyone who came by for sharing your hugs, smiles, waves, air hugs (from across the street), and best of all, yourselves. We appreciate every one!
International Free Hugs Day, 2013
So go out and hug someone today, and be sure to check out our other ‘Free Hugs‘ posts!
M&M
P.S. We recently came across a FB page for a woman named Rita who is also a hugger. You can check her out here: 10,000 Hugs in 100 Cities. Rita is also based in Victoria; we may not have all of the world’s best huggers, but we’re certainly on the map… ;-) We haven’t (yet) met Rita in person, but the hugging will be epic!