Wall and Noreen pt.2

My friends are getting married this weekend and I'm so excited to shoot their wedding! We've been saying it for so long, but it's finally almost here! Below are some of my favourites from their second engagement shoot!

Can't wait to celebrate the day with you!

Perspectives

For the past 9 months, I've had the opportunity to work at a settlement agency. A couple months in, I was moved to a project working to sponsor Syrian refugees to Canada. It has been a rollercoaster ride - sometimes still is. It's been tough emotionally and mentally. I hear all these stories from people whose family members are stuck in Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan after fleeing from Syria. They have experienced things that no human should ever have to experience. It's tough because you feel hopeless and sometimes, there is only so much you can do.

I recently got to meet a few Syrians who arrived to Canada as government assisted refugees. It's encouraging for me to see them so hopeful and positive and it challenges me in the way I see and live my life.

I hope to share the stories and dreams of just a few of these Syrian newcomers. For now, here's a photo sneak peek.

Wall and Noreen

My friends got engaged and I had the privilege of taking their engagement photos! It was super fun! I know you guys felt awkward at the beginning but the photos turned out great! It was a beautiful sunny winter day :)

Unpack Magazine

Unpack Magazine was recently published and it's my first published work as Co-Managing Editor! It was so fun to do. I got to talk with fellow journalists and photographers and assign them different story ideas to work on. I also got to shoot and write as well. Take a look at it online here!

Here's a sneak peek:

Tarek Ajak or better known as Mother Tareka, is a Hamilton based hip hop artist. He engages and empowers youth through music. Photo by Amanda Cheung.

UberEATS!

UberEATS just released their new app this past week! It's a one touch food delivery service. Order on your phone from hundreds of different restaurants for guaranteed delivery in 10 minutes or less!

Some of my photos are featured in the different restaurants that are participating!

Here's a sample of food offered by Dim Sum King:

Dim Sum King, Toronto

Shrimp dumplings - also known as Har Gow in Cantonese. This is usually a staple in dim sum.

Seafood Cantonese Chow Mein - I love Cantonese Chow Mein because the noodles are crispy! You can try it with chicken, beef, bbq pork or even vegetarian!

Another staple in dim sum - this is Sew Mai - steamed pork

Chicken buns! The more popular dim sum dish is bbq pork buns but this one is just as yummy!

Fried shrimp patties - always delicious

Steamed rice in Lotus Leaf -  usually there's some chicken or pork inside

Cher and Thomas's Engagement

I recently got to shoot engagement photos for a friend and old roommate of mine. We were roommates in Montreal and once we returned to Ontario it was a bit harder to keep in touch. I'd heard stories of her boyfriend and how'd they started dating but it wasn't until the engagement shoot that I got to see them together! It was so much fun and something special seeing the two of them together! I'm so happy for you guys and wish you the best!!!

Surf Dogs!

K-W Humane Society has an annual fundraiser called Surf Dogs. Owners can come with their furry friends to enjoy an afternoon at Bingemans wave pool. I attended this year's event and took some photos. There were so many dogs there! Michelle O'Driscoll, the volunteer co-chair or the event estimated that about 500 dogs were in attendance. It was a little cold today but many people still made it out!

ITCHENER, Ont. 13/09/2015 - Kodak, a 2 year and 8 months old chocolate lab, takes a leaps into the wave pool during K-W Humane Society's Annual Surf Dog fundraiser at Bingemans in Kitchener on Sunday, September 13, 2015. It is estimated that about 500 dogs attended the event. Photo by Amanda Cheung.

KITCHENER, Ont. 13/09/2015 - Layla, a 2 and a half year old golden retriever, takes a leap into the wave pool during K-W Humane Society's Annual Surf Dog fundraiser at Bingemans in Kitchener on Sunday, Septermber 13, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung.

KITCHENER, Ont. 13/09/2015 -Yuki, a purebred Siberian Husky, on the left, plays with another dog in the wave pool during K-W Humane Society's Annual Surf Dog fundraiser at Bingemans in Kitchener on Sunday, Septermber 13, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung.

KITCHENER, Ont. 13/09/2015 - Sushi, a one and a half year old pug, sits on a boogie board during the Hang 20 competition where dogs were timed to see how long they can stay on the boogie board. Photo by Amanda Cheung.

KITCHENER, Ont. 13/09/2015 - Melissa Garratt helps her 6 year-old Boston Terrier Maggie onto a boogie board during K-W Humane Society's Hang 20 competition. Photo by Amanda Cheung.

Back to it!

View from the editorial floor of The Hamilton Spectator. Shot on iPhone 5s /Amanda Cheung.

Well I had a nice little vacation in Vancouver (which I will post about soon!) and now I'm back at the Spec...for only another day :(  My three weeks here have gone by so fast and I've learned so much. The photographers here are super talented and amazing at what they do. At the Ontario Newspaper Awards this past weekend...the Hamilton Spectator took a third of all the wins! #soproud

Even though I'm only an intern here, I feel like the people at the Spec really care about what they do and have been so willing to pass along their experiences.

As one photographer said to me, shooting at a daily is like archiving history, everyday you are documenting something and every photo you take becomes a part of history!

Here's my little input into history from today. I got to shoot the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet High School in Stoney Creek.

STONEY CREEK, ON. (20/05/15) - From left to right, Austin Dosantis, Halima Abdikadir Mohammed and Mohammed Abdi Omer from Hillcrest Elementary School cross the finish line during a race at the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

STONEY CREEK, ON. (20/05/15) - Hailee Langlois, 12 from Hillcrest Elementary School claps as she crosses the finish line during the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

STONEY CREEK, ON. (20/05/15) - Teacher Julie Koudys helps Jesse Clark, 4, from Eastdale Public School with the javelin toss using a foam noodle during the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

STONEY CREEK, ON. (20/05/15) - Kiefer St. Coeur, 11, from Queen Mary School pariticipates in a ball toss during the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

STONEY CREEK, ON. (20/05/15) - Nolan Taylor, 6 from Queen Victoria Elementary Public School throws a football through a hula hoop at the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

STONEY CREEK, ON. (20/05/15) -Blerta Raqi, 8, from Beverly Central School, participates in a rugby challenge during the 10th Annual Special Olympics held at Saltfleet District High School in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

new business cards!

Yay! My business cards came in! Just in time for NPAC!

What a time it's been at the Hamilton Spectator so far! I've had the opportunity to shoot so many different happenings with some pretty talented photographers! On top of all the photos, I've also been able to make a whole bunch of videos on ATV training, seniors belly dancing, food trucks, how to make a planter and kids learning about agriculture! Here's a peak:

HAMILTON, Ont. - Constable Fab Giuliani watches as Constable Peter Hall drives an ATV over a log as part of Hamilton Police Services' new all-terrain vehicle enforcement team training in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Michael Leech plays his violin outside Jackson Square on the corner of James Street North and King Street West in Hamilton, Ont. Leech has been buskering for 10 years. "It's the walk of life out here," says Leech. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

  

HAMILTON, Ont. - Michael Achong, a retired general medicine doctor chats with Harry Hotz, 94, on the left, a late pediatrician who retired at 91 and Gord Cameron, a retired pediatrics surgeon at the Burlington Golf and Country Club during RODEO - Retired Old Doctors Eating Out in Burlington, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Children gather around Gloria the Horse to pet her after learning about horseshoes during Agricultural Education Day at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - From left, James Lubula, 7, Abbeygale Buonanno, 7, and Marcus Rougoor-Jones, 7, from Hess Street School learn about farming equipment during Agricultural Education Day at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Susan Austin from The Salted Pig gives a customer her food during Sew Hungry in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Noah Provo, 4, enjoys a grilled cheese sandwich during Sew Hungry in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Celine Osuchowsky licks her finger while sharing a treat with friends during Sew Hungry in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Robin Buchanan takes a nap on a hill after walking around Bayfront Park in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - A small bird sits perched on a ledge inside the Bayfront Park Gazebo in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Logan MacDonald, 11, feels the Northern Nightmare monster truck during an exclusive blind touch event with CNIB and the 2015 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour inside First Ontario Center in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - Ben Janzen, 11, takes a selfie with the Northern Nightmare monster truck during an exclusive blind touch event with CNIB and the 2015 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. - E.J. Woods, number 51 and Lamont Bryant, number 85, try to catch the football during the Hamilton Tiger Cats' first practice of the season in Hamilton, Ont. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

For videos, check out thespec.com website!

Internship at the Hamilton Spectator

It's almost been a week since I started my internship with the Hamilton Spectator and I've been having a blast!

I've got to shoot a variety of topics from the Bulldogs moving to Newfoundland to latex being injected into cadavers and to students studying for exams!

Hamilton is a great city and the longer I'm here, the more I'm falling in love with it!

HAMILTON, Ont. 20/04/2015 - The Bulldogs locker room at First Ontario Centre in Hamilton, Ont. is empty and packed with boxes as the team moves to St. John's, Newfoundland. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. 21/04/2015 - Raffy Nolan carries his handmade kayak after kayaking in the Hamilton Harbour on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Nolan is retired and enjoys the exercise. Besides making his own kayak, Nolan has also made a stand up paddle board. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. 22/04/2015 - McMaster Students from left to right, Mark Suan, Kashia Baniak, Jinae Jeon and Nuri Kim study for the final exams inside the McMaster University Student Center food court in Hamilton, Ont. on Wednesday, April. 22, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON, Ont. 22/04/2015 - A McMaster student looks at his exam paper inside the Ivor Wynne Center in Hamilton, Ont. on Wednesday, April. 22, 2015. Photo by Amanda Cheung, Special to the Hamilton Spectator