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.

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!!!

new business cards!

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

Best Friends

I came across these friends at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre. We had an assignment to find people who have been friends for over 7 years! It was tough looking for people but finally found this pair of fun-spirited friends!

Wow. We got nominated for NPAC

I am so honoured to be nominated with my classmates #CarlaAntonio #MaggieNaylor #DillanCools #ThomasSurian for the NPAC team multimedia category alongside photojournalists who have been so inspiring!!! This is incredible and I'm so thankful for this privilege!

You can see the other nominees here: http://npac.ca/2015/02/2014-national-pictures-of-the-year-nominees/

Check out our video below!



The Beacon of Hope from Amanda Cheung on Vimeo.

Congratulations also to my friend #AnnieSakkab for your two videos and #MartaIwanek both for nominations in NPAC but also for being the 2015 Tom Hanson recipient! You are such an inspiration to me :)

It's the start of my last semester

I can't believe how fast this program has gone by. It's unbelievable how much I have learned not only technically but about people and life. This program has challenged me so much in so many ways and I'm so thankful that I am here. As this last semester unfolds, I'm excited to see where it takes me!

This past week, one of our assignments for staff class was to take a photo of a small business owner in Belleville. What happens in staff class is, you get assigned at around 8:30am and you need to have your photo edited, printed and posted by 1pm that same day. It's a challenge with a time limit. I've never really done anything like that before so it gave a small taste of reality and definitely got my blood pumping!

I took a photo of Marina Boretski at the Boretski Gallery, a small gem in downtown Belleville. Marina sells many unique vintage items that include clothing, furniture and accessories! As a Loyalist College photojournalism community, I want to thank her so much for the kindness she gives us as students. She's been photographed so many times but yet each time, she is still so willing and so patient! I actually photographed her twice. It's cool for me seeing the difference between the two photos I took.

This was from my first year first semester. I think it was for lighting class where we had to use flash but make it look like we didn't. I just stuck her by a big window so the majority of light was natural.

This is the one I took of Marina again this past week for staff class:

I'm slowly learning what my style is and definitely learning to pay attention to the things in my frame.

If you ever have an inkling and want to be a photojournalist, go to Loyalist! We have absolutely the best faculty who put their heart and soul into your learning and success! I never heard of Belleville before coming here, but it charms you over time. It has its quirks that's for sure. 

Lighting Effects

Here's a photo of a friend and classmate of mine. We were playing around with gels on flashes! This was shot in my basement which was completely dark and is lighted by two flashes behind which have pink gels on him and one in front.

Giovanni Capriotti

This is the first time I've been to a dog sled race. It was so much fun and I learned a lot about taking photos of it too. It's too bad that just as I was getting the hang of it the race would be over...guess I'll have to wait for the next one!

I was playing around with trying to pan the dogs as they went by so there would be some motion in my photo, what do you think

 

The kids were cute. I thought at first that the "little nippers" event would be little puppies pulling kids...that would've been really cute too!

This is Kenzi! Hello! :) I love huskies!!

Have you ever heard of Little Free Libraries? I recently discovered them and had a chance to meet with a family that started one. It's a super cool concept...it's literally a mini library where people come to take or donate books. It's a wonderful chance to meet neighbours and bring the community together.

On my way back from this interview, there was a two vehicle motor vehicle accident...my first time at doing spot news. Some of my fears for it are lessened just by how nice the firefighters and police are. I'd always thought they'd yell at us and tell us to get lost but I guess that's only if we get in the way. I'm glad this wasn't a super serious accident and no one was hurt. I know spot news is important in telling a larger community (to driver safer in the example of road accidents) but I'd hate to witness a really bad accident.

Like I said in my previous post, winter can be so beautiful but please be safe!! We're expecting another storm!

A general overview of some work I did last semester :)

I've decided to switch back to blogger from tumblr...much easier to use for me. Here's my last post from my tumblr account.

This is an overview of some work I did last semester :) Looking forward to learning so much more this semester!

Being able to meet Shirley and her two sons was such a privilege for me. I am thankful they allowed me to be apart of their lives for a time and to be able to witness such intimate and loving moments. 

Marina owns a vintage shop in downtown Belleville. She was kind enough to let me come in and take a portrait of her for my first flash assignment!

This was the candlelight vigil in Trenton on the eve of Remembrance Day to remember those who lost their lives.

Queens University vs. Trent University. This was the first sports event I had ever shot. It was challenging but fun!

This is Vic. He fly fishes in the Moira river. This was my very first assignment of this program. Thanks for being a kind stranger and letting me take your photo! It helped me be less shy as the semester progressed to photograph people!