War Paints

A couple weeks ago at a music festival, I couldn't help but notice the widespread fashion of face paint. And not your typical butterfly, or childish cat whiskers, it was more in the likes of dots, lines and squiggles. Being the nerd that I am, I researched this. Because fads usually start somewhere sensible, and then they are poked and pulled out of their original purpose. Whilst looking up the meanings of the war paint in native cultures, I surprisingly learn't a lot! For instance, Each colour represents a different emotions, or quality about the person wearing it. It mean't different things to whether you wore the colours on your face or your body. For instance, the colour green on a persons body symbolized endurance. But it was also believe that green dots placed under a persons eyes would provide that person with immense vision. During special ceremonies or celebrations, different colours were worn to symbolize the reason they were celebrating. Different shapes were drawn on the skin to provide the wearer with 'magic' and these shapes included lines, circles and triangles. Maybe the hipsters did their homework this time!
My favourite colour, and meaning that I read about had to be the white paint. White paint, throughout all the tribes meant the same thing. In face paint, it symbolized light, purity, and peace. But when used as war paint, symbolized mourning. I loved the connection between these two meanings. Mourning, yet being at peace. It's just beautiful, even though I'm sure the natives were not at peace during the times of war, but for me, finding this connection was just lovely. So I decided to take some pictures with face paint. And because I did my homework, you're not allowed to call me a wanna-be-soft-grunge-gross-indie chick, because I painted my face full well knowing what I was trying to symbolize. Here's a shot I  really liked:

Thanks for reading! Much love,

Sierra

Stuck in the Moment - Concept Photography

Before you read any of this and think that I'm incredibly creative because of this, don't! This idea was inspired by Dear Photograph, and not my own idea. I take no credit for the concept, But I take full credit for the pictures taken. That being said, please read on!

  Today I decided to do my own 'Dear Photographs" My mom is a photographer, so shortage of photos is not a problem in my house. After looking through multiple photo albums, and picking my favourite photos from around my house, I went outside to do some shooting. The idea of 'Dear Photograph' is to find memory filled photos from long ago, and to bring them to the exact location of where they were taken, years and years before. The result is something amazingly nostalgic and beautiful.

See, the special thing about photography is represented perfect for me in this project. Memories caught on film never, ever change. The same smile you had on your face the first time you went to the fair, the bloody knees from falling off your two-wheeled bike, your childhood friends that had long moved away, they are all saved in print. No matter how much the world around us changes, whether it be deaths or disaster, photos will alway be able to bring us back to the exact moment when we were so incredibly happy. This thought is what inspires me to be a photographer, knowing that I can capture moments for people, and save those memories for the future them to look back on. Just thinking that I have the power to do that for someone makes me giddy. Remembering moments in time is so special. No matter how long ago, or how far away it may have happened, the moments can be brought back with a single glimpse of a photo. 

Words cannot express how passionate I am about this. I encourage you to go out and make memories! Document these memories and put them in a book. Share your experiences with others. Make yourself as happy as the people in the photos are from years ago. Never forget even the little things in life. Those are the things that make us who we are. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sierra Nickel

Live at Squamish - Day Two

Day two was spectacular. The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, Plants and Animals, The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Airborne Toxic Event, Mother Mother, and City and Colour to wrap everything up very nicely. Here are my favourite shots from the day (a lot of Dallas Green, I apologize but I'm just so in love with everything he does) :

I hope you all had an amazing weekend!

-Sierra 

Post-Prom Photos (Nice Alliteration Eh?)

Today was a beautiful day! I went out and shot some post-prom grad pictures. The weather was drizzly for our prom day, and it was hard to find anywhere dry to go and take photos. We decided we would be better off to dress up again, and go out another day when the weather was more agreeable. People were a little confused when they saw us walking around town, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do for a great shot. Here are my favourites of Sarah from the day:

I couldn't be happier with the way these pictures turned out! It was hard to pick the best ones to post! The day was perfect and the locations we chose were wonderful.

If you care to see more of my photography, go check out my flickr to see more of my work, I would really appreciate it!
Thanks!

Much love, Sierra