Forests Are My Favourite.

Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege to take some pictures of my lovely friend Kendra! She's absolutely mad and it was a blast. We had some encounters with construction workers, hiked through a stream, and almost fell off some mossy logs in order to get the perfect shots. Maddy sang to us from below, and Kendra danced. It's a good thing we were the only people in the forest, although I'm sure the animals appreciated us singing Kate Nash and Lil Wayne (good combo right?). So anyways, she's stunning and the photos turned out stunning as well! Here are my favourite shots from the day:

  

For high quality photos, check out my flickr here.

Have a wonderful rest of the week! 

Sierra 

Forests, Foliage, Film!

There is nothing I love more than a walk through the forest. So much beauty that has taken years and years to become how it is. Waterfalls, tall trees, mossy rocks and spider webs. There is so much beauty all around us! A few days ago I went for a photo walk (I guess you could call it that) with some friends.  The sun was shining and the greens were so lovely! And the best part about all these pictures is that they were shot with film! I took these with a Nikon F801s.

I know this was a quick post, but I really wanted to share these pictures with you all! Check them out here on my flickr, if you like, and have a wonderful rest of the week!

Sierra

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

Doctor Who - From Earth to Gallifrey and Back

Whether you're British, German, Australian, Canadian, or Singaporean, we all fall under the same title. Whovians.

Let's face it, Doctor Who is more than just a show, it's an incredible fantasy world delicately crafted over the past 50 years, as the show celebrates its Golden Jubilee this November. With millions of fans all over the world dedicated to the longest running sci-fi television show in history, it's safe to say the Doctor has won over more than just the hearts of his many companions throughout the years.

Who has been shooting in American, for the deeply anticipated Series 7 (which airs on BBC America September 1st) and has won over many more North American fans in the process. I mean really, who could say no to Matt Smith, with his British accent and his fantastic bone structure? Matt Smith (commonly known as 'Eleven,' as he is the Eleventh actor to play the role of The Doctor) is on his third season as Mr. Gallifrey himself, getting close to David Tennant's fourty-four episode run. It's probably safe to say there is a regeneration in the near future, and hearts are sure to be breaking for the parting of The Ponds at the end of Series 7 that Steven Moffat has in store for us.

 I do not see this television show disappearing as the TARDIS does anytime soon, the timeless classic will forever hold a place in the hearts of British, and all other Whovians alike.

Make sure to tune into BBC America/SPACE on September 1st in order to catch the series premier: Asylum of the Daleks - you can watch the trailer here on BBC's YouTube channel.

Happy time traveling everyone!

Sierra Nickel

DIY Perfectly Pressed Petals

Today I decided to press some flowers! My backyard is full of all different leaves and flowers to pick, so it was a good place to start. The surprise of taking the flowers out of the press reminds me of my childhood, and pressing petals and leaves with my Grandma. Here is a step-by-step guide in pressing your own flowers.

1. Get yourself a flower press! This certain one alternates cardboard and parchment paper. But don't worry if you don't have one, because you could also use a large book (dictionary, encyclopedia, Bible etc.) but I would suggest placing the flowers on white paper before pressing, so that you don't wreck the book with the pollen stains from the flowers.

2. Place your flowers around the page. You can fill it up as much as you like, or place one flower on each page, whatever you like! Try and find flowers that are at flat as possible, if it has a really long steam, make sure to cut it off. I flattened all the flowers with my hands before laying them down.

 

3. I always place my flowers face down, so I can get an idea of how the petals are going to press, and so I can make sure the petals are not overlapping (unless you want them too!)

4. The flowers should be finished pressing within 2-3 days, depending on the type of flower. I'll post a follow up DIY for what I am going to do with the petals once they are nicely flattened and dried. Stay tuned! 

-Sierra

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