Light and Truth issue One Overview

LIGHT AND TRUTH

INS IDE

ISSUE 01 - WINTER 2012

WH AT’ S

AN INSPIRATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL

WELCOME We’re thrilled to present to you the first edition of Light and Truth, a new approach to the craft of photography set within the context of our lives.

In creating this unique lifestyle magazine, we’ve sought an intelligent and beautiful synthesis of nononsense technical skills and professional advice with inspiration, contemplation and storytelling. We’ve explored best practices, great equipment, and practical ways to hone our techniques - but we’ve also asked questions like: how do we nourish ourselves while expanding our businesses? What kindles our creative spark? What are our greatest challenges, and what do we love most about our craft?

Ultimately, it’s about balance.

In this stunning winter edition we interview some of the best independent photographers in the field today to learn more about their personal, creative and professional journeys. In intimate photo-essays we also celebrate the work of other craftspeople - from jewelry-makers to weavers and bakers - to demonstrate how a wellspring of photographic inspiration lies all around us, often just beyond the realm of our usual subjects. We offer tutorials, stories and images to instruct and delight, to inspire and refresh, and to help you reflect on the joy and privilege of being a photographer in this complex, beautiful world.

So read, enjoy, learn and experiment. In this gorgeous winter season, craft a vision for the year ahead.

Let it resonate with light and truth.

contents 07 10 15 25 29 37 39 45 55 65 73 85 101 107

STUCK IN THE MUD?

Getting motivated for the year ahead.

LOVE LETTERS

Beautiful client greetings for Valentine's Day.

INSPIRED

Photographing interesting found items.

JAZZ UP YOUR CONSULTATIONS Check list for great client relations.

MEDIUM FORMAT FILM CAMERAS For under one thousand dollars.

DETAILS & AVAILABLE LIGHT Tips on photographing wedding details.

FEATHERS & TREE BARK

Photo essay on jewelry artisan Jennifer Riddel.

MICHELLE WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY Interview with photographer Michelle Warren.

LUMA HANDWOVENS

Photo essay on artisan weaver Jessica Kerr.

LOVE IS A BIG DEAL

Interview with photographers Meg & Josh Souder.

WELL BRED

Photo essay on artisan baker Brad Primmer.

CABIN IN THE WOODS

Fashion photo essay by Red leaf Studios.

FINDING BALANCE

Laurie Johnson; balancing life, family & photography.

POST PRODUCTION

| LIGHT AND TRUTH

WINTER 2012

The eight-second edit.

LIGHT AND TRUTH ISSUE 1 | WINTER 2012

On the very first day of 2012, locals of all ages raced laughing and hollering into the icy Pacific waves for a celebratory polar bear dip - embracing life, each other, and the wild beauty of the winter sea.

Amy & Richard McDowell

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photographers & Editors

Michelle Warren Photography

Jessica Kerr

Love Is A Big Deal

Writer & Copy Editor

Khloe Campbell Fashion Stylist

Laurie Johnson

Contributing Writer

FEATURE ARTISANS

Jessica Kerr Jennifer Riddel Brad Primmer & Shannon Peck

Iain Russell

Contributing Writer

Michelle Loewen

Contributing Photographer

CONTACT US

info@redleafstudios.ca ADVERTISING

Light & Truth is published quarterly by Red Leaf Studios Inc. All content in this journal is Š Red Leaf Studios Inc. 2012. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

info@redleafstudios.ca www.lightandtruth.ca

AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS

INSIDE ISSUE ONE OF

LIGHT

& TRU TH

STUCK IN THE MUD? A NEW YEAR IS UPON US, AND ALTHOUGH IT’S A TIME FOR RENEWAL AND NEW BEGINNINGS, IT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL AS THOUGH WE’RE TRUDGING ALONG IN THE MUD - PERHAPS YOU’RE NOT FEELING INSPIRED, OR MAYBE YOU’RE

STRUGGLING

WITH

CREATIVE

BURNOUT. HERE WE PRESENT A FEW FRESH IDEAS ON HOW TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES AND GET REFOCUSED ON THE MONTHS AHEAD. Photography by Michelle Loewen

LOVE LETTERS VALENTINES DAY IS ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF

LOVE,

SO

WHY

NOT

SEND

YOUR

WEDDING COUPLES OR OTHER CLIENTS A LITTLE SOMETHING ROMANTIC WITH A HAND WRITTEN NOTE? IN THIS SWEET LITTLE PIECE WE SHARE SOME LOVELY WAYS TO EXTEND A GENUINE GESTURE OF KINDNESS TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS.

INSPIRED THERE’S NOTHING MORE REWARDING THEN CREATING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL FROM SCRATCH.

FINDING INTERESTING OBJECTS

AROUND THE HOUSE THAT INSPIRED US ANTIQUE BUTTONS, AND SKELETON KEYS WE CRAFTED A STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL FOR BUILDING AND SHOOTING YOUR OWN UNIQUE IMAGES WITH FOUND OBJECTS.

EMBRACING THE SEASON ALTHOUGH SHOOTING IN WINTER IS MORE DIFFICULT, IT CAN ALSO BE A GREAT TIME TO GET OUTDOORS AND WORK ON A FUN PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT.

WE’VE ALWAYS

BELIEVED THAT SHOOTING A VARIETY OF SUBJECT MATTER CAN HELP DEVELOP YOUR SKILL SET, AND WITH THIS IN MIND WE HEADED OUTSIDE WITH OUR CAMERA, A 100MM MACRO LENS, AND A SHEET OF WHITE TEXTURED PAPER TO PHOTOGRAPH FALLEN LEAVES COVERED IN DELICATE FROST.

JAZZ UP YOUR CONSULTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO A CLIENT CONSULTATION, THERE’S REALLY NO SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION. HERE WE OUTLINE TECHNIQUES AND TIPS THAT WE’VE FOUND TO BE INVALUABLE WHEN MEETING WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS, INCLUDING A CHECKLIST FOR GREAT CLIENT RELATIONS, FROM INITIAL INQUIRY TO THE FIRST SITDOWN MEETING.

Medium Formal Film Cameras for Under $1000 SHOOTING FILM CAN BE SO REWARDING, BUT HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE BEST CAMERA? IF YOU’RE JUST STARTING OUT OR LOOKING FOR A SMALL, LIGHT, AND INEXPENSIVE FILM CAMERA, YOU’LL WANT TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON THESE TRIED AND TESTED OPTIONS RANGING IN PRICE FROM UNDER $200 TO JUST ABOUT $1000.

Details and Available Light THERE’S SOMETHING TRULY REWARDING ABOUT SHOOTING DETAILS WITH ONLY AVAILABLE LIGHT AND FOUND SURFACES.

IN THIS

ARTICLE WE EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION AND CREATIVITY, AND SHARE OUR FAVOURITE TECHNIQUES FOR RECOGNIZING GREAT SURFACES, USING ELEMENTS IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT, AND CAPTURING AVAILABLE LIGHT TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL, MEANINGFUL IMAGES FOR YOUR CLIENTS.

Feathers and Tree Bark A PHOTO ESSAY AND INTERVIEW WITH JEWELRY ARTIST JENNIFER RIDDEL YIELDS A FUN AND REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS, PERSONAL EVOLUTION, AND HARNESSING OUR BRAVERY TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR CRAFT.

Michelle Warren LOOKING THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHER MICHELLE WARREN’S IMAGES, YOU CAN FEEL THE GENUINE PASSION SHE HOLDS FOR CAPTURING LIFE, LOVE AND SPECIAL MOMENTS.

HERE WE SHARE A

CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE ON CREATING TIMELESS, BEAUTIFUL IMAGES AND BALANCING LIFE WITH THE INTENSITY OF WORKING AS A

SUCCESSFUL

WEDDING

AND

PORTRAIT

PHOTOGRAPHER.

Luma Handwovens A VISIT TO THE LAKESIDE STUDIO OF SMALLSCALE WEAVER JESSICA KERR COAXES FORTH A SERENE AND RICHLY TEXTURED STUDY OF HAND DYED FIBRES AND TRADITIONALLY CRAFTED WOODEN TOOLS.

AN INTERVIEW

WITH THE ARTIST REVEALS PATHWAYS TO QUIET INSPIRATION, THE HEALING POWER OF CRAFT, AND CONNECTION TO A LINEAGE OF TEACHERS.

Love is a Big Deal WHEN LOOKING AT THE WORK OF MEG & JOSH FROM LOVE IS A BIG DEAL, WE CAN FEEL THEIR DEVOTION TO CAPTURING EXPRESSIONS OF GENUINE LOVE. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE OF CREATING AND DEVELOPING THEIR BUSINESS IS ALSO A LOVE STORY… WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR ARTISTIC BEGINNINGS

AND

THE

AMAZING

THEY’VE BEEN ON EVER SINCE.

JOURNEY

Well Bred THIS EXTENSIVE PHOTO ESSAY OF MARK PRIMMER’S ECLECTIC WELL BRED BAKERY, SET WITHIN A 300 SQUARE FOOT CONVERTED ART STUDIO ON THE COUPLE’S CHEMAINUS, BC SMALLHOLDING, OFFERS SHARP IMAGES AND CHEEKY WISDOM WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE

NARRATIVE

POWER

OF

A

GOOD,

CHARACTER-DRIVEN SHOOT.

Cabin in the Woods A

DELICATELY

SENSUAL

PHOTO

SHOOT

UNFOLDS AT A RUSTIC COTTAGE IN THE MISTENSHROUDED FOREST, HIGHLIGHTING THE VERY BEST TECHNIQUES FOR WORKING WITH AVAILABLE LIGHT AND ATTAINING LUMINOUS RESULTS.

Finding Balance PHOTOGRAPHER LAURIE JOHNSON SHARES HER

HARD-WON

INSIGHT

ON

FINDING

BALANCE BETWEEN WORK, SELF, AND FAMILY IN THIS OPEN-HEARTED, AUTHENTIC INTERVIEW COVERING TOPICS FROM WORK FLOW AND COOKING TO CHILDREN AND LOVE.

Post Production: The 8-Second Edit HOW DO YOU SPEED UP POST-PRODUCTION AND SAVE YOURSELF VALUABLE TIME? HERE WE DISCUSS THE KEY STEPS WE USE TO ACHIEVE AN EIGHT-SECOND EDIT IN PHOTOSHOP.

WE

DEMONSTRATE HOW LITTLE WORK THERE IS TO DO WHEN YOUR IMAGES ARE CAPTURED CORRECTLY, AND OUTLINE OUR POST-PRODUCTION PROCESS IN DETAIL.

AND SO MUCH MORE!