Jul

2

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There was lots of activity on Granville Island on Tuesday as Vancouver rejoiced Canada Day. (Photo montage by Julia Pelish)

Was there a better place to celebrate Canada Day 2008 than Vancouver?

The weather was perfect, the fireworks at Canada Place were breathtaking and the pandemonium at Granville Island was delightful for the nation’s 141st birthday.

Thanks to the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, revelers were treated to free musical performances by top-notch artists like the New Orleans Ale Stars. Dancers swung along to the tunes outside the bandshells erected by Apex Tents and theatre performers like the hilarious stilt-walking hockey players added to the festive spectacle.

Throw in a parade, free cake, beer gardens and great food at the Public Market and you had the ingredients for quite the birthday bash.

Jun

26

Festivals-Vancouver-Photo-Summer.jpgWhat a weekend we just had in town. Free shows in Gastown to celebrate the arrival of the Vancouver Jazz Festival plus a real party atmosphere around False Creek and Science World during the Dragonboat Festival. Then there was the glorious sunshine. Summer’s finally here — yeah!

My friends at Apex Tents helped keep the sun off the heads of the performers and vendors while I got to take some wonderful shots of our city in all its splendour.

It’s these kinds of weekends that make Vancouver spectacular and truly one of the world’s great places to live. Now, it gets even better because it looks like we’re in for the best weather of the year just as Canada Day approaches. The Jazz Fest extends into this weekend and next, with more free shows at Granville Island on July 1.

Hope you’re able to get out and enjoy!

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Jun

21

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Jennifer shows her new style, above, and then she joins Patrick to pose for photographs for the Travelling Tresses website. (Photos by Julia Pelish)

Downtown Vancouver’s Travelling Tresses recently had some photographs taken for their website, which is launching this summer. Congratulations to Robyn for putting in a decade’s worth of work to get her enterprise to where it is today. And where it is happens to be among the elite hair salons in the Lower Mainland.

vancouver-hairstylist-and-modelsFor our photo shoot recently, Robyn cut and styled the hair of our two models, Jennifer and Patrick, then delivered the lovely couple to my studio on Hamilton Street, where we worked on creating some fun, energetic photographs.

I think we got some great shots … and only a little bit of wine spilled!

May

30

Aliados-farm-portrait2.jpg PHOTOS FROM TOP: Annah surveys the farm from behind her shades; Adolf and Annah stroll to the barn; the three generations of the Dalke family, Adolf and wife Alice, daughter Christy and her kids, Annah and Julia.

Adolf Dalke spent his early childhood in West Germany playing with wood blocks that passed as toys in post-World War II Europe. Adolf said the closest he could come to a tractor was what his imagination would conjure. Times have certainly changed for the owner of Aliados Farm Corporation.

His favourite piece of equipment is a bright blue Ford 77A tractor, a sturdy machine that Adolf uses to tend to his Surrey chicken farm, which features a sweeping view of the southern edge of the Lower Mainland.

In his 37 years in the industry, the biggest change he has seen is in the health safety standards. “We have to be super vigilant about disease,” Adolf said during a family portrait shoot on his farm on Monday. “Since the Avian flu in 2004, the paperwork has been out of this world, but it’s for our own good and we do it to make sure the consumer gets a safe product.”

Adolf said he still enjoys farming and being his own boss, and also takes pride in the fact he provides a service the public needs and demands. “More and more people eat chicken every day,” said the father of two, whose company is a member of the Chicken Farmers of Canada and the chief supplier to Lilydale, the giant poultry company based in Edmonton.

The name of Aliados Farm derives from a combination of the first three letters of Adolf and Alice, his wife. The happy couple were photographed with their daughter, Christy, and her two children, Annah and baby Julia.

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Christy snuggles Julia before the baby goes for a ride in an antique carriage.

May

25

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‘Centigrade’ star Colin Cunningham swashbuckles along the red carpet on Saturday night.

Colin Cunningham arrived at the Westin Bayshore on Saturday resembling a pirate and proceeded to raid the coffers of the Leo Awards for a second consecutive night. The Vancouver actor followed a win on Friday for Best Direction with the top acting prize in the Short Drama category for his role in “Centigrade”, a 17-minute, 11-second-long thriller that he wrote.

“Centigrade” also won for Best Short Drama as the British Columbia Film and Television Industry wrapped up its 10th annual celebrations of local filmmakers and their work. Producers Madison Graie and Derrick Garland claimed the best-in-show prize, the fifth for “Centigrade” during the two-night showcase. Other big winners included: “Elijah”, which won Best Feature Length Film as well as three other awards; “Smallville”, the Best Dramatic Series; “jPod”, the winner of four Best Dramatic Series awards; and documentary standout “The Suicide Tourist”, which tied the innovative dramatic series “Tin Man – Night 1” for the most Leos (six).

“Centigrade” emerges as the headliner, though, because of its consistent rate of success at awards shows this year and the efforts of its writer, director and lead actor. Considering Cunningham never planned to star in his movie, the award for Best Male Performance in a Short Drama seems ironic. “I didn’t want to act in it. As the director, I just wanted to focus on that aspect of the film. But the actor I had couldn’t make it and I said, ‘Okay, I’ll have to do this myself,’ ” he said. “This particular part is very difficult to play, let alone direct.”

walter-daroshin-2008-leo-awardsCunningham, who is a native of California, said he relied on Graie’s feedback to help him as an actor and director. Graie, meanwhile, said the film’s success is in part due to the ability she and Cunningham have to communicate with each other, an aspect of their working relationship that has been honed over the course of two decades.

“We’re very honest,” she said. “We have an acting background, both of us, we have a critical eye for each other. That becomes invaluable as a working tool.”

“Centigrade”, which may be turned into a full-length film, is about a man locked in a trailer and battling to get out before he burns up. Cunningham wrote the script 17 years ago and said it was a tribute to Steven Spielberg’s first feature, “Duel”. Shot on a budget of $20,000, “Centigrade” qualified earlier this year for Academy Awards consideration when it won Best Narrative Short at the Cinequest Film Festival.

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May

23

Leo-Awards-Colin-Cunningham.jpg The Leo for best director in a short drama went to Colin Cunningham. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Colin Cunningham was born on August 20, 1967. That makes him a Leo. Fitting, because the film he wrote, directed and starred in earned three statues bearing the name of his Zodiac sign on Friday night. Cunningham came away with one of the most-coveted prizes on the first night of the Leo Awards when he won for Best Direction in a Short Drama for his thriller “Centigrade”.

The victory continued an incredible trend for the picture. “Centigrade” qualified for Oscar consideration earlier this year when it won the Best Narrative Short award at the Cinequest Film Festival, an Academy Awards-sanctioned event. It has also been accepted for screening at such prestigious events as the Cannes Short Film Corner, the Toronto Film Festival and Jackson Hole Film Festival.

This weekend, it’s up for seven Leos, including two that will be presented on Saturday night following a red-carpet celebration at the Westin in Coal Harbour. Cunningham will be up for Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama and “Centigrade” is nominated for Best Short Drama. On Friday, the film also won for Best Make-up (Jane Dancose) and Best Overall Sound in a Short Drama (Real Gauvreau).

“I’m humbled and I have to say this city has been incredibly generous to me,” Cunningham said when he accepted the director’s prize, which was the penultimate award of the evening.

A veteran of the Vancouver acting scene, Cunningham is relishing his success. “It feels fantastic. You work so hard, you bust your ass, and it’s nice to be recognized,” the native of California said.

“Centigrade”, which also stars producer Madison Graie, is about a man trapped in a trailer and struggling to get out. It was written 17 years ago but “literally sat in a box” collecting dust until Graie suggested last year that she and Cunningham, her long-time collaborator, dig it up.

“You’re basically playing a caged animal, so it was hard to go there as an actor but also to direct the material as we went along was very, very hard to do. But it also saved us a lot of time because I didn’t have to give anyone direction. I knew what needed to be done in telling the story, so that sped up the number of camera shots,” Cunnigham said of his directorial debut.

While “Centigrade” dominated the short drama category at the awards show that celebrates the British Columbia film industry, “Tin Man – Night 1” captured six Leos for dramatic series and the documentary “The Suicide Tourist” won five.

Here’s a complete list of winners from the first night of the 10th annual Leo Awards on Friday (number of awards won in parantheses):

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May

17

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The creatures from Big Nazo were a big hit at Vanier Park. (Photos by Julia Pelish)

Hundreds of happy kids — and more than a few odd creatures — descended on Vanier Park on Saturday for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for Kids’ Fest, which runs through the long weekend as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Beneath and around the big tops provided by Apex Tents, the festival features such performers as Kling Klang, Comedy 4 Kids and the funky aliens from the BIG NAZO Intergalactic Creature Show. I had a fantastic time taking photographs and even got some close-up shots I wasn’t counting on!

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Stiltwalkers stood tall among the throng of kids and their parents.

May

6

wedding-signature-vancouver.jpg Yosem and Gabbie underneath the cherry blossoms in Stanley Park on their wedding day. (Photo by Julia Pelish Photography)

Thanks to the many customers who became friends and who helped me fulfill my dreams of providing the level of photography services I’ve always wanted to deliver. You are all the best and thank you for the kind words you’ve recently shared:

“Oh my goodness!! Everything just arrived and I cannot believe how fantastic they are!! I really thought it couldn’t get any better than the website you put up but these are just unbelievable - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!!!!” – Diana on her and Ian’s wedding photographs and custom web gallery

“Those pictures are amazing! We really enjoyed the wedding and are so happy to have you as our photographer. The day (and everything since!) couldn’t have been more perfect. The eloquence of your blog really impressed us with its description of the day.” – Yosem and Gabbie

“WOW - Julia they look amazing. Thanks so much. I think we owe you a big hug!” – Brett and Mickey on their wedding photography in Vancouver

“Oh, my goodness, Julia, it’s a work of art! I can’t believe it! Thank you so much!!” – Rosa on her family portrait and baby pictures of Angelina

“Julia, you do such a wonderful job and with such love plus you are so adorable!! I have to get going but I just wanted to say thank you for capturing our wedding day in such a beautiful way.” – Mary on the wedding photos of her and Brent

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Mar

31

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The view of Laguna Beach – last week! (Photo by Julia Pelish)

I just got back from a vacation in California, where I drove down the Pacific Coast Highway and was awed by sights like the one above. What spectacular beaches – and warm weather and palm trees and amazing sunsets and huge houses – they’ve got in Southern California.

Wouldn’t you know it, I came back to snow. Ugh.

At least the cherry blossoms are out in the West End and I do see some sunshine in the forecast for next week. Then again, who can trust the weather?

What I do know is I’m back to work, gearing up for some very busy times as wedding season begins. My team and I have an engagement shoot coming up this weekend (congratulations, Chris and Nicole!) then a great big wonderful wedding for Yosem and Gabbie in an enchanting spot (Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens in Chinatown) then a first birthday party celebration.

Luckily, I got to test my equipment during my trip so I know all’s working well and we’re ready to go for 2008!

If you’re one of my clients this spring or summer, I can’t wait to get you the dream shots you’re eagerly waiting to see. In case you haven’t hired a photographer yet for your wedding or other event, send me an email or give me a call (604-836-1412). There are a few open Saturdays remaining!

Mar

26

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Vancouver Art Gallery on a snowy day. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

You’d think the last thing our friends back east would want to gaze at was a photograph of a snow-covered city scene. What with the brutal winter they’ve experienced, but I was fortunate and grateful that the curator of a new show in Manhattan liked the photograph above enough to place it in an exhibit that opened last week and to have it adorn the promotional brochure.

The photo was taken outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in December during one of the few snowfalls we’ve had in the downtown core. The photograph was first displayed at Exposure Gallery in January.

Thanks to Eugenia D’Ambrosio, the curator of the Empire State College Alumni Photographic Exhibition in New York, it will be on display at Metropolitan Center Gallery through April 30.

Here are more examples of my fine art work. Prints can be purchased for as little as $50. Email for details.

Mar

3

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“Searching” is a digitally composed image, sepia toned and printed on metallic paper. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

If you’ve never been to an Exposure Gallery opening, you’re missing some great wine … and some excellent fine art and really nice people.

You’ll have your chance to join us photo wonks this Thursday night when a group exhibit called “Constructed Reality” is unveiled. The exhibition features the work of 25 local photographers, including yours truly.

Exposure Gallery is one of Vancouver’s premier showrooms of photographic art and a cultural gem in our city. It’s new location is 754 East Broadway.

If you can find the time, please do come out and see the show, and say hi!

In case you can’t make it to the opening, the show runs until March 16 and the gallery is open Thursday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Visit the website for more information on how to submit photos and get involved in the community.

Feb

26

event-photographer-vancouver.jpgA street performer struts her stuff at Winterruption. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Artists, musicians and performers of all kinds filled Granville Island during the weekend for the Winterruption festivities. As its name suggests, the celebration was meant to bring some warm feelings and enthusiasm to beat the winter blahs. It helped that the weather cooperated, making things seem more like spring.

Hopefully, Winterruption will come to mark the end of the cold and rainy days rather than a respite from them. I had the chance to get out there and shoot as part of another assignment on Granville Island. Now, I can’t wait for summer!

Feb

14

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“Pure is the white rose/ In the compost earth/ growing eternal strength/ in the nights that so hurt” (poem by Edgar Allan Poe)

Happy Valentine’s Day from Julia Pelish Photography. I hope you got roses, chocolates, teddy bears, and/or something sparkly and shiny, like an engagement ring!

Here are some fun facts I found on Valentine’s Day that I thought you might enjoy:

  1. More than 90 million roses were delivered today in North America
  2. The most popular rose given is the “Signature Rose” - which is defined as a long-stemmed, dethorned red rose surrounded by baby’s breath
  3. 192 million greeting cards are exchanged today
  4. Who receives the most Valentine’s? Teachers
  5. As we told you a couple of days ago, more engagement rings are purchased in February than in any other month
  6. More than $62 million in jewelry will be spent for Valentine’s Day gifts.

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