EllieKPosts

Tax Season

Posted by Ellie

When I was about 3, I had photos of myself published in the Montreal Gazette. I was paid for this photo session, and was obliged to file my taxes. This tax preparation session was photographed as a series in the paper. I have no idea who took the photographs, but every year at tax season I am reminded of these photographs and how I feel no different now to how I felt then. Enjoy the session!

A black and white photo of a little girl with curly blond hair with a bow in it, and smiling blue eyes looking at the camera, She has a dress with puffy sleeves and a neat round collar and is smiling confidently. She is holding a pencil in her hand over some papers on a slatted table.
1. All ready to start working on my year end tax returns
A black and white photo of a little girl with curly blond hair with a bow in it, and big earnest blue eyes looking at the camera, resting her face between her hands. She is sitting on a wicker chair and on the slatted table in front of her are some papers with printed figures.
2. It seemed pretty straight forward, but now I’m not sure.
A black and white photo of a little girl with curly blond hair with a bow in it, and big earnest blue eyes looking at the camera as she speaks into the receiver of a toy telephone. She is sitting on a wicker chair and on the slatted table in front of her is an apple, some papers with printed figures on it, and what looks like a toy dog. She is holding a pencil in her hand.
3. I think I had better call the accountant
A black and white photo of a little girl with blond hair, scratching her head as she looks down, mystified, towards a receipt she is holding in the other hand, and she has a pencil held in her mouth. She is sitting in a wicker chair at a slatted table with a paper printed with figures on it.
4. I’m pretty sure I never bought this much software
A black and white photo of a little girl with blond hair that is becoming really messy from running her hands through it. On the slatted table in front of her are some messy papers with printed figures on them and a toy telephone. Her mouth is set in a tight line with a pencil held firmly in it and she is holding the receiver of the telephone in her left hand against the side of her neck, below her ears. Her eyebrows are down in a straight line across her intense eyes, matching the line of the pencil held firmly in her mouth. She might be holding a piece o crumpled paper in the other hand.
5. Yes, of course I’m sure.
A black and white photo of a little girl with messy flat blond hair held back, perhaps with a clip. She is sitting on a wicker chair and on the slatted table in front of her are some messy papers with printed figures on them, an apple, and the receiver of a toy telephone. Her mouth is set in a tight line and her arms are up behind her head in despair. She has a stare of defiance.
6. You can do it yourself, then! I’m not doing any more!

Congratulations to Ben on a Second Oscar

Posted by Ellie
Snow is slanting down on two young men staning in light jackets and shoes, not boots, with a film camera on a tripod in front of them. One is filming and the other is smiling and watching. There is a snowy field behind them and woods in the distance, with a couple of trees just behind them.
Ben and David filming for the Steven Kennard short documentary “Turns” in Nova Scotia, 2015

In 2015 we had a couple of inspired young filmmakers from California visit us to make a wonderful short documentary about Steven. (You can view that video here: https://vimeo.com/519088816) They were lovely guys and so much fun during the days they spent with us. It’s so marvellous to hear that Ben, along with co-director Kris Bowers have won the Oscar for this great short film.

Read about the film and the directors on this site, specially the story of Kris at the bottom: https://breakwaterstudios.com/the-last-repair-shop/

You can watch the award winning film here if you haven’t seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xttrkgKXtZ4 (40 minutes). It is incredibly moving.

More photos of their visit:

Two men are looking through a film camera viewfinder to the left.
Ben Proudfoot and David Bolen filming in Nova Scotia, 2015
It is a snowy scene, snow slanting down, with two young men staning in light jackets and shoes, not boots, with a film camera on a tripod in front of them. They are laughing together and their hands are blurred as they demonstrate the footage they plan to take. There is a snowy field behind them and woods in the distance, with a couple of trees just behind them.
Ben and David enjoying the snow, obviously!
A black and white photo of 3 men in a woodwork shop, with film camera and other equipment. Two of the men are discussing something, one has his finger to his face in thought. The one in the back is listening to the conversation.
Discussing how to make the film title shot.

Promising

Posted by Ellie
A panoramic landscape with the lowest quarter in a deep shadow, field and some trees. The rest is sky with a brilliant orange and cream sunset in a blue background. The very top is a blue.
Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight

With so much uncertainty in the world today, we have to hold on to promises that we’re sure of.

This sunset is one reason to always take my camera when I go for a walk. Because you know that if you don’t, something will be there for you to photograph with something better than a phone. This particular time it was with me. I confess it’s too cold to hold it at the moment and too clumsy with heavy gloves, but it won’t be long until the warmth will start again, and that’s a promise.

My Landscapes are all in this gallery.

Dragonfly

Posted by Ellie
A blue and brown dragonfly is resting on a branch that has cobwebs on it. Its wings look a little the worse for wear, like the cobwebs.
Dragonfly, Miner’s Marsh

This photo was taken a few years ago in Miner’s Marsh in Kentville reserve, one warm August noon. I hadn’t even seen this beautiful creature as I was busy photographing the sandpiper featured in the post from the other day until Steven pointed it out, so thanks to him for this summer memory on this snowy day today. Wherever these are now, we’ll see them again soon.

He’s featured in my Animals Gallery.