LIGHT AND TRUTHAN INSPIRATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2012
WHAT’S I
NSIDE
WELCOMEBeautiful, beautiful summer. This newest issue of Light and Truth arrives at the highest height of the
golden season, a time steeped in luxurious warmth and honeyed light, when days are long and nights
are filled with endless stars. Undeniably the season of expansion, the generative capacity of the earth
bursts forth in brilliant colours, sumptuous flavours, and sun-sweetened fragrances lifting on the slightest
breeze. Gardens are unfurling and trees are setting fruit that seems to ripen by the hour - all around us life
is moving, changing, opening, and striving towards the light.
For many of us, too, it’s our flat-out, full-on, busiest time of year, and we’re working hard. To reflect and
support the energy of summer, we’ve focused this issue on the theme of growth, looking at the many ways
in which we’ll reach beyond limitations to explore our full capacities throughout our months of summer
shooting. We’ve contemplated the role of teachers in our lives and talked with artists about their mentors,
hit the road to scout locations and compiled tips to get you organized, discovered extraordinary images
and touched upon the tender heart of inspiration. In short, we’ve gathered a collection of photo-essays,
interviews, and technical tutorials to hasten your own flowering as a successful independent artist.
Summer is lovely and hopelessly brief - explore, express, and flourish!
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TAPPING INTO SOCIAL MEDIA
WISDOM IS A GIFT
LIKE AN APPLE TREE
ICELAND
FILM & FLORAL PHOTOGRAPHY
MATT EDGE
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
SUMMER TEA
STEPHANIE WILLIAMS
RIFLE PAPER CO.
A SLOW EXPLORATION
SARAH MULLIGAN
LEARNING TO SPEAK
BATCH +
Defining what works.
An ode to our countless teachers.
Discovering our pathways of growth.
A photographic journey by David Macvicar.
By Heidi Murphey, White Loft Studio.
An interview with photographer Matt Edge.
Scouting the perfect location for your shoot.
A harvesting photo essay with Jessica Kerr.
An interview with Stephanie Williams.
A boutique stationary and design studio.
The rediscovery of craftsmanship in photography.
A photo essay with glass artist Sarah Mulligan.
Finding our creative voice.
Batching in a digital photography workflow.
ISSUE 3 | SUMMER 2012
Amy & Richard McDowell
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS FEATURE ARTISANS
CONTACT US
ADVERTISING
Jessica Kerr
David MacVicar
Amanda K Rigiero
Shannon Wilson
Heidi Murphey
Photographers & Editors
David MacVicarMatt Edge
Stephanie Williams
[email protected]@gmail.com
Light & Truth is published quarterly by Red Leaf Studios Inc. All content in this journal is © Red Leaf Studios Inc. 2012. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.
Cover photo by Matt Edge
www.lightandtruth.ca
Rifle Paper Co.Sarah Mulligan
Writer & Copy Editor
Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer/Photographer
LIGHT AND TRUTH
Wisdom is a Gift
Tapping Into Social Media
AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT ISINSIDE ISSUE THREE OFL I G H T T RU T H
WITHIN A CULTURE OF QUICK CHANGEOVERS AND
NEW-MODEL OBSESSIONS, THE IMPULSE TO ABANDON
THE PAST AND LEAP INTO A GLORIFIED FUTURE IS
STRONG. AND YET RECALLING THE TEACHERS WHO
HAVE INSPIRED AND DIRECTED OUR CREATIVE GROWTH
CAN UPLIFT US IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, INSTILLING IN US
A SENSE OF CONNECTION TO SOMETHING LARGER
THAN OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL WORK. HERE WE REFLECT
ON THE VALUE OF REMEMBERING THOSE WHO CAME
BEFORE US, GETTING BACK TO OUR COLLECTIVE
ROOTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR LIMITLESS
CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENT GROWTH.
WHEN CAUGHT IN THE TUMBLE AND SWIRL OF THE
COUNTLESS TASKS AND PROJECTS ASSOCIATED
WITH RUNNING AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS,
THE THOUGHT OF PLUGGING INTO THE RAPID-
FIRE WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND STAYING
CURRENT WITH BRILLIANT UPDATES CAN MAKE OUR
HEADS SPIN. HERE AMY GETS TO THE BOTTOM OF
EFFECTIVE POSTING AND BLOGGING AND EXPLAINS
HOW USING SOCIAL MEDIA EFFECTIVELY IN YOUR
BUSINESS CAN BE SIMPLER AND MORE ENJOYABLE
THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
&
Like an Apple Tree
EFFECTIVE GROWTH IS AN ONGOING,
ORGANIC PROCESS, A DELICATE BALANCE
BETWEEN HANGING ON AND LETTING GO.
IN THIS THOUGHTFUL ARTICLE WE EXPAND
UPON THE METAPHOR OF AN APPLE TREE TO
REVEAL THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATING A
CLEAR SENSE OF DIRECTION IN OUR WORK
AND FINDING THE COURAGE TO SHED WHAT
NO LONGER SERVES US ALONG THE WAY.
IcelandIN THIS MAGNIFICENT SPREAD CANADIAN
PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID MACVICAR SHARES HIS
IMAGES OF THE HAUNTING AND POWERFUL
ICELANDIC LANDSCAPE, CAPTURED OVER
THE COURSE OF A TRIP THAT INVIGORATED
HIS SPIRITS AND CHANGED HIS LIFE. DAVID
SHARES STORIES FROM THE JOURNEY,
INCLUDING THE GEAR HE CHOSE TO TAKE
AND HIS DECISION TO PUBLISH A BOOK OF
THE WORK THAT RESULTED.
Film & Floral PhotographyHERE HEIDI MURPHY OF WHITE LOFT STUDIO
SHARES HER PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY FROM
WEDDINGS TO STUDIO SHOOTS AND REVEALS
SOME OF HER OWN HARD-EARNED SECRETS
FOR CAPTURING GORGEOUS FLORAL IMAGES
WITH AVAILABLE LIGHT. HEIDI COVERS THE
BEST EQUIPMENT AND FILM FOR THE JOB,
CHEAP SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS,
AND JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO STAY
INSPIRED.
Location, Location, Location
Summer Tea
PART OF CREATING IMPACTFUL IMAGES INVOLVES
SCOUTING THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR YOUR SHOOT.
AS WE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT AND DISCOVER
ECLECTIC, UNIQUE, AND UNUSUAL PLACES FOR OUR
MANY DIFFERENT SESSIONS, WE’RE ALWAYS REMINDED
THAT A GOOD LOCATION IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A
MERE BACKDROP FOR THE ACTION. WITH THIS IN MIND
WE VISITED FAIRBURN FARM ON VANCOUVER ISLAND,
DISCOVERING NEW TERRITORY IN THE PROCESS AND
FINDING THE INSPIRATION FOR AN ECLECTIC OUTDOOR
BRIDAL SHOOT WITH A REMARKABLE VINTAGE DRESS.
TO CELEBRATE THE FERTILITY OF SUMMER WE HEAD
OUT TO A THICKET OF WILD ROSES AND GRAND
FIR, HARVESTING MATERIALS FOR AN IMPROMPTU
BACKYARD TEA PARTY. AMIDST THE FRAGRANCE
OF SWEET NECTAR AND THE DELICATE MURMUR
OF HONEYBEES’ WINGS AN UNCONVENTIONALLY
BEAUTIFUL PHOTO ESSAY UNFOLDS.
Matt EdgeAN INTERVIEW WITH L.A.-BASED LIFESTYLE
PHOTOGRAPHER MATT EDGE REFLECTS HIS LOVE
FOR THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE – BEAUTIFUL
PLACES, GREAT FOOD, AND CELEBRATIONS WITH
FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AGAINST A BACKDROP OF
HIS DIVERSE AND TIMELESS IMAGES WE LEARN MORE
ABOUT MATT’S UNIQUE APPROACH TO HIS CRAFT,
HOW HE PROMOTES HIMSELF CREATIVELY, THE PROS
AND CONS OF WORKING WITH A STYLIST, AND THE
INESTIMABLE VALUE OF A GOOD ROAD TRIP.
Stephanie Williams
WEDDING, FASHION AND EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHER
STEPHANIE WILLIAMS SHARES SOME OF HER
GORGEOUS, DELICATELY FEMININE IMAGERY WHILE
OPENING UP ABOUT HER UNEXPECTED ENTRY INTO
THE PROFESSION, FRESH APPROACHES TO PHOTO
SESSIONS, HOW TO MAKE DUE WITH UNEXPECTED
WEATHER, DEVELOPING EFFICIENT WORKFLOW, AND
INCORPORATING THE INSPIRATION OF CINEMA IN
HER PHOTOGRAPHIC VISION.
Rifle Paper Co.
A DELIGHTFUL SPOTLIGHT ON ONE OF OUR
NEW FAVOURITE BOUTIQUE STATIONERY
BRANDS AND DESIGN STUDIOS YIELDS A STORY
OF LOVE AND AN ODE TO THE BEAUTY OF OLD
FASHIONED MAIL. RIFLE PAPER COMPANY’S
CREATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE HAND-PAINTED
ILLUSTRATIONS AND LETTERING, EVOKE A STYLE
THAT FEELS BOTH NOSTALGIC AND TIMELESS –
WHAT’S NOT TO ADORE?
A Slow ExplorationIN THIS THOUGHT PROVOKING ARTICLE WE EXPLORE
THE REMARKABLE PARALLELS THAT LIE HIDDEN BETWEEN
THE SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT AND THE REDISCOVERY
OF CONSCIOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
IN THE CONTEXT OF SLOW FOOD’S CORE VALUES OF
PLEASURE, CULTURE, AND CONVIVIALITY, WE ASK WHAT
“SLOW PHOTOGRAPHY” MIGHT LOOK LIKE, WHAT
CHANGES A MOVEMENT LIKE THIS MIGHT INSPIRE IN
PEOPLE’S WORK AND LIVES, AND HOW THE RAPID
PRODUCTION AND THOUGHTLESS CONSUMPTION
OF DIGITAL WORK COULD GIVE WAY TO A WIDESPREAD
ENJOYMENT OF THE CAREFULLY CRAFTED IMAGE.
Learning to Speak
Batch+
WHILE VERY FEW PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTUALLY
START THEIR CAREERS WITH A DISTINCTIVE SENSE
OF STYLE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE JOURNEY
OF THIS ART FORM IS TO UNCOVER SOMETHING
UNIQUELY BRILLIANT IN EACH OF US. HERE WE
POINT OUT A PATHWAY TOWARDS FINDING
OUR OWN DISTINCTIVE VOICE AND SEIZING
EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REFINE, DEVELOP, AND
EXPRESS OUR CREATIVE VISION ALONG THE WAY.
BATCH+ TAKES THE CONCEPT OF ‘BATCH
EDITING’ YOUR IMAGES TO A WHOLE NEW
LEVEL, BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP USING THE
COMMON TASKS AND FUNCTIONS REQUIRED
BY WEDDING AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS.
HERE DAVID MACVICAR EXPLAINS BATCH+’S
FEATURE SET AND ITS POWERFUL FUNCTIONS
THAT CAN OPEN UP A WORLD OF EFFICIENT
IMAGE PREPARATION FOR YOU AND YOUR
BUSINESS.
Sarah Mulligan
A PHOTO ESSAY FOCUSING ON ARTIST SARAH
MULLIGAN AT WORK DEPICTS THE BEAUTY OF
MOLTEN GLASS AND THE INDUSTRIAL TACTILITY
OF THE GLASSBLOWER’S STUDIO. SARAH’S WORK,
LIKE THE CONVERSATION SHE SHARED WITH US,
IS EXPRESSIVE, PLAYFUL, SURPRISING AND FRESH,
AND THE RESULTING ARTICLE BRIMS WITH INSIGHT,
HONESTY AND HUMOUR ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED
TURNS OUR LIVES CAN TAKE, THE SACRIFICES WE
OFTEN MAKE ALONG THE WAY, AND WHY DOING
WHAT WE LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY CRUCIAL.
AND SO MUCH MORE!