Sunday, May 29, 2011

300 KM mark with Sarah

Riding with Sarah @ 300 KM
A cracked frame, a week of rain, it hasn't been the best time for racking up KM. Still we got some nice weather this weekend and Sarah is looking to ride more so we did 15 KM in Fish Creek Park and I hit the 300 KM mark for the year. She's still out riding her Dad.

- Peace

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Over the Rhine in Calgary

Linford and Karen
Image Journal brought Over the Rhine to Calgary last week. Would have missed it, if not for a last minute email from Talitha, Thanks Talitha!

The Engineered Air Theater is a wonderfully intimate setting to see OtR, a great match for their music that sneaks up on you and pulls you into the story of everyone. The concert was followed up by a discussion panel on Faith and Art that included local artists.

I'm just getting to posting pictures from the event now. It was good to make contact with folk who are interested in the questions of art and faith.

- Peace

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

How Do You Shoot the Lower East Side?

Working Princess AveDistortion
Psalm 22
Sidewalk Crucifix

Kendra invited me down to the Procession of the Cross Easter Sunday in Vancouver's Lower East Side. "Would it be inappropriate to bring my Camera" "It's hard to be inappropriate on the Lower East Side" injected Sheona. Vancouver's famous lower east side. One of the poorest postal codes in Canada.

When Xalt took out the Salvation Army Kitchen on Wheels to Calgary's East Side by the river a number of coworkers mentioned how they would never feel safe there. The homeless were scary people to be avoided. My experience was that the homeless were people with a wide range of stories.

Easter morning I woke up early and wasn't able to get back to sleep. So I headed down to the Lower East Side about an hour or so before the Procession of the Cross just wander around, get a feel for the place. I was hoping to capture the Lower East Side, both what you expect there and what surprised me. There were some dramatic shots of people that I didn't get, I didn't want to intrude without permission. While there I was approached and asked if I was looking for "company" a couple of times.

I arrived at the Church just as the group was setting off. It was a lovely service.

Afterwards I was approached again and this time I made a counter offer. I was expecting to be told no. She asked how much, I asked her what she thought was fair, she said she'd really like X, I offered 2x. We did a quick shoot a couple of blocks away. I then dropped her off at a local eatery where she was going to get breakfast.

She was wonderful to work with and had a great sense of humor and an interest interest in music.

I don't know all the answers for how the rich and privileged (me) should interact with the poor and marginalized. I do know that I favor interaction over avoidance, even if I risk being inappropriate.

- Peace

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

She Passed Me @ 200 KM

She Passed Me @ 200 KM
Hit the 200 KM mark tonight.  After this morning's ride I had just 21 KM to go till 200.  The full ride from work is 26 KM, but I'm still at the point of taking the train for part of the ride.  I rode the 11 KM to the 39th Ave station and took the c train south from there, go off one stop early and then did another 11 KM of riding through evergreen.  Was too nice not to ride and 200 KM was too close to pass up.

- Peace

Monday, May 09, 2011

Vancouver, Biking, Sarah and 100 KM.

With Sarah at 100 KM
When Sarah was two we went out to Vancouver to visit Steve and Julie, Richard and Kim's friend Colleen.  Richard, Sarah and I went for a bike ride in Stanley Park, me towing Sarah in a trailer I rented from Spokes.  Most of the the after noon Sarah called out "Go Faster Dad!"  Only once did she cry "Too Fast!"  When we returned Kim asked her how it went - "Dad went too fast!" was the reply.  Thanks Kido.

With Sarah ending her first year at UBC, I wanted to ride the Endowment lands with her when we went out to get her and her stuff.  She hadn't been, as none of her friends at UBC ride and riding the endowment lands alone isn't wise.  We rode them together, We were in awe of the beauty that surrounded us.  I hit the 100 KM mark for 2011 on that ride - hence the picture.   Sarah has been riding since Sept, so she seriously out rode me.  No chance of Dad going to fast this time.

I did 2600 KM last year, so if I hit 3600 KM this year I'll be happy.


- Peace