My Contribution to Gary & Carrie's Big Day

 

   

 

 

I think I may have been to my second favorite wedding, my own being my favorite. Cousin Gary, and his now-wife Carrie, had a very informal, casual, friendly and humorous wedding. The officiant that married them new them and was able to throw in a lot of good humor to the ceremony. Following the ceremony it was a casual bite on desserts, followed by cutting into the amazing, gluten-free, cake made by Arleen of Gnarly Cakes, wife to the groom's best friend, Arlen. That's not a typo, Arlen is married to Arleen and is best friends with Gary, who married Carrie.

Arleen did an amazing job on this heavy, four tier cake, that was originally going to be six. They said that carrying it in was quite a task and were hopeful that the table it was set on would bear the weight. It did, thankfully. They were a little bit behind schedule getting to the church and, so, I did not quite as much time to photograph it as I would've liked but the results are just fine with me.

Originally there was the potential that I would photograph the wedding. Seeing the church, I think I could've managed to cover the ceremony and I'm pretty sure that wherever they had their pictures done before the ceremony, I could've made do. However, it has been such a wonderfully warm and dry fall that now since we have received some snow, and it's the soft sticky kind that I get stuck in much more than very cold, frozen snow, I'm glad I wasn't the one to do the photography.

So, wonderful job on all of the aspects, Arleen. I've tasted some perfectly fine gluten-free foods, but this was superb. Everyone appreciates the effort you went to to make it happen, just days after getting home from Mexico. I hope I soon have the opportunity to photograph another one of her masterful creations.

 

   

 

 

Flowers Galore

 

  Orange Lily Drop by Jay Scott on 500px

As promised, here is the second lily photo from the two varieties we have in our backyard. The background was not as well-defined as I had hoped but I definitely need to tell you about it.

It's our TV! Choose the photo that you want, put it on the screen, adjust your shutter speed and aperture to make sure it is visible enough for your tastes and away you go. Infinite background options mounted to our wall. Of course, there are limitations but any photographer with a large TV that isn't making use of it for a background for head shots or still life like this is missing out.

 

  Serendipity Daisies by Jay Scott on 500px

As for this next photo, these gerbera daisies were a gift from Serendipity Flowers here in Saskatoon! I follow them on Instagram and I was their chosen supporter for the week so a lovely bundle of gerbera daisies arrived at our door. Of course, I couldn't not shoot them, both my enjoyment, portfolio and thanks to that business. They are in an accessible location, offered me to come peruse there cooler and make some photos. Likely the light would be inadequate and anyone who has read more than two posts on my site knows I prefer my photos thoroughly constructed and planned. However, I think I have found the business that I will choose to support this winter when there seems to be nothing interesting available to photograph in the still life and highly constructed photo category. Of course there will always be Fiona and Kiwi, but they aren't still life and with them there are often compromises in lighting and how many attempts you get to make the shot before their attention is spent.

The Enchanted Pond Lily photo from the previous post is likely going to end up beside my Zoo Pond HDR 2 photo that hangs on the wall of my parents-in-law. The wall is just a little bit too big for just one 20x30 so we have been trying to come up with the right subject, with the right colors, to complement that existing metal print. I think that the Enchanted Pond Lily, along with these Gerber daisies, will be the right fit and match beautifully.

Anyway, if you are looking for a local and independently owned flower shop, I highly recommend Serendipity Flowers. Not just because of the nice gift, but they seem like really, really nice people.

The Beautiful Brief Lilies

 

  Backyard Pink Lilies by Jay Scott on 500px

As the days continue on, and summer begins to show the signs of its age, the lilies having come in their stunning, short-lived, glory, the birth of our baby draws nearer. We've said to ourselves that there's no point in not living life as usual until the time comes. Staying at home constantly thinking, worrying and being anxious about it does no one any good and, honestly, I'm pretty proud of how well we've done at just carrying on. It's exciting, it's a degree of scary and it's the biggest thing in my life since getting married and building a house. All good things in the process of building a life and the life of a family.

At times we feel comfortably prepared, knowing that there will be an uncertain degree of improvisation, then other times, while just living life, Angie's tummy bumps in the back of the head (sometimes she still isn't aware of how far it sticks out, or so she tells me) and we realize that the time is coming very soon. Today we both agreed that the length of time a woman is pregnant is just about right. Too much shorter and it wouldn't be enough time to let it sink in and prepare, too much longer and the discomfort and growing anxiousness would be difficult.

 

  Orange Backyard Lilies by Jay Scott on 500px

At this moment my biggest concern revolves around a factor I cannot control but believe that with the proper assertiveness I should be able to exercise some degree of influence. That concern is with my care. Being on a regular schedule like I am is best for my health and pushing the limits has significant negative consequences. Add to that a Home Care office that I have a rapidly diminishing faith in and you can see the source of my concern. I do have faith in God and hope that he will have his hands on the perfect timing of everything, including my routine, so that I have the pleasure of witnessing our child's birth without pushing my well-being beyond what is healthy. It would not be the first time that I counted on him to influence those at the Home Care who have the ability to make my life easier.

I will trust Angie's judgment far more than my own, as I'm just a casual observer, but I wonder if today's photo at 39 weeks isn't the last of this series. I suppose we will see soon enough!

Cabin Lilies

To match the decor in my parents' living room, I made a photo that may be chosen for their wall. That it was made at their cabin was fitting.

Cabin Lilies

by

Jay Scott