The romance and mystery of the life of a lighthouse keeper can be a beautiful thing and also a very isolating experience. There are 27 staffed lightstations along the BC Coast. Staffed with two employees for safety reasons, the keeper’s primary duty is to report the weather changes on our rugged coast. Every 3 hrs starting at 3:30AM, lighthouse keepers all along the coast will call in the weather report to Coast Guard radio. The radio staff collects the data and transmits the information for all vessels at sea. There is the on going station maintenance of course, and some keepers take on odd chores such as collecting and removing the countless items of plastic and styrofoam debris that litter our shores. Keepers don’t get days off. They are out there 7 days a week, for month after month. This keeper tells me that although the idea of living on 50 acres of prime ocean front property conjures forth images of romance, in reality the long days and nights offer personal challenges regarding keeping the mind and body active and stimulated. The word romance is gradually replaced with words like patience, self-reliance and endurance… this is not a career choice for everyone to be sure. It was a privilege to experience the day and life of a lighthouse keeper and I am now fully aware of their critical presence on our Coast!
Posted by Helene Cyr on February 11, 2010 – 1:51 pm
A very talented group of students and teacher put together a heartfelt 20+ minute mime show for public performance during Vancouver’s Olympics. Their script and performance during the rehearsal was so moving that it was difficult to hold back the tears. If anyone in Vancouver had the chance to see it, you would understand. Congratulations to you for your extraordinary work!
Posted by Helene Cyr on February 10, 2010 – 4:34 pm
Oahu, spells Aloha. The Aloha spirit is nothing like I’ve experienced before. Sheer kindness and laid back mentality lies deep within the Oahu’nian veins. Even the official and non-official photographers at the Volcan Pipeline Pro were so surprisingly casual. By the way those pro surfers who ride the pipeline are seriously nuts. If the opportunity arises to visit the lovely Karen and her kind spirited Island once more, I would wish to do an essay on the Aloha spirit and their comfort and respect towards their incredible ocean. “Aloha”!
shot by the lovely Karen
Posted by Helene Cyr on January 16, 2010 – 2:03 pm
A fabulous wedding of 17 people at Poets Cove to finish the season was a treat as once again, both Ericka and Andrew were fabulous to photograph! Ericka reminded me of Candice Bergman, simply a natural beauty with generous laughter. Although she and her daughter caught some kind of bug, they soldiered on! They brought their beat box to the cold wind blown bluffs drinking Veuve Clicquot, having their first dance to the laughter and joy of their mom and sister… it was truly moving and felt honored to be a part of that. Playing with image wash again is also a treat!
Posted by Helene Cyr on December 28, 2009 – 1:59 pm
Filed under B&W, Weddings
Johnny called late November to ask if I were to photograph his wedding. At first I was hesitant to accept any more work but his sweet English accent and charm got the better of me. Then later meeting Isabelle sealed the deal for me. Mostly they wanted images of their ceremony and cocktail. They married at the Empress Hotel at 4:30pm. The couple were wonderfully animated as were their guests! I can still here the laughter in the room.
Posted by Helene Cyr on November 29, 2009 – 4:38 pm
They boast of 100+ golf courses and a sea of windmills. It’s believable. But you can’t help wonder where heavens’ are they getting their water? After shooting Michelle and Berkeley’s wedding I treated myself to 2 days of desert (mostly by car I’m afraid) as Joshua Tree Park is immense! They should have a sign “watch for soft sand” as you will get very very stuck. And this I did well no more then 20 feet from the paved road! No less then 5 minutes both a car and tow truck stopped to help. This is John with his dog who helped me partly before the tow truck could truly pull me out. John was incredibly kind and seemed as though he was pulled out from a movie! The highway leading to L.A. is already 8 lanes wide at 159 KM from Palm Springs and you are warned not to go near it past 4pm… gaaa. The other park I visited was Indian Canyon, also a spectacular park where the palm trees are huge and grow from a natural fault line water source like an oasis. These two deserts I briefly visited are incredibly spiritual places! Oh! can you find the chain gang in any of these pictures? Truly.
Posted by Helene Cyr on November 27, 2009 – 4:06 pm
It rains .7 inches in Palm Springs (on average) during the November months and is never really cold. Yet those .7 inches of rain happen to fall on Michelle and Berkeley’s wedding day minutes before the ceremony which was rehearsed beautifully the day before. My favorite image of Michelle is when she is looking up at the sky as it summons the entire story. Light falls quickly and those 15 minutes flew by fast before it was pitch dark! Shame because the grounds of Parker Hotel are visually stunning with countless themes–a photographer’s paradise! What impressed me most were the 100 guests that followed the couple for their destination wedding… very very moving. I can also see why they are loved.
Posted by Helene Cyr on November 25, 2009 – 2:22 pm
Filed under B&W, Personal
Such a treat to spend the weekend with friend photographers and my son, away from our computers and the buzz of it all. First weekend to ourselves. The rain poured and poured and poured… i loved it, we all loved it! The rain hit my lens and I could not care, they kept playing and being wild. So much fun you are!!!!!!!!
Posted by Helene Cyr on November 20, 2009 – 2:28 pm
Relentless rain and genuine beauty come to mind when I think of Kiyomi and Matt’s intimate wedding at Long Beach Lodge Resort. Indeed one of my favorite venues on the West Coast. The elements of the West Coast is inspiring for the lens. Kiyomi whom I call my Channel Girl was an absolute sheer joy to photograph! The rain poured in layers like sheets of corrugated aluminum and no one was phased. We had no more then 15 minutes out on the beach before my camera was soaked. Thank you Félix for holding the umbrella. Kiyomi barely cold, would have kept on! The couples’ excitement and energy ruled over all rain drops. Kiyomi and Matt, thank you for all your trust and gratefulness. It will be an honor to keep in touch.
