Helene Cyr Photography » Assignment

school trip

Helene — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:30:05 +0000

What a privilege it is to tag along with my son’s school field trip. To photograph teenagers with their trust is unusual in our times. The days of Henri Cartier Bresson are long gone where life unfolded naturally in front of his lens with no fear or suspicions. Today good luck pointing your lens in a school crowd without some form of threat or law suit. Right don’t get me started..
Another argument would be, well you have them on your blog now don’t you? Yes, I do, and it’s a slice of life, a place and time was recorded with honesty. These images can not in no way shape or form be used other then in this context unless I am permitted by the subjects to do so. There is much to cover on this topic of photographing surrounding life… more to come!
These were taken with an old 50mm 1.4 at the Ocean Discovery Center in Sidney, BC. I highly recommend visiting!

Lindsay & Ron & their beloved

Helene — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:37:54 +0000

There’s nothing like working with dogs in family portraits. Kudos to those who earn their living doing so. Seriously hats off to you! There was bountiful character in these dogs but would not for the life of me sit still for the shot. Perhaps with more time I may have achieved that ultimate bulldog shot that is so full of character!

Life of a Light House Keeper

Helene — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:23:01 +0000

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!

Mime from L’école Brodeur

Helene — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:51:59 +0000

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!