A Picture Is Worth More Than 1,000 Words.... MAAD Photography

Dear Readers, I have a special treat for you today. While I was looking for candidates to be interview prospects, I came across an old school chum of mine. We chat quite frequently and I asked him if he would be interested in doing an interview. He very happily said yes, but asked me how I would benefit from doing this interview and posting it on my blog. I said well the benefit to me is learning about PHOTOGRAPHY (that's right folks, that's what we're learning about today!) So I would like to gladly introduce Alex and Marianne Doidge of MAAD Photography. They are a new hot young couple, just married a year and they have thrust themselves into the wonderful world of photography. I would like to make a shout out to Alex and Marianne > Thank you for answering all my questions and being so quick to respond. I'm sure you answers will open the inquisitive eyes of the reader to the world of photography.

MAAD Photography Bio

Photography has been a passion of ours for years now. Alex began shooting with digital equipment, and Marianne started with film. In 2007, the full progression to professional digital equipment has allowed us to embrace a level of quality not previously attained. Through our experience of working in photo labs for one of Canada's largest corporate retailers, as well as selling digital equipment, we know quality! By only using the best equipment available, we ensure that our skills and abilities will produce a result that never disappoints!
We enjoy all types of photography, from portraiture, wedding, nature, and macro photography just to name a few. With Marianne and Alex's immense attention to detail and ability to see things on the grand scale, we are able to capture the moments for you, so you may keep and treasure them for all of time.

And remember, we're flexible, and you are our client. With MAAD Photography, you’ll “See the difference, feel the difference!” and have an experience like no other!
- Marianne and Alex

Some of the business clients we have served include:

1 Hour Signs, Barrie
Basketball Ontario, North York
Edible Arrangements, Barrie
Georgian College, Barrie
Lawrence Park, Barrie
Royal LePage, Barrie

A Picture Is Worth More Than 1,000 Words, the interview

What makes you passionate about photography?

M: Hmmm… the first question of the interview and you have to make it a hard one! *chuckle* Photography is like a superpower, you can capture an image for ever. That image will remind people of the past, perhaps even from a historical perspective. Can power like that cause you to be more passionate?

A: Photographs last a lifetime. It’s a way of ensuring that people now and in the future know you existed :)

What is your most favourite event to photograph?

M: Weddings and Events! With weddings, after the dinner and the cake is done, and everyone goes home, they have their photos and their memories. The memories will fade over time, but the photos will last long after the memories have disappeared.

With Events, such as Shinerama at Georgian College, people are animated and always have so much fun. Photographs do a wonderful job at capturing the joy and excitement.

A: My favourite event to photograph is Weddings. I enjoy the pressure, I enjoy the atmosphere and how it keeps me on my toes. It’s exciting, it’s challenging, and when it’s all said and done, I can review the shots I got and look back on a day full of memories!

What was the hardest thing to learn, when you were learning about photography?

M: I’d have to say it was paying attention to how the photos were composed and exposed right out of the camera, since there is very little post processing that could be done with film compared to digital.

A: I would say the hardest thing for me to learn was to keep in mind of all my surroundings and ensure that everything I captured blended together with the environment that I was in. When you are in a situation such as a wedding, you have to be a photographer, a good communicator, a psychologist, and sometimes a mind-reader to ensure everything goes as planned.

When photographing something, what do you make sure you capture with each shot?

A: I always make sure that every shot I capture tells a story, or intertwines with the overall scene of the day. I try to ensure that a picture of a flower is never just a picture of a flower. It’s a picture of a flower that was picked from the garden you see in the background, and garden belonged to the bride’s mother that is no longer with us. Ensure the photograph has depth and brings out emotion.

M: Yeah, what he said. :)

Did you ever ‘picture’ yourself being a photographer? If not what did you see yourself doing as a career?

M: When I was growing up I never thought that I would become a Photographer. I wanted to be an optometrist for awhile. Musician was also on the list. My first semester of college, I actually studied Emergency Medicine at Algonquin. I ended up giving that up because of the politics of the profession at the time. I changed to the Desktop Publishing program to be able to stay in Residence with all my friends for the second semester. I graduated that program but there isn't really all that much demand for Desktop Publishers. I decided to take the year following off to decide my future. After some consideration I decided to study Art at Georgian College. One of my favorite classes during that year was Photography. One thing leads to another after that and here I am now.

A: I never saw myself as a photographer. I don’t think I really ever had a clear picture of whom or what I wanted to be when I “grew up”. This just kind of came along and happened.

What words would you use to describe yourself and why?

A: Kind, positive, and a good listener.

M: It’s a good thing that Alex is a good listener, because I am a good talker! I can make small talk with just about anyone. Of course, like any *good* small talker, I do know when to keep my mouth shut.

If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?

M: I would love the ability to see into the future. Not too far, even just 10 or 15 minutes. It’s not a problem having my camera on me when I am working, but during my down time I do sometimes put the camera down. I would love to know ahead of time when I should have it with me so I don't miss either important, memorable, or funny moments

A: The power to travel through time and see life from different vantage points I think would be pretty cool. I wouldn’t necessarily need to travel through space, just time itself.

What is the worst thing to photograph and why?

A: The worst thing to photograph would have to be a still-birth. We are members of a group called “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep”. This is a group of photographers that will volunteer their time and be on call day or night for parents that both have a very ill infant or a still-birth and wish to have family photographs taken. I say this would be the worst thing to photograph just because of the complexity of emotions that would rise from such a catastrophic event. I’m glad to extend my abilities to help out a family in grief, but it’s not easy that’s for sure.

M: Anyone looking for more information on this great organization can go to http://www.nilmdts.com/

If you were to spend an evening with any 3 people, who would you choose and why? (You could choose any person from past to present)

M: This is difficult. I would like to say my grandparents, but I have 4 of them who have all passed. How about we lump them into a group and I get to pick two more people? *grins*
I don't remember my dad's mom, she passed when I was just two years old. I hear that she was a riot.

My dad's dad passed almost 4 years ago, but we didn't get to spend much time together before he died. I think I disappointed him with my lack of interest in history though, but I like to think that my interest in music at least partly made up for it.
Mom's mom, my Nanny, lived with us before she passed, and during that time we really became close. It was really hard on my sister and I when we lost her. I held her hand as she died. My first memory is actually of my mom's dad and I driving down the highway in his truck. I was still quite little, still in diapers I think. He drove an old pickup truck that had seen better days. I remember being securely belted in the seat and looking down between my feet and seeing the road pass by under me through the hole in the floor of the truck.

As for those other 2 people we talked about... Kiefer Sutherland because he is hot, and Alex because he is hot too. *grins*

A: Marianne, my brother Jay, and Kiefer. You’re damn right he’s hot! :P

Do you recommend anything to readers that are trying to get into the photography industry?

A: Understand that photography takes skill, intelligence, and the right equipment. You don’t have to have the best of the best to produce the greatest results, but you do need to have enough that will give you the versatility you require in a job as demanding as this.

M: Be patient. There is a lot of competition out there!

Do you recommend any book(s) or movie(s)?

M: My Aunt gave me an Autobiography for Christmas this past year. It is nothing related to photography, but it does make you realize how sometimes life is a struggle, but with some determination, you *can* make it through. The Doctor Will Not See You Now, The Autobiography of a Blind Physician by Jane Poulson.I also am a big fan of the movie, The Notebook. I just wish though that it was The Photo Album. I am *sure* that she would have had an easier time remembering if there were pictures!

A: Books, no. Movies, a bunch, but they aren’t photo related! Okay, except One Hour Photo! Creepy and brilliant!

What is the most important thing photography has taught you about yourself?

A: It’s taught me to appreciate life and keep memories permanent. Life doesn’t last forever and it must be preserved – of course doing a high-school co-op program in a funeral home helped shape this view as well!

M: You are really making me think! It always reminds me how mortal I am… how mortal we all are. It’s sad to think, but I do often wonder… how many of the photographs I take will end up in a funeral home? You think that you are going to be around forever, then someone you know your own age dies is. Then you start looking for photographs of the two if you together, maybe you took them, or perhaps someone else… I think you understand how this is going.

What is the most interesting thing about photography?

A: That every picture or image can be captured a bunch of different ways, therein making it a completely different image all together or changing the tone, emotion, or story behind it.

M: I find it interesting how the technology has changed through the generations. Years ago families dressed up and “sat” for a photographer. Then when my parents were kids, more families had cameras and were able to take some of the candid shots. Now, everyone seems to have a camera so pictures aren’t nearly as special as they were years ago. It takes a photographer to make the images special… when else do you have the whole family in a shot?

Have you met anyone famous while working as a photographer?

A: I have met K-OS and Sean Hewitt. (A guy opening for K-OS) They’re both excellent guys.

M: Sean Hewitt was much more conversational that evening, he actually came looking for us to chat!

What don’t you like about photography?

A: At times, I don’t like lugging around all the equipment. It doesn’t matter how many dollies, carts or tool boxes you have, it can be a pain!

M: I would like to rephrase that… the more carts, bags, stands, and tool boxes you have, the bigger pain it is!

Is there anything you would like to add to the interview that has not been covered, and you think it is important for people to know?

A: Stay positive, keep smiling, and be yourself. Always.

M: If you are considering having a friend or family member shoot your wedding because “they have a really nice camera”, please reconsider. Hire someone with experience. Your wedding day only happens once, you don’t want anything to go wrong.

A Tribute to Shorty

This pic is of Shorty just getting introduced to what would become her favourite place in the winter. This shed was built for them in the summer of '06. Shorty loved the shed in the winter because she stayed nestled in there against the hay, toasty as a bug in a rug.

This pic is of her prodigy Jack. Jack was a wonderful little boy, always curious but never mean. He truly was like his mother. This pic was taken October 18, 2006.

This pic of Shorty was taken May 20, 2007. It had rained on the Friday night so the cows looked nice and clean, almost as if they had a bath. My Dad and I had just given the cows breaky so she is kinda has the just got out of bed look, but that was norm for her, hence the name "Debbie Harry Cow".

This is one of the best pics I have of my wonderful ladies. Shorty is on the left and Bigguh on the right. These two had become the best of friends and will always be friends even though they are not physically together. This pic was also taken May 20, 2007.

Dear reader, I have some sad news to share with you. My mum waited to tell me to this evening and I can completely understand why. The reasoning being I was doing some testing at school and she didn’t want me to be buggered up. My cow Shorty, my Debbie Harry cow, was found dead in the pasture this morning. It was clear to my parents that she had not struggled at all in her passing, and she just looked as if she was sleeping. My wonderful Shorty, struggled over the winter with her bad leg, but she was able to make it to see the wonderful green grass of spring. Shorty was surrounded by lush grass and had a friend (Bigguh) close by, she couldn’t have passed in a more beautiful place. Shorty was one of my first cows and she gave me wonderful memories, some I have shared, others I have kept close to my heart. Shorty was a loving mother of Jack, and she put everything she had into that little guy. Jack truly was a replica of his mother. My favourite thing about Shorty was when you patted her head in a certain way she would wiggle her ears, almost as if to say “Gee that feels nice”. I couldn’t have wanted a nicer cow for one of my first. I hope that wherever Shorty goes, she is in a better place where her leg doesn’t cause her pain and she is able to revisit some friends she has made from her past. I wish her all the best and she will always hold a dear place in my heart, my Shorty, my Debbie Harry cow.

The Assignment

Dear reader, the assignment was to write a short story about 250 - 300 words. The title of the story "The Black Swan". The challenge, you could make the story about anything but a bird. The second part of the challenge was to use avian (bird) references in the story. This meant using similes and metaphors relating to birds. I have never really enjoyed or done a creative writing piece since I started all this writing on the blog which has led me to enjoy writing. This was a challenge because i didn't have a good idea at the beginning and then it just came to me and i fiddled with it and then it was the way i wanted it to be. So dear reader, i share with you the story i wrote!

The Black Swan
By: Sarah Gall

You’ll usually find him out on the end of a dock, or at the bend in a creek that is flowing swiftly. He’s a bit of a queer duck. He walks pigeon toed and has no desire to ever wear a penguin suit. He never fits into the community pecking order, he is a lone fisherman. He struts proud as a peacock in his hip waders and Tilley hat. He enjoys the peacefulness and serenity of his hobby. The town considers him an Egghead when it comes to fishing, it is his true passion in life. His nest is feathered with trophies and mounts from past fishing excursions. Like a crow, a bushel full of tales he has to tell. Tonight though, is the most important to him. T’is the night before the fishing expedition that could change his entire flight plan for life. He sits preening his lures to ensure that he makes the catch. Most of his lures are feathered with canary yellow bobbles to attract the wandering eye of his prey.
Now it’s dawn and not a peep can be heard. The Black Swan, as the town has so cleverly named him, sits on his perch awaiting for his prize to nab his hook. While waiting for a bite, he sits cool as a kookaburra. As time passes he reels in an empty hook. With each cast he is stealthy like a hawk, swooping in to catch the fish that just may be the one. Although he has caught a few small fish this morning, in his mind he keeps the phrase “Nothing is insignificant,” and considers even the smallest of catches. With patience he sits, awaiting the unknown. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, the Black Swan feels a pull on his rod. His heart begins to flutter and his mind starts to race, thinking “This could be the one. It could really be the one!” The Black Swan gives a yank on his rod and feels resistance. Then all of a sudden the reel starts to let go, the line being pulled as if birds were towing him into the sky. The fisherman plants his feet like an ostrich in the sand, and gets ready for the battle of which he knows not how it will end. He starts to crank, and while cranking, he gives a long, hard, sturdy pull. He pauses for a minute to regain his energy and then repeats the process several times. The prey has taken the lure for quite a journey, hence it takes the Black Swan a long time to reel the creature in. He begins to doubt himself on his catch because he’s never had to put up such a fight before. Still he continues to reel in whatever he may have nabbed on his hook. As the fishing line gets more taut and there is less out in the water, the fisherman finally spots his prey; a shiny body fiercely trying to get away from what has caught him. As the creature gets closer and closer to the dock, the fisherman cannot believe his eyes. There’s so much body to his prey, it is like an endless lake of scales. The Black Swan realizes that he has caught his nest egg, a 20 lbs. large mouth bass. With happiness the fisherman starts to hoot and holler to the great outdoors and himself. He’s singing like a sparrow at the prize he has caught. He whispers to himself, “No chicken feed for me tonight!” With a grin from ear to ear, the Black Swan ponders of all the wonderful things he may do with his catch. Although, the Black Swan has no one to share such exciting memories with, and there are no pictures of the event, he packs his prized possession into a cooler and believes that it is finally coming home to roost.

The ANTM winner is......JASLENE!!!!!

Dear reader, I have good news and some bad news. The bad news is that America’s Next Top Model finished tonight. The good news is that the winner is ….JASLENE. I was really happy that she won but I would have never figured that her opponent would be Natasha. Renee had a quality that Natasha didn’t, she was able to be personal and commit with the camera without a lot of direction. Many times she was asking the photographer if she could do a pose that she thought would really be suitable. She was creative…unfortunately it was Nigel’s comment that she looked like she had been seen before and that she looked like the oldest out of the girls that sent her packing. It was sad because she made a point all the time that she was doing the competition to make her family’s life better then it was, and then she made it to the final 3 and was booted. I still Renee has a lot of potential and she should definitely consider pursuing the modeling career more. Now about Miss Cha Cha Diva. I am really glad that she won the competition. On the runway I noticed a definite difference between her and Natasha’s performance. The judges said that she was weak to start but finished with a bang and that Natasha was the opposite. Even though Jaslene was considered to have started weak, I thought she did amazing, cause she looked like she was going to puke before she took first steps to walk. Natasha was a big ball of confusion and mess back stage, I didn’t really like that. With Jaslene, she seemed like the perfect package and was ready to deliver when the call time came. Jaslene brought her heart and soul to the competition and realized that she got a second chance that most people would not be able to get. With that second chance, she used it to her ability, brought FIERCE to the photos and totally embodied in my mind what it truly means to be America’s Next Top Model. Congrats for Jaslene!!!! The other good thing that I really liked about the show was they brought back Caridee and man has she ever changed. She really seems to have learned a lot compared to when she was on cycle 7 battling with Melrose to get the ANTM title. I was really happy to see how much she had changed and that she was able to give advice and help the newbies out a bit. I’m proud of Caridee, I’m so glad that she won cycle 7.

The Force = Facebook, + Movie Reviews

Dear Reader, just writing because it’s been a while and I’m sure that you are missing some of my interesting news. First on the list is the pic. This pic is of me and my friend Heather who I have met and now carpool (I drive) to school. She is really nice and has a lot of interesting and different views. This pic makes me smile when I see it because we both look so happy!

Movie Review – Déjà vu

This movie was unbelievably excellent. At first I thought I may get lost in the going back and forth in time with the film but it is done in a way that totally is easy to follow. There were some big stars in it besides Denzel (ie. Val Kilmer, Bruce Greenwood, Jim Cavaziel). All the actors brought their A Game to the table making the story not only interesting but amazing. I can’t really describe the movie or else it will give it away but I definitely suggest you watch it.

Movie Review – Alphadog

This movie, even though it doesn’t say it, was based on a real kidnapping and some of the people that were involved are still going through the justice system. I already said it though, it’s based on a kidnapping. This movie was very ridden with stars, maybe to the point that it was too much (ie. Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Emile Heirsch, Justin Timberlake (not so great in this movie, way better in EDISON FORCE), Dominique Swain, Lukas Haas, Ben Foster (ArchAngel from XMEN 3). There were also plenty more involved I just named a few. The movie was ok but it was really about the drug world and what can happen when you don’t pay your dealer. That pretty much sums it up, it was alright, mildly entertaining, therefore you may want to see it.

Movie Review – Because I Said So

This I would have to say is by far one of Mandy Moore’s better films. Although this film was star ridden as well (ie. Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham , Piper Perabo , the dad from Seventh Heaven, etc.) the movie was not that bad. I really enjoyed it because I was in the mood for a chick flick and I wanted to see someone fall in love and be happy (don’t know why I wanted to see that since it’s not happening to me but oh well). The one major thing I liked about this movie was the food that was shown. Mandy Moore’s character is a caterer and her mum (Diane Keaton) is a cake maker/decorator. The cakes were out of this world, they employed designs and looks that were incredible. I really like it when there is something else in a movie that is recognizably interesting and fascinating. Like I said prior, it is a chick flick, there a few laughs in it, NO TEARS (guys you will love that one), and it’s a fairly good story. In one of the review I read about it they said “It’s like Annie Hall has turned into a control freak!” Now I never saw Annie Hall but I know it was played by Keaton and she hit the epitome of control freak and it was really funny. It’s nice to see someone go through that and you know exactly how they feel!

Oh yeah before I totally forget I have joined what I like to refer as The Force. That would be the friend finder known as facebook. I have found a lot of friends and stuff and it’s great to see how they are doing, stuff like that fascinates me. There are even people on there from when I went to pre-school with them. A lot of people are married and have kids and I have made sure to make ‘notes’, as the facebook people call it, on the issue. It’s nice to have contact with people that I had truly lost contact with in about 5 years. Maybe it’s not so bad after all, but I did cave and join it, so much for sticking to my own plan!!!

I Am The Maker of SOCKS....with Pom Poms of Course!!!

Dear Reader, I am quite excited to inform you that I have finally finished knitting my first pair of socks. They are of the tube sock family but for some comfy socks around the house I am very pleased. As you can see in the picture the socks also have a neon pink pom pom on the outside of the sock. At first I had trouble making the pom poms but then I switched to an ‘easier to read’ set of instructions and made 2 great pom poms. I haven’t given them to Erin yet but if she reads this she’ll know they’re done. I hope she likes them.

Book Review – Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures – Vincent Lam

When I first bought this book I was unsure what I was getting into. I thought it was going to be stories about making the victim bleed to get poison or toxins out and then the survival of the victim after such a procedure. The miraculous cures part, I thought it might be about going to an African Village and giving the children and adults vaccines that would save their lives from diseases that run rampant in the country. No way, I couldn’t have been more wrong if I tried. The book actually was a work of fiction but it was almost as if it was a reality. It followed the lives of 3 dr’s that went through medical school together, 2 were successful and got through on the first try the 3rd had to work really hard to get the grades and be accepted for his fellowship. It was really interesting because it went into detail about when the dr’s were in school having to work on cadavers and how since they are working on them, they are to maintain a state of respectable behaviour towards the cadavers. As they go throughout their careers you see them working in different areas of the medical industry. One was a helicopter dr who would go on missions to various countries to try and bring patients back to Toronto so they could get the proper medical attention they needed to survive. The book even took SARS as a topic and it watched how it affected the 3 dr’s individually, as well as the relationship between the 2 successful dr’s. The book was very interesting and it gave you a “Situation Critical” (a tv program on TLC) look at how the dr’s got to be who they were and how they got there, as well as struggles they faced within their careers and their lives. It was an excellent book and once I got into it I couldn’t put it down.

Movie Review – The Queen

Helen Mirren, yet again did a fabu job of being the queen. I did a smile count (since the Queen smiling is such a rarity), there was 1 really good smile and then 2 little smiles that were only for the public so I really didn’t feel they were heart felt. The part where she does the real smile is fantastic, unexplainable really. The Queen, she really was a snobby old bitch, and I don’t like to put it those words but they best describe the way she was. I figured many years ago, when Diana was still alive that the Queen probably didn’t like her because Diana was a radical compared to the Queen’s family, but the movie brought a whole different light to the hate or shall I say dislike towards Diana. Although the Queen did not like Diana, her actions showed a cold old biddy that sits in her castle and does as she pleases. Such actions did not go over well with the population because Diana was known as the “People’s Princess” and even the the Queen may not have liked her, she should have done more out of respect for Charles, and the two princes. The Queen may have been a major focus of the film, but I also got the impression that Diana was the underlying story. The movie also brought to light how big a deal it is to be elected Prime Minister is England, but you have to have the permission of the Queen to do so, as well as how appropriate Tony Blair handled the media and such surrounding Diana’s death. Without his convincing the Queen wouldn’t have done half the things he suggested, it was too little too late but she sort of came around. Like I said at the top, Helen Mirren did another excellent job of playing the role of the Queen only this time it was Queen Elizabeth II. The actors who played Prince Charles and Tony Blair (The guy who was in the first movie of UNDERWORLD, head of the Lichens) did a fabu job as well. The characters were portrayed very well and it brought an incident that was so tragic under the microscope for further examining. FABU

Movie Review – Night At the Museum

This movie review will be short and sweet but in a good way. I really enjoyed this movie because it brought out the kid in me. As a kid I liked going to museums, seeing dinosaur exhibits, animal exhibits and all kinds of historical exhibits. Ben Stiller is a father that has come on hard times but decides to convince the lady at the temp agency that he needs the job she has no matter what it is. It just so happens that he ends up becoming the night watch man at a museum that is very magical. I don’t want to give away anything about the movie because that’s the special part. All I can say is there were some very good stars in it: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Robin Williams, and there weren’t too many stars. It’s a really good family movie and even though I watched it by myself I really enjoyed it and it made me remember my childhood….which is nice every once and in a while.

ANTM

Tonight was really good on America’s Next Top Model, Brittany went home finally. The girl could take good photos but she had the judges so brainwashed it wasn’t funny. Her excuse of short term memory loss from a car accident in her past saved her 2 weeks ago, and the punk rocker, Jael, went home. Tonight’s challenge was ‘go sees’ and Brittany failed miserably, not one of the designers she saw said they would book her. This was a first in ANTM history. When you saw Brittany in her ‘go sees’, she looked very awkward and uncoordinated as well as she was not very personable with the designers. This is an example of when the cool and collected approach does not work or in her case she just took overboard. This was also the show when Tyra photographed the girls, which she was saying would be for a woman magazine and then the girls would then take a shoot for a man’s magazine. Both shoots were with male models which was good. I have to say Tyra’s photos of the girls were amazing. She really has talent in photography and she is able to direct while taking the photos, which must be very difficult. Tyra’s photos were passionate and really sensual, a complete turn around compared to last season when they were Halloween like. There are two girls that are really standing out for me right now, that would be Renee and Jaslene. I like them because they have edge and can really look sexy when they need to, but can also look really soft and plyable. Jaslene is the underdog I think, because the judges said tonight that Renee has the potential to make the most money. Jaslene was turned down from a previous season though and is really using her opportunity to shine. The finale is already booked on my calendar (May 16), be prepared for a follow up for sure.