then…

lunch on the Monday, Aisha says to me, “dad i’m cold.” my thought is how can you possibly be cold when it’s 38ºC…? we chalk it up to a wet bathing suit and an ocean breeze. we finish lunch and play a little longer at the pool before nap. 15 minutes after lunch Aisha is lying on the beach chair. clothed and using a towel as a blanket. it’s not that breezy. we take her temp and it’s just a touch over a 100ºC so we give her some tylenol and head in early. Aisha’s asleep before her head hits the pillow and the same with Ella. both are fast asleep and we hope that all it is, is too much sun. a little time out of it, will do the trick.

not so lucky.

during nap time Ella begins to sound like a 65 year old trucker whose been smoking 6 packs a day since he was 12 and on top of that, her head is hot to the touch. now two kids with fevers. OH WONDERFUL. they both wake up after a few hours. both on fire. both with fevers around 101ºC and both with coughs. we decide to go see the resorts doctor.

5:00: arrive at the doctors. she’s not there. sign on the door reads, “24 hour medical doctor on site” hmmmm thinking “24′ish hour medical doctor on site.” would’ve been more accurate. we decide to go get a snack, walk around and come back later in hopes to catch her.

5:45 – tylenol seems to be working as both fevers have subsided, but the coughs still remain. head over to the doctors.

6:15 – doctor sees us and checks out the girls. determines that they both may possibly have an ear infection, but she is most concerned with Ella’s chest congestion as she says it sounds quite bad. she recommends we head into town to the hospital to see a pediatrician. AWESOME. we tell her that we would like to go grab dinner before we make our adventure to the hospital, because as anyone with kids can attest to, hungry kids mean grumpy kids.

7:00 – all this is happening on the same night that a Disney show is taking place on the kids stage. something that Aisha has been looking forward to since first hearing about it days ago. both fevers have dropped, we decide to let the girls head over and watch the show. we can see Aisha is not feeling well…not her usual self, but she toughs it out and enjoys herself..or at least tries to. now at one point Aisha decides to sit down and watch the other kids. noticing that she is not feeling well, Ella takes it upon herself to sit down beside her big sister. she puts her arm on her back and not being able to talk, she gives Aisha a look as if to say, “it’ll be alight.” this moment brought tears to my eyes. (see black & white images below)

8:00 – show is over. Jen and i are trying to figure out if we should head to the hospital or let them sleep on it and see how things are in the morning. we keep asking ourselves, “would we run to the doctors day 1 of a fever back home?” probably not. but we’re not back home. we’re in the Dominican. a beautiful country. but it’s not Canada. so we decide to go.

9:00 – we arrive at the hospital after an exciting ride in an ambulance (they don’t mess around) we check in and are brought to a room. we wait. and wait. and wait some more. no one really speaks english and no one really seems to be doing anything. finally after 40 minutes in the room, the pediatrician arrives, checks the girls over and concludes that they both have a minor infection. she prescribes us some medication, some antibiotics and tells us to watch the fevers.

so there it is. an infection. nothing too serious. nothing life threatening. it wasn’t malaria like Jen started to stress about at one point. it was a simple infection more then likely picked up at the pool or on the plane. did we need to rush to the hospital? probably not. but better safe then sorry i guess. eventually the fevers went away and the cough subsided a little. they both never really got back to a 100% until back at home, but we think they enjoyed themselves the rest of the trip.

it was a holiday that we’ll never forget. a holiday that was never really relaxing for Jen and i. but it was still a holiday. i felt the sand between my toes. i felt the hot tropical sun on my balding head and i watched tall palm trees sway in the breeze while lying below on a beach chair.

even though you’re both growing up before my eyes, you will always be my little girls.

love dad

teaching. public speaking. sharing in a group setting. a workshop.

it makes me nervous. i was nervous as the site went live. “what have i got myself in to?” bounced around in my head all day yesterday. then that nervousness made way for excitement. excited to step out of my comfort zone. my bubble. i am excited to share. to share what i have learned. to share my experiences. my thoughts. excited to help. to listen. to teach. i am excited to learn from the other incredible artists that are joining me for this event:

• the brainchild behind the SHIFT / TILT workshop, Romin Lee based in Seoul and is truly an artist with a camera.

• Ewan & Brianna of The Last Forty Percent from London, Ontario who are amazing boudoir and wedding artists

• the absolutely incredible Seattle artist, Daniel Usenko whose images are so perfect and beautiful, it’s crazy.

so there it is. my very first workshop. i look forward to meeting you in April. for details and registration go to: SHIFT / TILT

thinking it was a little faster then she expected.

storm chasing with my new toy. the fuji x100

anyway i wanted to share the post again as like myself, many of us are in the thick of wedding season. and sometimes we need to pause. to breath. to be reminded to shoot what pays the heart.

“…i had to share this. not too sure why, but something in me said to do so. it hit me when i read it. it hit me hard. it hit me emotionally. a letter i received this Christmas morning. it brought tears to my eyes (and still does as i type this) they are very personal words from the love of my life talking about what i love to do. they are honest words. words from her heart. words i needed to hear. words i feel we all need to hear. most of us first picked up a camera because we love the art. we love the way capturing a moment makes us feel. then like many of us we decide, one day to make it our entire life. we all try not to let it define us as a person, but it does. we’re the “photographer” we love the sound of that. the photographer. you made it. you make a living out of what was once a hobby. what many consider a hobby. you feed your family. shelter and clothe the ones you love with your art.

is there a better job in the world then that?

but like myself, we sometimes lose track of what it was that got us into this incredible career. perhaps we lose some of the passion. the love. the excitement. or perhaps we never lose it. but maybe we just misplaced it. we just need to remember where it was we last put it. look hard. it’s there. trust me. shoot what pays the bills. of course. this is a business. but shoot what pays the heart. cause at the end of the day if your heart isn’t getting paid nothing else really matters.”

a few images that pay my heart.

a fun photoshoot with friends in some beautiful summer light.

she is still cautious. sometimes apprehensive. but right behind that apprehension is a beautiful confidence. and i have to keep reminding myself that she is only 3. she is still a little kid. our little kid. our beautiful little girl. the other day she graduated preschool. yes it’s only preschool. and yes there are many more graduations ahead. but this is her first. just like her first steps. her first words. her first anything. it’s the beginning of her journey. and we will be there along her side providing support. a ear to listen. arms to embrace. a hand to hold.

congrats Aisha.

more images to come from this session soon

“walk a little slower daddy,
i’m following in your footsteps
and i don’t want to fall.

sometimes your steps are very fast,
sometimes they’re hard to see;
so walk a little slower, Daddy,
for you are leading me.

someday when i’m all grown up,
you’re what i want to be;
then i will have a little child
who’ll want to follow me.

and i would want to lead just right,
and know that i was true,
so walk a little slower, daddy,
for i must follow you.”