The Kitchener Ice Pirates and Cambridge Ice Hounds

I have to take a few moments to post a couple of photos from a recent day with the Kitchener Ice Pirates and the Cambridge Ice Dogs, two developmental disabilities and delays including Downs Syndrome and Autism, as they faced off against the OHL's Kitchener Rangers. It was a great day for everyone and I couldn't help but be moved by the genuineness of those who partake and those who coach and make a full time commitment to the program. Here are a few photos...

A Family Affair...

It's always impressive to me when I'm able to sit back and watch my girlfriend, my best friend (her brother) and their father play the guitar...The sound is impressive and to watch Randy play lead as brother and sister play their favourite covers and even some of Jarod's excellent original music - check it out here

Another from the 50th

Here is my Grandfather showing a friend of his the "Then and Now" photographs that my aunt took. They recreated the photos they had when they first got married and used my Grandfather's old cars to do it...He was pretty excited to have that poster up and to show it to everyone! Again, it was a great day!

Jessica

I've been taking a little bit of slack for not posting as many photos lately, so I thought I would take a brief moment, in the wee hours of the night while I'm waiting for my laundry to dry to post. When I was home for my Grandparents 50th Anniversary, I met up with a good friend of mine, Jessica, and took some photos of her very large, soon to pop, pregnant state. It's always good to get together with Jess and I look forward to meeting her little girl.

50 years...

That's what the Symes family is celebrating this weekend and I couldn't be more excited to go home for my Grandparent's 50th anniversary. They have done so much for everyone around them; I could make a list that would fill this blog but they wouldn't want that at all!! They have the means to do virtually anything they want to and they take such pride in the little things. Grama is always making sure we're fed, have a drive where we need to be, and making sure we always put things in the proper context! Grampa takes such pleasure in the small things like serving the food trays at every get together we have. Suffice to say they have engulfed us in a love that is far too uncommon these days! Love you both!!

so back to posting...

here is a couple of the lovely well umm... couple...

Hope all is well!

A Little Humour...

Almost four years ago now we went out for Halloween...no one messed with us that night...

Brian and Jacqueline

Been a while again...sorry...but here are a few from a wedding I shot last weekend. What a wonderful wedding. What can be very high stress for a number of people turned into a VERY relaxed atmosphere...A beautiful day for all...

What a Weekend!!

I was scheduled to shoot a wedding this weekend when the house came apart and needed some TLC. A simple tub replacement turned into a new roof etc... The more layers we peeled away the more problems we found. Thankfully, my father and two of my uncles were able to get some time off and fly down and put the family business to good work. We stripped two layers of shingles, replaced a lot of the boards, especially in problem areas and put on a new roof. It was hard work but it was a really fun weekend! Here's a photo of the workers...

Discover the Sites...

In Paris, and in most major cities around the world, I think one of the best ways to see ALOT in a LITTLE is to jump on one of the tour buses. The tour is always available in English, with your microphone. I'm not sure why I like this image but it really pops out for me...

Brandey...

Brandey asked me to look back to a few shoots we did a while ago for a couple of photos for her boyfriend. In the process I looked over the images again and this one is still one our favourites from the shoot. Sorry for the skip-a-day phenomen right now...lots going on...I'll get back on track...

Sunset in Salerno

This is a view out of our private hotel terrace in Salerno where our SDF group stayed two nights. There is something magical about a sunset...

The Crew in Pachino

Some of you know that I was part of a group of graduate students selected to study the Italian Campaign from the ground - This photo is of our group on Pachino Beach, the Canadian landing beach in Sicily. It is always an honour to be selected for these tours and going to Europe is always a pleasure. This was especially meaningful given my recent work with Eric McGeer on a series of Italian Battlefield Guidebooks. We are currently focusing on Sicily and Southern Italy and that was the exact route we charted with the tour. The tour was led by Dr. Lee Windsor, Deputy Director of the Milton F. Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society at the University of New Brunswick. Lee is a friend and an superb leader, who brings more passion to what he does than just about anyone I know. The Italian Campaign was the focus of Lee's PhD dissertation and a book is in the works. I look forward to reading it.

Graduation...

Last year my brother graduated with a Forestry Degree. Always the social butterfly, academia was rarely the top priority in the beginning but he found his way and we're VERY proud of him and what he's accomplishing now. He is a proud Maritimer but he was born in Grand Prairie, Alberta and though he was only there for a short time, the cowboy in him is unmistakable. You can take boy out of the West but you can't take the West out of this boy...

Wet...

I thought this was a great photo of young Brooke as she worked her way through the waterpark...

Hollywood

Here is a friend of mine...any questions left on why his nickname is Hollywood?

Back to Paris...

and the Champs D'Elise...quite an historical route and it finishes with the craziest round-a-bout in the world...

Goalie...

I like to give the players motion while keeping their eyes in focus...This is for an upcoming publication...

A Wedding Shot from Long Ago...

Sometimes it is really effective to focus on the youngsters in a wedding. They are always adorable all dressed up for the big day...

Been Really Busy...

So here are the results of that business...just a few shots of some of my clients...Hope you enjoy...sisters

The little one

Youthful Innocence

A Wonderful Family

Hope this makes up for the lack of posts, the last little while...

Cheers,

The eyes of a child

Yesterday was an extremely busy day with three family photoshoots in the lovely province of New Brunswick. I got to work with some young children today and that can be so much fun. Their expressions are priceless. In this photo, 5 month old Quinn is ever so serious! Checking out his surroundings and taking it all in.

I'm not sure that I'll be posting this weekend, because it looks like a pretty busy schedule along with some downtime. SO hopefully by Monday I'll be back up and running...But you never know, I've managed to squeeze other things in before...

Winter Take All

I realize we are in the middle of the summer, but this past fall/winter I was involved with the recording of Jarod Parlee's Album - Winter Take All. His music is inspiring. It is an art piece that tells the story of growing and maturing into adulthood through the prism of the four seasons. Have a listen - www.myspace.com/jarodparlee and then when you're sold go here and pick up a copy...

This was the cover shot.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the music...

Back To Venice...

Well folks, Venice is such a beautiful place, I thought I would take you back. Since, it seems that many of you enjoyed the painting-like photograph I put up earlier of the Scottish Highlands, I thought I would share this one with you...It's quickly becoming one of my favourite images...This was one of my final captures of our short two day trip...Shan and I will be back...

The Hammer...

Hamilton takes it pretty hard from the rest of Ontario, and it's likely deserved...It's like Saint John, NB only bigger, uglier, and rougher...but this photos proves that you can find beauty even in ugliness...

Hope you're all still enjoying this once a day ritual...

Ireland...

This was taken just outside of Dublin in the rolling Irish hillside...

Monte Cassino

Back to Italy and the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cassino. In the background you see the famous Abbey on Monte Cassino. "Their Name Liveth For Evermore"

Inside the Louvre

This was Napoleon Bonaparte III dining table in the Louvre...Looks like he entertained a fair amount...

St. Peter's Basilica in Roma

We're still in Italy and now in what is probably my favourite city in Europe - Roma... I absolutely love every part of this city (save those few pesky thieving gypsies). This, is the mecca of the Holy See, St. Peter's Basilica.

Hope you are enjoying the daily posts...

This a World War II Polish War Cemetery taken from the Abbey at Monte Cassino in Italy. We arrived as Mass was taking place. A pretty moving place...

Staying in Scotland...

This is a bit more artistic...or what the photo community calls HDR...

Some people like it, other's don't. I'm not sure where I stand yet, but it really makes this photo pop. This shot is taken from the top of an ancient castle that now stands as a mere skeleton of its former self. The view, as they were all day in the highlands, is still mesmerizing.

Back to Europe...

Back to Europe and the first leg of our trip to Europe in Scotland. On our second to last day in Scotland, we went on a tour of the Highlands with a wonderful guide! It was a fantastic day. Here is a one of the MANY spectacular views we saw along the way...

The Sky...

Last night, I walked outside and it had just stopped raining at sunset...everything looked so crisp and took on this orange and purple hue...So, I snapped a few photos...I've picked one for you to see..

Venice - Photo-a-Day

When Shannon and I went to Europe, we didn't exactly finish our blog. However, the best part of the trip, even reminiscing two months later, was our short time in Venice! What a magical place...


"A realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him."
- Arthur Symons

Photo a Day

I've decided to post a photo a day... I'm not entirely sure if it is a test of discipline or to add some regularity. I don't live a normal 9-5 life by any stretch of the imagination - Mondays, Thursdays, or Saturdays take on the same importance in my life. I am a PhD student in history and I also run my own Photography and Graphic Design company. In case that wasn't enough, I volunteer for a number of organizations, edit a local free magazine, and help in the management of an amazing independent musician (www.jarodparlee.com) among other more mundane activities. Ultimately I love making photographs and hopefully this will propel me to get out a little more and capture a little piece of wherever I am...



Cheers,

San Pietro

I’ve walked through some pretty hallowed grounds around the world – The Peace Park in Hiroshima, Pompeii (the ancient ruins that were covered and preserved by the eruption of a volcano (mount Vesuvius), and The DMZ in South Korea to name a few, but I’m not sure I’ve seen anywhere as difficult to walk through as San Pietro.

Being from Canada, we seldom understand the real effects of war. No doubt we all have some connection to war through relatives or history channel movies, but what happens when your town, your home, becomes the battleground. The residents of San Pietro know what that is like and their former village is a testament to the wrath of war.

For ten days civilians hid in holes, caves, anything that was not above ground. Women, Children, and the Elderly lasted on whatever they could find – seeds, muddy water. The town was blasted virtually back to the stone age with rubble and debris everywhere.

In one of the most amazing stories and truest anti-war statements of all time, the residents packed up and moved their whole village down the mountain, leaving the remnants of their town as living testament to the realities of warfare (the first photo shows a number of stone walls - those use to be houses and shops). What made San Pietro so difficult to grapple with was the realization that every town, village, and city along the the war path in the hills of Italy was destroyed and in a similar state as the Allies and the Germans battled for control of the boot…

War is real, people die, homes are destroyed, and communities are ripped apart. Sometimes it is difficult to visualize the destruction of war. The official photos and the ones you see on this blog give you but a glimpse of the whole – poignant images that only begin to tell the story.

Our visit concluded with a tour of the town’s museum. Though it was closed, an Italian citizen saw our convoy (when two van loads of English speaking students show up in a small town and your presence is immediately noticed) and arranged for the Museum to be opened – what a powerful statement inside.

Immediately you see a post-modern monument that highlights the construction of the city over a couple thousand of years only to see it destroyed in a matter of ten days. After you walk through the civilian experience, you end up in a theatre. An American Film crew led by Major Ford, captured the devastation of the town as the remaining San Pietro residents emerged from their hiding spots. The video filters through the devastation – Many of the residents, with nothing left from houses that had been the family for centuries, immigrated to the US and Canada following the war. The only element of hope comes from the toothy grins on the faces of the Italian children.

While we are largely here to study the operational and tactical level of operations, it’s the human condition and the ever lasting memory of the conflict that most interests me. The residents of San Pietro have provided a relic in the form of their preserved-destroyed village.

The last couple of posts have been a little intense and that is largely a reflection of this tour. It is academics that has brought us together and it is academics that dominates the inter-group discussions. That doesn’t mean we haven’t enjoyed the Italian delights. Every night we eat as a group and if there is one thing the Italians do better than any other country it’s cook! Last night I enjoyed a mushroom, spinach and cheese pizza, absolutely fantastic! For those of you who are wondering…I’ve been keeping up with my twice a day Gelato routine quite well and it’s only on the odd occasion that I don’t get at least two a day.

Leaving Sicily

I know it has been a long time since I wrote...but we have been without access so I will keep posting what I have written as we moved along...

As we made our way from the mountains of Sicily, through the plains of Catania across the straits of Messina to the toe of the Italian boot, it gave me a chance to reflect on the 38 day campaign to knock Italy out of the war and push at the “soft underbelly” of Nazi Germany’s fortress Europa.
For the Canadian, British, and Americans, Sicily was another training ground, after North Africa, for operations planned in the liberation of France; it is where the men and the commanders started to gain their fighting chops against an experienced foe. The campaign was chalk full of heroic acts.


During the assault on Leonforte, a platoon of PPCLI soldiers made their way through the town when a series of German Machine Guns opened fire. The barrage and sniper fire left only one man standing – Private Cousins. In a scene out of Hollywood, Private Cousins lowered his Bren Gun to his hip fired and stormed the German Machine Gun nest and dove in. When he got in he realized that he hadn’t killed all the men and single handedly took out the remaining Germans, before changing his clip and running for the next Machine Gun Nest. Single-handedly, Private Cousins took out another German Machine Gun installation in much the same manner before succumbing to enemy fire – his low rank and nationality meant that his heroic feat went largely unrecognized by superiors but not by his fellow soldiers.


At the risk of boring you with another heroic war story, if there is one tale that is emblematic of Canadian grit, the Italian campaign, and legend within the Canadian Forces, it’s the Assault on the German observation post at Assoro. The town of Assoro, like almost all Sicilian towns and cities, sits atop a mountain. It’s view and natural defense provided the perfect vantage point for the Germans to call down accurate fire on the Allied advance and for that reason had to be neutralized. For all intents and purposes there was only one way up and it was heavily defended. The backside of the mountain was considered insurmountable. The steep incline, an average kit size of more than 80lbs combined with the flat open ground for miles at the base added to the impossibility. The Lord Tweedsmuir, a mountaineer enthusiast selected 20 of the fittest, fastest, largest men in the famous Hasty P’s regiment to march in the dead of night through the open ground to the base and climb the “insurmountable” backside of Assoro. In 40 minutes, those 21 men, including Farley Mowat, scaled to the top and as the sun broke through the morning fog, the Hasty’s had achieved complete surprise, overwhelming the Germans and neutralizing the position – standing at the top of Assoro, looking down you can’t help but marvel at what these men accomplished – but it wasn’t without loss


Appropriately, after following the Canadian battles we ended at the Agira War Cemetery, where over 500 Canadian soldiers rest. The one presentation we had to prepare for this journey was a biography of one of the men buried in an Italian war cemetery. Too often, when we talk of war, we talk about large number of casualties and forget that each one of those men was a son, a father, a husband. These presentations personalize the war. As each student talks about their chosen soldier, his boyhood pursuits, his military service, where he met his fate, and ultimately the people he left behind, it adds life to conflict that can sometimes be too abstract. Overcome with emotion, many have trouble getting through their talks. It is a humbling experience – the white gravestones in perfect symmetry, bearing the names, regiment, and ages of each man. Even more touching, is the scripture chosen by family members. Personally, it’s the younger soldiers and those that are my age that always hit home. Walking through the Agira War Cemetery, the tomb of Private R.V. Smallwood, 18 years old, of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, caught my attention. His age hit me first, but what is written on his tomb really brought to the forefront the unparalleled love of mother. There are a number of Mother’s who are reading this now and I’m sure your feelings would be the same if you lost a son to war. “And while he lies, in Peaceful sleep, His memory, I will Always Keep.”