Family Portraits

Family Day weekend is spent in many ways in Alberta thanks to the Klein days.  Some of us attend movies, family visits, dinners, theatre, winter fun, or just relax.  This family from St Albert was celebrating an anniversary of their parents and had family come together from various parts of the province.  It can be nerve wracking but the music from my Blackberry kept me focused. I use music in my ear to help me stay creative when shooting, which is why I usually always have a wire coming from my one ear. I would rather look silly then have silly photos!  Homes by Audie Benson Estate Homes - St Albert

Padmanadi Restaurant

On February 14, I had the pleasure to be hired in Edmonton's best Vegan restaurant for the day of lovers.  Kassim gave the gift of photos to his customers and their special ones.  The Ambassador from Indonesia came to visit and eat with her entourage.  She was visiting businesses in the communities and was real pleased with the success of Padmanadi's restaurant.  Thank you Padmanadi's for your yummy food and they always makes you feel like family.

Valentines & Tim Hortons

If you go see my new gallery today, you would think Tim Horton's sponsored it.  Here is the story behind this gallery. I belong to a small group of friends who have decided to meet about once a month to create activities of significance.  Each person takes a turn and Shelly was up and did a Valentines theme. She always wanted to play Twister, so after this game we made up home made valentines cards.  The intent was to go downtown and hand them out to the inner city people.  Well we set up a table and the group bought some Timmies, muffins, cupcakes, water, gloves, and brought some coats. We even bought some roses for the women who came.  They came almost immediately and we soon became busy with handing out the treats. They really loved the cards and some took an extra for their girlfriend. It was truly a day of giving and humbling one self. I ended up giving away my down filled jacket to a very young humble man about my son's age. He did not feel worthy to accept gloves of one of the coats that didn't fit him. That was my favorite part of the day, and I only did it because I can go buy another coat, and this man could not. I look forward to doing this again soon. Thanks for all your support.

To view gallery of the events, go to www.trevorboller.com  Click on Boller Photography Arts and then click on Valentines. Enjoy!

Welcoming "Grandfather" ceremony - Edmonton Remand Centre New

If you have 20 mins or so, check out a new gallery on my website under Boller Photography Arts - Grandfather.  I did a photo shoot yesterday with the Solicitor General of Alberta.  The Elder Taz McGillis was facilitating the bringing in of a rock (Grandfather) that came from Colorado, USA.  This rock will be carved by artist - Leo Arcand, who will make this approx. 5 ft cube of stone into white carving altar.  The New Remand Centre shut down much of its work force for 4 hours to allow a Native Ceremony take place in bringing in of the rock. If you ever work with Aboriginal people, know that there is always protocols in doing what would seem a simple way. I commend the Stuart Olsen Construction for being respectful and accommodating to this process.  The slide shows shows invited guests walking with the rock through the corridors of the new remand centre. Prayers were always said along the way. If you see smoke from a shell, this is called smudging and is in laymen's terms - a prayer that goes up to heaven in the smoke. The smoke cleanses our mind body and spirit when smudged so we can pray with clarity. ( Its amazing)   It was one of the most amazing photos I have ever done in my life and was deeply moved. I am thankful for this opportunity. Although I was not raised in these ways, I am respectful for them and see how similar their ways are to the ones I learned. Enjoy!