​This blog was going to be the place where I was going to share my photos from the adventures my husband had while travelling the globe.  With the COVID-19 restrictions, we have not been able to travel outside of our “bubble".   We are fortunate enough that in our “bubble” we have two national parks: Kouchibouguac National Park and Fundy National Park.  Both parks are only an hour away from our home.  Here are some of the images of wildlife and landscape I captured during the period I call COVID time.  
 
Ce blog devait être l'endroit où j'allais partager mes photos des aventures de mon mari lors de ses voyages autour du monde.  Avec les restrictions du COVID-19, nous n'avons pas pu voyager en dehors de notre "bulle".   Nous avons la chance d'avoir deux parcs nationaux dans notre " bulle " : le parc national de Kouchibouguac et le parc national de Fundy.  Ces deux parcs ne sont qu'à une heure de route de chez nous.  Voici quelques-unes des images de la faune et du paysage que j'ai capturées pendant la période que j'appelle le temps du COVID.  

​During our stay, we had the opportunity to explore the region and we slowly fell in love with the Carapell Calvisio and the surrounding area.

​We also learned more information about the Airbnb that we had rented. The home is being raffled off to a lucky winner on June 29th, 2019.  Yes that is right, raffled off.  Jamie and his wife, Lee have been trying to sell their home for a few years but due to the down turn in the real estate market and the quake, they have been unable to sell their home.  Therefore they have decided to raffle it off.   

​As we drove the six hairpins turns one last time as we were departing for Rome, we both wished that the lucky winner who gets handed the big iron key to this home will fall in love with the residents and area of Carapelle Calvisio like we did.   We truly hope that the people of Carapelle Calvisio see the construction that is happening now as a sign of new beginning and prosperity.

How many of you have heard “One for Sorrow (nursery rhyme)”?

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, fix for gold, seven for a secret, never to be told, eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, ten for a bird.

​The rhyme has its origins in superstitions connected with magpies, considered a bird of ill omen in some cultures, and in Britain, at least as far back as the early sixteenth century. The rhyme was first recorded around 1780 in a note in John Brand’s observations on Popular Antiquities on Lincolnshire.
This nursery rhyme has many different versions but the one that I am most familiar with is the one written above. My mother would always sing this nursery rhyme every time she would see crows and now 54 years later, I still sing this rhyme to myself as well as to my daughter every time I see crows.
You may be asking what does this have to do with photography? For me it has a lot. Whenever I have a camera in hand and I see crows, I am drawn to them. Today, it finally all made sense. As I was driving on a country road, I came upon a flock of crows next to an old cemetery (I am also drawn to photograph cemeteries) and I immediately stopped the jeep to photograph as I was singing the rhyme. Out of the blue I had an epiphany, somehow this was a message from my mother. The question was what is she trying to tell me. We all know that crows are a symbol of death or bad luck, right?
Once I got back home, I sat at my computer and Googled “Crows and their spiritual meaning.” I was flabbergasted to see that crows are not only a symbol of death or bad luck but they are also a symbol of life magic and mysteries that surrounds us. Having been around for thousands of years, crows are rich in knowledge and experience and for that reason they are also a symbol of ancient wisdom.
The last two years I had been contemplating the idea of retiring from a successful career as a Certified Financial Planner and returning to my passion, photography and art. Always worrying that it might be an erratic or even stupid decision, I often looked for signs that it would be not only ok but also the right decision. Late in 2018, my employer made the decision for me, as my position no longer will exist. I was so excited that I would finally be able to launch my company, Millie P Photography.
You see, my mother was very worried when I decided 20 years ago to embark on a career where only one out of four sees success. The odds of making it in the insurance business were stack against me especially since I did not have a natural market to start with. She passed away in 1999, never knowing I had not only persevered but also managed to be very successful in the insurance business. As I am on the crest of embarking on a new venture, I suddenly understood that the crows are there to guide my path in a magical and mysterious way.
I always get a sense of being close to my mother when I see crows. Today, I believe that I finally allowed myself to accept her message that she is watching and guiding me on this new chapter. She is saying that the wisdom I have gain in the last 20 years will help guide me to new success.
So to answer your question; what does the “Spirits of crows”have to do with my photography? They are my magic within my photos and are guiding me as I embark on this new chapter. In other word, my mother is still a big part of my life…
Here are some of the photographs that I have taken of crows not really understanding why I was so drawn to them.

Stella d’Entremont
If you are interested in any of the photographs do not hesitate to contact us.

As photographers, we have the tendency to want to travel far from our hometown in search of beautiful landscapes.  I was told by a very wise man, Mr.Freeman Patterson, that a person can walk “x” number of steps one way and chose to turn right or left for a “x” number of steps and be able to take beautiful photos if we allow our eyes to really see the beauty around us. 
 
I had the pleasure of participating in one of Mr. Patterson’s weeklong private workshop in Southwest Nova Scotia in a fishing village call Pubnico. First let me tell you that Pubnico, (my hometown) has magnificent landscapes and seascapes that would “AWE” any photographer: professional or hobbyist.  

​To prove his point, on our first assignment, Mr. Patterson placed each one of us around the property where the workshop was being held.  Our instructions were very simple; do not move from that position.  The legs of the tripod had to stay in the space that he had assigned and we could only change the position of the camera.  After two hours, you will see below two of the many pictures I was able to capture.  

The following four days we travelled less than two kilometers for the two hour photo shoots.  I focused my time applying the techniques we had learnt from the lectures; each day adding new techniques.  Below are images that I took during the week long workshop.  

If you are in the area or in search of some beautiful land and seascapes drive to Pubnico, Nova Scotia and visit: Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle –Écosse.   This area provides many photographic opportunities from sunrise to sunset. 

The definition of abstract is " existing in thought or as an idea but not having physical or concrete existence". Words use to describe abstract could be theoretical, conceptual, notional, intellectual, metaphysical, ideal and philosophical.

The last few months I have been experimenting with abstract photography and I can honestly say that it is truly getting my creativity juice flowing.

Photography is not just a simple click of the shutter. As they would say in French "au contraire" or as Jon Black would say, it allows you to think outside the box. Abstract photography allows me as an artist to see beyond the surface and capture the imagery in a conceptual manner.

Below are some of the imagery I have recently taken. Enjoy!

​As you are driving on Route 333 you come to a top of a hill revealing your first glimpse of a spectacular view of “The four corners of the Earth”.  From that moment, you have a sense of being forced into their world; the world of tenaciousness, survival, endurance and strength. 
 
Fogo is one of nine villages on Fogo Island: Tilting, Joe Batt’s Arm, Seldom, Stag Harbour, Island Harbour, Deep Bay, Eastern Tickle, and Cape Cove being the others.  In the early 60's, these villages thrived on the northern cod fishery and shipbuilding.  In 1992 the government declared a moratorium on fishing northern cod putting 40,000 people out of work in Newfoundland, Fogo Island was not spared.  There are plenty of remnants everywhere you look of what it used to be. 
 
The fishing industry being all but dead, employment is very limited for its inhabitants. After graduating from high school, those wishing to continue their post secondary education have to leave the island and very few come back. Many of whom that have remained on the island, have found work in Western Canada; the islanders refer to this as "doing the fly in and fly out".  We noted that a few come back to retire after being gone for many years.  I guess home is always home.
 
The locals are very welcoming and eager to make you feel at home.  One day my husband and I were walking toward a Brimstone trailhead for a small hike when a local stopped just to chat wanting to know where we were from, where were we heading and simply wanted to know what did we thought of Fogo Island.  Stopping at the local restaurants the waitresses eagerly wanted to share with us what traditional meals they were serving that day.  Let me just say; they still serve the northern cod. 
 
Their homes are what we will forever remember. They are known as The Salt Box.  They are a very square with a door in the middle of the front of the house and small windows on either side of the door and three on the second level. During our stay in Fogo, we actually stayed in one of them.  These homes are very similar in styles and shapes but more importantly, give you a sense of intimacy.
 
Fogo Island seems to have been given somewhat of a rebirth with the Fogo Island Inn situated in Joe Bett’s Arms overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  Today this Inn provides employment for craftsmen, artists, service providers and other who cater to the many tourists visiting the Inn.  In Partnership with the Inn are very distinctive studios located across Fogo Island where artists from around the world are invited to participate as an “Artist in Residence”.  Do I dare say; I am hoping to be an artist is residence on Fogo Island some day.
 
Fogo Island is a place rich in culture, a place that welcomes you with open arms and a place you can feel like being!

​Have you ever just sat in front of a waterfall and let you be awestruck by the rushing water or hypnotized by the sound of the cascading water falling into a stream? Whether the waterfalls are small, wide, long or skinny they all seem to have the ability to bring a sense of “amazement” to each one of us. 
 
Photographing beautiful waterfalls can be challenging projects depending on what image you are trying to capture.  It may seem easy to photograph waterfalls and making the water look silky smooth; however, if you do not have the right equipment and you do not understand how the three pillars of photography - Shutter Speed, ISO, and Aperture – work together it is almost impossible. 
 
To achieve the ghosting effect of smooth water flowing from the edge of a cliff or flowing down stream wrapping itself on the rocks you need to use slow shutter speed.  As you slow the shutter speed, it makes the subject appear smooth and blurry creating that look you are after. 
 
When slowing the shutter speed it is impossible to hold the camera without movement.  That being the case you need is a tripod.  The tripod will allow you to slow the shutter speed without movement.  A shutter release cable will allow you to take a photo without touching the camera eliminating any chance of movement.  However, if you do not have a cable you will need to put your camera on self-timer for about 3 to 5 seconds giving the camera time to stabilized after you have pushed the shutter. 
 
The ISO is also important factor when photographing waterfalls.  If you lower the ISO to 100 it will allow you to decrease the shutter speed by 2 or 3 full stops.   Additionally, lowering your ISO increases the quality of your photograph. 
 
Using filters lowers the amount of light that passes through the lens and helps to create the ghost and blurry effects.  However, if you do not have a filter you can lower the aperture and increase the F/number.  This will decrease the amount of light that passes through the lens and help create the look you are looking for. The images below are photograph without a filter and a higher F-stop.
 
Another helpful tip is to go out there and find as many waterfalls as you can and practice.  There is no secret on how to become a great waterfall photographer; it is simple… just practice. 

​Thomas and John Knoll created Photoshop in 1988.  Since then it has become the de facto industry standard for graphic and image editing, such that the word “Photoshop” has become a verb as in “to Photoshop an image”.  
 
In the world of photography, photoshop has become one of the tools used by photographers to do editing.  The editing process can range from minor to major manipulation of the images.  Recently I have been asked if photographs that I had posted on Facebook or on my website had been photoshoped.  The question surprised me because all of my images are edited. Given that I shoot all of my images in “raw format” I have to use photoshop for minor editing.  For those of you who are not familiar with what is meant by “raw format” it is equivalent to a negative in a film.  Remember before the digital cameras, we would develop our pictures from the negatives in dark rooms. The editing I do in photoshop is similar to that process and usually includes adjustments such as manipulating the exposer and sharpening the photograph.
 
Since I have been asked the question a few times; I am wondering myself if an image is “photoshoped” does it mean that it is any less an “art”?  I think the answer is that we should not get hung up on the process but focus on the product itself.
 
What are your thoughts?