Vital Imagery Blog

When families get together one word that usually describes the occasion is fun. With relatives typically living at greater distances these days than in our ancestors time, the moments when we are given a reason to gather are a chance to catch up and to re-establish the bond that makes us family. My kids don't live too far apart, but far enough that leading busy lives means they aren't seeing each other on a weekly basis. When they were children growing up under the same roof, their personalities and idiosyncracies didn't always make for a conflict-free environment. As a parent watching, or often refereeing from the sidelines,  it was easy to see though that behind the frustrations and antagonisms lay a deep bond, strengthened by love, similarities and the kind of understanding of one another that only comes with a long-standing familiarity and the ties of blood. Now, with space to help them ignore what drove them nuts back then, when they see each other  the time is u

This weekend I will be spending most of my days in the kitchen preparing for the arrival of my children, their spouses and kids, to celebrate the Canadian Thanksgiving. It is a time to count blessings and for me there is probably none greater than that of family. I am grateful every day for my terrific husband, my sons and daughters, their health and happiness. Then there are the wee ones. I heard about it, but until it happened didn't realize that the delight found in the arrival of grandchildren is more than one can imagine. The infusion of new blood into a family is exhilarating,  a constant reminder of how much joy there can be in life. So, with each Thanksgiving, I celebrate this wonderful group of people who have, in my eyes, given reason to my existence. Part of that celebration involves photos of course and between basting the turkey, setting the table and all the other chores that accompany a get-together, I do my best to get some good pictures that exemplify what

Aesop once said that gratitude is the sign of noble souls. Though reminding ourselves about our blessings and feeling grateful is something that should be practised daily, life and the molehills and mountains it lays down in our path can often make us forget the good things. This week, Canadians are celebrating their Thanksgiving holiday and if you can't find the optimism to forget the negatives most of the time, this is the perfect opportunity to think of all of the riches you do have and leave the rest behind. It's not just the big things that deserve notice. It's not just the presence of special people in your world, your prosperity and health that can make you appreciate how lucky you have it. Those are just the obvious ones. Occasionally there is some little thing that is so insignificant you don't necessarily see it as a blessing. But it was a moment or situation that lifted your spirits so much it has to be considered as one of those little gifts. Scuff

In the cold white north, or the cool, gloriously coloured reality that is Canada this time of year, we are looking ahead to our Thanksgiving weekend. On Monday, families nation-wide will gather together around tables laden with the bounty of this wonderful country to consider their blessings.  They are many in this amazing place, rich as it is in diversity, culture and resources. Thus, the images that surround this holiday are worthy of joy and celebration. There is the  bounteous food — roast turkey with all the trimmings, pumpkin and apple pie—  the love of family, expressions of faith and gratitude, the natural beauty that surrounds us.  Experiencing them is what we all look forward to as we anticipate this special holiday and its rituals. For Photoshop users, who want to create their own illustrations for festive projects, there are many ways to define these traditional holiday rituals and facets. From drawing a roast turkey to sending a greeting there are many ways to capt

One week from today, I'm taking a day off. Well, so is everyone else in Canada as we celebrate our Thanksgiving long weekend. What's nice about this holiday is that it happens at such a beautiful time of year. The leaves are generally in full colour and the weather can often be quite pleasant. Many a family Thanksgiving gathering at our house, for at least a portion of the day, has been spent outside. The forecast for this year looks promising too which is a good thing given that we plan to have some family portraits done. Obviously without a studio at our disposal, among the many things we would count as our blessings, should we get it therefore, will be a Thanksgiving day of sunshine and reasonable warmth. Family and the beauty of nature are certainly the perfect inspirations for being grateful for the abundance of good fortune one has. These terrific examples of autumn family portraits from iPHOTOS.com and Clipart.com combine both elements.