A Family Portrait

Phew! We've just been through a whirlwind weekend: not only the long weekend itself (Friday through Monday) but the days leading up to it — the preparations. The busyness has pretty well kept me off the blogs, but I shall endeavour to make amends soon.

The A Team, daughter Allyson and her partner Alycia, flew in from the west coast just after midnight on Friday morning. Before dropping them back at the airport on Monday afternoon, we spent much time chatting, reminiscing, laughing, and playing games.

One thing I wanted to do was get a family photo, but I was almost thwarted as we got busy doing other things. Finally, on Sunday afternoon, I got a little opportunity. It wasn't what I envisioned, but we made do.

We were in Almonte, so we tried this gazebo by the River Walk, but I think you can see the problem. There's too much light and shadow. So, the setting was fine, but the light wasn't. It's still a worthwhile, memory type of photo but not generally the type that one would print and frame.

Not far from the gazebo was an interesting tree, but the light was still a problem. Ideally, you'd want a cloudy day where the sky is like a giant softbox.

You can see me holding my remote clicker in the next tree shot.

The third try was acceptable. We situated ourselves around this rusty, old mill wheel where the light was more or less even. Snap.

While it still is not exactly what I envisioned, it will do. It's one that I might print and hang, even though it is not a perfect, studio type of family portrait.

By the way: this is our whole family: not a big family but a great family.