Enjoy!

I have to give full credit to George for this next image. He chose the angle, distance, composition and pushed the shutter for this one. Watch out photographers I think we have some serious competition!

I have been keeping a marvelous part of Guatemala from all of you. Colours. Everywhere there are the most brilliant and shocking colours – whether it be in the women’s huipils, the cuisine, or the landscape. Although black and white is just so wonderful for displaying textures which are so common and intricate throughout Guatemala the colours are breathtaking. So, expect to see a few smattering of colour images within this post.

I would now like to introduce you to one of my favourite elderly couples.  In the aldea of Tuixoqel, Doña Maria Dominga Gomez Perez lives with her husband and six children.  Twenty years ago they started a pharmacy in their home to aid their community and the surrounding towns. With loans through CAUSE Canada‘s microcredit program, Doña Maria has been able to purchase a wider variety of drugs in the city of San Marcos. Before leaving, they asked for a portrait of the two of them. I can’t recall precisely what was said, but what I said in English was translated first to Spanish by the interns and then to Mam, their native language, by one of the local CAUSE representatives. These are the images that followed. I can not help by smile every time I see them.

Don’t you just wish you could just grab a cup of coffee and sit down and discuss life with these two?

Doña Maria with her pharmaceuticals.

From Comitancillo we stopped in Veinte Reales where Don Cornelio, one of the CAUSE teachers, and his family live. It required a thirty minute hike across fields, up and down hills and across several streams but it was more than worth it to see these smiling faces.

I’m going to say it. Perfection is over rated. After taking the above images I showed the two kids the images on the back of my camera and this was the reaction – blurry as anything but I love it.

Before leaving, Don Cornelio’s wife and kids insisted on giving us a giant bag of ripe plums. I can not even explain to you how delicious they were. Absolutely delectable!

Doña Reina leads a leadership class at her home in Tuilelan – the primary topic this day was community leadership and savings.

Doña Isabella, one of the ladies in the leadership class, invited us to her home at the end of class.

Below is another of my favourite elderly couples. Don Desiderio and Doña Tecla reside in Todos Santos, Huehuetenango where they are a well respected family.  Prior to the escalation of violence during the Civil War Don Desiderio was the mayor of Todos Santos for two years.  In 1991 the founder of CAUSE Canada, Paul, approached Don Desiderio at the prospect of starting a nursery to help combat the growing problem of uncontrolled deforestation.  For seventeen years Don Desiderio spearheaded the project before being made director of Institucion Mam de Desarrollo Integral (IMDI) – providing potable water, pilas (device used for laundry and washing dishes present in most Guatemalan households), agriculture knowledge and health initiatives.

Don Desiderio and Doña Tecla are now retired and dedicated to working at home growing milpa, apples, and peaches.

One night while returning to my hotel I turned around to see Bobby, the local dog, stopped under a streetlight after following me that far from the interns’ place.

That’s it! A small sampling of the experiences and sights I had the pleasure of having in Guatemala.  I could not have enjoyed myself more and hope someday (soon) to return. Thank you for taking the time to read these posts.

To end – one of my favourite images.

My is it good to be back and shooting! Not to mention kicking things off with this rocking couple – Tammy and Jonas.

Turns out Tammy has actually been head over heels in love with Jonas since the tender age of 13. Now, being a typical male it took him several years to catch onto this.  But are we ever glad he did!  :)

Thank you so much Tammy and Jonas for letting me photograph you and get to know you better. I stand by my statement that you two are the most adorable couple this side of the big pond!
Enjoy!

Enjoy and check back in a couple of months for the giant wedding extravaganza post!

I love these moments. When couples just interact – no posing required.

Something you may not of known about Luke is he is a very talented rock skipper. No seriously, he has consistency and distance down to a T. I on the other hand (and I regret to stay Alyssa) are quite successful at what I like to call ‘ker-plunking’, or in simpler terms: throwing rocks.

Ah! I can’t even describe how much I love it when couples get silly! There are some great moments in there and you know what, grandma may not be framing these anytime soon but how fun will they be to look back on in fifty years time?

I just found this quote.. had to share.

Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly. -Rose Franken

Enjoy and check back :)

Thanks a ton you three! I had a wonderful time getting to know you better and photographing your gorgeous family

These next two crack me up. One year olds are typically quite animated but Levi had me grinning from ear to ear throughout the entire session with his antics.

It is not fair. I declare. It is not fair!  Why do the boys always get those long eyelashes?

Yes, these are all his eyes. Not touched in any way. I couldn’t help but commenting he had ‘thai eyes’. Thai kids have eyes that are just like mirrors.. so does Levi. Jealous!

Hopefully this works for everyone. My first animated GIF up on the blog :) Levi was quite engrossed in the grass so I waited patiently, trying all the tricks in the book and then some to get his attention so as soon as he did look up I think I pretty much sat on the shutter and this was the result.

Thanks for looking!