Jacquie invited me to come along with her as she got her fourth tattoo today. She’s been waiting for this one for quite some time and the phrase was taken from the City of Victoria Pipe Band’s 1976 album titled Play the Sweet Music. Jacquie’s dad, James W Troy, was Pipe Major of the highly successful band, and said the phrase often to his kids as they were learning the pipes and drums. Jacquie was tough as nails while being tattooed, and I managed to capture one of very few winces she made…she’s small, but mighty. Her artwork was done by Colin Wiley at Tattoo Zoo.

I had another shoot with talented Victoria singer and songwriter Paul O’Brien last week. We had been trying for some time to get together for some new promotional images for his upcoming tour in Germany, and finally had a good day to head outdoors. We took some photos downtown Victoria behind The Irish Times Pub and The Bard and Banker Pub, two regular gig venues for Paul, and then made our way to the top of Mount Douglas for the rest of his session. I shot the album work for Paul’s most recent album, Walk Back Home released by Stockfisch Records. If you’re in the neighbourhood, be sure to stop in and have a listen to Paul’s great music at the pub.

We made a Sunday afternoon visit with Jamie’s Nana and her boyfriend Henning and I thought it would be nice to take some photos of them out by Nana’s garden shed before we left. Henning was singing and entertaining and giving us his finest Clint Eastwood impressions in his Danish accent. One additional image from the series is over on the Photographer Network blog.

While her brother was off competing at the Midwest Highland Arts Fund Winter Storm in Kansas City, Jacquie came over for the evening. We went for a curry, I took a few photos of her on my floor, and then we got repulsed watching Food, Inc. She’s just recently started her blog, Layered Design, and is the writer for the JWT Reedmakers blog. One of the images from the evening was my Photo of the Week on the Photographer Network blog.

The Vancouver Island Pipers Club met on Saturday evening. The guest performer was Dave Bowman, a drummer with the current World Champions Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and co-owner of Bowman Percussion (makers of the Rad Pad). Jamie piped as well, and a bit more about the evening was posted on the JWT Reedmakers blog. I took a few shots in the band room as the boys were warming up for the evening, and one of Club President (and Jamie’s little sister), Jacquie Troy. Good luck to both Dave and Jamie this weekend in Kansas City as they compete at Winter Storm! Head over to the Photographer Network blog to see one more image of the boys in the band room.

On Sunday I met up with Stephen and Paula for their engagement photos around the breakwater. We forgot to account for the increased New Year’s Resolution foot traffic around that area…Victoria, you are an active city! We had a great session…even with wet feet, runny noses, and frozen fingers…but with an upcoming March wedding, these two don’t shy away from the cold! One additional image from their session was posted on the Photographer Network blog as my Photo of the Week. Congratulations on your engagement!

A few images from a weekend away in November to Tofino. Helene Cyr and her surfer son Felix, Jenna and Tristan Shouldice, my Jamie and myself, hopped in a van for a few days to recharge and relax after a busy season for all. It may be the most I’ve laughed in a single weekend…

I posted a sneak peek of Chantal and Nouri’s wedding a few weeks back, and just wanted to post a few more. I’ve known Chantal for a long while, through her sister, and my friend Amel. I’ve photographed Amel’s wedding to Pierre, and countless portrait sessions, but this was my first time photographing Chantal. Chantal and Nouri’s wedding was a long time coming (so I’m told) and they had a wonderful, laid-back, afternoon ceremony and reception at Ambrosia Event Centre, surrounded by family and friends and super-cute kids! We met up prior to the ceremony for some chilly December portraits around St. Ann’s Academy and along Dallas Road. Congratulations!!

2009 has been fabulous and throughout my travels, I’ve met many wonderful, interesting, and inspiring characters. On the last day of this year, I’d like to express a giant, hearty thank-you to my clients for trusting me. Big thanks to my family and friends at home in Cape Breton (and beyond), and here in Victoria for your constant support and encouragement. Plus, an extra-special thanks to my Jamie for his love and patience…and his ability to turn location-scouting with me into an adventure. Gold stars are also awarded to my mother and Judy Kit for the most comments on the blog for 2009! Thank you!!

I have a lot of exciting projects and trips lined up for 2010, so stay tuned to my adventures here and each Monday on the Photographer Network blog!

I’ve put together a slideshow of some of my favourite images from the year, to the music of one of my favourite bands, Flook.

Wishing you all the very best for 2010!
Ryan

My Da is in the process of building himself a house. He’s an amazing carpenter and has finally, sort-of, settled on a design for his home…or ’shanty’ as we like to call it. He’s building it all by himself in between building homes for other people. His backyard is the Atlantic, and he’ll be able to blast his Celtic music as loud as he likes and the roar of the ocean will cover it up! While he was working on the house, I would take walks up the hill to see the progress and hear a few stories here and there.