After a long winter, which is typical for anyone north of the 49th parallel, the general feeling is for a longing for a bunch of nice hot summer days! Up here we are also well aware that while winters can seem to last forever, summers are ever too short, so when it is here we like to get out and enjoy it before the next cold, harsh winter arrives.
Now in Toronto, one of the many things there is an abundance of is the number of green spaces or parks within our city limits. One of the hidden gems of Toronto lies in the old suburb of Etobicoke, James Gardens Park. Once the property of Mr. & Mrs. Fred James, it was purchased in 1908 and subsequently sold to the city of Toronto in 1955. The park is 21 acres of beautiful nature, which includes ponds, bike paths those seeking for a nice long walk or bike and, one of the more popular things that happen in the park, feeding the ducks who reside in a pond as you enter the park.
On this day, we had the most adorable “clients”. Now, I put clients in quotation marks in a tongue in cheek way, as Toni and Conner are our beloved niece and nephew. This portrait session was, naturally, special to us as their Uncle & Aunt as it really created a time for them to simply be them and allowed our photojournalistic style to tell the story of the moment. They are the perfect combination of what all children should have, which is to be enabled to grow up in an environment that enables them to see the world from their eyes while they figure out how to conquer it. We were able to take a step back and let their character dictate the flow of this moment with them.
From the usual silly faces, to chasing bubbles, to feeding the ducks in the pond, to the care these siblings have for each other this session was unique in that it allowed to see them from a different angle and really allowed us to appreciate the joy they really bring to our lives as Bapi and Loku. Now, I am sure you have a weird look on your face in reference to the last line, so let me explain. In short, Bapi and Loku are the names for Uncle and Aunt in Sinhalese, one of two languages native to Sri Lanka.
This never-ending story will continue of course, as we have been capturing them since they were born, and the part we love most is that when we are with them the memories we document are never fabricated but instead are captured without curating their actions. We know that years from now when they look back, their memories will be filled with times that displayed their authentic moments. Moments like this will allow us to look back and remember always how grateful they were put into our lives.
