central park, new york

central park, new york

10 Dec 2012

Although I was only in New York for 6 days I took quite a few pictures whilst I was there. Todays photos are from Central Park.



A few years ago I saw some engagement photos which were taken at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. The terrace was recently restored and it looked gorgeous so I immediately bookmarked it as a place to see when I was in New York. I didn't know what a popular location it was.



I arrived around lunch time and the place was packed as a group of B Boys entertained the crowd. I took some photographs but they weren't the kind of photos I wanted to take. A few days later I left my hotel room bright and early in an effort to beat the crowds.



I arrived in time to catch some beautiful early morning light and to see all the dog walkers and early morning joggers enjoying the park. I was also able to get the serene photos I was seeking.



I made sure to save some of my precious black and white film to shoot a few scenes of the park.

See you all again on Wednesday with the first recipe in this year's Christmas Collection.

Bye for now,

Jillian

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nyc in black and white

nyc in black and white

19 Nov 2012

I started my visit to New York with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum where a great Picasso in Black and White exhibit had just opened. As a tribute, I thought I'd devote this post to black and white images.



I always travel with my film camera and a few rolls of black and white fim. I didn't manage to take any black and white photos of Quebec and Montreal so I used the film in New York. Not all of these images were shot on film though. Can you spot which ones were shot digitally?



I thought this scene was kind of timeless.



Grand Central Station is such an iconic building, isn't? As is the New York Public Library



A street scene from Brooklyn.



I hope you all enjoyed your weekends. I was hard at work in the kitchen baking christmas cakes. They're all wrapped up stored in their tins just waiting for Christmas to arrive.

See you all again on Wednesday,

Jillian

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brooklyn, nyc

brooklyn, nyc

14 Nov 2012

New York is the place to go at the moment for my friends and workmates. Despite the very long journey involved, I'm the third in my circle of friends and the third person at work to visit this year. In a piece of good timing, which is rare for me, I managed to leave New York before Hurricane Sandy hit.

I knew I'd be heading to Brooklyn a couple of times for some shopshoots, so I picked up my cameras and went out exploring.



On my first visit, I walked from Brooklyn Borough Hall back to Manhattan.



I passed some beautiful houses in Brooklyn Heights, some of which were being used for location shoots.



I walked along the promenade for a look at the New York skyline and a touching memorial to 9/11. I managed to walk the Brooklyn Bridge without being bowled over by a cyclist but it was a bit hair raising at times.



I love this photo I shot on film during my visit to Williamsburg.



My last visit to Brooklyn was purely for my enjoyment. I visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, which was one of the highlights of my trip. I'm sorry to learn how much damage was done to the gardens by Hurricane Sandy. 



I visited the gardens on a gloriously sunny Saturday. I explored the rose garden and the Japanese Gardens.



I admired the bonsais that were on display in the greenhouse.



I have plenty more images of pre-Sandy New York to share with you over the coming weeks. I'll see you all again next week, so until then

Jillian

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shopshoot - les touilleurs

shopshoot - les touilleurs

17 Oct 2012

I had a list of places to visit and things to see in Montreal inspired by Chantelle Grady's 'A little Relish - Montreal'. I hit the streets of Le Plateau to visit Les Touilleurs, a heavenly kitchen wares shop. Now I know most other women crave shoes but I'm not like most women. I've always craved kitchen ware and flower even when I was a teenager, so how could I not visit this store? 



Everything was displayed immaculately.



I wanted to buy it all, but common sense prevailed.



I came away with a confit jar which is currently being shipped home along with most of my other fragile purchases. The box should arrive some time next week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything will survive the journey home.



How can you not love a store that considers its doggie visitors?



I'll be back next week with another Montreal shopshoot and now that I'm home again in Sydney, I might even get back into the kitchen to do some baking. 

See you all again soon,

Jillian

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fall

fall

15 Oct 2012

I grew up in Brisbane, a city that essentially has 2 seasons - wet and dry. The trees are pretty much evergreen so until I lived in Canada I'd not experienced either a real autumn or spring. I love fall colours so I was happy to see the leaves had changed colour by the time I arrived in Quebec. Fall was short lived though. Once the rain in Quebec had come and gone, most of the leaves were off the trees and on the ground.



I found a few favourite trees around the city. This one was in Artillery Park.



I found these beautiful leaves outside St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, one of my favourite buildings in Old Quebec.



These pictures were taken in Citadel Park, Rue Cartier and the Plains of Abraham.



Another favourite tree I found in the gardens at the Plains of Abraham. I'd hoped to see more fall colour during my stay in New York but I was a bit too early. 

By the time you read this I will be on my way home to Sydney and expect to arrive home with a bad case of jet lag and a well used credit card. I hope you've been well while I've been gallivanting across the globe.

Bye for now,

Jillian

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quebec

quebec

10 Oct 2012

I'm in New York at the moment but when I was in Quebec last week, I stayed in the old port area at the Hotel Port Royal. I would walk through the old town each day on my way to the convention centre.




Quebec disappeared under a grey cloud for most of my stay but I did manage to see occasional flashes of blue sky.



Quebec is a very popular tourist destination and the streets are usually packed with travellers but during my 7.30 a.m walk to the conference, the streets were all but deserted.



I came back to photograph the Notre Dame de Quebec cathedral when the sun came out.




I found a few interesting details in the back streets where the tourists don't roam.



The Chateau Frontenac, reportedly the most photographed building in Quebec, with it's shiny newly renovated roof.

If I get the chance I'll post a few more photos from Quebec next week before I board my flight home. If not, you'll hear from me again once I'm back home again in Sydney. Where have the past 2 weeks flown???

Jillian

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old montreal

old montreal

4 Oct 2012

This blogging on the road isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Attending a conference with a very early start time, walking to the conference venue and back again, taking and preparing images and sending emails all take up time. Before I know it, the day is over and it's time for bed and I haven't written a blog post. So before time runs out again I thought I'd post some images from Old Montreal.



I stayed in a quaint little hotel called Le Petit Hotel with the most comfortable bed in which I'd ever slept. After my epic journey I was sorely tempted to stay there all day but I forced myself out to explore.



I took myself on a self guided walking tour of the old city and started at Place D'Armes. This was my favourite building in the square, the Aldred Building - very Gotham City.

The lobby was equally as impressive and yes that is a beaver on the mailbox.



Here are some details from the old port area, the Cours de Royer, Marche Bonsecours and La Maison de Mère d'Youville. Mary Youville founded the Grey Nuns of Montreal and the Edmonton General Hospital, where I once worked, was run by the Grey Nuns.



I walked along the old port and found this amazing old grain silo and some fall colour.



I found this great sculpture outside one of the many art galleries on Rue St Paul



Technically this photo was taken just outside Old Montreal in the Place Des Artes but I decided to throw it in anyway. I still have a few more images to post from Montreal but I'll need to leave that for another post.

Until the next time then,

Jillian

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Montreal

Montreal

1 Oct 2012

Greetings from Canada. Following a 29 hour journey, I arrived on Wednesday and spent a few days in Montreal before catching the train to Quebec. I thought I'd share a few snaps of Montreal with you. I took loads of photos and even managed to squeeze in a shopshoot which I'll share with you once I'm back home in Sydney.

I stayed in the old part of Montreal on the happening end of Rue St Paul (naturally) where I snapped a bit of local street style. I'm no fashion blogger, but I have to say the men seemed to have a bit more street style than most of the ladies I saw passing by.



As I was staying in the old part of town, I did a self guided walking tour around the area. Here's the Hotel de Ville, which was looking very spruce.



Some details of the building for you.



I have to say most of my fellow tourists were on the more mature side. I discovered they were all about to take cruises along the St. Lawrence River. I did discover a few younger people though in my travels.



I visited 2 of Montreal's food markets - Jean Talon and Atwater - where I spotted these perfectly imperfect apples.



The shop I photographed was in Mile End, where I spotted this building.



I hope you enjoyed this little taster of Montreal. When I get a chance I'd love to share a few more images with you but as from tomorrow I'm attending a conference so will be locked in a convention centre for the next 7 days. 

Oh by the way, here's my latest column for decor8, a feature on Greg Hatton. When I get a bit more time I'll be sharing more of those photos with you as well.

Until later then,

Jillian

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