Gabrielle Touchette is a professional photographer specializing in portraits, wedding photography, and headshots in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Blog: November 2007

Verb: Photoshop

November 30th, 2007

Lately I've been hearing a lot of comments from people about "just photoshop it out" when a picture is about to be taken or when they're trying to make their pick out of a pool of photos.

Have we ever stopped and thought about the way we look at photography now that we're in the digital age? Sure, a lot is possible with photoshop, and you can really manipulate your images to make them better in whichever way you deem is needed. But what has ever happened to improving your photos before releasing the shutter? Or how about working with reality, rather than altering it after the fact, according to what we need or want?

I believe that a good digital image doesn't need more than a few tweaks in photoshop. If you really want to get a nicer background, move that chair. If the eyes are closed, make sure you take one more for safety. Photoshop should not be your crutch or your safety net. We've got to start seeing the photo before it's taken, rather than trying to fix it into something we wished it was.

Patrick Watson

November 30th, 2007

Once again, I was blown away by an amazing show at the West End Cultural Centre. I don't know what it is, but I've had the chance to see some pretty awesome shows around Winnipeg in the past little while. Patrick Watson graced us with their presence two nights ago - and what a show it was! I took the time to snap a few shots, though I was pretty much enthralled by the performances the whole entire time. Lighting was RED and LOW, and I didn't have my tripod - but my trusty little 50mm lens did the trick. Pardon the camera shake, high ISO and major cropping, but this was concert shooting practice I really needed!
Plants and Animals opened up. They were amazing! They could have easily had their own show. I can't wait for more than just an EP from them!

Patrick Watson working his magic on the piano.

...and belting it out.

Eek, bad quality - but interesting use of a balloon to make music.

They finished with an acoustic rendition of "Man Under the Sea". Yes. Oh so good. (oh so good)

a little self-reflection...

November 27th, 2007

Yesterday's Creative Imaging assignment was to create a metaphorical self-portrait. Yes. Visual metaphors to express a quality about yourself. I scratched my head a few times before I came up with this.
If you can guess which quality this represents about me, you win a box of pencils. Most people who've tried guessing got it wrong. For the answer, go to my flickr site.

Jam Night

November 25th, 2007

The Ministry of Arts and Culture had a jam night last week. (please note that we don't take ourselves as seriously as the pretentiousness of our group name might infer... ) It was low-key (the setting, not the songs) and a good time. Anna is pretty much the only one who plays an instrument. Duncan took pictures, and April and I tried learning a few chords. We're pretty sure jam night's going to become a common event. Yeeha! Hopefully more than 4 people will show up next time. (Come on people! Attendance is down! The excuses better be school related!)I don't know how Anna's little hands manage to play all those complicated chords.

April is seriously going to start learning how to play the guitar. She's going to start with a Holly McNarland song, apparently.

Duncan stole my camera and got a shot of me struggling with a chord change. Oy! If only I had the patience to learn...

Escape to Brandon

November 25th, 2007


A road trip to Brandon did me some good this weekend. It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas - the coldness of the moon, and the warmth of lights. Angelina took me "window" shopping, also known as "I'm a poor student" shopping. I'm getting used to this buy-nothing-year. It's making more and more sense to me. I hope it continues this way, student or not.

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