Northern Wildflower // New Website

Hey Everyone!

wowza, what a crazy year it's been thus far! It's brought upon so many changes in my life that I couldn't have even imagined a couple years ago. From getting to know Soren, to 5 months of backpacking around Asia, to getting my yoga teacher certification in India, to teaching yoga every Thursday in Toronto, to completely re-branding my website - it's truly been a year of change and courage.

Change... a word many of us are scared of: It brings out a sense of vulnerability; it drops us right inside the world of the unknown; it brings us to a state of un-ease, as if we're hopping on a pogo stick, unable to stand still. Yep - change is scary, but it is also extremely rewarding.

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Have you ever thought about doing something you were scared of doing, but KNEW that if you DID IT, it could change you? That was me - about a year ago. I decided to listen to that voice of intuition and start the journey back to myself. After travelling for 5 months and doing a month long intensive yoga teacher training, I came home feeling refreshed, more mindful and more in-tune with who I am. Luckily, Soren was supportive of my solo journey (although it challenged both of us at times... maybe it did a lot... but we both learned and grew from it). 

I came home, looked at my website and cringed at it. I wanted it to reflect more of my personality and the personality of everyone and everything I wanted to photograph. With lots of brainstorming and help from those around me, I came up with Northern Wildflower. The term wildflower became synonymous to "our true self" and it was a term that resonated with me a lot while travelling solo. I liked it so much that I was in contact with a minimalist tattoo artist in Thailand, deciding what kind of wildflowers to put on my forearm. After quite a few exchanges and lots of patience on his part, I couldn't settle on any of the designs so I never ended up getting one (just didn't feel right, yet). When Soren found out I wanted a tattoo of wildflowers, he panicked a bit (tattoos are for life after all) and asked why wildflowers? So I wrote him a pretty detailed email:

“I am a wildflower.
We are all wildflowers.

Wildflowers get overlooked. You don’t see the beauty in them until you take the time to REALLY look at them. That’s how people are sometimes. We are conditioned by society to judge quickly based on appearance and don’t take the time to really get to know someone.
The definition of a wild flower is: a flower growing freely without human intervention. I LOVE that! Growing freely without human intervention. I want to grow freely as a person - free from societal pressures, free of my ego, free of the past and the worries of the future, free of my debilitating thoughts... This is exactly what yoga is - it is the journey and the end of reducing Avidya so that the veil of truth can surface and our true nature shines through. We are all wildflowers - not cultivated roses that are unflawed.

Picking wildflowers in the summertime is also a form of meditation for me - when I take time out of my day to really look at the beautiful world around us, making me more in-tune with myself and the world around me.

we are also constantly changing, whether we like it or not, and what I love about wildflowers is that they adapt to their environment as best they can. They are strong and do whatever it takes to survive. They symbolize an adaptive nature that we all have. Like us, wildflowers go with where the wind takes them; adapting accordingly.

In essence, I wanted my tattoo to encompass many things in my life that are important - freedom, truthfulness, yoga, the breath, and I just couldn’t think of anything better then wildflowers. Reminding me to be ME, in whatever situation, staying true to myself.

Hopefully this makes sense. I am still trying to gather my thoughts to explain it all in a coherent way. ”

There it is - that's me - a wildflower from the north wanting to photograph other northern wildflowers.

I am so excited to focus my intention on capturing only the truest forms of who you are. Whether its who you two are as a couple , who you are as a family, who you are in your business ect... I love the natural shots, of you doing what you love, of you interacting with eachother or the enivironment. Just pretend I am not there! (okay, I know that is a hard one) - but you get it, right? 

Stay tuned for more photo sessions and travel blogs!

Thanks for reading, Namaste <3

Why do I Travel?

As I sit in this Tibetan Café in Dharamshala (India) drinking my butter tea (which literally tastes like you’re drinking butter - not a fan), I have once again started asking myself “why do many of us have this undeniable urge to travel and explore and some dont?”

I’ve always been an inquisitive and reflective individual – curious about the world – curious about the people that reside in this world – and curious about the minds that reside in these people. What underlies our actions? Why are some of us happier than others? How can we open ourselves up to the love of others? How can we become more compassionate to one another?

We come into this world with no ego and only through our life experiences do we start developing one. This Ego is necessary for us to live in this functional world, but can also be detrimental to our personal growth. It creates Neurosis. It puts blame on others. It closes us off to love. It entraps us!

Being more aware of your body and mind will start to lessen the power of your ego, and your bliss starts shining – your true nature starts to surface. You start to weed out the bullshit in your life and find out what’s truly important to you; I find that traveling expedites this process. You start realizing that you’re nobody special in this world (in the best way possible) – what you are back home is a baggage of stuff and titles that make you feel entitled to a certain extent; traveling allows you to become ONE with humanity.

Where the robotic routine nature of our lives back at home make us feel uninspired whereas traveling makes you feel alive again. The senses are heightened and you become more aware of the surroundings; the mind opens itself up to different cultures and other ways of living; the comfort zone we’ve kept so near starts expanding; Fear starts to dissipate; You amaze yourself with what you’re capable of, gaining confidence with every obstacle that comes in your way; You start letting go of attachment to your emotions and realize that they are fleeting; You meet incredible people along the way that can change your views about life; You realize more of what is important to you and what makes you happy;  Traveling is all encompassing and all consuming.

Not to mention the obvious beauty that the world is equipped with – the beautiful natural landscapes, witnessing the history of humanities past, the fascinating wildlife you come into contact with ect.ect.ect. School, documentaries and movies can only provide you with knowledge – but it can’t provide you with wisdom – the wisdom comes through experience. This world is FULL of experiences and it’s ours to explore and indulge in. A child doesn’t look into the future or the past; It lives in the present moment, looking at everything with such wonderment and curiosity. We have lost that childlike nature and need to discover it again.

Surrender yourself to the journey and the world. Be aware. Strengthen your intuition. And let it guide you ॐ h-OM-e ॐ

Into the Rockies We Go - Vail, Colorado

It is 1:00am with some torrential downpour happening outside our car; through the flashes of light from the lightening, we see the first signs of the Rocky Mountains. I'm not fond of driving in the rain, especially when the streets lack appropriate lighting and sharp turns approach without forewarning; both of us were fairly anxious. Signs passed us by every few minutes with an elevation increase, warnings about avalanches, falling rocks and animal crossings. What is going on out there? Is there snow? How big are these falling rocks exactly? It was pitch black but we can tell that a steep mountainous range was on either side of us. This unfamiliar landscape was eerie and we simply wanted to get to our airbnb home safely; and we eventually did.

Waking up in the morning and going outside was eye-opening. What were we so scared of last night? This place is absolutely beautiful! Sheets of trees greeted us from the mountain range, dry warm heat wrapped us up wholly and the wonderfully smelling fresh crisp air filled our lungs. 

We were staying in the Rocky Mountains for 3 nights in the region of Vail. The people of Vail are adventurous by nature – snowboarding, Heli skiing, mountain biking, mountain climbing, Hiking, Zip Lining, Water Rafting, snow tubing, kayaking, Bob Sledders - you name it, they do it all. Having that craving for adventure myself, I couldn’t wait to let my valiant spirit loose. "It is in all of us, to defy expectations, to go into the world and be brave and to want, to need and to hunger for adventures - to embrace change and chance and risk so that we may breathe and know what it is to be free." 

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Mountain biking – After exploring Lionshead Village, we headed to Charter Sports and rented a mountain bike with a gondola lift ticket to get on top of Vail Mountain. With an affordable price of about $50.00, you really can’t go wrong; and it beats having to ride up the mountain yourself! Vail mountain is a very popular winter destination getaway for its winter sports. In the summer is boasts tons of scenic hiking and biking trails, each with its own level of difficulty. Getting off the gondola on our first ride down, I was reminded by the operator to “Have fun but take risks!” Perhaps I took his advice too seriously because after about 15 minutes of exhilaration at a speed too fast for my own good, I wiped out around a corner. Sara came to my side after what felt like a few minutes, worry and terror in her eyes. I laid there, unable to breath properly and wondering if I should tell her I love her for being a great friend to me all these years. It felt as if I broke my spine or ruptured a lung; a few minutes of catching my breath, I gratefully thanked the universe that I was still alive. With medics driving around the mountain constantly, I got a bit cleaned up, mentally checked and did as the citizens in Vail do – they get up and keep going! Badly bruised and cut, I put my helmet back on and realized “Holy Crap, I caught all of that on my GoPro! THAT IS SO COOL!” Unfortunately the file was corrupted upon returning home that night. I still got some cool videos of us riding which I will post on a later date. Needless to say, the experience was incredible – breathtaking views, adrenaline pumping and feeding my adventurous soul; Plus, the cut up face is a GREAT ice-breaker when talking to the boys in Vail; They dig that sorta thing :) ;)

Note: We were also invited by some guys to join them for a game of Frisbee Golf on the top of the mountain. From Thursday to Saturday, the gondola lift ticket is good until 9:00PM, so grab some new friends, some beers/wine and get on the last chair lift up to witness the village lightscape and play a round of golf!

Piney River Ranch Piney Lake

Piney River Ranch/Piney Lake - One of the highlights of the trip was going to Piney Lake, Piney River Ranch. With mountainous landscapes surrounded by Birch & Pine Trees and a pristine lake, the photography opportunities are endless. No wonder this magical place is host to weddings and events. Sara had the pleasure of photographing a couple (Melissa and Eric) at dusk and the pictures turned out beautifully! Check them out here. I spotted a family of 4 and thought it would be nice to provide them with a still memory as well. They were so cute and very appreciative! Piney Lake, a place of beauty & relaxation - enjoy the photos below!

Climbing the Rocky Mountains - Gray's Peak – One of the main reasons Sara and I wanted to go to Colorado was because we wanted to climb an epic mountain and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado was the closest option. The Rocky Mountains were formed 55-80 million years ago and span more then 4,800 kms from BC in Canada to New Mexico in the US. There are 54 Fourteeners in Colorado (mountains that are over 14,000ft high). After talking to some locals, we decided that climbing up Gray's Peak was a great choice.

Agnes’ Hiking essentials:

Hiking Boots - Do not hike up a mountain in running shoes. You will highly regret it. Sara learnt this the hard way.

Trail mix – Nutritious and yummy!

music - no brainer - although, taking the time to walk in silence and listen to the sounds of nature is beautiful as well.

Water - and lots of it! Because of the elevation, you need more water to replenish your system. 

Camera gear – Yes, camera gear is essential for a photographer like myself. The views were absolutely breathtaking & the flora was very diverse and unique – but packing 7 kilos of camera gear into a backpack was the worst idea I've had yet. Next time I will most likely pack either a point and shoot camera or my Canon 6D with a 50mm lens (the cheap and light plastic fantastic) and of course my GoPro.

Binoculars – I was REALLY hoping to spot some Mountain Goat. Unfortunately that did not happen - our neighboring hikers saw a few and showed us pictures though. Jealous.

Convertible pants – The weather on a mountain can change drastically with the elevation increase. It was 30 degrees Celsius at the start of our hike but once we reached the top, it was snowing with a temperature of roughly -10 degrees. Bring a light weatherproof coat so you stay dry and warm.

The 12km hike up the mountain was the hardest endeavor I've accomplished to date (It's difficulty was mainly brought upon the weight I had in my backpack). I know a few people can get AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness caused by a lack of oxygen at high altitudes) so you might want to pick up some pills at the drugstore if this is of concern to you. The trail was filled with hikers: young, old, solo and groups of friends. One of the coolest things was this comradery between the hikers; the one-ness we felt was incredible. There was also this one man with a white brimmed hat which basically hiked up and down the mountain with us. His smile & aura reminded me of someone extremely special to me and when I needed courage, I would look for him in the distance and would get that boost. 

http://www.vailvalleymagazine.com/winter/

http://www.vailvalleymagazine.com/winter/

Bucket List – Climbing a mountain – CHECK!

The thought of being in the mountains makes my heart skip a beat. Vail Colorado, I hope to return one day for some amazing winter sports! >>>>> Like this >>> How cool is that!

Check out the pictures of our mountain adventures below! 

Varadero, Cuba 2014

Hello! I wanted to blog a little bit about my trip to Cuba with one of my best friends Sara Stankiewicz. I met Sara more then 5 years ago and it was love at first site haha - We both had a similar outlook on life and had a passion for photography. We were constantly shooting with our little point and shoot cameras everywhere we went, bonding through this creative outlet that we both share. 5 Years later and I can say that Sara is one of the best Wedding Photographers I know! If you or anyone you know is looking for a photographer for their wedding, send them the link to her website! (www.sarunia.com) 

A month ago I was having a really tough time in my life and from the heavens an angel came and asked me to go to Cuba with her - all expenses paid!! And that angel was Sara haha. I mean, who in their right mind would say no to that? So we embarked on our Cuba adventure shortly thereafter!

I should mention that Sara got hired to photograph a destination wedding in Cuba and she took me as her second shooter/assistant!

Check out Sara's website in a week to see the wedding we photographed together! Exciting stuff!

We arrived at the airport 3 hours early (Sara is a cautious one) only to find out it was delayed for a few hours. We ended up drinking wine, eating sushi and playing with double exposures in camera before boarding! How nerdy can we get? Super nerdy. 

Arriving at the resort at midnight that night, we decided to organize ourselves for the rest of the week and go to bed fairly early (2am). The next morning, we explored the resort! Here are some photos of the Iberostar Azul resort in Varadero Cuba that we stayed at. I mostly ate fruit and hot dogs at the resort because as expected, the food wasn't great. The beds also weren't really comfy. But other then those two small hiccups, the trip was great!  (haha yes I am aware that food and the bed you sleep are probably the two most important things when travelling but mehhhh, we survived).

Sara and I tried to make the best out of the trip by constantly doing different things each day (yes it IS possible, even at a resort). We loved pool lounging and getting "day drunk" as people call it (*Joe johnston was an expert at this past time haha*), but I can only do that for so long before itching to get off our keester to do something else; Resort hopping, exploring the area, excursions, yoga on the beach, travelling to the strip, exploring the night life in varadero (Calle 62 is awesome), etc...

The day before the wedding, Sara did an engagement shoot with Kaitlyn and Vince in Varadero on the strip. I was lugging the camera gear around like the good assistant as well as taking some "behind the scenes" photos of Sara. It was so awesome to see Sara in her element.  I managed to take some time to take some photos of the surrounding area for myself at some resting points! It's hard not to photograph in such a beautiful country - picture opportunities everywhere! The weather was absolutely perfect to say the least.

We ended the night off with a beautiful sunset which was just glorious. I mean - isn't this what life is supposed to be about? Enjoying the beauty of the world while surrounding yourself with amazing people *Sigh* if only we could do this everyday.

We met so many amazing people on this trip which I think is essential when you're travelling. We all strive for connection and it's human nature to do so. I found myself holding back and not letting my wall down a few times in certain circumstances. Perhaps that's what city life does to you; with all the hustle and bustle you forget to stop, be mindful and realize what is truly important. Let go, connect, live life. I have learnt so much from everyone that I met, more then they will know. Life is a funny thing yeno. 

Sara and I also went on a Jeep safari adventure with 9 other jeeps. For 75$ we went snorkeling, swam in a cave in Matanzas, ate an authentic cuban meal, went to a sugar cane field, tried a variety of farmed produce, cruised on a boat and drove 150km on a jeep through Matanzas and the surrounding area. Listening to our favorite music made the ride 1000x better. Unfortunately all our photo devices (cameras, go pro's, phones) ran out of battery. photographer fail.

Sara and |I also decided to take a mini photoshoot of ourselves on the beach - because I mean, who doesn't want some nice vacation photos right? Having a photographer as a best friend is awesome - I highly recommend it. 

Sara, thank you for being you and for taking me on this trip. It was a much needed break. Love you girl <3