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Just Breathe…

When I started writing this article it was going to be about stress release and energy boosting, but as I began to write, I realized that everything starts and ends with our breath. Our breathing is what keeps our heart beating, our brain working and the blood flowing through our veins. Without breath we have no life.

We all know how to breathe It’s a natural spontaneous process. Unfortunately, due to factors such as stress, pollution and diminishing exercise, our bodies have gotten into the habit of shallow breathing. Shallow breathing does not supply our bodies with sufficient oxygen to allow it to operate at peak performance.

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Shotz :: Photo Tips from a Pro #1

Hi there! My name is Toby Solak of S2 Photography. I’d like to welcome you to my monthly column. I thought for this inaugural issue I’d tell you a bit about myself and that moment 28 years ago, which started me down the path to running my photography company.

When I turned seven, my grandmother gave me my first camera. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple Kodak with 110 film and had one of those disposable flash cubes that attached to the top of it. I think I was more interested in the other gifts I was given and remember not paying much attention to the camera. I eventually picked it up and quickly shot the roll of film that came with it. About a week later, my mother and I went to our local pharmacy to pick up that first batch of pictures. I was handed the envelope which I opened and eagerly grabbed at the glossy images. I was hooked. It’s not that my pictures were great–far from it. In fact as I can recall, most of those first shots were either half pictures, blurred, or of uninteresting subjects. What fascinated me was seeing and holding the images which I had captured.

After approximately 15 camera upgrades and many lessons learned, I’m still hooked on taking pictures and am passionate about capturing life’s moments. Over the coming issues I’ll be sharing some photography tips I’ve learned over the years. I really hope you find them helpful. I’ll leave you with a quick and easy one this time.

As a professional photographer, one of the most common things I hear from my clients and friends is: “I don’t know how to take pictures.” To this I respond: “Anybody armed with the right gear and a bit of know how can take great pictures.”

Perhaps this past holiday season, you received a nice new camera which offers, (short of making your morning coffee) just about every function under the sun. Surprisingly the amount of functionality won’t necessarily make your picture taking experience any easier, especially if you feel you are not capable of taking pictures. Worry not!

There is one feature that comes on all new cameras. It can help you learn how to use your camera and begin to help you take better pictures. Read your instruction manual. I know some of you are thinking “I just read an article for a great photo tip only to be told to read the instruction manual? Not fair!”

The truth is people rarely look at the instruction manuals which come with cameras. In them you will discover not only how to use your camera, but each manual will come with some basic photographical instruction on how to compose your picture; how to take pictures in various light levels; as well as many other helpful lessons. Don’t know where your instruction manual is? Don’t worry. You should be able to locate your manual on the internet. Just visit the manufacture’s website.

Happy learning and practicing! See you next issue with a great new tip.

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Outdoors :: Urban wildlife adventures

The weather has been great here in the city and to the east of town if you enjoy dry roads and hardly any snow. Decembers sunny weather made it a great time to go east in search of the elusive Snowy Owls, which I know are around.

At the end of December my wife and I went east and our first encounter was a nice Rough Legged Hawk perched up on a utility pole along the detour, which will become part of the new Stoney Trail Ring Road. I stopped and turned around to have a better look. I got to a place I could turn off the highway and managed a single shot from the camera before he decided he didn’t like being watched through the lens of my camera.

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What about Community?

The publication of the first issue of a five community newsletter has some interesting implications. It will be the first time that over 50,000 residents will be able to learn of some projects and/or events happening in other communities north of McKnight besides our own. One could say that awareness of our community might be broadened a bit by such a publication. In many cases we rarely know what is actually happening in our own community, let alone what other communities in the far northeast are doing. With this publication, the possibilities for experiencing community are endless. Such a situation doesn’t mean we don’t experience community now. We do meet people all the time.

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Love Birds, Chocolate and other Valentine’s Day Lore

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day on Thursday February 14th. It’s the day we celebrate our loved ones and show our appreciation for their love and companionship. But behind the flowers and chocolates do you really know where Valentine’s Day traditions started?

The first association between Valentine’s Day and romance was in a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer, author of “The Canterbury Tales.” The poem was written to commemorate the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. Before that Valentines Day, or days, as there were 12, honored early Christian Martyrs named Valentine.

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Your Financial Health

At the “Boomertirement Summit” recently held under the auspices of the Million Dollar Round Table, gerontologist Dr. Kenneth Dychtwald, Founder and the CEO of Age Wave Inc., reminded us that the desire to stay young forever is not new. “Remember,” he said, “that in the 16th century, people believed that somewhere in the world there were fountains of youth.”

Although we have still not found a magic elixir that will stop the aging process, we have, it might be said, done the next best thing. We have developed real life solutions to some of our most menacing and deadly health problems.

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NECCS Volunteers Needed

The NECC Society (NECCS) is responsible for the community portion of the NE Centre of Community, which is set to enter the detailed design phase soon. That means we have a lot of work to do! If you would like to take part in this exciting project, we have many opportunities available for you.

Become a Board Member
NECCS is currently looking to expand its board. We especially need people with skills in the following areas: accounting, bookkeeping, building construction, building design, engineering, legal, communication, fund raising, and human resources.

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Personal Tid Bits

Take a few minutes to meet the members of the Taradale Community Association board. We have a very diverse group and are always looking to add additional volunteers.

Khalil Karbani, Vice President
I moved to Canada in 2001 from the UK, and I now run my own construction business. I have lived in Taradale for the past 3.5 years. I get a lot of satisfaction in being actively involved in my own community. Everyone can make a difference and every little effort does help and goes a long way to benefit our great community.

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Vice-President’s Message – Taradale

A very warm welcome to a new year and all the prospects it may bring. This is our very first edition of “Community Connection” for Taradale. We are very excited to be a part of this newsletter and a full-fledged community association. We are still in our early stages, but our sense of community is very strong. There are a small group of dedicated volunteers working hard to keep Taradale Community Association alive and well. We have had tremendous support from our neighbours at both Saddle Ridge and Martindale Community Associations, so a big thank you goes out to them.

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