Welcome to our photography blog!

Here we share some of our images and the stories behind them whether from our local photo walks, our travels, or projects we are working on, including for exhibition or publication.  We will also include links to the work of other photographers, writers, and visual artists, as well as to exhibitions, articles, and whatever inspires us to wonder, reflect, debate.

Who are we?  ---The youmeus project!

Helen is an educator, writer and visual/textual artist, and has also produced two videos, one of which, Our Grandmothers, Ourselves, has been shown in university and arts spaces.   

Jean-Michel, a graduate of the Photographic Arts Department at Ryerson, is a photographer and instructor of photography, as well as owner of JMK Image-ination where he specializes in the concept, design, and production of books and photography.  

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Like many things, chance played a role in the instigation of a collaborative process that has resulted in the establishment of The youmeus project.  First, a poem.  Then, a poetic response.  Very quickly, text and image became a means of communicating the emotive and the observed.  What one felt or saw was recorded and shared either in writing or through image.  And the other responds. 

Thus, we have found a creative means by which to regularly communicate ideas as well as to explore our artistic visions. 

View finding in Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada, 2014)Taken by Carol Rubow
 

Like most travelers, it's difficult to get a photo of "us" together. Happily, when we were in the Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada) earlier this year, a fellow traveller snapped this photo. 

We were at a hilltop, overlooking a desert valley in one direction and the striking red /yellow /purple sandstone mountainous formations in the other.  Another time, we would go there either very early in the day or around sunset to better capture the drama of colour across the landscape which, in the mid-day sun, was somewhat like faded pastel chalk.

After spending a few minutes taking snaps, I turned to see Jean-Michel pointing his camera at me, and instantly responded with my own point-and-shoot CLICK!

Thanks to Carol Rubow who captured the spontaneous "us" moment!  When she sent us the image, Carol wrote in her email:  "It was fun watching the two of you work/play together with your photography and I hoped you did not mind that I took the picture- you were having so much [fun] together...."

We are absolutely delighted that she took the photo!  I especially like that Carol's photo captured our photo play -- click! click!  and ... click!

Helen, by Jean-MichelValley of Fire (Nevada)

Jean-Michel, by HelenValley of Fire (Nevada)

- Helen and Jean-Michel (2014)