Weller Photography

On April 21st, we photographed and assisted in the production of BY REQUEST’s FREESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT DANCE PARTY!

The event took place at the Royal Canadian Legion in Hamilton – and did we ever party it up!

The show featured Canada’s Entertainment Specialist: Blake Belcher – who put on a DJ-Freestyle Entertainment Party unlike any other…and everyone that attended had a fun evening of Inspiration, Innovation, Imagination, and Impersonation!

We had an absolute blast, and we look forward to doing more great work with BY REQUEST soon – be sure to watch for DJ Blake with By Request Entertainment!! Throughout our  years of working with many DJs in the industry – none have ever been as dynamic, as professional, and as down-to-earth & friendly, as Blake Belcher. We would recommend Blake for anyone requiring DJ/Entertainment services for their wedding or event. We are  proud to call him a close colleague,  a wonderful friend, and a true strong alliance in business.

Here are the awesome highlights!!

Setting up the Show

Let’s Get Ready to Rock!

Thomas Weller – BY REQUEST Company Photographer & DJ Entertainment Assistant!

DJ Blake on the “Air Guitar”

Rockin’ Out the Tunes!

Kat Augustine & DJ Blake

The always fun end-of-the-night pose!

In all of our time of being community/lifestyle photographers in the Niagara area, and out of all of the special events and weddings that we have completed over the last few years, we had yet to find an alignment as solid as we have found with BY REQUEST.

Over the last few months, we have been working very closely with our good friend Blake Belcher at BY REQUEST: Entertainment Specialists.  Blake is one awesome dude, with an extremely awesome concept. He is taking his DJ services to a whole new level, which sets him apart from the rest of the pack.  We at Weller Photography have met many many DJs at the countless weddings and events we have photographed – but none of them could ever match up to what BY REQUEST brings to the table!

We are quite honoured to be the Official Photographers for BY REQUEST - and we are very much looking forward to all of the really fun things that we have planned in the very near-future!!

Here’s a little bit about the buzz!:

BY REQUEST offers “Freestyle Entertainment” to shows and events.  It is an Entertainment & DJ show with various possibilities based on music requests that the audience asks for. Blake will feel the music and the energy from the room, and keep pushing its limits with sight and sound!  He will create appearances from music icons and fashion styles of what genre of music is airing.

Those that request for or come out to a BY REQUEST show, will have a night to remember. You never know what Blake will do or who he will be next!

Be sure to stay tuned for more updates on the BY REQUEST homepage, as the site will be undergoing many changes in the next short while.  Please also check out the BY REQUEST Facebook page for updates!

There is ALSO a REALLY FUN EVENT already planned for April 21st, 2012!  This is where Blake will be unleashing his awesome show on the world!   Check out the BY REQUEST FREESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT DANCE PARTY Facebook event page here !  We look forward to seeing you there!!

Here are some of the ultra-exciting highlights from a few of the shows that we have worked with BY REQUEST !  Fun Fun!!

Stay tuned for many many more fun updates from BY REQUEST!

In early August, I was flown out to Halifax Nova Scotia to work on a very important and confidential project. I was to be a personal photographer for someone I had met while on a job in Calgary Alberta the week before, as well as work on another project of which I am under contract not to speak or write about, so with all of that said -  August 2011 was a really busy and totally  incredible month of new experiences and opportunities!   Along with my flight to Calgary, this was my first time in the last 18 years that I had been on a plane!

I was extremely excited to be flying to Halifax as I had never been to the East Coast before, and I have always  been fascinated with boats and ships – which stems to my childhood memories of my grandfather’s stories and photographs of historic water vessels.

..and so I flew from Toronto to Halifax in just about two hours time via WestJet — fast and high!

Airport Photos taken with my android phone

Images taken with my phone from my window seat

Are airplane bathrooms always this small??

A view over The Bay of Fundy, Long Island & Digby Neck – Nova Scotia

 

I was picked up at Halifax Stanfield Airport and was driven to meet one of my contacts in Dartmouth.  After meeting with them, I was shown to my comped hotel room in Dartmouth and overlooking Halifax Harbour.   My itinerary for the next morning included a short stroll through Dartmouth and to Alderney Landing where I would catch the Metro Ferry to cross Halifax Harbour over to the City of Halifax.  The ferry ride was pretty neat, as it gave the option to stand up top and outside to get some great views of the fine East Coast Panorama.

Once in Halifax, I met with another contact “The Skipper” who was to be my guide and work buddy during my stay.  We immediately went to the job site and began our work for the day.  The weather wasn’t co-operating a little later on that day, so I was permitted some time to “play tourist”.  The Skipper and I took off back down to the harbourfront – and then we simply walked and explored.

I was very excited to know that my Halifax accommodations were practically attached to the Alexander Keith’s Brewery, and overlooking the harbour!  Life couldn’t get any better on this trip!

Here are all of the rest of the exciting highlights from my work trip to Halifax.  Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to see and do everything that I had wanted – but that will just make Halifax that much better the next time I go!   I got to meet a lot of fantastic people, and contribute greatly to a fantastic project in the making.  The fresh smell of the sea air was refreshing to the senses each day, and The East Coast food is still something I miss every single day now that I am back home. The lobster, the fish, the everything food – what an awesome place Halifax was!

I would like to thank everyone involved with making this incredible trip happen!  Your hospitality was out of this world amazing – and I am very proud to have been a part of it all.

Enjoy the pics!

A fantastic view from Dartmouth over Halifax Harbour

A view of Georges Island over the Dartmouth train yards

Alderney Landing

The Trans-Canada Trail Pavillion

The Metro Transit Ferry

Farewell Dartmouth!

Halifax Shipyards

Hello Halifax!

On the first morning in Halifax, My friend “The Skipper” (who was also my NS work peer & City Guide) took me down along the harbourfront, and showed me how to reach into the harbour and pick out a Live Starfish! No I didn’t eat it…

My first sight of True East Coast Lobster!!

Taking the Time to Get It Right

Our nights after work in Halifax, generally started with this entrance…good times ladies and gents!

Cheers!

One of the many cool old buildings in and around the downtown core.

The Skipper told me to dip my bare feet in the Ocean – sure why not?!

…and then I was attacked by a Great White Shark!

(JOKE PHOTO ALERT! – thanks to my friend Greg Martin for manipulating this masterpiece! )

But we did see many of these jelly fish floating and roaming along the edges of Halifax Harbour

Taking in the Spirit of the East Coast

Barnacles!

Harbourfront Condos

A view of the Lighthouse on Georges Island

Samuel Cunard

A View from my Halifax Hotel Room

The last evening in Halifax – all of us got together for a Lobster Feast – and many of us including myself had three extra large lobsters to ourselves.  Incredible.

 

Thanks again to everyone for making Halifax happen – and for making it incredible all around. I look forward to seeing all of you again in the near-future.

Flying Home – over Niagara Falls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were invited again to join in with our good friends Rita Carrey & Popper the Penguin!  This time we stopped in at Ripley’s Believe it Or Not on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Ripley’s 4D Moving Theatre, as well as as awesome adventure through Louis Toussauds Waxworks!

Rita has “Popper the Penguin” – a stuffed Penguin Prop, sent to her by her brother, Actor Jim Carrey from the set of his new movie “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”, and is taking the Penguin to various spots throughout Ontario – people who see her with the penguin can have their photo taken with the penguin, and the photos will be posted on the Giant FM website at: http://www.giantfm.com/pop_ups/penguin_popper.htm

As always, we had a real blast with Rita and Popper – especially when hanging out with the Stars of Wax at Toussauds!

Be sure to check out our last adventure with Popper the Penguin, when we visited Marineland!

Big thanks to Rita, Popper, GIANT-FM, and RIPLEY’s  for the great & fun time – Here are the exciting highlights:

POPPER gets strapped in for the ride at Ripley’s 4D Moving Theatre!

…and then we flew over to Louis Toussauds!

Now THERE’s a recognizable face!!

Peeking over Arnold’s shoulder

With Tom & Tom

Having a laugh with Rita & Eddie

As a guest on Oprah??

A visit with MJ

Thomas & Willie

 

Thomas & Johnny

A Classy Classic Pose

Stopped by the CRYPT KEEPER!

“Heeere’s Johnny!”

Taunting Freddy!

Attack of the Alien Creature!

Striking a pose with the President

An Epic Crossover?

A solo of Catwoman was a must-have!

Give Peace a Chance

Popper Goes Over Niagara Falls in a Barrel!!

 

We were comped a night’s stay at the Sheraton on the Falls on Canada Day – and we were given a quaint but lovely room on the 22nd floor – and what a room with view we had over Niagara Falls!!  This gave us an excellent opportunity to nab some nifty photos of the Falls, the Niagara Parkway, as well as the splendid display of Canada Day Fireworks over the Falls later that night!  Thanks to everyone for an awesome night and for the wonderful little getaway for Canada Day!

As I was rocking my 200mm zoom to capture the epic photo of the Horseshoe Falls above, I was subsequently attacked by a pigeon – presumably guarding his roost adjacent to our 22nd-floor hotel room balcony. The below series of photos will show my attempt to at least capture the bird attack – which was obviously happening far closer (and faster) than what my zoom was able to handle!

and so after that, I zoomed back on the Falls and captured a full frontal amazing angle of the entire water’s edge side of the Toronto Power Generating Station.

 

Queen Victoria Park was getting pretty packed with people to watch the fireworks & take in the fun of Canada Day at Niagara Falls!

Two really neat captures of Oakes Garden Theatre

The American Falls

Remember our friend the Pigeon? This was it’s roost. Lucky bird to hang out there all day with such an awesome view!

…And then another pigeon came along

The Fireworks are about to commence! Happy Canada Day 2011 everyone!

On June 4, 2011, our good friend Danny Zzzz invited us to be his crew photographers for another Straight-Jacket Escape-while being suspended from a helicopter – this time above water, and for more than 200 guests at Eric Wiens Tent Event: An Affair of the Heart. The event was to aid cardiac care in Niagara.  Guests of the event  enjoyed gourmet food and drinks, a live auction, live entertainment, and helicopter rides from Ruedi Hafen, owner of Niagara Helicopters – along with a fantastic show by magician Danny Zzzz!

This was our second time working with Danny on a helicopter/straight-jacket escape – and we were stoked to do it this time around for the media, and for everyone at the event!

CLICK HERE to read the news story on Bullet News Niagara!

Check out all of the highlights, including many awesome Behind-The-Scenes captures!

I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with my friend and Giant FM radio co-host Rita Carrey, who happens to also be the sister of Actor & Comedian Jim Carrey!

Rita has “Popper the Penguin” – a stuffed Penguin Prop, sent to her by her brother from the set of his new movie “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”, and is taking the Penguin to various spots throughout Ontario – people who see her with the penguin can have their photo taken with the penguin, and the photos will be posted on the Giant FM website at: http://www.giantfm.com/pop_ups/penguin_popper.htm

At the end of summer 2011, Rita will be auctioning off the Penguin, which has also been signed by Jim – with proceeds from the auction going towards Light of Day Niagara/Parkison’s & ALS Research.

Last week, I was invited by Rita to join her and Popper for a walk around Marineland,  to meet some of the playful animals – including a Sea Lion named Coral and a Killer Whale named Ike!

Here are all of the fun highlights!

Photo by Rita Carrey

Rita also invited us out this month to the first showing premiere of her brother’s new movie “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”. We were to also take photos of Popper as he hung out with invited guests to the movie!  We were also treated to popcorn and refreshments for the movie – which was an absolutely amazing movie at that! Kudos to Jim Carrey for making a really funny, original, and down-to-earth movie!  Check out the highlights below, and you may also be able to CLICK HERE  for the GIANT FM website to see more photos from the premiere night!

On Friday May 13, 2011 – We were invited by our very good friend – Magician & Illusionist Danny Zzzz – to be his Official Crew Photographers for his death-defying feat of escaping from a straight-jacket, while being suspended high in the air from a helicopter. It was extremely exciting being in the helicopter and capturing this fantastic escape act!!

Big Thanks to Danny Zzzz and his crew – as well as Rudy & everyone at Niagara Helicopters for making this amazing event happen!

Here are the highlights from the ground, and from the air…Enjoy…and Stay Tuned for more from Danny Zzzz very soon!

This bobble-head figurine of the legendary great magician Harry Houdini is brought everywhere Danny Zzzz goes.