This is the face of a happy Photographer Girl

I might be just a wee bit proud standing in my room at the 10x10 Photography Project Opening in Toronto, Ontario.

Photo by Teiya Kasahara, Opera Singer Extraordinnaire

10x10 Photography Project

Once upon a time I did a photo project called the Mr/s. Movember Project and a curator named James Fowler from Toronto, Ontario discovered it online and asked me if I'd like to participate in his Project (this is the part where I reveal my special project).

The 10x10 Photography Projectis a ten-year photo project currently in its third year. Each year ten photographers are chosen from across Canada to create ten portraits of LGBTQ Canadians who have contributed to the Arts.

I was incredibly honoured when James asked me to participate in the Project, and I almost said NO. I'm proud of myself for facing my fears and ultimately saying yes, because the Project has challenged me on so many levels. It has challenged my creativity, my confidence, my fear of failure, my photography skills and my communication skills. I'm halfway through the Project now and it has been a wonderful experience collaborating with talented people I so admire. We've had a blast playing in the studio and I'm excited for the upcoming shoots in April.

Alas, I cannot share the images with you until after the Toronto Gallery Showing and book launch in June. I can tell you that the concept for the Project involves vulnerability, body language, and having my people posed semi-nude. I've been collaborating with body painter Carole Lagimodiere (pictured below) and her work has enhanced the Project significantly. I am so grateful to my ten artists Amber Dawn, DJ Miss M, SD Holman, Paige Frewer, Gwen Haworth, Eileen Kage, David Robinson, Zoée Nuage, Mandy Randhawa, and Noam Gagnon. What an amazing gift it was to collaborate with you.

Queer Hero

It was my great honour to photograph Vancouver lawyer barbara findlay for Xtra West newspaper. barbara is one of many LGBTQ individuals who were recent recipients of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

In the past year I have witnessed events I never imagined possible in my lifetime, and there is still much work to be done for equality. Thank you barbara for advocating for LGBTQ rights for over 30 years and for continuing to do so.

Read barbara findlay's full story in Xtra Vancouver.

(as seen in Xtra West newspaper)

Faith & Cor

Nelson, BC is my Hearttown and it is so beautiful in the fall.
It was especially beautiful the day Faith & Cor and I did their engagement session. I flew up to Nelson just to photograph these two sweet people who are so in love.

Prairie Fairies Fowl Supper

A fun time was had at the 13th Annual Fillmore Family Prairie Fowl Supper and Barn Dance.

Over $70,000 was raised for worthy receipients, A Loving Spoonful, McLaren House and Out in Schools.

It was my first time attending this fundraising event and I was what is known as a Prairie Fowl Virgin. Thank you Linda Fillmore. This Prairie Fowl Virgin will be back for more next year.

The fabulous hostess Linda Fillmore

Cowboy Dan won the colouring contest. He even drew in a rainbow. Awwwww!

Cowboy Dan won this beautiful painting of Hostest Linda Fillmore. Lucky BUGGER!!

The much anticipated 'Mary Tyler Moore Hat Toss'.

Square dancing!!!

The Mr/s. Movember Project story

by Aileen Penner

Vancouver photographer Belle Ancell had a vision of handsome queer women in moustaches. For Movember, she made it happen. On a fall day as the rain poured outside, and Madonna reverberated on the stereo inside, six queer women sat for their close-up. The camera clicked and the first queer Movember Project in Canada, "Mr/s. Movember", was born.

The Movember art campaign is a series of six queer female models ranging in age from early twenties to late forties, photographed in portrait, and in a moustache. Movember is a global campaign to raise funds and awareness about men's health - specifically prostate cancer. This year, the organization has added mental health to the campaign.

Belle Ancell is a celebrated child of the 70's and loves moustaches. She heard about the Movember campaign when she relocated to Vancouver two years ago. "I thought it was a fabulous way to create dialogue about prostate cancer and to support men's health. I kind of wished I could participate and grow a moustache myself. And that is how the idea for Mr/s. Movember came about," Ancell explains. She thought it would be fun to get a group of handsome queer women together to rock their own moustaches.

The photos in "Mr/s. Movember" are about identify, playing with identity, and raising awareness by prompting private and public conversations in the GLBTQ community about health. Some of the models in the project identify as lesbian, butch, male, female and all of the above. Yet all queer women have men in their lives - whether they are partners, brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, or sons who are dealing with prostate cancer and mental health issues.

"One of the great things about Movember is that having a moustache starts conversation and gets Canadians talking about their health", said Peter Bombaci, National Director, Movember Canada. "It's the power of the moustache that has raised awareness and reduced stigma surrounding prostate cancer and it's exciting to have the opportunity to do the same for mental health."

"I am very happy to see this year's Movember campaign focusing on the LGBTQ community more and for including anti-bullying and mental health in its funding for this year", says Ancell. She says this is just the beginning for the Mr/s. Movember photo project. Over the next year she will be photographing more women and having a fundraising gallery opening of all the images in support of the 2013 Movember campaign.

Mr/s. Models are: Chris, Rina, Kaylee, Robin, SD and Palmer. Isabelle Champigny (Visual Effects Makeup Artist), and Katrina Gurr and Kelsey-Ann Derksen-Hatt (Assistants).

 Gratitude extended to Aileen Penner for the above article on the Mr/s. Movember Project.

Visit Aileen's BLOG to read the more in depth article on the Mr/s. Project and the Movember Campaign.

PLEASE DONATE TO THE Movember Campaign AND/OR SUPPORT A GROWING MO.

 To see more of my Personal Projects please visit my LGBT portraiture websitebelleancell.com

Pride in Arts Queer Arts Festival

This year I immersed myself in art and community as the principle photographer for the Queer Arts Festival here in Vancouver, BC.

I met some incredibly talented individuals; I experienced poignant performances; I challenged myself photographically and I felt a deep sense of community and pride.

The Queer Arts Festival chose 'Random Acts of Queerness' as its theme for 2012 to honour the centenary of experimental queer artist John Cage.

Soprano Teiya Kashahara performing in the Queer Arts Festival's Workshop of the Opera 'When the Sun Comes Out'. Canada's first lesbian Opera, commissioned by the Queer Arts Festival, from Composer Leslie Uyeda and Poet Rachel Rose.

Pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaaasa and Soprano Teiya Kashahara performing in the Queer Arts Festival's Workshop of the Opera 'When the Sun Comes Out'.

Boulez contra Cage. Adapted by David Bloom from the correspondence between friends, John Cage and Pierre Boulez, two of the most influential composers of the 20th Century.

Flute/Piano duo Tiresias (Mark McGregor and Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa) performing a premiere piece by Simon Martin, commissioned for this performance.

Pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa performing a solo in 'Boulez contra Cage'.

My favorite performer during the festival. Kate Bornstein, Author, Playwright, Performance Artist, Gender Outlaw, Advocate and radical role model for queer youth.

Kate sharing the symbolism of the Ankh tattoo from her memoirs entitled, "A Queer and Pleasant DANGER".

"Do whatever you need or want to do in order to make life worth living. Love who and how you want to love. Just don't be mean. Should you get sent to Hell for doing something that isn't mean to someone, I'll do your time in Hell for you."

~ Kate Bornstein

Love on the Drive

I spent a lovely Sunday afternoon pre-Valentines with Vancouver's newest sweet couple Flora Ware and Kristy Mosher.

What a fun couple and it was a joy to capture their love and care for each other.

Flora is an amazing jazz singer who performs regularly in Vancouver.
Kristy is currently studying Sports Science at Douglas College.

Feast your ears on Flora's beautiful singing voice.  http://www.floramusic.com/recordings/