Prairie Fairies Fowl Supper 2013

A fun time was had at the 14th 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.

This year was a special event as the Matriarch of the Fillmore Family, Linda Fillmore was turning 80 years old. Here are a few of my favorite images I shot of the evening.

Linda is welcomed into the Octogenarian club by longtime pals.

The Boomchix entertained and Kate Reid worked her magic.

Verna and her winning Jello Salad entry. Frightening really.

Mayor Gregor Robertson and City Councellor Andrea Reimer serving up dinner.

Park Board Commissioner Trevor Loke (middle) and Vision Vancouver team members.

Derek.....

will you.....

marry me?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Awesome hots Linda Fillmore and Barb Snelgrove. (that's a typo and I'm leaving it in)

The Mary Tyler Moore HAT TOSS!!

Just the Mayor of Vancouver singing her Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Linda Fillmore

Fyn's first photo shoot

Griffyn is a Welsh name that means 'strong lord'. He is a wise soul born in the month of Libra.

What a fortunate soul he is to be born into such a loving family and what a joy it was to capture these precious new moments for them.

Top 30 Under 30

My Freelance job at Xtra Vancouver permits me to meet such amazing people.
Case in point when Xtra hired me to shoot 7 of the 30 folks honoured in their 'Top 30 Under 30' List of B.C.'s brightest young Queer leaders. Meet the Top 7!!

#7 Carven Li

#6 Ander Gates

#5 Paige Frewer

#4: John Kuipers

#3: Melanie Matining

#2 Dave Deveau

#1: Justin Saint

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

Queer as FUNK!!!

 I love it when a photography gig includes belly laughs, hugs, flirting, a slow dance with a handsome butch and the occasional nip from a flask.  Thank you Queer as Funk and Leadfoot.  

"Basks in the glory of Leadfoot" ~ Zena Sharman.

Primal He{Art}

The Primal He{Art} series was inspired from a photo project I was invited to participate in based out of Toronto called the 10x10 Photography Project. The ten year Project is in its third year and each year invites ten photographers to create ten portraits of individuals who have contributed to the LGBTQ arts in Canada. Those 100 portraits were showcased at a Gallery in Toronto in June and also published in a gorgeous photo book. I was also fortunate to have the Project accepted into Vancouver's Queer Arts Festival Curated Show in August.

My series honoured ten Vancouver artists and the primal heart connection they feel to their artistic expression. I invited my ten subjects to choose words that described what their artistic expression evoked for them. Those deeply intimate words were then spray painted onto their bodies by artist Carole Lagimodiere, and they were then photographed semi nude. I have experienced firsthand the vulnerability of sharing one’s art with the world and I felt that having them pose in the nude would help to illustrate that vulnerability. I also love how light and shadow can create texture, form and beauty when photographing the human body.

I endeavored to create an atmosphere of collaboration with my artists with poses and lighting that would suit their personalities and to some extent their gender expression. I took the duty that the 10x10 Project bestowed upon me very seriously as I wanted to honour these individuals by creating compelling and beautiful images for them. A lot of folks helped with this Project and I’m extremely proud of what we have all created together.

DJ Miss M, Monster DJ

Zoée Nuage, Photographer

David Robinson, Ceramic Artist

Mandy Randhawa, Event Producer

Eileen Kage, Taiko Drummer

Noam Gagnon, Choreographer/Dancer/Performer/Teacher

SD Holman, Photo-based Artist

Amber Dawn, Writer

Gwen Haworth, Filmmaker

Paige Fewer, Community Oganizer/Drag King

When the Sun Comes Out

I never thought I would utter these words. I loved this Opera. I saw the workshop last summer at the Queer Arts Festival in Vancouver. Well, I had to see it. I was photographing it for them. Seriously, it was not what I expected. First of all, I developed an instant crush on the lead soprano. Secondly, the male role broke my heart. Like tears in my eyes and heart crushing compassion for his story, that kind of broke my heart.

This was the largest, longest and most elaborate photo shoot I've ever done and involved the collaborative efforts of 12 people to pull it off. It was so worth it. We created some awesome images for the Opera. The Georgia Straight, Xtra and the Courier all featured the images which had enormous impact in its promotion.

The Opera is so poignant today in a 2013 world where we can still be tortured and murdered for simply being who we are.

From the Queer Arts Festival website - "When the Sun Comes Out is the world premiere of Canada’s first lesbian opera, commissioned by QAF. This ground-breaking new work is written by composer Leslie Uyeda and poet Rachel Rose, and directed by James Fagan Tait.

A story of forbidden love, divided loyalties and culture clash, the opera explores the oppression that queers face, and the risks they take, in nations where homosexuality is illegal."

From left to right: Aaron Durand, Teiya Kasahara, Julia Morgan, and Leslie Uyeda (with baton).

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

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.