The new studio

We had a big fire in the house in 2008 that required that we strip the entire inside right down to the building studs to repair the water damage. While it was apart, I took a reciprocating saw and sledge hammer, and knocked out the walls of one of the downstairs bedrooms that we weren't using, creating a nice large space that I've finally converted into a photo studio.

My bohemian pal Mona was up from Vancouver this weekend, and I asked her if she would be the first person to pose in it. I'm going to do a few more test sittings, then we'll be open for business. The link to the Whistler studio is  http://www.davidbuzzard.com/headshots/

Charissa Belle and Nick's Wedding at the Nita Lake Lodge

Charissa and Nick came up to Whistler for a quiet wedding with just the two of them. I knew it was going to a lot of fun when Charissa told me that instead of exchanging rings, they were going to get tattooed instead.

The Wake of Isobel & Don MacLaurin

Isobel and Don MacLaurin are two of Whistler's most colourful residents. Isobel is a very well known local artist, and don is a retired forester. They started with a Whistler cabin back in the 60's, and have lived here full time since the 80's. I've known them for years, and they're really delightful people.

Don called me up the other day and told me they were holding a wake for themselves, as they didn't want to plan a big party and then not be around to enjoy it, and asked if I'd shoot some pictures and video for them. They even had their own coffins, which did double duty as the bar for the night. It was a real old time Whistler party, with all sorts of locals who came out of the woodwork especially for the event.


Marcel and Joan Richoz


David and Maggi Thornhill


Isobel and Sonya McCarthy


Sheila Walker, Alex Klineman, and Colin Pitt-Taylor in front of Don's coffin/bar


Ace Mackay-Smith and friends


Issy and Don on the dance floor. The picure behind them was taken about the time they were married, 52 years ago. The party raged on until almost 3:00 in the morning.

Rachel and James, top of Whistler

It's pretty funny, I make my living shooting weddings, but this is only the second one I've done in the last six months. I finished up my last one of 2009 in October, and then took off for South Africa for three months. I did another small one in January when I got back, and then started all my Olympic gigs, which I finally finished up last week. Things are finally getting back to normal, with another wedding next week as I head into the summer season.

Rachel and James are a really nice couple who came out from rural Louisiana to get married in the snow and mountains here in British Columbia. We were lucky to get a small window of good weather, and by the time the ceremony was over the wind and snow had totally whited out the top of Whistler.

James Bondage Party

Garibaldi Times art director Jody Iverson and friends
Last night I popped off to the James Bondage party in Squamish to grab a few photos. It was a pretty good time, but did I ever feel like a square.


Brian Raiser (R)

Olympic wrap up

That's me (bald spot and all) filing my pictures back to head office in Toronto from the Canada Place Starbucks. I spent the Olympics covering ministers from Industry and Foreign Affairs, and members of the Canadian Tourism commission, as they lobbied, and generally sold Canada to an incredible group of International VIP's and CEO's.

I have to admit that I was really peeved that I didn't get any contracts to shoot the sporting events. On second thoughts, who am I kidding, while I was a really good sports photographer back when I was a newspaper photographer, it's been 14 years since I really did it seriously, and the best sports photographers in the world were at the Olympics. I'm good at event photography, and while it can be pretty dry at times, I take a lot of pride in the work I do.

Monday morning, I start all over again with the Para Olympic torch relay.