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Images by Inge – Masterworks Images bio picture

About Inge and Masterworks Images

I've been an avid photographer from age 10 when I received my first camera as a Christmas Present - a good old Kodak Brownie Starflash! It's a collector's piece now - how I wish I had kept it. I actually took my first photos at age 7 while waking with my father in Budapest. I still have those images and what amazes me is that I seemed to have a feel for composition even then. The photos are shot with the 'rule (friendly suggestion?!?) of thirds in mind. I continued to photograph as a serious amateur until I decided to set up my business as Images by Inge in 1987. I had just returned from my second trip to Africa, a place I am passionate about, and wanted to sell some of my images from that trip. It was quite a success and I even had an exhibition of my images at the Art Gallery of South-Western Manitoba. I have been back to Africa several times now and we returned from my fifth visit this past October. Stay tuned for more images from that trip on this blog.

I worked as a psychologist at the Brandon Mental Health Centre and later for the BRHA for 37 years - yes, I'm THAT old! :-D - and did both photography and psychology as parallel careers, but eventually I made the leap of faith and retired to follow my first love - photography. I set up my business from my home and with a move to a new house in 1990, I had my first studio space! Wow! Now I was going to make millions! Well, it wasn't an overnight success - I thought that clients would be beating down my door - but over the years we have built up a nice client base. In 1996 I joined the Professional Photographers of Canada the national association for those in the business of photography, where I continued to learn and improve my skills. This past year I was awarded my Master of Photographic Arts degree (MPA), through winning awards for prints in national competitions, and serving on the board of PPOC-MB. I was also honoured to be presented the Honour Of Fellowship (F.Ph.) by PPOC-MB. The Honour of Fellowship is presented to members who have exhibited excellence in photography, unselfish service to the profession and sincerity in fellowship. So, in a sense, I have earned my stripes. :-)

Although family portraits and pet photographs, especially dog portraits, are a specialty, the word is out in Brandon that if you want great Grad photos you MUST go to Inge! I love photographing grads in all their casual gear, whether sports related or musical, etc. and the prom dresses just blow me away! I think I get to photograph the most beautiful grads in Brandon! Oh, and I do male grads too... :-) I also create dreamy glamour photographs and find that clients invariably prefer to work with a woman rather than a man when in that 'flimsy little number'. Though I will rarely put those kinds of images on this blog for reasons of privacy, I will have the odd glamour photo posted where the subject is not immediately recognizable, so call me if you're interested in having this kind of portraiture done.

With the advent of digital imagery, the way we do business - 'we' being me and husband Michael - had to change dramatically. We can now do much more creative imagery and with the addition of our 'Dreamspinner', the sky is the limit as far as backgrounds go. You want to be photographed on a beach in January without leaving Brandon, come and see me! And ask me about the 'Dreamspinner'.

This summer we decided to make another change by creating a new business name - Masterworks Images - which will take our photography to a new level. We are going to create paintings - yes, real oil paintings! - of our portraits of our clients! The images will be printed onto canvas, mounted as an artist would mount his painting, and then finished with acrylic paint. The images will be 'one-of-a-kind' as all artwork is, and of course, the price will reflect that.

We are very excited to be able to offer this to our clients in Brandon, and we are the only studio, to our knowledge, that is offering this kind of portraiture in all of Manitoba! Visit us at our studio and keep coming back to my blog for updates.


Mothers’ Day Spring Promo At The Green Spot

Over the past weekend we had a showcase of our images on display at The Green Spot, Brandon’s favourite garden centre. The centre was a beehive of activity with hundreds of customers buying something special for Mom on Mothers’ Day, while others were piling up the convenient shopping carts with bedding plants, herbs, and other goodies for the garden. Spring appears to have arrived and summer is not far behind! While at The Green Spot, we met some old friends and clients and made some new friends.  To celebrate our new alliance with Bernie Whetter of The Green Spot, we offered a draw for a FREE portrait session AND a $500 credit toward one of our ‘Portrait Collections’ to customers visiting our display. Out of the many-many entries, we drew Sandy Klein’s name as the winner of the draw! Sandy lives in Brandon and will be having a portrait done of their 6 months old female Boxer X Pit Bull. We have probably already met the puppy at the Victoria Avenue East Doggie Park where we also take our boys for runs, but we have not been formally introduced. We all look forward to meeting her and her ‘humans’. :-)

Congratulations to Sandy for winning our draw and we welcome you to our photographic family!

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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Just the other day I looked out my front window and saw this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker busily making his was around the trunk of my paper birch tree in the front yard. Luckily I had my camera handy, like a good photographer should and I managed to get a few shots before he decided he had enough of my encroaching on his territory. I hope he’ll come back!

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April 23, 2010 - 7:58 AM admin - I was lucky that he stood still for me long enough for me to capture his image. :-)

April 22, 2010 - 8:21 PM Marlene Fast - these are great - and tack sharp! what a beautiful bird!

Afternoon at the Doggie Park

Yesterday afternoon it was a wonderfully warm Spring day so Michael and I along with BFF Marlene Fast, decided it would be fun to take the dogs for a run. It has been a while since we visited the Doggie Park on Victoria Avenue East, mostly because of Michael’s hip, but also because of wet grounds. Now that things had dried a bit, it was time to go and let the boys loose. Marlene and I both took our cameras – me with a 50 mm f/2.8 prime lens and Marlene with a 70-200 f/2.8 telephoto.

These were some of my favourites from the outing. Alice is the prime ‘mover and shaker’ behind the East End Doggie Park and we were happy to see her there with her Shelties.

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We also met a 6 years old Dachshund and his ‘Daddy’

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A very friendly and photogenic Rottweiler

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Hunter is one of our two Vizslas

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Jetson is a 3 months old Australian Shepherd. He just loved to play with the ‘big guys’!

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Brindle Great Dane

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Fawn Dane Puppy… he’s almost flying!

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This little guy looked like he was trying to get inside a bag left on the bench!

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Smile for the camera!

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An Akita or Akita X… He looks very happy, doesn’t he?

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Hunter and Grissom chasing after a ball…

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Michael getting ready to throw and… THEY’RE OFF!

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Love Michael’s expressions! And I guess this is what is known as ‘turning on a dime’.

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Hunter, flying

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A happy Golden Retriever X

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A tiny white poodle sniffing Michael’s leg on our way to the gate.

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The Doggie Park is a happy place. All dogs and humans seem to get along. Wouldn’t it be great if the world could learn from this?

BTW, if you would like professionally done portraits of your four-footed friends, call 728-8065, and we’ll talk!

April 4, 2010 - 9:40 PM Marlene Fast - I love the expressions you got on all the dogs - they really do have their own personalities! My favorites are the photos of Michael ready to throw the ball - I can't decide which expression and action I like more... Michael's or the dogs!!! Priceless! I like your last comment as well - and since I was there with you, I completely agree!

First Annual Spring Promotion

Finally… Spring has arrived! The snow is almost all gone and the temperature has risen significantly. Thoughts now turn to rebirth and renewal. And speaking of renewal, isn’t it time to have a new professional portrait taken? We have decided to offer during the month of April only, a Deluxe Portrait session including one 8×10 Portrait of the photographer’s choosing for ONLY $49.95! Here is your chance to have an exceptional portrait done by a Master Photographer at an unbeatable price. Call NOW, as sessions re limited! 204-728-8065

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Browsing through my images

Over the weekend I though I should go back and review some of the images I had taken just a year ago when Michael and I were in Europe to visit family and friends. We had gone over to help celebrate my father’s 90th birthday in Budapest and to make the usual whirlwind rounds of everyone important to us in Britain. You know… if it’s Tuesday, it must be Cambridge. :-) We hardly ever slept two nights in the same bed. Whew! What a pace we set!

I never did get around to posting many images from that trip to the blog, so here goes.

Hungarian watercolour…

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Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert, in Esztergom, Hungary

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Inside the Basilica

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On the banks of the Danube

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Hungarian countryside in the early evening light.

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At the castle in Visegrad

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Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire – the view from the hill where where Mary Queen of Scot’s Castle once stood and from whence she was taken for beheading.

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Oundle School Chapel – The Chapel of St Anthony, consecrated in 1923, was built as a memorial to the fallen of the First World War.

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Inside the Chapel looking toward the choir loft at the back…

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The two side aisles…

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My husband Michael is an Oundle Alumnus and in fact, he produces the yearbook, the Old Oundelian, every February. And I, being his wife, get to accompany him to Oundle yearly to put the yearbook to press. While he slaves away at the Stables (the Old Oundelian offices, actually located inside former stables!) I get to wander around with my camera.

St. Peter’s Church, mouse’s eye view…

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The spiral staircase which took us to the top of the spire, barely wide enough for your shoulders. I think we dusted the walls on the way up and down by the look of layers of dust on jackets!

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These images were shot from the top of St. Peter’s spire, and what a climb that was!!!

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Orford Castle, Orford, Suffolk.

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Two rooms with a view… of tulips. High Street, Orford.

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Orford harbour…

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These were just a few select images of a couple or three places in Hungary and UK. As I have time, I will post more from both places.



July 22, 2010 - 8:54 AM admin - Bruce... I stand corrected! I was make the changes on my site. If you are interested, I have images of Oundle for purchase on my website. http://www.imagesbyinge.com and follow to links to online ordering. The password is 'Oundle'. Thank you for your comments and words of praise! You may be interested to know that my husband Michael is an Oundle alumnus and he is the one who does the Old Oundelian yearbook each year. Cheers!

July 22, 2010 - 5:19 AM Bruce McDowell - Dear Inge, I was surfing for images of Oundle and came across your lovely shots of the School chapel and town church. For the record the images of the church in Oundle are of St Peter's, not St Stephen's. The area labelled the quad is called the cloisters. Perfectionism rules! Thank you for taking these, and appreciating the beauty surrounding us which we must not take for granted. Yours Bruce McDowell

March 24, 2010 - 8:47 AM admin - Thanks Des! I loved making these images and I have many more to come... just have to find the time to do them. :-)

March 23, 2010 - 8:04 PM Desmond Snyman - Wow Inge, Truly spectacular images. I definitely need to come work on some HDR with you, I thought I knew how to do it but I don't get results as spectacular as these. You are so greatly talented!

Spring!

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~Charles Dickens

At 1:32 PM today, March 20th, it will be SPRING! I have waited so long for this day… dreaming about longer days, warm sunshine, the snow melting, the birth of new life. Sigh…. My favourite season is Spring. If I had all the money in the world I would love to travel all over the world to experience spring whenever and wherever it occurred. Now that would be a dream come true! I would be on the West coast in February to await the bloom of the daffodils, then fly to England and see them flower along the ditches and under tall trees, surrounded by periwinkles and crocuses. Then I’d come home and experience spring in Manitoba with her native flower the crocus. I would plant my garden after the Victoria Day long weekend, and watch the fruits of my labours flower throughout the summer. When the days got shorter and the leaves start to change colour, I’d fly off to Africa and experience spring in Namaqualand, where after the first rains, the desert burst into bloom with an orgy of daisies and other spring flowers that pulse with sheer energy and joy, and whose seeds have, perhaps, lain dormant for decades until the blessing of spring showers prompted them to wake from their slumber. I would spend the rest of the year in Africa and then start the cycle over again in the Southern United States, slowly moving north with the migrating birds.

Now what would a photographer’s blog be without an image or two? Both of these shots were taken in England almost a year ago today.

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Facebook party

Many of you who know me, also know that I have a personal Facebook page, as well as a page for Grads/Seniors (Grads/Seniors With Style), and a business page (Images by Inge -Masterworks Images). I have decided to have a Facebook party at our studio at 49 Almond Crescent, on April 10th between 2 PM and 5PM. What, you may ask, is a Facebook Party? I am inviting all my Facebook friends and their friends if they would like to bring them along, to a social gathering where I can meet all of you face-to-face. We will have snacks, wine, dessert, plus you will have a chance to have a photograph taken by me in the studio for your Facebook profile photo! So put on your make-up, do your hair, and wear your favourite outfit and have yourself photographed professionally for your profile image. There is no charge or this event, and there is no obligation to buy anything – I simply want to meet you and give you a photo from your session to post on your Facebook page. All I ask in return is that you tell others where you had your photo taken and that you will post the image to your Facebook profile.

You can choose what kind of photo you want – a business style…

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… or more casual.

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I want to make sure that we will have enough munchies for all, so please Please RSVP so we know how many to prepare for. Email me at ingeborg@westman.wave.ca or go to my Facebook Business Fan page or Grads/Seniors Fan page (click on links above) become a fan, and then indicate on the Event page whether you will attend and if you are bringing others with you.

See you on the 10th!!!


March 19, 2010 - 2:34 PM admin - Thank you Marlene! I didn't send you a personal invitation, knowing you'd have to turn it down... BUT we could have a party - just the two of us - the weekend prior when you are here! :-)

March 19, 2010 - 12:14 PM Marlene Fast - This is a wonderful idea, Inge - I can't see why anyone wouldn't take advantage of your offer! I just wish I could be there!

Westman Women in Business Luncheon

Yesterday noon I and 13 other women business owners met for  lunch at Remington’s Private Dining Room to begin sharing experiences and ideas about running a business in Westman. Guest speaker was Wendy Schabrel of Gypsy Jive Dance, and no, we did not dance, but she took us through several exercises that would improve how we use our voice to communicate with others. Very helpful to those who are uncomfortable with public speaking! The company was made up of an investment counsellor (Tracy Wray), a social worker who does counselling (Carla J. Navid), a Passion Party consultant (Wendy Clark-Jago), a custom gift and fashion accessries consultant (Caroline Conner), a corporate communications consultant (Kim Herperger), a Fortune High Tech Marketing consultant (Linda Gibb), an organic cleansing product manufacturer (Susan Sydor), a Mary Kay and Norwex consultant (Renee Maillet) a fine pastry chef from Anna’s Indulgences (Anna Mandziuk), and yours truly,  professional photographer. Also present were the editor of Westman Parent, Jamie Stouffer, and Jolene Balciunas, Sales Manager.  After introductions, we got to know each other a bit better and we hope to continue to network and support each other in our business ventures. Thank you Jamie for organizing this event!

Wedding Anniversary #7!

March 8, 2003, Michael and I were married at All Saints Church in Old Heathfield, a historic village in East Sussex UK, in the presence of family and friends. That was 7 years ago yesterday. It seems like only yesterday that we spoke our wedding vows, and yet 7 years have passed. Michael moved to Canada, became a landed immigrant, and we have made our lives together in Brandon. We visit the UK and Hungary yearly to see our families and our matron of honour and our best man, who have themselves wed since then!

In remembrance of that wonderful day 7 years ago, here are a few images from our wedding, shot by BFF Marlene Fast. (We took her along on the honeymoon too! :-) )

Michael and I chose to have our couple’s portraits done before the wedding ceremony, so we would have these private moments to ourselves. Roger Kenward, an old Air Force Chaplain friend of Michael’s was our celebrant and we were his guests at his and wife Anne’s charming home the night before the wedding. These photos were taken in their garden.

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A photo in Roger and Anne’s front hall..

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The exchange of rings…

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The signing of the register… L to R Alistair, Michael’s Best man, Barbara, my Matron-of-honour, Roger Kenward, our minister, Michael and me.

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The recessional, with families shown at the side.

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The wedding party and guests outside the church…

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At the reception luncheon, held at the 13th Century pub called the Star Inn.

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After the reception Michael and I lingered at the pub…

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We are still as happy as we look in the image above! Thank you to all our families, and invited friends for being there to celebrate our marriage with us. And thank you Marlene for flying across the pond to take our wedding photos. You are the BEST! It was extra special having you there with us (as well as on our honeymoon!) :-D

March 12, 2010 - 5:20 PM admin - If it weren't for these images, all we'd have would be our memories. Thank you for being there for and with us. And we love you too!!!! :-)

March 12, 2010 - 4:11 PM Marlene Fast - What wonderful memories these photographs bring back to me! I haven't looked at them in years and it's wonderful to see them! I am so happy to have been part of your wedding day and to see your love blossom and grow stronger over the past 7 years! I love you both!

March 11, 2010 - 9:53 AM admin - Thank you Pam! That day was definitely worth waiting 57 years for! I had found my Prince Charming, best friend, lover, and husband after all those years. And to get married in an English village in a 13th C. church, from whence the voyagers on the Mayflower came, well, that was the icing on the cake. I have everlasting memories of that special day.

March 11, 2010 - 8:44 AM Pamela McFarlane - Thanks for sharing your wedding moments. It must have been a wonderful chapter in your lifebook. Its always amazing to me how the best time in our lives and the best friend you will every have can be both your marriage and your husband. Congratulations to both of you!

Buyer beware…

This morning I had a call from a lady who graduated from high school in 1999, and who had had her grad photos taken by the large American firm that is commonly contracted to do grad photos in Brandon and other larger centres. You know who I mean… Well, her photos have faded and she wanted to know if I could restore them to their former state.  Although I do image restoration – restoring old black and white or sepia photographs – this was a job that I could not undertake. I suggested that she go back to the American firm, and ask that they re-print her images from the files they should have archived. Apparently she had already called them to ask this, but she was informed that they only keep files/negatives in archives for TWO years, after which they are deleted, trashed, shredded…! So this poor lady is out of luck. Her grad photos were taken in 1999. She was, however, given a letter to say that they give her permission to take the photo to someone else for restoring.

Image restoration is not inexpensive! There is the scanning and the hours of hand retouching, plus the printing, etc. It will  probably cost her more for the restoration of her photos than it cost for the grad session and photos in 1999!  Lesson learned.

We, at Images by Inge – Masterworks Images, stand by our product.  Should your image fade or discolour after some time, we will re-print it for you at NO COST. Further, we keep all of your chosen image files in our archives indefinitely – so you need not fear that should something happen to your precious photographs that they will be lost forever. We will be able to print them for you again, all you need do is ask.

So, buyer beware! Would you trust your precious memories to a firm – not even Canadian! – who trashes your files after two years and who creates cookie-cutter type photographs, or would you rather support a local photographer who will create unique images and will stand by her/his product indefinitely. Your choice.