Well Back to school is coming up fast! I am gathering all my new and cool school supplies I can't believe grade 12 is already here.... I mean, when i think about it the years have gone by so fast but when your living in the moment it feels so slow. I will be graduating in January, one semester early. My courses are English 12, Chemistry 12, Math 12, spare. After that the plan is to work and travel till next September and then off to University.

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My Trip to Rabbit Island located just 20 out of Vancouver Island was amazing! I got to learn from five talented photographers from the USA and Canada for a whole week. I have uploaded some photos in each of the galleries of my trip. In the description is will say Rabbit Island '09. Kathy, the islands cook was amazing; the meals were great everyday no matter what it was.I would say I did learn a lot. I got to see what the other photographer’s pictures were like and how I could improve in the future. I also got a good look at the camera equipment, and even got to try out a few new lenses and filters.

Everyday we went by boat to new islands that surrounded Rabbit Island for picture taking. It was always go, go, go during sunrise and sunset. We would rest a bit and edit pictures during the day. We woke up at 4am or 5amalmost everyday to catch the perfect lighting in the morning and would shoot till about 7 or 8am. After breakfast we would head out again to a new island and take pictures there till noon, when we came back for Lunch. After lunch there out line would be to rest, walk around the island and edit pictures. After dinner we would all head out on the boat again to take advantage of the sunsets.

I do have to say that the mosquitoes were killer huge out there. I didn’t know they could get that big! I of course didn’t bother bringing pants because the weather was supposed to be nice the whole week. But because of that I got 20+ bites per leg! It’s all part of the experience though.

Well I got a new laptop yesterday. I didn't even actually want one, even when I went to go buy it. The reason I needed one is because I am going to a island for a week coming up the first week of August. A professional photographer is coming up from the united states to Canada to do a week long workshop. I will tell you that doesn't happen very often at all. I am even luckier because Rabbit Island (were the workshop is) is only 20 minutes away from my city! everyone else who is signed up has to travel from the USA. I am also the youngest person he has had sign up for this trip. For $1300 Canadian, it includes all inclusive stay, meals, transportation, and one-on-one help from the photographer for a full week. The photographer is Don Gale, I picked his name out of the Outdoor Photographer magazine. I don't mean to brag, but I don't get these opportunities very often so I would like to tell you about them. I think I will come back from this trip with a lot new skills and ideas. I have a whole page of questions I intend to ask him already.

Well now that I do have a laptop I am happy. It is more useful then i thought it would be. Well I will update next after I get back from my trip August 8th. I wont be doing much till then anyway. I hope everyone is having a good summer! My poll shows almost everyone is so that is good news
-Lynnea Parker